9. Callum
I sat beside her, our shoulders nearly touching on the worn couch.
Her knees were still tucked into her chest, her cheek resting against them, and I could feel the faint tremble in her frame.
She hadn’t moved since I kissed her—a kiss so soft it had felt like a secret.
But she hadn’t pushed me away either. She’d leaned in, just enough to undo something in me.
I kept my hands to myself now, but I stayed close. Just being there, ready if she needed more. Not asking for anything. Not pushing. Just anchoring.
The knock on the door came quietly.
Aurélieflinched, just barely. I leaned closer and murmured, “Stay here. I’ll handle it.” I pressed a tender kiss to her temple. She didn’t respond, but she didn’t pull away either.
I stood and cracked the door open. Marco grinned at me,Kimijust behind him, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
“Convoy’s here,” Marco whispered, waggling his brows.
“Knock it off,” I muttered. His smirk faded when he sawAurélieon the couch, and to his credit, his whole demeanor shifted.Kimididn’t say anything, but his jaw tightened slightly.
They entered quickly, quietly. The room felt smaller with them inside, the dim window light barely enough to cut through the tension.
Auréliedidn’t lift her head, but her hands fidgeted in her lap, tugging at the sleeve of her hoodie. Her phone lay dark beside her. The hollowness in her eyes earlier had faded a little, but she looked like she was holding herself together by a thread.
“Jesus,Dubois,”Kimimuttered, keeping his voice low. He crouched a short distance from her. “You look like you’ve been through the wringer.”
She didn’t answer. Just the faintest shift of her jaw.
Kimiturned to me. “What happened?”
“That’s her story,” I said. “All you need to know is she’s done with this place today.”
“Jevaisbien,” she said suddenly, and we all turned to her. Her voice was quiet but strong, and so veryAurélie.
Marco hovered by the door. “So what’s the play?”
“We get her out quietly. No questions.”
“Media’s buzzing already,” Marco said, glancing at his watch. “We’ve got a few minutes before someone comes knocking.”
“She rides with me,”Kimisaid. “No one will question it.”
I didn’t love the idea. I wanted to be the one beside her, the one she turned to. But he was right. It made the most sense. “Fine,” I agreed. “Marco and I will lead. We swap cars outside the city.”
“Like a bloody heist,” Marco said with a grin, rubbing his hands together. “I’m in.”
I shot him a glare. “It’s not a joke.” It came out harsher than I intended. Guilt gnawed at me. “Sorry.”
He sobered. “Yeah. Got it. We’ve got her back.”
“Luminisdoesn’t deserve her,”Kimiadded. He stepped closer toAurélie, crouching in front of her. “You deserve better. Do you need anything before we go?”
She finally lifted her head, just a little. “No. I don’t want to talk about it here.”
“Fair.” He stood and nodded at me.
“We’ll handle it,Auri,” I reassured her.
Marco gave a thumbs-up. “Where do you want to meet?”
“There’s acaféoutside the city. It’s secluded. No press, no cameras.” A spot I frequented when I needed to get away.
Marco smirked. “Romantic.”
I ignored him. Auréliestood slowly. I was already beside her, steadying her with a hand on her lower back. She didn’t flinch. That alone felt like a victory, until she stepped towardKimiand away from me.
“Let’s go,” I said quietly.
The four of us moved quickly.Kimistayed close toAurélie’sside.
Her head stayed low, her eyes fixed on the floor as we navigated the maze of hallways.
My chest tightened with every step, hyper-aware of every shadow, every sound.
The last thing she needed was another confrontation.
The walk was tense, but Marco and I kept our pace casual, making idle conversation about the upcoming race, though my mind was a storm of worries.
I couldn’t shake the harrowing image ofAurélieon that couch, her eyes red and empty, her shoulders slumped like the world had finally broken her.
We reached the exit without incident. Marco and I climbed into my car and waited forKimito pull out behind us.
“Is she okay?” Marco asked as we pulled onto the road.
“No,” I admitted. “But she’s holding on.”
Marco shook his head. “FuckingLuminis. They’re all about diversity until it gets uncomfortable for them. Hypocrites.”
“They’re going to lose her,” I said. “And they deserve to.”
“We should put in a word with some other teams,” Marco suggested. “Ferrari, maybe. They’re looking for a new driver next season.”
I glanced at him, surprised. “You’d do that?”
“Hell, yeah,” he said. “She’s got talent, Fraser. You know that better than anyone. She deserves a shot, and not with some shitty midfield team who wanted to make waves this season but wasn’t prepared for what all that meant.”
I didn’t respond. She did deserve better, and I’d do whatever it took to make sure she got it.
When we reached thecafé,Kimi’scar was already waiting.Auréliestepped out and met my eyes as I got out of my car, and something flickered in her eyes—gratitude, maybe, or just relief. Finally, a sign of life in the beautiful golden-green colors.
We swapped places quickly, Marco moving to joinKimiwhile I usheredAurélieto my car with a gentle press of my hand between her shoulder blades.
“You’re with me now,” I said, opening the passenger door for her.
She got in without a word. Marco andKimigave me a quick wave before heading back toward the city, leaving us alone.
The silence in the car was heavy but not suffocating.Auréliestared out the window, her profile illuminated by the afternoon sun. She didn’t speak, but her shoulders had relaxed slightly, the tension in her body easing with every mile we put between us and Monte Carlo.
I could still feel her mouth on mine, could still taste her. It had been gentle, careful—everything I usually wasn’t, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’d let her crawl into my lap and cry herself to sleep. Or kiss me until she forgot. Either way, I’d take it. I’d take anything she gave me.
I drove with one destination in mind. Eventually, the city gave way to open roads, the air cooler and cleaner.
“Where are we going?” she finally asked in a gentle tone.
“You’ll see,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips at the sound of her voice.
We pulled into a secluded spot near a bridge, the kind of place only locals of the countryside knew about. Aurélie’seyes widened slightly as she took in the setup—a bungee jumping platform with harnesses and ropes.
“You’re kidding,” she said, turning to me.
“You said you needed out. This is out. Adrenaline, clean air, no press.” Her lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile. For the first time all day, I saw a spark of something other than despair in her, and it was enough to make me believe that maybe, just maybe, we were on the right track.
I climbed out, rounding the front of the car to open her door. “Come on,chérie,” I said, offering her my hand. “It’ll be fun. Trust me.”
She hesitated for just a moment before taking my hand, her grip firm as I pulled her out of the car. “Somehow, I do.”
Fuck.I paused, gaping at her, because she didn’t know what she’d just done to me with those words. I shook it off, though, and said, “Let’s see if flying clears your head.”