28. Aurélie
I avoided the crowd, the noise of celebrations fading as I found a quieter corner of the paddock. The night air was damp and cool, the aftermath of the rainstorm today lingering.
My body ached, exhaustion creeping in now that the adrenaline from the race and the argument with my family was wearing off. I leaned against a railing, closing my eyes and letting the distant hum of voices wash over me. Just a minute, I told myself. Just one minute to collect myself.
What I really needed was to have Jules give me a post-race massage and change out of my suit, but until my family left my suite, that wasn’t happening.
Honestly, it probably wasn’t long until my suite turned into a full-blown party zone anyway. Themotorhomesturned into that due to the limited space in Monaco.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Callum
Let me know when you’re free. I need to see you.
It was just eleven words, but they heated my blood and softened something inside me. After everything—the week I’d had, winning, my family—I needed that, too. I needed him. His voice, his hands, his calm. I hadn’t even changed yet, but I didn’t care. I was going to him.
You said “when I’m free.” Well… I’m all yours now. And I really, really need to be kissed again.
Callum
Thank fuck because I’m dying.
I sighed contentedly, darting between themotorhomesto find him. I knew he wouldn’t be far with how compact the space was.
But then I heard the sound of footsteps behind me, and I pivoted, half expecting to seeCallum. Instead, it was a presence I didn’t want.
“Aurélie.” His voice was smooth as oil but rotten underneath.
My stomach lurched as I recoiled from the one person I’d worked to ignore all weekend, and now I was alone with him in a dark space.
Swallowing, I said, “Santino. What are you doing here?”
He leaned casually against one of the buildings, his smile as sharp as I remembered. “Came to see history in the making. Quite the performance today.”
“Thanks,” I said shortly, already turning away. I didn’t have the energy for this.
But he wasn’t done. He stepped closer, his tone shifting from faux-charming to something darker. “No need to be so cold, machérie. I couldn’t resist checking in. You wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for me.”
My fists clenched at my sides. Do. Not. React. “What do you want,Costa?”
He shrugged, his eyes gleaming with a cruel edge. “Just a little recognition, that’s all. Let’s not pretend I didn’t play a part in your rise to stardom. Every win, every podium—you have me to thank for that.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “You taught me nothing except who I never want to be.”
His smirk faltered for a second before he stepped closer, crowding my space. “You don’t want to start something you can’t finish,” he hissed.
My heart started to pound, a mix of anger and unease swirling together. “Back off,Santino. What we had has been finished for a long time.”
But he didn’t listen. His hand clamped around my upper arm, fingers digging in like claws, and my bag dropped to the ground. “You think you can just walk away from me? Like I didn’t build you from the ground up? Like we didn’t share something special behind closed doors?”
“Let. Go,” I said through gritted teeth, yanking my arm. I was too exhausted to fight back, and he knew it. My muscles ached from more than just racing. I barely moved, and his grip only tightened.
“You think you’re better than me, don’t you? Just because you’ve got a shiny multi-million dollar car and a spotlight? But deep down, you’re still that scared little girl who needed me to tell her what to do,” he sneered, leaning closer. “You owe me.”
“I owe you nothing.” I tried wrenching my arm harder, but it just caused a flare of pain. “Everything we had ended the moment I found out you were fucking another woman.”
“So that’s what this little attitude is about? Because someone else took care of a need when you were off playing race car driver?”
That statement hurt more than I wanted to admit. “No, this is what you get when you say and do horrendous things. You’re nothing but a failed driver and an asshole.”
He chuckled, pressing me against the building. My heart pounded against my ribs so hard I thought it might crack them. I couldn’t escape.
“Say what you want, sweetheart. You won’t hurt me.”
“Fuck you.”
“Wouldn’t you like to again? I recall you liked being spread out on your back.” His breath was hot, the smell of alcohol on his breath, and I turned my face away when he tried to kiss me. But he kept trying, his mouth so close, and my head had nowhere else to go.
Santino grabbed my jaw to hold me still, his fingers squeezing as if they had any right to be on me again. Something cool and sharp pricked my skin just beneath my ear, and I hissed from the pain, trying to wrench free from his grip.
“Santino— stop —s’il vous pla?t?—”
A sharp crack rang out, and thenSantinostumbled forward, clutching the back of his head with the hand that had been on me. In the dim light, a gold ring glinted on his finger—that stupid class ring he wore and refused to take off. Then there was a blur of movement. And there he was.
Callum.
He was here, pushing between us, body coiled tight like he was barely holding himself back. His knuckles were clenched, his nostrils flaring like a man who’d just seen red.
And I wanted to cry in relief.
My lifeline, my beacon of hope, my…
I gulped.
“Is there a problem here?” His voice was low, calm, but deadly.
Santinolet go of me and straightened, the charming mask slipping back into place. I instinctively rubbed the spot. “Ah,CallumFraser. The knight in shining armor. Don’t worry, we were just catching up.”
Callum’sgaze flicked to me, his expression softening for a moment before hardening again. “Didn’t look like catching up,” he said coldly. “Looked more like sexual harassment.”
Santinolaughed, but it sounded hollow. “Relax. We were just talking.”
Callumdidn’t budge. Instead, he moved closer, positioning himself between us. I inched closer to him, seeking solace and protection. “You should probably leave.”
My ex sneered. “Careful, Fraser. You don’t want to make enemies you can’t handle.”
“I’ll take my chances. Pretty sure I’m of more value in this sport than you are,”Callumsaid, his voice low and deadly. “Now get lost.”
Santino’seyes flicked to me, the venom in his gaze making my stomach churn. “Fine. Take your charity case, Fraser. She was a fun fuck while it lasted,” he muttered.
Callumcocked his head, his eyes narrowing, and then he reached out to grabSantino’scollar, shoving him against the building. “Say it again, you piece of shit.”
I watched, somehow both horrified and turned on byCallum’sdisplay of protectiveness.
“She’s a good lay. You understand me, boy?”
Callum’sfist came up, clocking my ex in the cheek, his head hitting the wall. I inhaled sharply, debating whether or not I should step in. But thenSantinolaughed, blood covering his teeth, and I knew he was going to get whatever he deserved.
“She fucks like apornstarif you give her what she wants.”
Callumsnarled, his eyes blazing as he dug his knuckles intoSantino’sjaw, holding him in place like a coiled spring ready to snap. “Say another word,” he warned, “and I promise you’ll regret it.”
“I can take a hit, Fraser. The only difference is, I didn’t have to work my way up from the bottom like you did.”
Callumswung once, twice, three more times, blood spraying andSantinogrunting in pain beforeCallumlet him go.
Santinoslumped over, coughing. Callum’s eyes darted to me for half a second, and then he did a double take.
I didn’t understand why at first, not until I felt a warm trickle sliding down my neck.
His nostrils flared as he brushed his fingers lightly over the side of my jaw.
When they came away stained red, I startled, flinching away from him.
“You’re bleeding,” he said, more to himself than me. “Right where he grabbed you.”
I blinked, disoriented as I tried to process seeing my blood on his fingers. The skin throbbed now that I noticed it—right where Santino’s ring had cut me. “What?”
“Fucking bastard,” he muttered, then turned and hit Santino again, harder this time. “You stay away from her. You stay away from me. And if I see you again, I’ll expose you in far less graceful ways thanAuréliewould. I’m not as forgiving as she is.”
His threat hung in the air, and I couldn’t help but feel a thrill race through my veins.
Santinoglared at the both of us before straightening. Blood dripped out of his nose and the corners of his mouth, which he opened to say something, but I stepped forward as my own rage ignited.Callumhad already done the damage, butSantino? He needed to remember.
My rage wasn’t gone. Not even close. I wanted him to hurt the way I had. So I got all up in his space, put my hand on his shoulders, and kneed him right in the balls. Hard . He let out a choked sound of pain, collapsing to his knees, curling in on himself.
“That,” I said calmly, shaking out my fingers like I could get rid of the fact that I’d touched him, “was for me.”
He wisely kept his mouth shut as he climbed to his feet, flipped us the finger, and limped away.
I let out a shaky breath, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling, as if my body couldn’t decide whether to collapse or run.
The world felt muffled like I was underwater. Everything around me had dulled, the edges too soft, my hearing too distant. My vision tunneled.
Callum’shand on my shoulder brought me back. He was real. And right now, I needed real.
He turned to me, and for the first time since we met, I saw something in his eyes I couldn’t name. Not just rage. Not just protectiveness. Something deeper.
“You okay?” he asked, voice rough with restraint.