26. Antonio
Chapter twenty-six
Antonio
C ontrary to what most people think, Adriano is a genius. He’s so smart that it’s actually stupid, because he rarely uses it to his full ability. Instead, he uses it to manipulate people or remember every secret he’s ever been told.
Today is a prime example of just how smart he is. When he suggested Monaco as the place for Theá and me to stay for the duration of the plan, I presumed it was solely because Monaco sits perfectly between Italy and France. But alas, I should’ve known better.
Adriano chose Monaco, specifically Monte Carlo, for the exact reason I hate the city: the Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco .
Where he’s obsessed with the sport, I find it boring and draining. I mean shit, the cars drive in circles for two hours. It's an absolute snooze fest, and the humming of the engines is the perfect white noise.
Again, Adriano is a genius because he not only managed to have me stay in this city as an excuse for him to visit—not that he needed another excuse—but he also managed to convince us to meet at the Grand Prix itself.
“After you,” I say to Theá as she scans her VIP paddock pass lanyard and enters through the turnstiles. It’s swarming with fans looking for autographs, team staff, and media. It’s all a bit overwhelming; even the CFP dinner seems mediocre in comparison.
I rejoin her and interlace our fingers as we walk through the paddock towards the Scuderia Premio paddock club, Adriano’s favourite team, of course.
While everyone is sporting a mixture of team merchandise, Theá and I look like something straight out of a French Riviera movie. Well, she makes me look a lot better. She’s wearing a gorgeous, golden-yellow halter neck dress that makes her rich, brown skin glow even more than usual. Half of her natural curls cascade down her back while the other half is clipped up, allowing small tendrils to fall and frame her face.
It’s beautiful in the most natural sense. The kind of beauty where you know she’s not even trying, no matter how much she tries to say otherwise.
I watch as her eyes travel all around the paddock. I’m so enamoured by her that if it weren’t for the sudden screams, I would’ve missed it completely.
Whylde Kings is heading into the Scuderia Premio garage with fans rushing up to him and cameras flashing.
“Is that really him?” Theá asks, seemingly starstruck. Irritation bubbles in my chest as I watch her face light up with excitement. I can’t fully blame her, he’s a racing legend. And even if you hate the sport, his name is usually the first that comes to mind after Michael Schumacher .
“Yes it is, he just signed with Premio this year and is currently on his way to win his eighth world championship,” I say as we stand, waiting a bit for the commotion to die down.
“I thought you didn’t watch Formula 1?” she asks, and I can hear the smirk in her voice without even seeing it.
“I don’t, but his reputation precedes him both on and off the track.”
As notorious as Whylde is for his racing, his reputation with women is equally notorious. There are even pictures of him and Ambrose together on the Amalfi Coast just before my papá died.
“Hmm, he’s cute. Nice tattoos.”
My head snaps down to her. Her expression seems so serious, my mind plays through every scenario from dragging her home to somehow causing him to get into a very bad accident. But then, her smile cracks through and she starts giggling—it saves the poor fuck’s life, just like that.
Too bad she wasn’t there the day I killed her uncle, or maybe her smile could’ve stopped him from meeting his maker.
“When did you become a comedian?” I scoff. “C’mon, we need to meet up with everyone before the race starts.” I guide her through the crowd into the garage, and thankfully Whylde is out of sight.
What is in sight are my brothers and Mattia, and I make a bee-line straight for them.
It’s easy to see how Gus and I went for the classic paddock attire while Mattia and Adriano went for the more casual, streetwear type of dress code.
“You made it,” Mattia says, eyeing my outfit. “Very suave, it looks good on you fra . You look beautiful, too, Theá,” he says to my wife. I raise a brow as I subtly pull her into my side.
“Thank you, Mattia, good to see you guys again,” she greets everyone, but only Gus returns the greeting since Adriano is too busy staring at the TV where the presenters are currently discussing the build-up for today’s race.
“He’s in his element,” Theá says, observing him.
“He’s a race engineer in another life.” Gus snickers and rolls his eyes.
“I could do it if I wanted to. It’s just too much effort,” Adriano comments as he finally graces us with his attention.
“Nino,” he says before his attention shifts to Theá, or rather whoever is behind her. The slightest turn of my head confirms my suspicion.
In a bright red, skin-tight, mini dress and team jacket—that matches the one Adriano’s wearing—Natalia stands, talking to none other than Whylde Kings himself.
I stifle a laugh as I turn to watch my brother’s rather annoyed expression for the girl he claims to despise.
“That guy is more worried about his off-track performance than actually winning on track,” Adriano remarks.
“But Antonio say he’s about to—"
I elbow Theá in her side to cut her words off just as Adriano shoots her a glare.
“Why don’t we go join them and say happy birthday to Nat?” Mattia offers, coming to the rescue. But in reality, it only pisses me off now since he’s taking her exactly where I’ve been avoiding taking her. “Don’t worry, fra , I’ll kill him if he even looks at her,” he whispers as he passes me, and my lips tilt up in a smirk.
Adriano tilts his head towards the window. Gus and I take the hint and follow him away from the majority of the people. The window overlooks the track with the perfect view of the pit lane.
“So where is our dearest older brother?” I ask.
The twins look at each other and then back at me. “Wedding planning,” Adriano says with a shrug.
I raise a brow at their strange demeanour. “Is that code for something or is he actually cake-tasting and shit.”
Gus rolls his eyes and sighs. “For fuck’s sake, you two would make the world’s worst spies. He’s busy with work.”
That I know is a code for him taking care of the plan, and I imagine it must be because they know we’re being watched.
“I met with Gabriel a few days ago,” I say. Their eyes flash to me, worry clear across their expressions.
“The evening of the concert?” Adriano confirms, and I nod.
“He wanted me to appraise a few artworks for him, mainly replicas and inflating the value of others.”
“So art is clearly how they move money,” Gus says.
“That wasn’t surprising considering we suspected it after the wedding, what was surprising was just how close Enzo and Gabriel are,” I say, glancing over my shoulder to check if Mattia is out of earshot.
“He was there?” Gus asks, and he and Adriano lock eyes briefly.
“Yeah, and he was at the dinner the night before that, too. Gabriel referred to him as, and I quote, ‘one of his men’.”
“Does Mattia know?” Gus asks.
“I haven’t told him yet. I wanted to mention it to you guys first,” I say, and they nod.
“Be careful what artwork you appraise for them. We would hate to get caught up in them ripping off the wrong client,” Adriano says.
“I think it’s too late for that. The price tags on those were high, we should probably brace for a backfire just in case.” I sigh.
They both nod before falling silent again as we let the noise of the paddock club wash over us.
“Has a lot been developing at work? Mattia has been keeping me slightly updated, but I’m worried he’s not being 100% transparent.” I look between them, moving the conversation back towards what I want to know.
Adriano looks down at the pit lane and we all follow his moves, our backs now fully facing the rest of the room.
“It’s all going according to plan. He’s met with a few people who’ve said they can help with a distraction, and all that you’ll have to do is slip out.”
“Well, Theá and I,” I correct him, and both my brothers’ heads snap to me.
“What?” they ask in unison. And even though they’ve done it many, many times in this lifetime, it’s always creepy.
“You have to get us both out.”
“No,” Adriano says without even a second thought. “There shouldn’t even be a Theá and you.”
“I’m not leaving her.”
“You’re getting distracted. This wasn’t part of the plan, Nino,” Gus tries to reason with me, but I’m in the midst of a staring match with Adriano, and I’m not prepared to lose.
“She wants to get out, too,” I plead with my older brother.
To be honest, I have no idea what Theá wants, but I’d like to think that if given the chance, she might be happier out of her father’s reach.
“How do you know she’s not just using you for her own agenda?” Adriano raises a brow.
My stomach sinks, because Adriano is the one person I know who wouldn’t make a weighted accusation like this without having some kind of proof.
“Remember every face wears a mask, Nino, and your wife’s is just a very pretty one,” he says just as the first car leaves the garage to take its spot on the grid.
Mattia joins us and my head immediately snaps around the room, looking for Theá. I spot her near the door with Natalia and a few other girls.
“Nat said the view from the rooftop is better. Do you guys wanna go watch it from there?” Mattia asks.
Adriano scoffs, but turns to walk towards where they are.
“What’s his problem?” Mattia asks.
“He just hates red.” I snicker.
Once we’re on the rooftop, we have a perfect view of the track for the national anthem, which happens to be sung by none other than Natalia herself. Adriano conveniently has to get a video of the one Monegasque driver, who happens to be right next to Natalia the entire time.
Then it’s lights out and bedtime for me. If it weren’t for the DJ, unlimited bar, and buffet, I would’ve fallen asleep on one of these big beanbag-like chairs, especially with the way Theá is playing with my hair. Her nails graze the back of my neck as they tangle through my curls, and it’s the most euphoric feeling.
“Theá, let’s go take some pictures over there,” Nat says, and Theá’s movements stop.
I groan out a throaty sound in protest as my eyes flash open to hers. Her eyes are pleading, and a part of me knows it’s because this is one of the first real female friendships she’s had aside from her sister. Without any further hesitation, I sit upright and nod, gesturing for her to follow after Nat.
She beams and suddenly my stomach twists. I want to give her anything and everything she wants just for her to keep smiling at me like that. A part of me was nervous about how the girls would treat her considering the circumstances, but also because of everything that happened with Valerie. I’m relieved to see they’re getting along well.
“Here you go,” Mattia says as he hands me a drink.
“What is it?” I sniff the cup.
“It’s Firestrike , that one energy drink that sponsors a team, and vodka.”
I scrunch my face in disgust.
“I promise it’s not bad, at least that’s what the bartender said.” Mattia points over at the small promo stand where he received the drinks, and immediately I know why my cousin has suddenly decided to drink Firestrike and vodka as an Italian millionaire.
I take a sip and grimace slightly. God, it’s awful. I can’t believe we’re watching the race like some basic celebrities when we could’ve been on a yacht in the marina, watching from a more luxurious and comfortable angle. Especially with fewer people—and fewer drivers who are trying to flirt with my wife. More time with her without any distractions.
I watch Theá from across the room as she giggles and poses with Nat. “Promise me something,” I say to Mattia, drawing his attention up from his phone.
“As long as it’s not any of my body parts, sure.”
“Even if we can’t get her out, just make sure she’s safe for me.”
It’s his turn to look at the girls, and he nods slowly. “I promise, I’ll do anything I can to keep her safe.”
“Thank you.”
“So what changed? And when did it change? When did you fall for her?” His questions come out rushed.
“It’s not falling if I’m being dragged down.” I smirk as I repeat the words she once said to me. “I think at the concert with Val and Ambrose, but a part of me always knew. She feels comfortable, like coming home. Everything is natural, easy…”
“Comfortable, huh? What about how you felt about Val?”
“I’ll always love Val, but I’m not in love with her—and I don’t think I ever was. I think I just loved the idea of us, but when I look at her and Ambrose, I know he’s in love with her.”
“Like you are with Theá?”
I stay silent. I haven’t admitted the depth of my feelings to myself, let alone out loud before.
“I see the way you look at her. It’s the way Ambrose looks at Valerie. It’s the way Augustus looks at designer shoes. Hell, it’s the way I look at food. Even if you don’t want to admit it for whatever reason, it’s love.”
A smile tugs at my lips and his words tug at my heart as I watch her. “Yeah, it might be.”
“There’s only ten laps left, let’s go stand at the finish line,” Adriano says as he walks over to us.
“Do we have to?” I grumble, shifting in my surprisingly comfortable bean bag. I should get one of these for Theá’s library.
“Yeah, we’re heading to dinner after,” Adriano says, and I’m instantly on my feet. Finally, this drag of a day is almost over. Between my brother and Natalia, I haven’t been in Theá’s presence all too much, and I find myself craving it.
I push back my sour mood for the sake of the media and join in all the festivities as Whylde takes home another win, bringing him even closer to his 8th world title. It’s champagne and confetti all around, and even Theá is brimming with joy as if she’s loved this sport all her life. Maybe Formula 1 isn’t all that bad.