Chapter 1

"Joel, you always drive way too fast. You're going to get yourself killed. I'm scared," I said.

It was rare for Joel Owens to invite me to a race, but I turned him down. I'd been a pessimist my whole life, always expecting the worst.

After marrying Joel, it only got worse. Years of being put down by him had twisted my thinking into full-blown disaster mode.

Sometimes, I'd be lying in bed, convinced a meteor was about to crash through the roof.

When he saw how terrified I was, his face darkened at once. "Are you scared to even get in a car? You're so pathetic. You know nothing about the thrill of speed."

I didn't dare say a word.

That night, he brought a woman home with him. Her name was Ella Levine.

The moment she saw me, she laughed. "Joel, this is your wife? The one who wears a helmet just to take out the trash?"

Right in front of me, Joel slipped an arm around Ella and started flirting. "Don't mind this coward. Let's go break the speed record tonight."

I stood there, I stood there, staring at the illegally modified race car parked behind them. In my head, the scene was already playing on loop, with twisted metal, broken bodies, and everything going up in flames.

My hands were shaking. I told myself I should stay out of it, but in the end, I forced myself to step forward for his sake.

I said, "Joel, don't. It's too dangerous. You're going to get hurt at that speed."

He kicked me aside without hesitation, disgust written all over his face. "Cut the crap and fuck off. I'm taking Ella out tonight to smash that damn record."

I hit the floor hard, my elbow scraping against the ground.

I watched them walk away, arms around each other. Then I wiped away my tears.

If Joel was dead set on getting his kicks, then I'd make sure he and Ella didn't die on the road.

I snuck into the garage at night and found the car he'd modified.

The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became, and tears kept rolling down my cheeks.

First came the brakes. They mattered more than anything. I'd heard on the news that so many accidents started with brake failure.

Joel loved chasing speed. What if the brakes gave out and he couldn't stop?

I couldn't let that happen.

I dragged out the welding tool Joel usually used for his modifications and worked on the brake rotor with tears blurring my vision.

Sparks burst into the dark as I welded the rotor in place, tears dripping down my face. If the brake pads could never wear down, then the braking system would never fail.

Next up was the fuel tank.

Joel had bragged that, for maximum power, he used high-octane racing fuel, the kind that ignited at the slightest spark.

Just thinking about it freaked me out. If they crashed and the car caught fire, they'd be burned alive right there.

I used a pump to drain all the pricey fuel out of the tank. Then I filled it up with a concentrated fire-suppressant liquid I'd borrowed from a friend who worked in the fire department.

My friend swore this stuff was the ultimate fire killer. Used as fuel, it wouldn't explode even in a crash, not even if someone aimed a flamethrower at the engine.

Last came the impact itself.

At those speeds, even a minor collision could be deadly. What if Joel and Ella ended up seriously injured?

I leaned over the steering wheel and triggered the airbags in advance, the two massive cushions swelling to fill the cabin in an instant.

That wasn't enough.

I ran back to the storage room in tears and dragged out every thick blanket we owned, stuffing them into the car one by one.

I didn't stop until the entire car was packed tight, swollen into something soft and shapeless, with no space left at all.

That way, even if the car got smashed flat, they'd be cushioned in the middle and come out without a scratch.

Wait, what if something still went wrong?

If emergency crews had to pry the doors open, they'd waste precious time. Joel and Ella might not last that long.

To make sure the rescue team could pop the doors open right away, I grabbed a full bottle of lubricant and coated both doors, inside and out.

Once the doors were that slick, there'd be less resistance, and they could get them out fast.

Staring at the ultimate safe ride I'd built with my own hands, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Joel would definitely be touched by how cautious I'd been and how much I cared about him.

Tonight would be the safest and most unforgettable racing night he'd ever have.

*****

By eleven, Joel and Ella were getting ready to head out.

Ella put on a tighter black leather outfit with heavy makeup, hooked her arm through Joel's, and laughed nonstop.

She said, "Joel, break the record tonight, and you'd better make it worth my while."

Joel pinched her cheek, brimming with confidence. "Relax. I'll show you what a real man is."

I was terrified the ceiling might collapse on me, so I curled up in the corner of the living room, clutching a pillow and trembling all over.

When Joel saw me, he frowned impatiently and barked, "You're so pathetic. What's that look on your face? Are you wishing I'd die or something?"

Ella chimed in, mocking me. "Relax, Anne. I'll make sure Joel stays safe tonight."

I started sobbing even harder. They were really walking straight into death.

I forced myself out of the corner, risking the ceiling collapsing on me, and rushed forward to stop them.

I said, "Don't go. It's too fast. You'll get yourself killed, Joel."

They ignored me completely. Joel brushed my hand off, pulled Ella close, and headed out the door toward the garage without a second thought.

I followed after them, still trying to talk them out of it.

They reached the garage. The moment Joel pulled the door open, both of them froze.

The interior that was supposed to be all metal and gears was stuffed full of the blankets I'd jammed in, packed so tight that it looked ready to burst.

"What the hell is this?" Ella screamed. "Who stuffed all this crap in the car?"

Joel's face burned red. He whirled on me like he wanted to tear me apart. "Anne, are you out of your damn mind again?"