41. Harmony
Harmony
“Leave. Now,” Viktor’s voice echoes through the haze as a thick weight in my muscles stops me from opening my eyes.
“We just want one shot. It’ll be good to show the world she's okay.”
“Either leave, or we call the director and pull our funding from the project,” my Dad’s voice joins in. “If you try to come near Harmony at all during this period, there will be no movie for you to publicize."
I can’t work out what’s going on. The last thing I remember is crashing, so why do I hear their voices?
The weight begins to lift, but my body feels so weak. I don’t know if I can even move when there’s no life in my muscles. All I can do is lie here and listen to them talk.
“You should never have allowed him to take control of the race like that,” Viktor says coldly.
“I know,” Jacob says. “I didn’t think he would push it so far. It got too out of control.”
“If this becomes serious, you understand what will happen,” Dad says, his voice dripping with rage.
I’ve only heard him talk that way to me when I told them I was leaving F2.
“I understand. I'll take full responsibility for all of it,” Jacob says, and the pain in his voice makes me try to move my fingers. I want to reach out to him to tell him it wasn't his fault. The fault lies with the director, and me for getting annoyed enough to do what he said.
My family keeps talking, and I want to listen more closely, because it feels like all three of them care about me for the first time in years.
“Harmony.” A soft voice sweeps over me, and my heart swells. There’s a gentle tap on my hand, and Maddock's fingers wrap around mine. He speaks so quietly that I don’t think my family can hear him. “I saw your breathing change, I know you’re awake.”
I want to open my eyes to reach him, but it just isn’t working. It doesn’t matter how much I try, I can’t move.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he says. “I’ll stay with you as long as you need. Jaxx said he’ll come soon. And I think…” he trails off, and his hand squeezes me tighter. “I think Everest will come with him…” He lets out a shuddering sigh. “Is that right?”
My hand twitches under his as my heart thumps. I want to see all three of them. I want them here with me after the fear of almost losing it all.
But Maddock’s the one I need the most. Because if there’s anyone I need to talk to and make my peace with, it’s him.
He lets out a long sigh. “At least Everest is a good person. He won’t let you down.
I wish you could have seen his face as they carried us away.
I've known him for years, and I've never seen him look like that.
I wish I knew more about you two, but I guess that's another secret you want to keep from me?”
He groans as he lifts my hand, and it feels like he’s clasping it between both of his.
“I'm not going anywhere until you open your eyes. Even if I have to miss the final, I'm staying here with you.”
My hand twitches again as a bolt of annoyance goes through me. He’s so close to being the world champion, and there’s no way I’m letting him out of that just because of a stupid accident.
My hand squeezes his even harder, and I manage a scowl, even though I can’t open my eyes.
Maddock laughs, and the sound is so amazing I instantly relax. I can’t remember the last time I'd heard it, but the corners of my lips perk up as well.
“What is it?” Jacob says, suddenly right by my side. “Is she waking up?”
“I'm pretty sure she can hear us. So maybe you want to apologize for being a fucking idiot and putting her at risk,” Maddock growls, but I squeeze his hand again, my grip even stronger.
“Harmony,” Viktor's voice chimes in. “When you wake up, we are going to have a serious talk about your role in this production. I don't want to be responsible for any more situations like this.”
“Viktor, leave before I do something I regret,” Jacob growls at him, and love flows from how they’re protecting me.
“Viktor, have some tact. You know your sister is a far better driver than that. It's the director we need to remove, not Harmony.”
I’m surprised my Dad is defending me, but I can feel strength returning to my muscles as the four of them surround me. I love how I feel protected by my family, especially with Maddock here.
“Why do you think I'll wake up if you're threatening me, Viktor?” I croak.
Gasps run through all of them, and the bed suddenly shakes.
I crack open one eye to find four faces leaning in too close, all of them with different shades of happiness.
I still wonder if it’s only because it has to do with cars, but that doesn’t matter right now. I’m just glad they’re with me.
“How long has it been?” I ask.
“About a day,” Dad says. “We're already carrying out the repercussions of your crash.”
I open my mouth, but he holds up a hand.
“I won't take a word of arguing. Whether not you agree, you are still a member of the Grace family, and you were driving a Grace car. I won't allow there to be room for people to think they can take advantage of us like this.”
I blink at him, though a small smile rides my lips. I forgot how good it feels to have my dad looking out for me.
I turn my head, wincing at the stiffness of my neck.
Maddock's gaze holds all the pain and expectation that I want from him.
But there’s still a clench of hurt that comes afterwards at my failure.
Because first Maddock would always be worried and make sure I was okay.
As soon as things were fine, he would start telling me every little thing I'd done wrong.
Even if I had been scared or worried, that took second place to how it was my mistake, even if someone else crashed into me.
More than that, I want his scent and his pheromones, and I want to be able to feel my alphas around me and cushioning me.
“How is it?” I ask, expecting him to give me bad news. I’m sure I’m under some kind of anesthesia because I can’t feel most of my body, which means they might have put me under for surgery.
Maddock shakes his head, and I have a stab of fear. He wouldn't make that face if it weren't bad.
“You got off lightly,” Viktor says, disapproval still dripping in his voice. “Nothing but a mild concussion that should have cleared up yesterday.”
“The doctors don’t know why you were still sleeping,” Maddock says, pain leaking into his voice.
“So, I'm okay?”
“They gave you heavy painkillers when you weren't waking up just in case. When they wear off, you can walk out of here without a problem.”
Tension flees my body as I sigh with relief. My first thoughts were of my alphas, but my second was my worry about missing the charity race. If the director is going to be fired and the stunt member who crashed into me will probably lose his job as well, will the charity race even happen?
“We'll stay here as well until we know for sure you're well,” Viktor says. “I don't want to address the press outside when we don't know for sure what will happen yet.”
“Can't you try to be optimistic?” Jacob says, glaring at him.
“I'm being realistic.” Viktor glowers back, and I laugh at seeing them bicker with each other.
It has been too long since they've relaxed with each other. Maybe after this crash, Dad might let me back into the family again instead of sneaking back to see Mum at home when they’re out on the circuits.
Maddock gives me a small smile again as they all lean back, relaxing even more.
My brothers grab chairs and drag them next to my bed as Dad takes a seat in the corner, pulling files out of his briefcase and pretending to read them while constantly glancing at me.
And Maddock chats with all of us, never letting go of my hand, and none of my family mentions it at all.
Hours later, feeling finally returns to my body, and the four of them scramble to help me as I sit up and pull myself out of bed.
I’m so surprised I don’t feel an ounce of pain as I stand, but that might be because the painkillers haven’t worn off.
Maddock keeps his arm tight around me, leaning to whisper in my ear.
“Shall we go and find your mates?”