A burr under my skin long before that night in the warehouse.
And then the discomfort had morphed into a… yearning.
Hands braced on the terrace wall, I groaned low and long. Then I yanked my phone from my pocket. The absence of the owl logo chafed too, but I brushed it away and hit the number on my speed dial.
He answered on the first ring. ‘Fist. Need you to take care of a thing for me.’
‘Sure, Boss. Shoot.’
I relayed what I needed, then hung up, my mood fractionally better.
Whatever tomorrow held in store, it would end the wayIwanted it to.
10
MADDELENA
The promise of my soft, luxurious bed so ridiculously early on a Saturday night should’ve been pathetic, but I didn’t care. The bone-deep weariness weighing me down made me fairly confident –please,God– that I would pass out the second my head touched the pillow. If for any reason that didn’t happen… well, I planned other ways to ensure a good night’s sleep. I needed a little – okay, alotof – reprieve.
With Narciso taking pole position and the team out celebrating, I wouldn’t be disturbed tonight.Please. God.
Dropping the towel I’d used to dry myself into the hamper, I grabbed a fresh one to towel my newly shampooed hair dry as I padded naked from the bathroom.
‘Hey, sis, what’s occurring?’
I froze, then jumped with a screech and lashed out with the towel, adrenaline powering my heart rate into fight mode before recognition kicked in.
A soft chuckle came from the shadowed figure reclined in the armchair next to the balcony doors.
‘What the hell, Sofiya?’ Darting back into the bathroom, I snatched the robe from the hook, punched my arms through thesleeves and tied the belt with more force than necessary. Was I annoyed that my plan to sleep naked and possibly utilise the vibrator in my nightstand had been thwarted?
Maybe. Okay,yes.
Exhaling my irritation, I re-entered the bedroom.
She was sitting cross-legged in a yoga pose, dressed in dark grey leggings and a soft chunky grey sweater, elbows propped on her knees.
Sofiya usually wore her hair short, severe and slicked back. It struck me how long it’d been since I’d last seen her when I saw that her hair had grown enough to be knotted on top of her head and she had auburn highlights streaking the usual jet black. Besides a brush of mascara, she was make-up free, her natural beauty on full display.
She returned my scrutiny, her eyes tracking me across the room.
‘When did you get in?’ I picked up the hairbrush on my nightstand and ran it through my hair. I needed something to dissipate the adrenaline coursing through me. Something to distract me from the unsettling realisation that for a split second, I’d hoped my unwanted visitor was Cesare, not my sister.
‘In time to check in and catch Ciso take pole position,’ she answered.
My eyes darted to my phone. Quali ended three hours ago, and I’d been back in my hotel room for nearly an hour. ‘You’ve been here over four hours and didn’t bother to let me know?’
She had the grace to look away, but there was no sign of contrition when she looked back at me. ‘It was a long flight. I wanted to relax a little.’
‘You’ve seen Ciso though, of course.’
A flash of guilt lit across her face, but it disappeared far too quickly to make a meaningful impact. ‘Yeah. He said youwere busy with crew meetings so we hung out for a bit after he was done with his media duties.’ Uneasy silence lingered for a moment before she tilted her head a fraction. ‘So, another potential win on the cards. Must be pissing off the Salvatores no end, huh?’ Her eyes drilled into me as she asked the question, and I sensed there was more to her words. And to her visit.
I shrugged. ‘I don’t really concern myself with the Salvatores’ feelings.’
Her gaze didn’t relent. ‘I heard a little rumour in the paddock tonight.’
I stiffened, then forced my shoulders to relax. ‘Oh yeah?’ I was sure I could talk my way out of my visit to Cesare’s hotel suite last night. But I didn’t relish it.
