Chapter 9 - Makari
Grace likes to sleep in and then snuggle with the pillows. I stood in the room door, watching her sleep. She looked so peaceful. She was a sleeping beauty. Moving closer, I leaned forward, gently pushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Her eyes flickered for a moment. “Grace, you have to get up. We have a busy day ahead,” I said softly.
She looked up at me as she opened her eyes. My heart seemed to melt every time our eyes met. I had to fight the urge to get into bed with her. Grinning, I stepped back as she nodded.
I spoke as I moved to the door. “We have to leave soon. I’ll pour the coffee. See you in a bit.”
“Thanks,” she replied groggily.
I poured two cups of coffee and waited patiently. As I swallowed the last of my coffee, I checked my watch. Half an hour had passed, and Grace had still not come down. We had to get moving, or we would be late. I wondered what kept her as I headed back to her room.
“Grace,” I said through the door as I knocked.
“Come in,” she replied.
As I entered, I started speaking, needing to get her to move. “We are going to be late. We have to leave right…,” As I laid my eyes on her, I swallowed the last couple of words before they could be uttered.
Grace was wearing a soft pink summer dress. Her hair was tied in a messy bun. The leather jacket and black boots she wore gave her a wild look. My mind tried to grasp her innocence combined with the bad girl vibe. My heart raced as I studied her.
“Just getting my bag. I’m done,” she said, turning to face me. She stopped and turned her head to the side as she saw me staring. “Is something wrong? Do I look okay?” she asked, swaying slightly as she looked down. “I wasn’t sure where we were going, so I didn’t know what to put on.”
“You look…,” I started saying, then got distracted by her wide smile.
“I look what?” she enquired, sounding concerned.
“Sorry, my mind was drifting. You look gorgeous,” I added, stepping closer.
“Thank you,” she responded. As she moved past me, I could see her cheeks glowing as she blushed.
I followed her downstairs and out the door. I felt like a lovesick puppy and would rather have stayed home with her. There were many other things I could think of for us to do. But I knew I had to be there for my brother.
Opening the door, I assisted her into my truck before bolting to the other side to get in. I knew the drive wouldn’t be long as the tracks were just out of town, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
“Where are we going?” she asked as we approached the racetrack.
Remembering where we were headed, I sighed softly. I didn’t want to take her there, but had no other option. “We are going to go see Pavel compete,” I responded.
“Oh,” she huffed. “What is he competing in?”
“Don’t worry, I said, grinning. “You’ll see soon enough.”
Driving through the large gates of the track, I heard Grace gasping. “Are we at the races?” she inquired.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, we are,” I replied, smiling.
Grace looked like she was jumping in her seat as she spoke. “This is going to be fun. I’ve never been, so this is new to me. But I’ve always wanted to come.”
I parked next to Pavel’s racing trailer. I didn’t feel comfortable. Pavel having to race for them as a favor is one thing, but I had reluctantly brought Grace. I would have preferred to keep her home or somewhere else. Hell, I would have loved to be somewhere else. But with Vadik out of play, I had to ensure Pavel was safe.
Plus, I couldn’t just leave her somewhere, not while she was in danger. If I did, and the enemy happened to find her, who knew what they would do? With her by my side, I knew she was safe.
Taking her hand, I led her up the stands to the private box the Chernykhs owned. Moving through the crowds, I noticed her studying everything with awe. Pulling her closer, I whispered. “Have you ever been to a race?”
“No,” she replied eagerly.
I watched her as we moved up and entered the booth. Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was like watching a child on Christmas morning. There were more guards outside the booth than usual. I greeted them as they parted for us to enter.
Stepping inside, I saw the brothers in one corner and their sisters in the other. Between and behind them were tables with an assortment of food and drinks. To our side was a small bar for those who wanted something stronger than juice or soda.
Misha turned and spotted us. She waved for us to join them. I knew that Iosif and Avgust would want to meet Grace, but I couldn’t be rude. As we got closer, she greeted me in a friendly tone. “Makari, it's been a long time since we last saw you.”
Smiling, I replied and introduced them to Grace. “Yes, it’s been a minute. But you know your brothers keep me on my toes. This is Grace.”
Misha got up, extending her hand. “Hi, Grace, pleased to meet you, I’m Misha,” she said.
Grace took the hand that was offered and shook lightly as she replied. “Good to meet you, Misha.”
Zhenya also got up and shook hands with grace. “I’m Zhenya, and this,” she turned, pointing at the youngest sister as she continued. “This is Elisse.”
I waited for Grace to shake hands with Elisse as well before interrupting. “If you girls don’t mind excusing us, I would like to introduce her to your brothers. But I promise we will be right back, okay?”
They giggled while nodding. I placed my hand on Grace’s back and turned her towards the group of men. They turned as we got close, and an awkward silence suddenly filled the booth. “Iosif,” I said, nodding at him. “Avgust,” I continued, nodding at him as well before lightly pushing Grace forward. “I would like you to meet Grace.”
Iosif and Avgust stared at her for a second. It felt more like they were trying to dissect her with their eyes. I wanted to take her and run. I didn’t want her to be under their scrutiny. Grace must have felt the shift in the atmosphere as she placed her arm around my waist and held tight.
Pulling her closer, I waited as Avgust finally opened his big mouth and spoke. “So, you’re Grace.” His voice dripped with disgust, and I had to clench my fist at my side to prevent it from colliding with his face.
Iosif must have noticed my shift in demeanor as he moved closer, holding out his hand to Grace. She took it and shook it lightly.
“I’m Iosif,” he said. Glancing over his shoulder, he continued. “This is my brother Avgust, and Lukyan is behind him at the table.” He scanned the room before speaking again. “Then there is also Timofey, who appears to have stepped out. Glad to meet you.”
Looking at me in the eyes, he continued in a calm tone. “He was in the pits with Pavel and should be here any moment.”
“No problem,” I replied, grateful for his calmness.
“What is it you do, Grace?” he inquired suddenly.
She breathed out unsteadily before speaking. “I’m a student. It’s my last year of marketing.”
“Sounds interesting,” Iosif replied.
I wasn’t sure what he was fishing for, but I felt sure if I didn’t step in, it would turn into an interrogation soon.
“How did the two of you meet?” Avgust rudely interrupted.
I felt my anger spiking and had to get control of the situation. Glaring at Avgust, I replied for her. “We met at the university. The one you sent me to.”
Turning to Grace, I pointed at the sisters as I continued to speak. “You can join them. I’ll be there shortly.”
Smiling, she turned and moved away. I watched until she was seated before returning my attention to the brothers. They were both staring at me intently as Iosif spoke. “Is she the witness?”
“Yes, she is,” I replied, nodding.
“Does she know about us?” Avgust questioned abruptly.
“No, how would she know about you? She thinks we came to watch my brother race.” I spat back, feeling my anger and trying to take control. I was battling to keep it suppressed with Avgusts attitude. “She doesn’t even know what I do for a living. How would she know about you?”
“Good,” Avgust breathed out. “Keep it that way, and she might survive this.”
“Alright, weapons down,” Iosif said, touching his brother's shoulder. “We’ll talk about it later. Let’s enjoy the race for now.”
Avgust puffed up like a toddler whose toy was taken away. He stomped off to the corner of the booth. Nodding at Iosif, I turned and went to join Grace. I noticed she was having what appeared to be a good conversation with the girls as they laughed.
Sitting down next to her, I took her hand in mine. I stared out at the racetrack, trying to calm down. I wouldn’t let Avgust harm Grace. For the first time in my life, I knew what defiance was. Grace squeezed my hand as she leaned in, speaking in my ear. “How long has Pavel been racing?”
Looking at her, I tried to answer in a calm tone. I didn’t want her to know I was upset. “He always had a thing for cars from a very young age. As a child, he would walk around with our father's tools and pretend to fix our bikes and any cars we passed.” I smiled, remembering his eagerness to work on them.
Taking a deep breath, I continued. “As we got older, he actually did. He taught himself, and once he was tall enough to reach the pedals, he started driving. Our mother was always worried, and the old man… Well, he never really cared.”
“So basically, his entire life!” Grace gasped, smiling as she looked out at the track.
I pushed down the urge to kiss her and spoke instead. “He started at about six with a go-kart he built.” I laughed, thinking back to his box with wheels. “Since then, it’s only been upgrading his vehicles.”
“He’s been doing it professionally for about five years now,” Misha added, grinning at us.
The booth was filling up with associates of the Chernykhs, and I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t want Grace around these types of people. Moving my chair closer, I placed my arm around her like an invisible shield.
Feeling her movements under my arms as she bubbled with excitement, my senses all lit up. She leaned forward as the cars pulled up to the starting line. Once they revved up their engines, she bounced back, placing her hands over her mouth to muffle her scream. She wasn’t expecting it to be so loud.
I could see the enthusiasm in her eyes and every move she made. “Why are the cars so different?” she asked, tapping my leg.
“Well, they are built for speed, wind resistance, and naturally, according to each racer's preference,” I responded. “Each car is a marvel of engineering defined to enhance it. There are a lot of dynamics, designs, and principles to consider when designing such vehicles. Each part enhances performance.”
She sat on the edge of her chair as the announcement came and the countdown began. The air filled with smoke and a loud booming sound as a gunshot went off. Grace bounced in her chair. Placing her hands over her mouth, she once again muffled the scream.
Rubbing her back, I leaned forward, speaking softly, “It’s okay, it’s only the start of the race.” I knew she had been on edge since the shooting, but didn’t expect this reaction. Although I should have warned her about it.
We watched as the cars piled onto the racetrack. With each turn, they slowly started falling into their places. “Oh, look,” Grace exclaimed, pointing at the track. “Pavel is one of the front cars.”
“Yes,” I replied, smiling at her. “He is good and soon should be in the lead.”
“Why are so many of the cars driving up the sides instead of in the middle?” Grace enquired curiously.
“Each driver has a different technique. Some prefer the inside of the track, others the outside. It also helps to prevent accidents. Plus, it gives them a chance at overtaking each other,” I answered.
She looked at the race intently like a child would study the flashing lights on a merry-go-round. Once the cars started pulling off for tire changes, she glanced at me as she spoke. “Why are they doing that?”
“Well, the track and speed cause the tires to wear quickly. They need a solid grip and have to change the tires often. If a tire bursts out there at that speed, it could have devastating consequences. It was nice watching her. She was eager to learn more and very inquisitively.
“Look, Pavel is in the lead,” Grace shouted, jumping up and down.
Standing, I placed my hand around her as I lightly pulled her back into the chair. “Calm down, Grace,” I whispered, seeing all the glares we were getting.
“He is one of the best drivers out there,” Misha said, turning to look at us. As she spoke, I noticed a sparkle in her eyes and wondered if she was developing a crush.
But before I could ask, Timofey showed up. He stood next to Grace, smiling down at her as he spoke. “Well, hello, beautiful. Who are you?”
Grace smiled at him. She seemed to light up as he placed a hand on her shoulder. I felt my anger surging through me, even my bones were vibrating. Placing my hand on her leg, I narrowed my brows as I looked up at him. I didn’t need to say a word. My look said it all. It said to back off or else.
Timofey raised his hands, taking a step back as he spoke. “Ok, ok, I get the idea. No need to go all ape shit on me. You could just say it, you know.” I just watched as he turned and joined his brothers on the other side of the room.
Lowering my gaze to Grace, I noticed something in her had shifted. There was a change as she pushed my hand from her leg.