Something broke inside me after that. It wasn’t fear, it was resolve. I walked home with fire in my veins and determination driving every step. Once inside, I grabbed the biggest suitcase I owned and as many boxes as I could carry, making two trips between the apartment and my car. I had no idea how long Josh would be gone, but the thought of him coming back, finding me, and pulling me back into that nightmare kept me moving faster. It wasn’t just me now—I had another life depending on me. A tiny one that deserved so much better. I refused to bring a child intohisworld. I had always dreamed of being a mother, albeit not like this, but that one word on the test is what shook me to my core. I left my engagement ring on the counter without a second thought and drove ten hours straight to my parents’ house, the weight of my decision sinking in with every mile.
“I’m pregnant, Mom,” I finally said. She looked over to me, her lips quivering.
“It will be just fine, sweet girl. It will be just fine.” She hugged me tight, and I knew it in my soul.It would be just fine.
2
BEFORE
ALEXANDER
“Hey, man.” My best friend’s voice came through the speaker on my phone.
“Hey, mate! I was wondering if I could take you up on your offer to spend the last week of summer break with ya?” I asked while packing a bag up. I had been bouncing around Europe all summer break and Matteo had offered his family’s home up for me to land for some stability before we shipped out for the first races. In all honesty I could use the slow pace and the quiet. I had been all over for photo shoots and vacation spots and could use some time out of the spotlight. I should’ve listened to Matteo when he said it was an open invitation for the whole break. We still had six days before we had to gear up for the next Grand Prix, and while my blood buzzed with the urge to get back in the game, my body was begging for the rest I hadn’t allowed myself since the break began.
“Yeah, man. There’s just some things going on, my sister is in town.”
“That’s great, buddy, I knew you were hoping to see her over break! I thought she lived in the city?” I asked, still preoccupied with folding clothes.
“Yeah, she’s, uh, home now.” Matteo let out a gruff sigh. That was never good. I stopped what I was doing and grabbed my phone off the table and sat down.
“Is everything okay?” I asked. It was rare for Matteo to be anything other than happy and chipper, but he loved his family fiercely and was extremely protective of his little sister.
“Fuck no, Alex, it’s bad. She’s in rough shape.”
“She and her man split?” I asked, rubbing my hand over my forehead. I knew his sister Lucia was engaged and lived in the city with her fiancé. We had met once or twice during hometown races for Matteo. She was strikingly beautiful, all long blonde hair and crystal green eyes, enough for any man to profess their love on the spot. Matteo had had some choice words for the boys after a few comments had been overheard during the first race she attended, and I had thrown a threat or two in for good measure.
And while I appreciated beauty, Lucia was an engaged woman and my best mate’s little sister. So admiring her beauty was as far as it would ever go.
“Alexander, he should be six feet fucking under the ground.” Matteo sounded angrier than I had ever heard him.
“The fuck you mean?” I asked, sitting up straighter. What had the fucking prick done to Lucia?
“It’s a mess, mate, I don’t know what to do.”
“I could have someone figure that out,” I suggested. Matteo sighed.
“No, Alex, you are not hiring someone to beat up my sister’s trash fiancé.”
“Ex-fiancé, hopefully?” I asked. Lucia was strong willed, but no one knows what’s going on behind closed doors, or how manipulative some men could be. My blood was boiling now, feeling the immense need to run off the rage crawling under my skin.
“Fuck, yes, ex-fiancé, the piece of shit thinks he can lay a hand on my baby sister?” He seethes. I suck in a breath.Fuck. That man deserved to be dead for ever laying a hand on a woman, let alone my best friend’s sister—the blonde windstorm who lit up rooms even brighter than Matteo’s annoyingly contagious positive attitude.
“What did he do?” I asked lowly.
“She’s fucked up, man, it’s...it’s awful.” His voice cracked.Fuck this.I would figure out where this scum lived, his security numbers, and make his life a living hell. I would?—
“Yeah, mate, come as soon as you can. We could all use company and distraction, and Luce loves you.”
“I’ll leave today, brother. See you soon.” I hung up and immediately made a call to my “assistant”.
“Alexander.” Dante picked up immediately.
“I need information on Matteo’s sister’s fiancé.”
“You going after your best mate’s little sister, Wright? Not the best idea,” Dante replied with his accent thick on most words.
“No, I am going after the piece of shit that thinks he can lay a hand on a woman and get away with it,” I gritted out. The silence was deafening, and I could hear the tapping away at the computer.
