Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 57

Lily

Race day at the Red Bull Ring was always one of the loudest and most intense on the calendar. The energy was contagious—the roar of the engines, the sea of fans in orange and blue supporting Max Verstappen and Checo Perez, and the constant flurry of activity in the paddock. 

Today was no different, but something felt strange. I couldn't put my finger on it, but a gnawing unease had followed me since this morning.

Lando had been in fantastic form all weekend. He was starting second on the grid, just behind Max. I watched him from the McLaren garage, surrounded by the team, as he slipped into his race mode—a world of focus, determination, and calm.

I tried to shake the uneasy feeling. Maybe it was just nerves. After all, this was another big race, and Lando had been on the cusp of a win so many times this season. But as much as I told myself it was just pre-race jitters, something still didn't sit right.

The lights went out, and the race began. I watched, holding my breath, as Lando launched his car off the line, maintaining his second position as they funnelled into Turn 1. He was right on Max's tail, sticking close, and the race quickly turned into a tense duel between the two of them.

In the garage, everyone's eyes were glued to the screens, the usual tension filling the air. Engineers called out tire data and lap times, adjusting strategies in real-time, but I could only focus on Lando's car. 

I always tried to be composed on race days, but I was especially on edge today, my stomach tying itself into knots. I didn't even notice the commotion outside the garage at first.

It wasn't until I heard shouting that I glanced over my shoulder, toward the entrance of the paddock area. A small group of fans had gathered much closer than usual. The barrier was supposed to keep them at a distance, but somehow, today, they had pushed through. 

One or two security guards were already trying to restore order, but they were clearly overwhelmed by the growing crowd. 

I could hear a few raised voices, but I told myself it was nothing—probably just a group of overly enthusiastic fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the drivers. 

It wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and I assumed it would be handled. But then, a man broke through the crowd.

He was shouting, charging toward the garage, his face twisted in anger. My heart skipped a beat, a cold rush of fear washing over me as he got closer. I tried to step back, but my legs felt frozen in place.

"Where is she?!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the noise of the garage. "He doesn't deserve her! She's with the wrong person!"

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, one of the McLaren mechanics stepped in front of me, blocking the man's path. 

Another engineer grabbed my arm, pulling me further back into the garage, away from the entrance. My heart was racing now, every nerve in my body on high alert.

The man kept shouting, his face red with fury. "Lando doesn't deserve her! She should be with someone else!"

I stood there, trembling, the realisation hitting me like a ton of bricks. He wasn't just some random fan—he was coming after me. 

The words cut deep, and the fear mixed with confusion and disbelief. What did he mean? Why was he targeting me?

The security team swarmed him quickly, tackling him to the ground before he could get any closer. 

His shouts turned into angry, incoherent rants as they dragged him out of the paddock area, the crowd outside still buzzing with chaotic energy.

I was shaking, my body still frozen in shock. The garage around me felt like a blur of noise and motion, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heartbeat. One of the engineers guided me to sit down behind a wall of equipment, away from the entrance, while Zak came over, his face serious.