Adopted by McQueen (Humanized) Book 3

Chapter 9

Lightning somehow broke the simulator and was now waiting outside of Sterling's office. Now he was wondering where Chloe was. She had been gone for awhile. He looked at his watch.

"2 HOURS???" He panicked.

He was so lost in training that he lost track of time. He stood up, ready to search for her. Cruz walked out of Sterling's office.

"Good luck." She whispered.

"Cruz please look for my daughter it's been 2 hours since I saw her please look for her." He panicked.

"On it." She walked away.

McQueen walked into Sterling's office.

"Hey, Lightning! Come on in. Get something to show you. You ready?" Said Sterling.

"Uh, for what?" Questioned McQueen, more concerned on where his daughter could be.

After fully walking into the office, he saw himself on a bunch of stuff; grills, cleaning supplies, and mudflaps, "wow."

"You are about to become the biggest brand in racing." Sterling explained, "we are talking saturation on all continents for every demographic. Movie deals, infomercials, product endorsements."

"Mudflaps?" McQueen asked.

"Of course." Sterling answered, "we'll be rich beyond belief. You think you're famous now?"

He chuckled. McQueen turned to him.

"I thought you'd be mad about the simulator." He spoke, "I mean, this is all great, Mr Sterling, I guess, but I don't know. I never really thought of myself as a brand."

"Oh, nor do I." He replied, "I'm a fan. Maybe your most avid. I think of this as your legacy!"

Lightning chuckled nervously, "It sounds like something that happens after you're done racing."

Sterling gave him a sad look.

McQueen began to worry, "Mr. Sterling, what is this about?"

"Look, Lightning." He began, "I'm not gonna race you."

"What? What do you mean not race me?"

"Hold on. Hold on." He spoke.

"I'm not going to Florida?" McQueen asked.

"Lightning, you have no idea how excited I was to get you here because I knew you'd be back." He explained, "it was gonna be the comeback story of the year! But you speed and performance just aren't where they need to be. I'm sorry."

Sterling started walking away. But Lightning followed him.

"We're talking about speed on a simulator. A video game! Listen to how crazy that sounds!" He spoke.

"Look, I'm trying to help you." Sterling responded, "as your sponsor, yes, but also your friend. Your racing days are coming to an end. Every time you lose, you damage yourself."

"Damage the brand you mean." McQueen glared.

"Oh, Lightning, come on." Sterling sighed, "you've done the work. Now move on to the next phase and reap the reward."

"The racing is the reward." McQueen spoke, "not the stuff. I don't want to cash in. I want to feel the rush of 200 miles an hour, inches from the other guys, pushing myself faster than I thought I could go! That's the reward, Mr. Sterling! Plus my daughter wants to see me race again. If I retire from racing, she will forever blame herself for my retirement."

Cruz burst into the office, "Chloe's not anywhere in the racing center!"

McQueen's eyes widened in fear, "what? Where is she?"

I looked through the cameras of all around the center." She answered logging into her iPad, "I found something on the lobby camera and the parking lot camera."

"Lemme see." He spoke.

He watched the footage from the lobby. He saw Chloe talking to a boy, then following him outside. Cruz switched cameras to the one in the parking lot. He watched as the boy went from leading Chloe to walking behind her. He put a bag over her head and threw her in the car, tying her limbs together, then leaving the scene.

"Oh my god, no!" He panicked, "who the hell was that!"

"We don't know." Cruz replied, "we would have to send it in to the police."

"Do what you have to." He growled.

Suddenly, Sterling's screen turned on with Storm's face on it, "hello McQueen."

The 3 of them hurried to the screen.

"Storm." McQueen growled, "what do you want?"

"I want to make a deal with you." He chuckled, "you race me in Florida to win 1st place, and as a reward, you'll get your daughter back."

He showed his camera to Chloe who was tied up with zip ties, a blind fold over her eyes, and duct tape over her mouth.

"Chloe!" McQueen panicked, "don't you lay a fucking hand on her!"

"What if I do?" He smirked, "you can't stop me. My son was able to kidnap her with no problem."

"Storm I am going to fucking kill you!" McQueen shook in anger.

"Uh, uh, uh." Storm grabbed Chloe's arm, making her whimper, "your daughter's on the line. I wouldn't do anything stupid."

"Let her go!" Tears fell from McQueen's eyes.

Storm dropped her and chuckled, "put her in the room, son. Remember the deal, McQueen. Don't fuck up."

The screen went black, causing McQueen to pull his hair in panic and rage.

"I can't believe he-he-he did this!" He screamed, "putting my daughter's life on the line! I'll fucking kill him!"

"Mr. McQueen take a-"

"NO!" His pupils shook violently, "I have no choice but to beat Storm to SAVE my daughter! Mr. Sterling you have to agree to this!"

Mr. Sterling sighed, "I guess I don't have a choice."