My heart was thudding in my chest as I drove around the track on my cooldown lap.

I barely registered Zak come on the radio to congratulate me.

Z> "Let's goooo! P4 Alessandro! Great fucking job! Amazing drive dude!"

A> "I'm sorry guys, I really tried those last two laps."

Z> "Dude, you just scored your highest finish ever! You should be proud.

A>"Thank you guys, the car was incredible today. Great job team."

I felt like I was under water. Even as I got out of the car my head was in a haze.

I could see the cameras surrounding Max, a few focused on me. I nearly stumbled over my feet as I walked towards the weighing scales.

My helmet stayed on, I didn't want anyone to see my face right now.

I'm pretty sure I looked like I'd seen a ghost.

"Congrats, Sandro!" Ivan grinned, patting my shoulder. I nodded, unable to say anything else.

Everyone around me was happy for me. I had never finished P4 in Formula 1 and it was apparently a big achievement.

But I couldn't help but feel like the third place finish had slipped right through my fingers yet again.

"Unlucky mate," Lando said quietly as I entered the garage.

He was the only one who had noticed my dejected stance.

"Yeah, fucking shit again," I replied, tugging my gloves off.

"Don't say that, you'll only feel worse. Be proud of yourself."

I didn't reply, putting both hands on the counter in front of me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my breathing and keep my emotions in check.

The chatter in the garage increased as the crew returned to the garage and I took that as a sign to disappear into my drivers room.

The walls were soundproof, offering much needed peace and quiet.

It also meant I could let out a loud groan of frustration.

Nobody aside from myself needed to hear that.

I unzipped my suit and grabbed a team polo when a knock sounded at my door.

"Come in!" I called, thinking it was my physiotherapist, Aaron.

"Alessandro fucking Moreno, did you just get your highest finish ever?" a feminine voice spoke.

I whipped around to find Dakota peeking through the door.

"Sorry, I thought you were Aaron," I said, quickly pulling my shirt on.

She slowly shut the door behind her after fulling entering my room.

Her hair was tied up in a loose ponytail now, the braids long gone. Her racing suit was still on, only the a little portion of the top unzipped. She had come directly from the FIA garage to my room.

Dakota immediately noticed the look on my face and her smile dropped.

"Well that's not the expression I expected to see," she muttered as I sat down on the massage table in my room.

"Not now, Dakota," I sighed, not wanting to argue with her.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up over it. You should be happy! It's fourth place, not last."

"Sure as hell feels like last," I mumbled, staring at the white ceiling.

"Oh come on, get up. Let's go explore the city," she said, grabbing my hand suddenly.

I sat up as she tugged my arm.

"There's this amazing place I always go t-"

"No."

"Yes, now come."

"Look Dakota, I'd rather hang out with Dave right now than spend more time with you," I huffed, turning away from her.

"Low blow," she muttered under her breath.

"Seriously Dakota. Stop trying to act like your everybody's friend. It's pathetic. Fuck off."

I didn't hear her say anything in response as I searched my bag for a hoodie.

"Sorry for trying to make you feel better," was all she said before the door slammed shut.

Another knock sounded at the door as Aaron popped his head in.

"What was that about?" he raised a brow, setting the foam roller on the massage table.

I shrugged, laying down. I couldn't deal with any more shit today.

———————————————————-

The scowl on my face lasted the entire day. Mark had managed to get me out of my hotel room and into the city for some sight seeing.

I loved coming to Baku but my conversation with Alessandro had left me in a bad mood. A bitter taste settled on my tongue and my day was ruined.

I thought we had some from of a friendship. I always tried to be nice to him, aside from the playful banter they engaged in. But turns out the banter from Alessandro wasn't so playful after all.

I wasn't going to take shit from anyone, and sure as hell not from Alessandro.

He had made it very clear my help and support was not wanted. And I was fine with that. To be fair, he hadn't asked for it either.

But being the nosy bitch I am, a part of me was curious to see what was up with the McLaren team. What was making Alessandro's first year with the team so bad?

The question had been on the tip of my tongue all evening as Mark and I wandered the streets of Baku. But I couldn't bring myself to ask him.

"Hey Mark," I began, making him turn to look at me.

"I was wondering."

"Oh no."

"Hey, I'm being serious."

"Fine. Go on."

"Do you think we can get the incident files from previous races?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Yes or no?"

He sighed, looking away for a moment.

"We're probably not allowed to, but it doesn't say anywhere that we can't."

That's what I was hoping to hear.

"What files do you want to see?"

"Oh I was just asking, like in general," I shrugged.

"Specifically the McLaren incident report from Monaco 2021?" he raised a brow, a sly smirk on his face.

"Well..." I trailed off, knowing I was caught.

"Dakota, that's really risky and y-"

At that moment, my phone began to ring. I gave him an apologetic look before picking up the call.

"Hi mama."

"Hey Kody, how are you?" her voice came through the phone.

"I'm good, how are you? Missing me already?"

"Already? It's been months since we've last seen you!"

"Oh it can't be that bad," I joked, knowing my family was missing me a lot.

"When is the summer break again? It seems like it gets farther and farther away each week," she sighed.

"After Hungary mama."

"You're kidding, that's too far!"

"I know, I know. Look, I can fly out to Oahu after Austria. How does that sound?"

"You better walk the walk and talk the talk," my mothers voice said sternly.

"Yes ma'am," I teased, rolling my eyes at her usual reprimands.

"Okay I'll talk to you later."

"Say hi to Emil and Dad."

"Will do, bye I love you."

"Love you too."

"Awww, so cute," Mark teased, pretending to gag.

"Oh, shut it," I huffed as we reentered the Hilton hotel we were staying at.

I spotted Lando coming out of the dining hall, the three of us headed for the elevators.

Relief ran through me when I noticed he was alone, his teammate nowhere in sight.

"Ew, look what the cat dragged in," Lando said as soon as he saw me enter the elevator.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny," I said, sticking my tongue at him.

"Very mature Dakota," he joked.

"So you're heading to Hawaii?" Mark asked as the elevator stopped to let more people in.

"Hawaii?" Lando repeated, his eyes widening in excitement. "Take me with you!"

I chuckled at his reaction before explaining.

"Actually I was born in Hawaii. My family used to live in a suburb outside of Honolulu where I grew up."

"And you have a brother?" Mark interrupted as we stepped out of the elevator."

"Yeah, his name is Emiliano. Pain in the ass."

"Sounds like Lando," he muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. Not everything's about you Lando."

"Damn I heard you mutter my name that's all. No need to get all defensive."

Mark opened his mouth to retort but I quickly interrupted.

"Boys, settle down."

"Excuse me? I am not a boy! I'm the manliest man there is," Lando said, flexing his biceps.

Right.

"You're scared of fish."

"Anyways, so, you're from Hawaii? I can't believe you've hid this from me for so long! Does your family need a dog? I can bark?" he offered.

I snorted in amusement at his desperateness.

"Uh no, my brother can do that. Plus my mother will throw her shoe at me if I bring another dog home."

"Noooo, take me with you, pleeeease?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you don't eat fish and all we eat is fish."

"I can eat plants," he countered.

"Dude, I'm going on vacation. Not babysitting duty."

"You're mean," he pouted as we came to a stop outside my room.

"Hey, you're room is right across from Alessandro's."

Well fuck me.