Page 136 of Gridlocked

The team erupted in my ear. Cheering, clapping, whoops I barely recognised. Heidi’s voice broke through — “Well done, Aleks. Bloody well done.”

I pulled into the number one spot, killed the engine, and let the silence rush in.

Outside the cockpit, the world roared. Inside me, it was still.

I climbed out and raised a hand — not a fist, not a roar — just a salute. To the team. To Patel. To myself.

The cameras surged forward. Reporters shouted my name.

But I was already looking past them.

Because Elena was there, on the other side of the barrier. Waiting. Smiling.

I tugged my helmet off, and my balaclava, and placed them on the stand in front of my car. With laser focus, I headed for her, a tear niggling at the corner of my eye. The team members between us parted and Elena squeezed through the gap. I reached over the barrier and pulled her into my arms.

The roar of the crowd was deafening. My team mates cheered and thumped my back. But I didn’t care about what they wanted, only what I needed. I’d won, fair and square. No doubt. Just the sweet bliss of relief and there was only one person I wanted to share that moment with.

I captured her mouth with mine, only vaguely aware of all of the cameras on us. The whole world knew the truth now but I didn’t care about the world. This was our moment, mine and Elena’s. It didn’t matter what happened for the rest of the season. I’d done what I needed to do on the track. And now I had what I needed off the track too.

The Last Question of the Interview

“So, Aleksandr Volkov, World Champion, has anything good come out of this experience?” Elena Archer’s voice was warm, inviting the Champion to open up one last time for the world.

Aleks looked past the camera, gaze softening, a small smile gracing his hard face.

“I fell in love with you.”