Free Race to Redemption by Megan Faust Page A

chest.
    “Anyone could have put them there,” Trey went on.
    “Okay, guys, we’re starting to attract a lot of attention here,” Chloe said. She turned pleading eyes to Trey. “Maybe that’s enough arguing for one day.”
    “Hey,” Brant said. “This asshole wants to come over here and lull us into a false sense of security right before the big race. I’m not going to fall for this crock of bull…”
    “Watch your language,” Chloe snapped. “There are children in here. And stop being so…so…gosh-darned suspicious. Maybe he’s telling you the truth.”
    “Can it, Chloe,” Seth said. “The glasses are pretty damn good proof.”
    “They prove nothing or you would have taken them to the local racing authorities,” Trey said softly. “You’re a fool, Brant. While you’re busy chasing my shadow someone else is trying to take you out of this race.”
    “I’m supposed to take you at your word?” Brant sneered. “Come on. If this joker won’t get lost then we’re leaving.”
    “I’m not done with my wine,” Chloe snapped.
    Seth grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. Trey’s temper flared and he was about to set down his beer and punch Seth for handling his girl so roughly. Chloe pulled free with a slight snarl and violence was averted. She grabbed her purse, forced a smile in the waiter’s direction, and said, “I’m sorry. I guess you can dress them up but you can’t take them out.”
    She stormed out of the room, her chin held high, longing to stop and apologize to Trey or at least give him some sign that she really did believe him. With Brant and Seth waiting, their tempers too close to boiling over, she had no choice but to walk out.
    Trey watched her go. Silently he cursed himself for putting her in the middle but what could he do now? He forced a nonchalant shrug and went back to the bar to finish his beer.
    The elevator ride was silent. All three siblings were fuming and fully aware of the security cameras. Chloe tried to go straight to her room where she could throw the chain and lock her pig-headed brothers out until tempers cooled but her brothers had other plans. From the elevator she was forcefully marched to the room the boys were sharing and tossed in one of the padded kitchen-style chairs.
    “What are you doing?” Temper edged her voice but she kept the volume reasonable. “I’m going to my room until you two jerks cool down a little. I can’t believe you would make a scene like that in a packed restaurant! What would Mom say?”
    “You sit right back down,” Brant said, doing his best to imitate the brute force, thunder-deep voice their father used to demand obedience. “What the hell is wrong with you? Did Trey’s handsome face and leather jacket catch your fan-girl fancy? Or did you just decide to throw family loyalties aside for the hell of it?”
    He’d cut too close to the truth and her feelings of guilt for her liking and she said, “I beat him in the trial laps, didn’t I? I’ll beat him tomorrow too. He’s just another rival racer. You’re the one making a fool of yourself, accusing a man of sabotage, in a crowded dining room, with no solid proof. If he’s innocent you could get in serious trouble for saying those things!”
    Seth stepped closer. “The glasses…” he started.
    Chloe growled, “No one cares about the damn glasses, Seth. They could belong to anyone! And even if they belong to Trey anyone could have put them in your tool box. It’s not real evidence!”
    “It’s enough for me,” Brant snapped.
    “And you’re judge, jury, and executioner!” She threw up her hands in frustration. “You’re also a close-minded, pig-headed, spoiled-brat, jerk-faced asshole—and you know it.”
    “Don’t say something you’ll regret,” Seth hissed as Brant’s eyes flared.
    “And you’re no better!” She turned on Seth. “What happened to not acting without proof? What happened to not tipping our hand? What happened to not giving him,