Monza (Formula Men #1) (2 page)

With much anticipation, agitation, and bated breath, she had come back to drown me with nostalgia, throwing me back into the blistering hotness of an Italian summer and the unparalleled love I had once felt for her…

Rome

Three months ago…

“
Have you seen Jacques anywhere?” Andrès Franco threw me a questioning look along with his raised, aristocratic brow that most people found intimidating. Too bad I wasn’t one of them.

“
After the same woman again tonight, I take it?” I made a dry laugh, wondering when those two would end their odd fixation with the same women. Be it a one-night-stand or a temporary lover, the French man and the Spanish duke seemed to share a rather special trait of taking an interest in the same things, women included. Though I had a lot in common with the men, thank goodness I didn’t share that particular trait with them.

“
I don’t see why you find this highly amusing.” he retorted back, a little disgruntled that I wasn’t showing any bit of support when he was evidently not at all pleased by the situation.

“
Listen, chap, the world is filled with beautiful, single women who come in all shapes and sizes; must you both fight at every party for the same bloody woman? You both need to cut this ‘may the best man win’ competition. We’re not in boarding school anymore.” Shaking my head, I nonchalantly shrugged at him.

He smirked, looking devious. “Are we giving lectures now, Luca? You’re one to talk. It’s not as if you’re a saint.”

I was far from one, and I shamelessly admitted that, wholeheartedly.

“
Just be careful, yeah? I’m sure this is all fun and games at the moment, but there might come a time when things get serious. You don’t want to be caught in the middle of that, Andrès, especially when your family loathes scandal.”

He seemed thoughtful a moment before finally giving me an understanding look. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right.” He paused before grinning at me. “
But
must we end this rivalry tonight?
This year?
Probably not.” He tapped my shoulder then breezed away towards the bar where the party was thriving.

Tonight was the opening night of my cousin Antonio’s bar, so naturally my best friends were here, all except for the other two rogues, Dimitris and Callum. We all went to the same boarding school and had remained in contact since. Our bond, though we all lived in different countries, had surprisingly only gotten stronger since Switzerland.

Andrès, Jacques, and myself had chosen the path of car racing, but it was only this year that we finally had been able to join Formula One. It was one of my prized moments. This year was supposed to be the year I was going to have the best year yet. For some reason, though, I felt empty.

I wasn’t sure what prompted my thoughts towards such depressing notions, yet it was what it was, and I couldn’t deny it. Normally, when I was at a party, those disheartening thoughts were suppressed. Tonight, it was different. In fact, the need to leave and be left alone was crucial.

Scouting the bar, I couldn’t find Jacques or Andrès anywhere, nor could I find my cousin Antonio. I wasn’t one to leave without saying goodbye, but being surrounded by all these happy, drunk people was just too much for tonight. Decidedly, I took a moment before finally making my way to the exit, dashing towards it with a striking purpose, as if any second wasted surrounded by these nameless people would make me detonate.

I couldn’t name what truly was troubling me. All I knew was that I simply had to take myself out of there, away from the smoke-laden air, irritating high-pitched laughs, and prying eyes of strangers. I was sick of it all.

The second I breathed in the fresh air, I knew I had made the right decision. Pensive, I made good use of my legs, hoping a long, brisk walk in one of the cities I loved so much would enlighten my obviously troubled mind.

Maybe it was the stress from the closely won race tonight or simply the nagging sound that was my mother, who lovingly choked me with her horrid matchmaking skills. As if acquiring a wife would make everything in my life blindingly perfect.

Felicia Constantia di Medici, my dearest mother who chose to live her life through me, parading me as if I was her trophy child, her only accomplishment in life and nothing else. Sometimes, I wondered if it was love she felt for me. There were times whilst growing up that made me wonder if she channeled all of her energies to me because of her unrequited love with my father, masking her hurt and rejection by focusing on something that she could be a part of, something that she could control.
Me.
Her only child. The heir to the Medici billions.

It was as much a curse as it was a blessing, never leaving me a choice, never a moment to doubt or question my position, because it was drilled into my head at an early age that
this
was to be my life.

I knew it. In fact, I acknowledged it, but as the years passed, the shackle inevitably tightened, grappling me in a chokehold manner, never easing its pressure on me.

“
Shit. Shit. Shit!” A woman’s highly pitched voice made me withdraw from my thoughts, scouting the yellow-lit streets close to Piazza Navona. A frustrated growl came next. “Just my luck, another typical moment in Kim’s world.”

A hidden smile played on my lips when I spotted a brunette muttering into the air, clearly unhappy that one of her heels had broken.

Due

Watching the lady from afar, I wondered what she would do next. My guess was for her to carry on her hissy fit, but when I caught sight of her defeated shoulders sagging, biting her lip as if to stop herself from crying, every inkling in my body told me to go to her. I didn’t even think twice, just followed my instincts, willingly wanting to reach out to this sullen stranger.

“
Mi scusi, is everything okay?” I softly asked from a respectable distance, hoping not to frighten her.

“
Uh…” She hesitated before cocking her head to the side to properly see me. Then she momentarily froze, staring wide-eyed at me. “Holy. Fuck.”

Her response threw me off a little, making me furrow my brows. “Sorry. Did I offend you for some reason? I thought you needed help, so—”

“
Sorry. No.
It’s just
… I cuss a lot, you know.” She blushed before laughing nervously at herself. “And I honest to God didn’t expect a stranger to look like you, but hell, I’m in Rome. Everyone’s practically born with pizzazz and sculpted faces and bodies closely resembling the statue of David, right?” She was nervous, rambling on.

“
That’s very kind of you, but trust me, not everyone in Italy is born that way. Some would like to think so, but I’m not one of them.”

“
That’s just crazy! You’re like hotter than Channing Tatum, and let me tell you, Channing is like the ultimate dream man. Have you see Magic Mike?”

I couldn’t help it; I bellowed a deep-bellied laugh. This woman—a stranger—was truly refreshing.

“
Magic Mike?
What in God’s name is that?”

She started to chortle before letting it loose. “It’s a movie … about buns of steel…” she started to inform me before choking on her own laughter.

Amused, I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into. I was contemplating if I should stand there, seeming puzzled as she laughed her heart out, or if I should excuse myself and leave. I supposed my confusion showed on my face because she began to collect herself, gently wiping the tears on the sides of her eyes.

“
You’re probably freaked out, huh? I’m not usually this strange. Maybe it’s the jet lag. I just arrived earlier this morning.”

“
I’m not
freaked
out, as you put it,” I pointed out as I gently noted her soft features. I stared into her deep, honeyed eyes, feeling suddenly suspended from everything else around me. “You said you arrived this morning? From your accent, you’re American, aren’t you?”

She smirked, showcasing two cute dimples. “Guilty as charged. I hope you’re not one of those crazy loons that’s anti-American.”

I couldn’t seem to stop smiling as I watched her talk and be silly with herself. It was invigorating to see someone freely expressing themselves without any inhibitions whatsoever.

Quickly shaking my head in response, I answered, “Of course not.”

“
Good, ‘cause it would be a shame since you’re so good to look at and all. It’d be a crime.”

I had my fair share of encounters when it came to brazen, forward women, but
her
sort? This woman was the first to be so bold without any hidden agenda. She wasn’t attracted to my name, the fame, the money, and the power that came with the richness. To her, I was simply a man, a stranger in the night.

Dropping my gaze towards her hand where she held her broken stiletto, I offered, “Here, let me help, but you must give me the other good pair, as well.”

She seemed confused a moment. “But why? You’re not planning to break it, too?”

“
That’s the whole point,” I said before raising my brow at her. “Unless, of course, you plan to carry on limping about in the city. Then I’d be more than happy to oblige you, as well.”

She blew out a breath before begrudgingly taking off her other shoe then handing them both to me. Without much thought of the foot accessory, my hands efficiently snapped the other heel off, solving her dilemma.

“
There,” I announced with glee. “Now there’s one less woman limping around the eternal city.”

She murmured a soft thanks before she slipped into them, looking rather pleased that I had found a solution for her.

“
So, what brings you to Italy, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Curling a strand of her hair on the back of her ear, she gazed at me, giving me a good glimpse of her dark fringed lashes, with eyes so beautiful I could literally stare into them without blinking. “My father’s an expat. We’re a team: him, my brother Patrick, and I. My mom died during childbirth when I was ten, and it’s just been us three since. My dad started this new job last year. Apparently, the branch here needed him. He came a month before me, so he’s more adjusted to the grand Italian lifestyle than I am. I’m still so awkward with everything … the language and all.”

She seemed so innocent yet not. I couldn’t figure her out.

“
Italian language isn’t all that hard to learn. I’m sure with your quick wit you’ll be snapping your fingers, ordering your coffee in no time.”

Her honeyed eyes sparkled before she beamed at me, flashing her straight set of teeth and lush lips. “You think so?”

Yeah, I knew as much. Italian men would flock to have a little of her fire. She was full of it. It was intoxicating to be around. Hell, I surely was one of them.

How old was she, anyway? She seemed young. God, I hoped not too young. That would be a shame.

Changing topic, I scouted around to see if she was with anyone, but the coast was clear. “Please don’t tell me you were walking around town all alone at this ungodly hour?”

She blinked, fanning those lashes at me. “Why? Is it not safe?”

“
Porca miseria
, have you lost your mind? Didn’t your father teach you anything? No woman is safe walking around at night alone. There is no city in the world that’s safe enough, trust me on that.”

She held up her hand, feeling the brunt of my words. “Geez, okay. Okay. Fuck, what got your panties in a twist? The son of one of my father’s friends, Adam, brought me out tonight to this bar…” She paused, taking a breath before continuing, “He got too comfortable with me, so I left without telling him. I figured I could go home without his help since it didn’t take long for us to get here.”

My temper flared at the thought of her being taken advantage of by this wanker named Adam. There was one thing I loathed, and that was men who preyed on vulnerable women, like Kim for instance. She was new to this city, and I could almost bet that prick of a man had thought he could get his sleazy way with the help of a few drops of alcohol.

Controlling my breathing, I tried to concentrate and brush away the thoughts of Adam, focusing instead on this darling of an American before me. “Where’s home, if you don’t mind me asking? We can get you a taxi to take you safely.”

She cringed. “Well, I … arrived earlier today as I pointed out, and I stupidly didn’t bother wanting to know what it was since I trusted Adam. I didn’t realize that I’d need some rescuing from him.”