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It was one thing to live through Death Race, but another entirely to think that part of your life was entirely over. Carl Lucas was dead according to men like Weyland, but parts of him were still alive in the world. He knew better than to say a word while inside, even to his team, just like Goldberg. As soon as they were out though he sang like a canary.
Their freedom was not going to cost them their daughters. The Mexican Jew’s girl was easy enough to track down; one sunny South American day her father just waltzed into her bar and back into Maria’s life. As they got ready to lay down roots in this area it became apparent that Luke’s girl wouldn’t be so easy to track down with pieces slowly coming together.
First of all she had been a kid raised and released on the world while Marcus Kane was considered family; evidence suggested that she turned on him with Luke’s arrest, but no one should underestimate her skillset as a result. Second, it looked like she was still heavily invested and immersed within the racing scene where he was most likely to be recognized. Then third and finally, ever since high school she’d been involved with some member of the Triad with whom he’d never been made familiar, but it seemed to have gotten serious as she was fully immersed in his family business.
Everyone was willing to help, but figuring out how to insert themselves subtly given her security these days without completely outing their identities was a whole other story all together.
Katrina knew that he was frustrated and desperately wanted to help. They had discussed having kids only once, but she’d never been so grateful as when he wasn’t disappointed by her lack of desire for them. Luke, now formally known as Lucas Carlson, promised babies were highly overrated and he had zero desire to go through it again. He did, however, desperately want access to his little girl back yesterday. So, she settled in to do some serious research.
“She runs all the races for the Triad these days,” The woman of their team shared once all the stones had been overturned. It was certainly a lot easier to do research on the poolside of Maria’s resort in Mexico, than under heavy guard on Terminal Island.
Luke had to be curious as a father, even with no room to judge. “On the level?”
“Technically speaking, yes,” She allowed.
“What do you mean?”
“They are legally run races, but held for some of the seediest elite drivers outside of Terminal Island.” She confessed, “I think I saw every getaway driver outside the system on that roster.”
“Any previous Frankensteins signing up?” Olivia wondered.
That one was a good girl. Not considered a direct member of the team, her value was much greater as a one woman hospital. Any one of them would have taken a bullet for her though.
“Not by name,” Kat admitted before pulling out a couple of pictures. “There are definitely some Death Racers in attendance though. Psycho, Razor, a guy who came after us, Machine Gun Joe.”
“That’s two Triads from 14K’s crew right there.” Goldberg still watched the races and noted, “A lot more assholes survive than they let on.”
“You didn’t think we were the only ones wheeling and dealing, did you?” Luke wondered. He picked up the last picture and studied it. “Jensen Ames, he became Frankenstein after York had the decency to die.”
“And needless to say you’re only looking at the tip of the iceberg,” His girlfriend pointed out. “Drivers come from all over to beg for a ticket in, but everyone knows it can’t be bullied or bought. Each race gets just as dirty as Death Race ever did, but cars are worth a whole lot more and setups are top of the line.”
“Indemnity clauses?”
“On top of ludicrous cash prizes, plus scraps of cars from any driver who doesn’t make it.”
“How’s it funded?”
“Similar to Death Races since they’re secretly held at different locations around the globe,” At the same time she chuckled, “But audiences can feasibly attend these and pay out the ass to do so.”
“How do you get tickets?”
“You enter your money into a lottery pool and then pray like hell. Locations have a release window of seventy-two hours before start time.”
“For audiences or drivers?”
“Correct.”
“Your girl runs a tight ship,” Goldberg noted as Maria came around to refresh all of their drinks.
“She knows how to keep figures from going to shit,” Luke agreed.
“Who is this?” The resort owner, well respected in this area, wondered.
“My daughter, Caroline Lucas.”
“Oh…” She studied him for a long time. “I really wish you had said that before.”
“Why gordita?” Her father wondered.
“She uses my asphalt acreage out back, you boys like to play on so much for her races in Mexico,” She admitted. “Sayulita is great for that sort of thing.”
Her father snorted, “You’ve got to be shitting me!”
“I am so sorry, Luke. I didn’t realize!” She pulled out her cellphone quickly and dialed. “Here!”
It wasn’t really her fault that she hadn’t known. Goldberg was so protective that they made sure to keep his daughter far away from any talk of business or their past lives. He couldn’t offer any words of comfort, because they were stuck in his throat as that phone rang.
With the wind and ocean waves crashing it was impossible to hear when an answer came, but it certainly did. “Care-bear, it’s Maria.” There was a short pause then she divulged, “We can talk about booking later, but I have someone here who needs to talk to you real quick.”
That phone was offered up in a blink and he took it with trembling hands. Swallowing with difficulty, the former getaway driver barely managed to spit out, “Hey there, baby girl.”
Silence hung for the longest beat of his thundering heart before she found her voice. “Of all the voices that could have come over this phone, yours was the last I suspected.”
“I know,” He sighed.
“Certainly was the one I was hoping for though.”
Luke swore when he deflated fifty pounds of tension left his shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. You?”
“Fine.” He checked, “Getting ready for another race?”
“Yep. In Miami this round.” Caroline suggested, “You should bring your crew and meet the in-laws.”
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” The previous Frankenstein promised. “Send Maria the details. There are five of us total.”
“V.I.P. passes will be waiting. My old man just got out of lock up and will hopefully make it by race day.”
“I’ll see you soon. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
They hung up and plans started to be made for a weekend trip to one of Florida’s small coastal towns in order to track down and witness Chaos Chasers in the flesh. Bags were packed and debates over which car to take were endless. Eventually they settled on the team’s customized Rezvani Tank with just enough fitted seats for their five and room for luggage. Not to mention it was heavily armored in case anyone got skippy or recognized them.
Having a family for the first time since Marcus Kane’s betrayal that wasn’t forced by prison survival was incredible. The drive up hosted a road trip none of them would ever forget. Snacks and wise cracks couldn’t be held back as they made great time getting to Chaos Chasers next race location.
Hotel rooms in the form of their largest suite were already booked for them under his daughter’s name according to a text on Maria’s phone as soon as they hit that parking lot. Everyone got settled and dressed before slamming a few drinks, but ultimately they were here to watch three days worth of high stakes races while he reconnected with his little girl, so that’s what they moved to get to.
V.I.P. passes were indeed waiting under their assumed names upon arrival to this race’s pre-party in a high rise at the start of the main event’s course. Right now that start’s trick escape stadium below was filled with extreme motorbike stunters performing an opening act. They were fun to watch as everyone got drinks from an open car on the top floor before descending to a glass show room far below which was built right into the stadium so it felt like they were part of all that action. Luke and Goldberg shared a couple of stories featuring their young and impetuous years when they rode such crotch rockets.
Their whole family laughed and enjoyed this show which really did speak to the internal turbulence which fueled each without risk of putting them back in a cell. It was hard to miss when their main event kept looking around for her. No luck though.
“She is going to be here,” Maria promised when it became clear he was stressed due to her absence. “Countess Chaos never shows until near the end of a pre-show.”
“Countess Chaos?” He demanded skeptically at hearing it for the first time in all of this.
“It was her name as a racer,” Katrina revealed, “Before she became hostess and founder as production took off. I doubt anyone here even knows her real name.”
“No one who doesn’t count anyway,” A new voice interjected.
They all got a bit defensive when an attractive Asian man seated himself at their table’s only remaining seat left unoccupied. All three women had to admit swallowing their tongues at his regal height, muscular build which was practical instead of showboating, and long salt and pepper hair pulled back in a low tie. The other two-fifths of their operation just shared a look determining he was a fighter from his stance and agreeing an altercation was to be avoided if at all possible.
“Tsin Hai,” He introduced himself, extending his hand to Luke, “Call me ‘Hai’.”
The previous Frankenstein accepted, taking a wild guess, “My new son-in-law?”
He grinned and it was somehow familiar, but still denied, “Not me. My little brother, Kai, but he hasn’t made his grand reappearance with that ugly mug yet.”
Luke hummed and passed his fresh drink across the table as a form of welcome. “This is-”
“Save your breath. Goldberg, Katrina, Olivia, and Maria.” He pointed with certainty, but stopped to acknowledge the last of them, “Always a pleasure, doll.”
“Hi Hai. How are Li and the kids doing?”
“Li is fine; upstairs minding them.” He slammed that drink and motioned for a fresh round for the table. “Mei just wants her auntie like always. Bo and Bin have found themselves a bit distracted.”
“Big bad uncle is finally coming home?”
“I’ve got a running pool with all the boys on how long that lasts.” He teased with a shrug, “They never had competition for Care’s attention before.”
That made their whole table laugh. Luke and Goldberg relaxed as they continued chatting. It came out slowly that she and Tsin Kai met at a river party while she was attending Harvard. Admittedly Tsin Hao had been the head of the 14K gang in Scotland and sent his sons Stateside to establish themselves knowing that their power came from moving with every generation, but that hadn’t meant he was thrilled with his second son falling for an American. Hai explained that his father sent his younger brother to prison as a form of punishment trying to break them up.
“It obviously didn’t work though,” Goldberg commented, glancing around at what she’d built with the American Triad.
“No, we hit it off and he was running our faction on the inside, so we just waited until our old man had the decency to die.” Hai shrugged and laid bare, “We faked his death on the inside and got him out after the recent funeral.”
The context clues were all right there tickling their noses and making all the Terminal Island survivors share another look.
Luke was the one who clarified, “Hai?”
“Hmm?” He asked, looking at his phone during a break in the show.
“When Kai shows up, is he going to be who I think he is?”
Dark eyes flicked up and held blue for a moment, before a small smirk tilted at one corner of his mouth, “It’s generally frowned upon in most cultures to let your future father-in-law get blown up by a smart missile, indebted or not.”
Katrina snorted, “That explains a lot.”
“She’s almost here,” Hai disclosed. “Do you want to come up with me?”
“Let’s go,” Luke insisted, up in a flash.
Everyone followed them up whether that invitation was intentionally granted or not. In all of her research Katrina hadn’t gotten a single glimpse of her, not a single piece of photo or video evidence. So all of Luke’s found family were very curious, especially since Maria would only share that she looked like her dad.
The crowd went so crazy when her helicopter appeared they could feel this building vibrate even back in a penthouse club leaning against an open bar. Able to watch her land and step off via large screens, curious eyes couldn’t be pulled away from crystal clear images coming across in real time. When a stunning young woman in light wash denim jeans, an army green corset, and a black leather jacket stepped out to screaming fans it was impossible to miss. Long blonde hair in a fierce wolf cut didn’t give it away because Luke shaved his head regularly, but when she looked up stunning blue eyes and a face nearly identical to his sure did. They could have slapped a wig on him and called them twins, if it wasn’t for her killer ratio.
Acknowledging this roaring crowd passed quickly, she was then loaded into a private elevator to come down surrounded by a heavily armed group of guards. Even knowing it wouldn’t last Luke hated losing line of sight even for a moment.
To his right Goldberg couldn’t resist, “You couldn’t deny her in a court of law!”
Kat laughed and piled on, “Talk about having the book thrown at you! Did she get anything from her mother at all?”
“That figure,” He commented dryly, downing the rest of his drink.
That elevator landed at that very moment, but it felt like a bad idea to rush up on her given that retinue. At least it would have been for a six foot one natural fighter. Across the room in what had to be the Triad family seating given that section’s comfortable looking furniture and a horde of kids at their mother’s feet, a bright faced young girl went sprinting forward with a call of ‘auntie’. Caroline lifted her effortlessly into a hug and Hai waved his wife and sons over to them while both girls were still cheek to cheek.
The boys jumped on their father demanding to know when their uncle would arrive at the same time that Hai’s wife was hugging and greeting Maria. Soon enough though 14K’s brother was turning to introduce everyone else to his family, even as Luke could barely pull his life or his eyes away from Countess Chaos as she sent young Mei off somewhere with two guards; one of the men did study him for some reason upon departure. His focus still stayed on his daughter finally making her way over alongside Katrina though.
She came to him first to be lifted off both feet by that embrace and an exchange of mutual kisses on cheeks. As he put her down the lifelong getaway driver couldn’t help but note, “Still in your mama’s jacket, I see.”
“Are you kidding?” She teased, “They will bury me in this thing.”
“Not anytime soon,” Luke insisted.
“Of course not,” She agreed. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, baby girl.”
“Introduce me to everyone.”
He did as requested. Everyone seemed to hit it off and she settled to talk business with her Triad business partner and brother-in-law. The previous Frankenstein had questions that would not be asked in public, but settled next to her for now on Care’s other side with ears trained on their discussion and eyes locked on those motorcycles.
His found family fanned down from him in this family seating section starting with Katrina, then Goldberg, Olivia, then Maria. When little Mei came back with her guards and a friend he did catch his daughter’s eye inquisitively, especially as Mrs. Tsin Li nodded in approval for both girls to stay with Maria downwind. She smiled at him gently and admitted to following her only parent remembered from Death Match to Death Race until he disappeared. And as he built a family inside it was only natural for her to form a network of his people’s people.
That did explain her and Hai’s family knowing Maria so well, but he was still curious. “Should I know that girl?”
“Probably not,” She admitted. “But I’m sure you knew they would find another to wear that mask and did.”
Luke’s head tilted.
“Not every Frank has been smart enough to get out.” The name of Niles York hung unsaid between them but he never let himself watch again, much less study driving styles and strategies to determine how many had come after him these days. His daughter seemed to know as much and wrapped their discussion up quickly. “Her father and godfather are two men who made it out. Dad wore the mask for a while.”
“How many of your racers are from Terminal Island?”
“Officially none.” Countess Chaos chuckled, “But all my racers wear custom masks and use pseudonyms. All prizes are in cash making sure I get the best racers from all walks of life, whether professionals or on the run, or anywhere in between.”
She went back to work next to him assuming that was all her father wanted to know and for the record Luke was trying very hard to convince himself that it was his truth. His crew noticed when it hung around his head though and Goldberg quickly switched places with Kat, because even after their escape he’d never missed a single Death Race. “Her father is Jensen Ames. Hennesey had his wife murdered and framed him.”
“Huh… I’m guessing he’s this one’s favorite driver?”
Without missing a beat all three of their women chorused what one already knew and the other two learned while researching this place, “The Countess doesn’t have favorites!”
Even in his peripheral vision Luke saw the side of her mouth quirk up to almost perfectly match Goldberg, but it was his friend who answered. “Caroline Lucas, however, you’re exactly right.”
It didn’t seem to take very long before their Triad business was concluded and everyone expected her to make an appearance down in that arena before this race’s formal introduction of its contestants began. She descended one more surrounded by that full security team and the same guy was still studying him, rousing serious questions as to why.
Hai chuckled upon noticing, right after his wife took their boys over to the largest screens to watch her. “I’m sure he’s just fascinated by the man he shot Marcus Kane for.”
Blue eyes flicked to him.
“Oh yeah, he didn’t just call me to handle it. For a minute there she thought she lost you and it was his fault.”
That hit him harder than was easily admitted. It had always been so much easier to assume his daughter didn’t know about all that shit. No matter how grown up she became though, a father’s concern could never be turned off.
“So her guards will kill for her, but the Triad always comes first, right?” He clarified.
The other man studied him, weighing his response before settling on a suggestion, “Let’s take a walk.”
His team was a little concerned, but he got up and followed by his own free will. They went up a flight of stairs to the rooftop helipad of his daughter’s arrival.
Hai didn’t drag it out. “You have to understand that while the Triad doesn't operate under strict familial codes like our Italian counterparts, there’s still a clear division between insiders and outsiders.”
That checked out logically.
“My father was enraged by him wanting to marry outside Triad factions, all but forfeiting ten generations of dutiful accomplishment.” Hai shrugged and insisted, “He failed to account for natural fundraising talent transforming an outsider into a performance based insider.”
“Sounds accurate.”
“In addition to accomplishment, she used her own situation to form an unwavering guard.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I may be permitted to use a word from my father’s generation without it being held against me,” He named the prerequisite seriously before continuing, “All of her guards are half-breeds. So they will do business with an organization which would have cast them out, but there is not one of us they wouldn’t shoot for her.”
“Got it,” He chuckled, feeling better about her security team, if still cautious of the overall situation. Debating how to ask his next question and get an honest answer, Luke decided to frame it around 14K first. “I know he led the Triad faction inside, but if they reconnect-”
Obviously as intelligent as his brother, Hai cut him off, clarifying, “When they reconnect both will continue to be some of our most valuable players and protected as such. And if a choice between them ever did have to be made, ancestors forbid, not only would he always protect his girl, but I’d take him out myself before letting harm come to her.”
“Why?” Luke demanded.
The Triad’s leader in these parts leaned back against that roof ledge with his back to this roaring stadium below. Hai sighed heavily upon confession. “When my father first sent me here after university with an investment fund to make sure I could establish myself successfully, I was entirely too bold and disregarded how precarious my position was at that time.”
“How so?”
“Our mother had just died allowing him to remarry a younger woman so he could start again, Kai had just been sent to Terminal Island,” Hai gulped just thinking about those days, “And I still pissed that money away on risky deals.”
“She bailed you out?”
“Split the funds from this race’s first run,” The other man agreed, “So we both looked profitable, then year two we became unquestionable contenders once I’d been scared straight.”
“So even he couldn’t-”
“No. As long as I draw breath nothing happens to that girl.”
“Alright,” The previous getaway driver agreed and they headed back downstairs. “One more question.”
“What?” His companion wondered, pressing the elevator button.
“Did they actually get married before your father put him away?”
“Not without you there,” Hai acknowledged as they stepped into the metal box that it had never been her side of their families worried about. “They discussed eloping but it was catching wind of such talk that had our father locking him up before it could happen.”
Luke hummed as they got back out at this club house. “Maybe we’ll have to do something about that sometime soon.”
“You’ll want to speak with my wife. Event planning is her specialty and she’s very good.”
“Maria’s too. I’ll talk to Care once the races are over and he’s gotten back, then settled.”
Even by the time they got back cars were still trying to fight their way out of that arena for a place at that starting line. He retook a seat between Kat and Goldberg since his daughter, Maria, Olivia, and Li had all four children at the screens explaining things. Both his girl and best friend were quick to catch them up when Hai joined. Piper’s father and godfather were apparently partners who both entered to double their chances of winning and already escaped to earn their place at start.
Luckily commentators and technicians were also playing reruns of contenders’ most impressive escapes. Both his daughter’s personal favorites had very different styles. Tommy Gun Jones was a hard hitter, brutally forcing his way to start, while Smooth Starter found himself as strategic as that name implied. They quickly became his favorites as well.
A couple of cars joined the lineup prior to those women bringing their extended family’s children back over and he wasn’t entirely sure why they had. Not until a female driver was next to escape and she only knew that because she uncapped her racing suit to flash the attending crowd below who went nuts. Katrina and Olivia quickly covered their eyes muttering about classless skanks.
Once released Luke was far more interested in Li letting her husband go from the same stance and snaking up behind Caroline. He listened curiously.
“I will give you all the money he’s made these last six months,” The Triad daughter bargained, “If you will go down there and fix that bitch.”
“Quit leveraging my money, woman!” Hai ordered from clear across their section, “I know you are, I can feel it!”
Countess Chaos grinned and insisted anyway, “Retired means retired in my book.”
Everyone refocused on the race entry competition, but internally Luke wondered if that was entirely true or if she couldn’t be persuaded in the right circumstances to take back up that racer’s mantle. As a father he was curious to assess her skills these days. He could even be convinced to get back behind the wheel temporarily if it would help persuade her to get out there again. A special appearance, not a return.
Soon the maximum number of competitors had escaped and were lined up at start, which was also the spot they would have to make it back to, each driver’s crew making minor tweaks or repairs after that entry competition. Losers were being cleared out of the stadium so workers could begin making it up for Day 1 celebrations featuring their top three races of part one. Drinks were running rampant throughout every level of onlookers, in addition to gambling taking off all around now that they had a roster to bet on. If there had been gambling on that entry competition then it hadn’t been rampant enough to reach this penthouse club.
The First Lady of Chaos Chasers went down one more time for tonight to begin this series of races. While she was gone Hai confirmed that he would handle smaller prizes these next two nights, then she handled the final bestowal. A thought passed through his mind hoping for their sakes that 14K showed up sooner rather than later, but never could have predicted how perfectly that well-wish worked out.
Caroline had just come back up and booked it for the bar to get another drink when Hai go a phone call. He hummed at the person on its other end a couple of times drawing their surrounding family’s attention, especially when he ended with before hanging up, “Send him up then!”
He also didn’t leave them in suspense for long after ending that phone call, “The main event has arrived.”
His slightly hushed tone kept the kids from hearing and his wife quickly rose, suggesting, "Maria, why don’t we take the kids upstairs to see this race from the helipad? They’ll never make a clean getaway with those four in attendance; that much is for sure.”
“Mhmm,” Goldberg’s daughter instantly agreed, helping her sweep all four into the private elevator after confirming 14K was coming up the public transit metal box.
As they watched that bunch disappear it was honestly with bated breath all the way around. For the Terminal Island crew their feelings linked to having felt great sadness when having watched or heard about 14K’s supposed demise after bonding during their stint. On the other hand his family tensed because following years of prison communications only they had even less inclination of what to expect other than the original Frankenstein crew. Both halves of this newly unified family were certain of one thing though; they were not even remotely the main attraction right now.
That elevator sounded off, but when Tsin 14K Kai walked off it such a moment was perhaps anti-climactic. He’d shaved his head since those long faded M.I.T. days, in addition to sporting denim jeans and muscle shirts for just as long. The basics he was currently donning weren’t anything to write home about. However they faked his death and the inmate was now uninjured and accounted for.
He noticed their huddle first and raised a friendly enough hand, but also clearly noted his woman’s glorious absence from that same spot. Both Hai and Luke raised their chins in the bar’s general direction to give him a head way. As soon as he spotted her that same hand went up in thanks much more absently while he was wandering off nearly smirks all around.
From the moment he stepped on land that was not Terminal Island, Kai had kept himself occupied thinking about what he was going to say to her first. As he came up behind her getting a drink just like she had been at that riverside party all those years ago, his first words then just came popping out yet again, “Hey Mama.”
She tensed for a second, Caroline Lucas needed to reckon with it having been a figment of her imagination after years of dreaming about the night they met and hearing those words again in a million different scenarios. When she spun on her heels and he was really there though, it was impossible to pull him into a kiss fast enough. When he trapped her against that bar it was a little too easy to forget they were in public. Luckily their combined families weren’t subtle.
They all hooted and hollered encouragement; even Luke because she had been a grown woman for some time now. All of their ruckus drew those commentators’ attention into this penthouse club, plus a few technicians during this slightly less intense moment of Day 1’s race. Given Countess Chaos never showed interest in anyone, curiosity and envy were quickly overflowing. Nothing could compare to the moment she took his hand and led him away from all these cameras though.
As they disappeared without a thought for jealous spectators Hai was looking out for them even without looking up from his phone. “Follow them and make sure they make it back to the hotel with all of their pieces still intact.”
The seeming head of her security, that same man who was eyeing Luke up earlier, chuckled and led the rest of them out with a curt, “Yes sir.”
They all disappeared down that private elevator while 14K’s big brother chuckled. “Even I have to find it impressive.”
“What?” Goldberg wondered.
“In exactly forty-two seconds he managed to become the most hated man in all of Chaos Chasers.”
Katrina chuckled, “They certainly have plenty of chemistry.”
Olivia studied after them, but speculated, “These events go well into the night. Maybe they’ll come back to meet the kids and see everyone after catching up.”
Luke, Goldberg, and Hai all snorted at the exact same time. Then Kai’s brother and Caroline’s father kept chorusing without a single bit of intention, “They aren’t coming back tonight!”
Both men laughed and clinked their drinks before indulging. Now that everyone’s cards had been shown and their whole family was accounted for it was easy to settle into this race completely. Despite Care being why he’d come here it was just beyond the original of Death Race’s Frankensteins to be upset after watching how her face lit up at the sight of her obvious soulmate.
Fortune loved the bold and that meant no one could truly be surprised when Tommy Gun Jones and Smooth Starter kicked off this series by taking top placements. Getting there was one hell of a show though and everyone greatly enjoyed themselves. No one could deny the most gossiped-about scandal of the night was everyone longing to know about the man necking and running off with Countess Chaos before they even reached half-time.
To his supreme surprise Ames didn’t even reclaim custody at the arena. Apparently his crew was, unbeknownst to other Chaos Chaser populations, the only other faction allowed space in The Triad hotel where Luke’s family had been put up too. So it wasn’t until everyone had gone back and changed, then migrated out to the hotel’s bar that two attractive men and a matching woman wandered up looking for her tiny little self.
The previous professional racer and Frankenstein was introduced to the original man to wear that mask. They hit it off well enough, but also weren’t looking for new best friends and quickly separated. Jensen Ames’ trio quit the night early to go and get some rest before Day 2, but only after both of their daddies had to promise Piper and Mei would be reunited tomorrow.
Hai’s boys were asking a million questions about their uncle after finding out he’d returned. Introductions would have to wait for after the sun came up, because with Piper’s departure, Li informed all three of her children that it was their bedtime as well. Hai kissed Mei, Bo, and Bin goodnight, but also stuck around for a nightcap.
Maria called it quits at the same time, so Goldberg and Olivia followed to have their own fun. Kat decided to call it quits too so they could talk.
“Do you think they’ll be fit for company before noon?” Luke wondered.
“I’m sure. Her tech crew handles set up better when she’s present and accounted for.” His companion debated disclosure and determined his business partner wouldn’t care. “She got a friend of yours out to run things.”
“A friend? Who?”
“Lists. Kinda like a dog with his strong preferences for routine.”
Caroline’s father chuckled. “Very true. I can’t wait to see him.”
“How long do you figure we’ve got until they make this official?”
“Knowing my daughter, they’re not exactly up there using protection right now,” Luke warned.
“We set up to have a month off after this round of races.”
“Sounds like we’ll all be going on a family vacation to get them married then.”
“You want to get her back on the track again, don’t you?”
“Us.” Luke insisted, “I want to get us back on the track again.”
“Even better.”