Getaway Car

Chapter Twenty-Six

Monza Grand Prix Week

Katherine POV

I enter the drivers' conference Charles, Lando,Max, and Arthur already seated. I take my place in between Daniel and Charles.

"Charles, can we start with you. The Scuderia’s home race, just how different is this one for you?"

"Quite different. We are lucky enough that driving for Ferrari we’ve got support everywhere, but when we come to Italy, obviously it’s on a different level. So a very busy week, but also a very exciting one."

"How do you think your car is performing?"

"I think there's room for improvement, but the pace is there," just not the strategy.

"Lando, let's come to you," Lando nods, grabbing his mic.

"You are now leading the championship," he winks at me. "Do you think you can keep ahead?"

"I mean, I can't try, but I've got a pretty good competitor."

"The car is performing extremely well. Is there any room for improvement"

"Like you said, it's performing well. I don't think they could improve it. "

"Max moving on to you,"

"Coming back from Zandvoort and your win, how are you feeling for this race?"

"I feel good. I mean, it's always good coming back from a won, but we've all seen how fast that can change."

"Arthur, you crashed out in Zandvoort. How are you feeling about this weekend?"

"I feel like every other race. I mean, we all know it's not new for me to crash out," he laughs

"Is there room for improvement with the car?"

"Yes, there's always room for improvement. The pace isn't matching what it could."

"Katherine moving to you now," I pick up the mic.

"There has been talk about you joining Mercedes. Can you put any truth to this?"

"I won't be joining Mercedes. I'm happy with my team, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon,"

"Your second in the championship against Lando, do you think you can win this season?"

"I think I have a good chance, but like Lando said, I've also got a good competitor,"

~~~~~~

"Katherine, can we talk," Christian says, walking out of his office. I nod and head inside.

"Is everything okay," he shakes his head. Holding onto my arms.

"Kate," I shake my head.

"No," I say, "you never call me Kate." he gives me a sad look.

"It's your mum," tears brim my eyes. "She had a heart attack," a sob comes out of my mouth as he pulls me into him.

"Please," I cry out, "tell me she's okay,"

"I'm so sorry, Katherine." He held me as I cried in his arms. It seemed like I couldn't stop.

"You should go to your hotel." I shake my head.

"The race starts in an hour,"

"Katherine, you don't have to race,"

"I want to," he shakes his head "unless you're going to stop me, then I'm racing,"

"I won't stop you, but are you sure you can race?"

"If I go back to the hotel, I don't think I'll be able to handle it," I say through the tears. "I need to be here," he nods.

"Okay,"

I should have gone to the hotel, but I couldn't. I couldn't be alone. My best friend had just died.

Lando POV

"P2"

"Whose P1?"

"Leclerc, Max P3"

"We're did Kat finish?"

"P6"

I couldn't find her when I got out of the car she was always there. I looked at Max he was looking for her too.

"She's not here?" Max says when he reaches me.

"I need to talk to you two after celebrations," Christian says, tapping Max on the back and walking away.

"That didn't sound good,' Max says

"No, it doesn't." I tried to look for Kat when I was on the podium she was nowhere to be seen.

"Max, I'm worried,'

"You couldn't see her either?" I shake my head, he leads us to Christians' office.

"Christian, what's up?"

"Have you seen or spoke to Katherine?" We shake our head.

"I got a phone call this morning her mother passed," my face went white.

"What?" I speak

"She passed away. Katherine was heartbroken but refused to go home and wanted to race,"

"Where is she?"

"She went back to the hotel she got out of the car, didn't say a word, and left not long after,"

"I'm sorry, but I need to go." I ran out back to the garage and got changed.

"Lando, you've got interviews." I shake my head.

"I've got to go,"

"They'll fine you,"

"They know my details."

~~~~~

I walk into the room and hear water running. I walk to the bathroom and here sobs. I walk in and see her in the shower, sat curled up crying, I didn't care about my clothes, I open the door, and sit down next to her, pulling her into me.

"I don't know how I'm going to do this without her," she says quietly. I kiss the top of her head, holding her as close as I can.

"I'll help you through it,"

"It hurts," a tear falls from my eye.

"I know, baby, I know," I don't know how long we stayed there, for we didn't talk. I let her cry, and I cried quietly beside her.

These next few chapters are going to be hard on Katherine😭