“This is my best friend, Violetta.” She smiles timidly. “Nice to meet you.” He gives her his charming smirk. “The pleasure is all mine.” She reaches out to shake his hand, but instead of holding it in a firm grip, he brings the top of her perfectly manicured fingers to his lips, kissing them gently.
Am I watching gentleman porn, what the fuck is this?
She blushes.
Violetta, please fall in love with this teddy bear of a man. He is perfect for you. I will go out of my way to be a matchmaker, if you’re willing.
He lets go of her hand, refocusing his attention on all of us. “It was nice to meet all of you. I hope you enjoy the race today.” Before he walks away, his gaze meets Violetta, giving her a wink before striding off.
I almost squeal when she looks over at me with a knowing look. Did Xavier just hit on my best friend?
I’m gonna have to talk to his cheeky ass after this race is over. When my father gets a look at the car, he almost runs to see it. One moment he’s in front of me, the next he’s petting it. I burst out laughing.
“Papa, the team needs to keep working.” He gives me a look saying, “I’m staying.” León is smiling beside me as we watch him.
“Sir, I’m gonna have to politely tell you to step away from the vehicle.” I tense when his accent runs through my ear drums. My dad’s head snaps up.
He walks over to Luca shaking his hand. “It’s very nice to meet my daughters’ boss.” Nodding, the Italian bastard walks away. I guess that’s a normal reaction.But it hurts nonetheless.
“He’s very friendly,” my father says, and I chuckle. “Like you’re any nicer,” I blurt out sarcastically, rolling my eyes. I lead them all out of the paddock and walk them to the club above the pits.
“This is where you’ll be watching from. I got you all exclusive seats just for the race.” León walks over to me, hugging me into his side, then kisses my forehead. “Don’t let that imbecile take away your shine today. You’re gonna do great.” He looks into my eyes while saying every word, making sure I know he means it. I melt.“Te amo, hermano.”
“I love you more.” He turns, sitting down and crossing his legs while putting his glasses on. “I’ll see you both later.” I wave at Violetta and my father.
Striding away, I take a deep breath and replay my brother’s words. He’s right. Luca can have all the time he needs, but that doesn’t mean it should affect my career.
ChapterThirty-Three
Luca Donatello
How could she bring them here?
The audacity that women possesses will always astound me. After what happened, she brought them here. In my presence!
I’ve been thinking, my mind on constant replay of what happened on the checkered terrace within the castle walls. I couldn’t say anything, but I have so many questions. Ones that frighten me as much as my feelings for her do. Ones I must eliminate from my mind until they no longer exist.
Her words, her face, and her pain make me go crazy. To say I was angry would be an understatement. I’m still furious.
She knew! She knew that organized crime was a trigger from my past. A part of my life that I would never get over. Did she use that to hurt me?
Every time I find something good, it always brings me back to my father. The man who died on the steps of his own home in front of his wife and children. The shooter was a friend, one whom our family trusted. Until he shot my father in the head with a revolver. That is what these types of people do;they kill.
Her father and her brother kill. Hell, maybe even she does too.
Why can’t I just tell someone? Why can’t I just make her pay for playing me all this time when I was deep inside her? Showing my most vulnerable parts. The parts I don’t show anyone, except for her.
All through my fake marriage, I never confided in Adèle, nor would I ever. The only people who know are the people my mother chooses to tell. The people who she thinks deserve to hear the story of our family tragedy. The legacy in which we thrive on, eradicating people like Ale and her father.
Her father even came to introduce himself to me as well as her brother. The two people in her life that she said with her own words, would kill her if I said anything.
That’s why I haven’t, I will not be like them. Having a person’s blood on my hands is not something my conscious needs or wants.
“Boss, the formation lap is done. We need you looking over intercoms.” I nod, opening the diagnostics page on the screen in front of me.
First red light all the way to the fifth, and then it’s lights out. The engines are heard all aroundAutódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Xavier qualified first with Ale in third. No overtaking was done at the beginning of this race. Xavier is about six seconds ahead of Amir and Ale is close behind by a few tenths. Fighting for the place, she gets past Amir. Cheers erupt and I stay still.