Chapter 168
LIVIA-
Our fathers sent us to Silverhaven Circuit.
That was where Nico practiced when he was home. A private track in the hills above the coast
Blair could not come. She had a doctor’s appointment today.
It was just the two of us and a handful of crew in case of emergencies.
All I could think about was Roman.
How long it had been? How had he not tried to contact me once?
I was refusing to contact him after telling him he had finally gotten his wish. How would it look if I messaged first? I could not do it. So I waited…and waited…and waited.
Nico’s car went past in front of me at incredible speed.
I had never been one to watch anything to do with Fl. In person it was actually quite entertaining to watch. It had me wondering how it felt to actually be in the car while it was moving at that speed.
When he came out of the last corner the sound hit my ears, and I actually took a step back from the fence.
I could not deny how good he was. Amazing, actually.
He mashed late on the brakes into the tight elbow corner, the rear stepping out a fraction and then sticking as if he had asked it to behave and it had listened.
My mouth actually went in an ‘o’.
I was surprisingly impressed. Even though Nico irritated me, he was quite talented.
He was a totally different person on the track. It felt like he was committed to the speed.
I almost respected him.
I almost smiled.
Then I remembered why we were here.
I inwardly groaned. So far, Grayson hadn’t managed to convince our fathers to stop the wedding. It was still on. Full speed.
Still. I watched another lap because I could not help it. The car clipped the apex so close my heart skipped a beat.
“Monroe.”
I froze. That couldn’t be. Yet it was.
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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wite
Luca’s voice.
pun around. Luca Vescari. Charlotte beside him in sunglasses, petite, brunette hair in a knot, watching melike she already knew this was a bad idea.
Stupid question, what were they doing here?
I inwardly groaned. He was an F1 driver. He trained here too. Of course the universe would put every problem I had on the same stretch of asphalt.
“Please keep your distance.”
“Ouch.” Luca put a hand to his chest. “I have to admit. That hurts. I brought peace offerings and everything. Charlotte. My best behavior. A face that says I come in peace.”
“Your face brings everything but peace. I am learning that the hard way.”
Charlotte stepped forward, softer than him. “I’m sorry about everything. I can talk to your father too, if you want. I was in the suite. I can say that. Nothing happened. I was there. And trust me, I know when Luca is having the time of his life with a girl.”
Luca rubbed the back of his head in response.
“Oh, fuck no.”
That was Nico’s voice behind me. I had not even heard him stop racing.
His helmet was off. Hair smashed. Suit down to the waist. Sweat at his temple.
“Luca.” He growled it. “You are not making this worse. Step aside.”
“Hey,” Luca said. “I actually like her. I’m not here to make things worse. I am here to help in whatever way 1
can.”
“You actually like her? Congratulations. Seems you are capable of feelings after all. But that does not help us in the least.”
“I can talk to her father. I will turn my charm on.”
Nico shot back. “Go stand somewhere that is not next to my accidental fiancée. You talking to her father will actually make things worse.”
“I am not your fiancée.”
“Tell that to William.” He responded. “Not me.”
I rolled my eyes. No one made me roll my eyes as much as he did.
Nico pointed at Luca without looking away from him. “You do not get five minutes with her father. You do not get five seconds. You already caused this mess.”
“We can fix that,” Luca said, still looking at me. “Let me talk to him. I’ll explain.”
“Five minutes and I am in a chapel by dinner,” I said. “If you want to help, you need to keep your distance.”
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Nico pointed at the gate. “Before I am forced to forget we are friends and push you out myself.”
was almost funny. Two F1 drivers, one forced marriage, and me in the middle like a problem nobody could put back in a box.
Charlotte touched Luca’s arm. He did not move.
“Olivia,” Luca said, facing me. “I meant what I said in the parking lot.”~
“I don’t care.” It came out harsher than I meant. I had no choice, he wasn’t taking no for an answer. “I care about not being married by nightfall.”
That’s when I saw him.
Roman.
Roman?
How could that be him? He had no reason being here today.
I did not have time to say his name. He came out of nowhere and grabbed Luca by the shirt.
The two of them went down swinging against the barrier the second Luca realized what was happening.
I gasped.
Charlotte yelled. Nico swore. A mechanic dropped a tire gun. It hit concrete and spun.
Roman’s first punch caught Luca across the mouth. Luca hit back, and they slammed into the Armco with a sound that made my teeth hurt.
Roman’s knee drove up. Luca hooked an arm around his neck.
They rolled.
I heard a grunt out of Luca when his back hit the barrier again.
“Roman!” I heard myself say it and it did nothing. He wasn’t listening to me.
Charlotte’s sunglasses flew off. Nico started forward and stopped as if even he could not find the right first
move.
Crew froze in a half-circle, Someone shouted for security that was not close enough.
Roman and Luca hit the concrete and did not stop.
I stood there, Nico Shaw on one side of me and the man I had told to stay away trying to take Luca Vescari apart with his bare hands-and nobody had recovered from the shock of it enough to pull them off each other yet.
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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Dex Morgan
Dex works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.