Chapter 1 Victory had never tasted so bitter.

It was around the afternoon, the crowd's roar was deafening. The roar was so loud that their voices joined together, creating a big noise that filled the air. The sound echoed against the walls and made everything around shake.

Ava Montgomery tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles turned white under her racing gloves. She could feel the pulse of the engine beneath her, the growl of the car vibrating through her bones. She murmured under her breath. 'This was it... the final lap.' Everything she'd worked for, everything she'd fought to protect, rested on this moment. 'You can do it Ava. You can do it.'

The racetrack stretched out before her eyes, winding and treacherous, but Ava knew it like the back of her hand. Every curve. Every straightaway. It was burned into her muscle memory from years of racing.

The cars around her blurred into streaks of color, but she was laser-focused on the finish line. She had no choice but to win. She had to win. She looked around at her opponents, and knew winning wasn't going to be easy.

In her rearview mirror, she could see the gleaming black car of Dominic Kane, a fellow racer with a reputation for ruthlessness. His car swerved closer, dangerously close.

She felt the rush of adrenaline surge through her veins as he attempted to intimidate her, his vehicle creeping toward her, threatening to force her off the track.

"Focus," Ava muttered to herself, her heartbeat thrumming in her ears, nearly drowning out the sound of Natalie's voice over the headset.

"Ava, don't push it. You're ahead, just hold your position!" Natalie Hayes, her best friend and manager, spoke urgently through the car speaker.

But that voice felt far away in Ava's ears, muffled by the thrill of competition. It was not the time to hold back now. Not when Dominic was right behind her, when his presence was like a shadow chasing her every move.

The wind screamed against the body of her car as she accelerated into the next curve, feeling the tires grip the asphalt. Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror again. Dominic was still there, looming, relentless behind her car. In the moment, Ava realised, he wasn't racing to win. He was hunting her, she could feel it. There was something primal in the way his car moved, something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

Her mind raced alongside the car. Dominic had always been competitive, but this felt different. The way he was driving wasn't just about the race. It felt personal.

Ava clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay calm. This was her moment for god sake, not his.

"Come on, Ava, don't get reckless," Natalie's voice crackled again, but Ava had already blocked her out.

The sharp turns were coming quickly, and she needed all her focus. She held on tightly as she reached the curve, feeling the strong pull to the side while she carefully steered through it.

Dominic followed her line too closely. She could practically feel the weight of his car pressing against hers. The next straightaway was just ahead, and Ava saw her chance. She quickly changed gears and sped up, the car moving smoothly like a well trained beast.

The speed was exhilarating, the crowd became blurry on the sides. Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced in the rearview. He was still there. She still couldn't shake him.

And then, he made his move. She saw it coming a split second before it happened. His car came toward her car. Ava cursed under her breath, and turned the wheel, narrowly avoiding a collision. Her car lost its balance for a moment, but she held control following her fast reflexes. She gritted her teeth, fighting the impulse to glance back at him. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"He's trying to run me off the track," Ava whispered to herself, her voice was strained. Her instincts were screaming at her, telling her this was more than just a race.

"Just finish the lap, Ava. You're almost there," Natalie urged, but Ava's thoughts had already slipped into a darker place.

She could feel the weight of Dominic's gaze on her through the tinted windows of his car, a cold unblinking stare that felt like it could pierce through the metal and glass.

What did he want? What was he trying to prove?

The finish line was in sight, but every second felt like a battle. Ava pushed harder, her car roaring beneath her as she neared the end. Dominic was right on her tail, his engine growling like a predator about to strike. She knew if she made even the slightest mistake, he'd be on her, he'd take her down.

But she didn't falter, she couldn't afford to. With a final press on the accelerator, Ava crossed the finish line. The checkered flag waved as she crossed it.

The crowd erupted into cheers, and the cameras flashed brightly, making her eyes blink for a moment as she slowed the car. Victory was hers now, but the triumph that usually surged through her veins in moments like this felt hollow. She glanced into her rearview mirror again as she stopped the car, and there he was.

Dominic.

His car pulled up beside hers, and he lowered his window just slightly, enough for her to see his eyes. As expected, they were cold and unforgiving. There was no applause from him, no congratulations. Just a look in his eyes like he was giving her a silent threat that made her blood run cold.

For a moment, they were locked in a silent stare, the noise of the crowd around them fading into the background. The tension between them was palpable, electric. She should feel victorious, but all she felt was dread. Something about the way he was looking at her told her this wasn't over.

Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel, the adrenaline still coursing through her body, making her pulse race. She hadn't just won a race tonight, she had provoked something in Dominic, something dangerous.

And as much as she tried to shake it off, she knew this moment was only the beginning of something far darker. Natalie's voice cut through her thoughts, "Ava, are you okay? You did it!" But the relief in Natalie's voice felt premature.

Ava's eyes stayed locked on Dominic as he finally revved his engine and sped away, leaving a trail of smoke and unease in his wake. Ava inhaled sharply, pulling off her helmet and letting her hair fall loose. She should be celebrating, enjoyinh the glory of the win. But instead, a knot of fear twisted in her stomach.

She sighed and stepped out of her car, the flash of cameras and cheers of the crowd surrounded her, but all she could think about was Dominic's chilling gaze and the storm she felt brewing just beyond the horizon. Victory had never tasted so bitter.

The thrill of the race was gone, replaced by a gnawing sense of unease that whispered to her in the darkest corners of her mind. This wasn't the end of the race. It was just the beginning.