I couldn’t have Felix second-guessing his investment.Besides, what would reporting it actually accomplish?
An investigation into one note felt silly and would probably go nowhere.If it was someone who’d lost money on me, they probably just wanted to let off some steam.I didn’t want to make a fuss over one of Rennen’s biggest sponsors.The fact was, gambling was big business, and the sponsorship revenue was growing each year.
It was one note, I reminded myself.Probably from some drunk fan who was angry about the crash and wanted to lash out.
I’d deal with it if another showed up.
Chapter Five
Henri
I followed the bustling streets of Montreal to my sister’s hotel: a sleek high-rise tucked between the glass towers of downtown.The elevator whisked me up to the fifteenth floor, and I found myself standing before room 1542, hand raised to knock, when the door swung open before my knuckles could make contact.
Typical Georgia, my twin sister was always one step ahead of me.After qualifying today, she’d invited me to hers and Luca’s hotel room to celebrate my P1.
Hers and Luca’s room.
That still felt surreal sometimes, my sister dating my former teammate.The guy I’d spent three years racing alongside at Hermes.It felt like a lifetime since then.
We weren’t particularly close when he was at Hermes, and at the time, I wasn’t exactly thrilled that my teammate was dating my sister.But Luca had won me over with that cocky Italian flair of his and his signature Cheshire cat grin that made it impossible to stay annoyed at him for long.He could charm the pants off a snake charmer given half the chance, and he was good to Georgia, which was what mattered.
She’d qualified P6 today for Valkyrie—not what she’d hoped.Valkyrie were having a rough start to the season.As with most spec changes in Formula 1, the previous year’s winning team didn’t always get it right.But still, three seasons in Formula 1 had proved Georgia belonged here just as much as I did.Maybe more, considering she’d won the last three Driver’s Championships.
“About time,” she said, stepping aside to let me in.“I was afraid you couldn’t find the place!”
I pushed past her, dropping my racing bag by the door as I entered the suite.The familiar scent of her favorite pine candle hit me immediately.
After securing P1 in qualifying, I should’ve been celebrating, but my mind kept drifting back to yesterday’s free practice.To that moment when Lily’s car nearly kissed the wall because of my error.She’d saved it, of course.
Stop thinking about it.
“Earth to Henri,” Georgia said, waving a hand in front of my face.“You just grabbed pole position, and you look like someone stole your favorite watch.”
“Sorry, Georgie, just trying to remember what qualifying P6 feels like.It’s been so long since I’ve been back there.”
She scoffed, giving me a playful shove that nearly knocked me off-balance.“That’s rich coming from someone who’s spent the past three yearswatchingme win championships.A couple of pole positions this season, and suddenly you’ve got amnesia?”
I laughed, shaking my head as I followed her deeper into the suite, but when I turned the corner into the living room, my smile faltered.The sight before me didn’t exactly match the quiet, celebratory evening I had in mind.
Lily sat comfortably on the couch next to Luca, her auburn hair loose and wavy around her shoulders, freckles visible across the bridge of her nose.She wore a cream sweater tucked into black trousers—simple and understated.Beautiful in that effortless way.She looked relaxed, completely at ease, like she belonged there.Given that Luca was her teammate, that wasn’t too far off.
A year ago, the sight of her would have made me smile.I would’ve dropped onto the couch beside her, stolen one of her biscuits, let our easy banter fill the room.Now it just made my jaw clench.I hated how much changed between us.Hated more that I couldn’t seem to stop noticing her.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”The words were out before I could stop them.
“Robbing the place,” she said without missing a beat, waving a nearby candlestick in my direction with a quick grin.“Georgia and Luca always get the nicest suites.”
I dropped onto the couch across from them, ignoring her.From behind, a comforting hand squeezed my shoulder.Georgia, steadying me like always.She’d always been there for me.Even when we competed for championships, we never stopped supporting each other.
Luca extended a packet of biscuits my way, but I shook my head.He offered them to Georgia and Lily instead, who each took one eagerly, like they hadn’t eaten in days.
My stare stayed fixed on Lily, watching her dip her biscuit into her cup of tea.“Your dietician lets you eat sugar?Guess even he knows you won’t be winning this year.”Every inch of me knew how ridiculous that sounded, but nothing irked me more than seeing the person standing between me and the championship looking perfectly comfortable inmysister’s room.
She only snorted, that infuriating smile never wavering as she made a show of slowly shoving the entire biscuit into her mouth.A crumb caught at the corner of her lips, and my eyes tracked it as she brushed it away with her thumb.
I tore my gaze away, the room suddenly ten degrees warmer.Once, I’d found that stubborn streak endearing.I would’ve matched it with a grin and a joke designed to coax out her laugh.Now, we goaded each other until something inside me threatened to crack.
“Well, hello to you too,” Luca laughed.“I see getting pole hasn’t improved your sparkling personality.”
