Chapter One- The Race

Luca Bianchi made history yet again on Sunday by winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza for Mercedes to become the youngest formula one racer to win at twenty years and ten months. Bianchi's win put him in the lead ahead of Derek Schneider, who came in second. The race was highlighted by Bianchi's crash which happened as he drove through the finish line. His team, however, told reporters he is in hospital undergoing tests but in stable condition. He is expected to be discharged soon. Lia I've never liked to run, not even when I did it with Luca long ago when we were growing up. It made my legs shake; now, I was running tirelessly, forcefully shoving away people in my path, rushing to him. My heart thumping in panic as I looked at his car. God, please, let him I live. I prayed, reaching where he was, panting and anxiously waiting for the rescue team to pull him out. I could see reporters surrounding him like vultures, camera flashes lighting up at the same time, trying to capture an image of a fallen winner. At that time, I hated them all. I knew all the media outlets would have an image of him when unconscious, both in print and electronic. I swore, knowing it was probably going around on social media, perhaps trending under a pretentious hashtag like get well soon. I didn't know where the strength came from, but once his body was pulled out, I walked to the front as he was placed on a stretcher with uncle Matteo and Devonni beside me. My eyes brimming with tears. When Luca moved from home to Italy at fourteen, his father instructed Matteo to be his bodyguard and friend—to watch over him while I got Devonni; however, the difference was that I moved out at twenty, which was less than a year ago. Luca and I have a few things in common, not the least of which is that we are both firstborn in our families. "I'm his legal guardian," I said as I attempted to climb into the ambulance with him. "Name?" One of them asked me with an attitude in his voice. "Lia Boselli, " I responded, scowling at him. I wasn't fond of confrontation; I loathed it, to be honest, but I was a hair's breadth from instigating one. Luckily, Matteo confirmed I was one of Luca's guardians seconds before I erupted. He was popular in this circle since he doubled as one of his bodyguards and assistants; he was also his shadow, a role he enjoyed, and one of our family lawyers. No one knew me; this was the first race I had attended since he started racing; I couldn't have come except aunt Ele, Luc's mother, who called me last week to persuade me to at least be in attendance since everyone else couldn't make it. His father, who never missed, was engaged in a meeting, and so were my father and uncle Rom. Luca and I grew up together in the same house, but we are not related. Our fathers met in the streets in their early teens. It's an interesting story as much as it is inconceivable—one we were told repeatedly when we were old enough to comprehend it. We were taught to read people as well as a room. Trust is earned and should never be handed out carelessly and without thought. Loyalty is essential in a family, and fear is better than love. This came in handy at that moment as I judged the people around Luc. As young as seven, we knew our fathers were in organized crime. It would take us a few years to process what that meant; however, once we did, it didn't make us love them less. In our eyes, they could do no wrong; they were incredible fathers and husbands. They decorated our childhood with laughter, love, and affirmation. While I enjoyed my childhood, I had a legacy that I would eventually inherit; I didn't mind, but I was grateful, and I knew the others were too that our mothers made it a condition when they had us be allowed to be ourselves, have hobbies, chase our dreams before we could join the family business. Our fathers had agreed. They kept the promise, which is why I was based in Hollywood, trying to make my way as an actress while Luc was a household name in racing. Even today, my mother keeps trying to change the terms of that agreement; my father indulged her every time because he enjoyed her tenacity, which was hilarious. I understood why she was worried no matter how often I assured her we were okay with it. No one ever expects their children to be in a criminal organization. A group of doctors waited for Luc at the hospital entrance wheeling him away while Matteo, Devonni, and I stayed restlessly in the waiting room. My phone rang; it was uncle Bruno; before I could answer, a nurse came to tell us that Luc would be undergoing a brain scan to determine whether he had any fracture. Handing over the phone to Matteo, standing closer to me, the nurse continued to tell me that it might take a while since he would also undergo a few more tests to check his whole body. Once the nurse left, Matteo gave me the phone so that I could call my uncle back. "How is he?" He asked without preamble. There was panic and impatience in his voice. I could imagine the fear and the thought of losing his son. "He is having a CT scan at the moment. A nurse just left after confirming Luc is required to undergo more tests to check whether any part of his bones is broken; it shouldn't take long. Please tell aunt Ele not to worry." I felt terrible after saying that. I hated platitudes; to know that I was using the same to one of my favorite people in the world made me feel horrible. "We are on the way. Keep us posted." "I will," I said as he hung up. "He is going to be okay, right?" Devonni asked in a strained voice, wanting confirmation. I nodded, pacing along the waiting room, waiting for an update. We were on one side, while Luc's Mercedes team sat on the other, separated by a door. Luca woke up after an hour and a half, which was the longest time of my life. Since everyone couldn't see him at the same time, I was given priority because I was his legal guardian. He wore a blue hospital bed, eyes closed, but doctors said he was no longer unconscious, just asleep. I regretted not attending his races. That he crashed his car on my first time seemed inauspicious. "Luc, " I called, "Luc," I called again. He didn't answer, nor was there any indication that he could hear me. I started to panic, thinking the doctors had made a mistake. "He is okay. Give him a bit of time." I slowly nodded, making sure to stay with my head bent to hide the tears. After I saw him, I got out to give the others a chance to see him too. Matteo and Devonni stayed outside his door while I left to make a phone call home. First, I called aunt Ele because I knew she would be beside herself, and also, she would be with Luc's father. "He is asleep, but the doctors assure me he is not in danger." we talked for a while until I heard a commotion outside Luc's door. There she was, Caterina Perini, Luca's current girlfriend. I've always wondered how I would feel if we ever met, but in every scenario, Luc was present to introduce us. I have hated her since I saw them together, standing side by side with gorgeous smiles. They were a beautiful couple, almost the same height; no wonder she is ranked as one of the most beautiful women in the world. She was also a famous person, an actress, and an influencer with more than a few million followers on social media; "What's wrong?" I asked as I reached the door, moving my eyes between her and the guys. Standing face to face with her, I could confirm her beauty was neither exaggerated nor was it because of makeup; she was naturally a gorgeous woman. Damn you, Luc! I thought, with my eyes fixed on hers. "Who the hell are you?" she asked, seizing me. I might not be a natural beauty, but I was beautiful in my own way; Luc had whispered it to me over and over again like a benediction one afternoon long ago; now, he probably whispered the same to this stunning woman. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" I retorted as we stared at each other as if we were in a battle of wills. "Don't you know who I am?" I smirked, which seemed to annoy her more. "Should I?" Raising a brow, she crossed her arms across her chest as if that gesture should have triggered my memory of who she was. "I'm his girlfriend." "Oh," I mumbled sarcastically, "good for you; why are you here?" "I want to see him." I could tell she was used to people bending over themselves to please her; too bad I wasn't one of them. "No. " her eyes widened, lips twitching like she couldn't believe someone had said no to her. "Who the hell do you think you are?" I didn't have time for theatrics, especially since we were beginning to attract attention. "Look, I don't know who you are," I stated in a low voice, lying through my teeth. " I'm his f*****g girlfriend; everyone knows that." she almost shouted. "Do you know me?" I asked the same question she had asked me. If I had the energy, I could have laughed at how she looked at me. "I don't have to know you," she responded in a voice that told me I was beneath her notice. "Then allow me to tell you. Until his parents walk through that door, I'm his f*****g legal guardian, and I say you can't see him." Caterina didn't walk away; she stood her ground, arguing, calling for Matteo's aid since they knew each other. "You think I'll allow you to see him at his weakest? To let you take a photo of him lying in a hospital bed for your followers?" "I would never do that?" she muttered as if offended. I sniggered, looking up at her face, inwardly cursing at the difference between our heights. "What would it be then, for blackmail in the future? I know people like you." "Matteo," she called; he moved his eyes to her, shaking his head. He wasn't the only one she could endear to; Luc had a team that included a publicist. If I hadn't bulldozed my way to call the shots, they would have allowed Caterina to see him. While his team visited him, Matteo was inside to safeguard Luc's interests. He was their star, but he was only necessary as long as he got to race; it was a business, cold, but that was the truth. "You have no business seeing him until he wakes up and asks for you." Caterina stooped to threats when she realized I wouldn't be swayed. "I will make you regret this." I shrugged, "do you worst." Luca finally woke up looking haggard, but his eyes lit up when he saw me. "I must be dreaming," he murmured, his lips stretched in an almost humorous smile, though he seemed too tired for it to be effective. "Why?" I asked, standing over his bed. "I can see Lia." "You're not dreaming. I must be a bad omen because you crushed in my first time attending your race." He shook his head. I could see how much effort it was taking him to stay awake. "Why won't you forgive me?" he asked me, his voice sounding dry and tired as he tried to sit up on the bed, wincing from pain when his bandaged hand hit a side rail. "I'm here, aren't I?" I responded, stopping him from sitting up. "No, don't overexert your body. "Go back to sleep," I whispered. "You're only here because I'm hurt." He was wrong. I would still have been with him. I had promised his mother.