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21

LUCIA

T he crash rattled me. The moment Alexander’s car hit the barrier, my stomach dropped, and I barely registered anything else until I was sprinting toward the garage. Now, sitting beside him on the couch, my hand gripping his, I was struggling to steady my breathing. His face was pale, a small bruise already forming near his temple, but he was here—alive, unbroken. That was enough.

We stayed there as the race continued, watching the screens in the garage. Matteo was putting in a stellar performance, and as the final laps counted down, we cheered when he crossed the finish line, taking second place. Alexander grinned, clapping along with the team, but his grip on my hand stayed firm, as if he wasn’t ready to let go just yet.

Then my phone pinged. I pulled it from my bag, a chill creeping up my spine as I read the message.

Unknown Number

Seems like your new man ain’t that great anyway.

You can’t hide from me.

My stomach churned. I swallowed hard, willing the panic to stay at bay.

Alexander noticed immediately. “What’s wrong?”

I tried to brush it off, but my shaking hand betrayed me. He didn’t wait for an answer. He took the phone from me, his eyes narrowing as he read the text.

His expression darkened. “This him?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

I nodded, unable to speak.

Alexander’s jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped my phone. Without a word, he pulled out his own, tapping a contact. “Dante,” he said as soon as the line connected, his voice sharp. “We have a problem.”

I couldn’t hear what Dante said, but Alexander’s terse reply sent a shiver down my spine. “Find out where he is. Now.”

* * *

By the time we were leaving, I was exhausted, walking out of the security entrance toward the parking garage with Anna while Alexander handled post-race interviews.

That’s when I saw him.

A man in a hoodie stepped out from the shadows, his posture tense and angry. My heart stopped as recognition hit. Josh.

“Well, look who it is.” He sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “Didn’t think you’d get away from me forever, did you? Just followed another man around with more money?”

I froze, fear coursing through me. “What are you doing here?” I managed to choke out.

“What am I doing here?” he spat, his voice rising. “You took my daughter, Lucia. You ran off to play house with some fucking race car driver while I’m left with nothing. Wondering where the hell my family is.”

“She’s not your family,” I shot back, my voice trembling. “You lost that right when you?—”

“Don’t,” he interrupted, stepping closer, his face twisted with rage. “Don’t act like you’re some saint. You’re just a dumb whore, running off the first chance you get. Sending someone to get custody papers signed over to you, having someone threaten me. ”

“Hey!” Anna’s voice cut through, sharp and angry. She stepped forward, her petite frame trembling with fury as his words sunk in. “Back off, or I’ll call security.”

Josh’s lip curled. “Oh, the nanny’s got a mouth on her. Cute.”

Then he turned back to me, his voice lowering into a menacing growl. “You think you’re safe with him? That fancy driver of yours won’t keep you for long. And when he’s done, you’ll come crawling back.”

When he raised his hand, I flinched.

But he never got the chance to strike.

Out of nowhere, Alexander was there, his fist connecting with Josh’s jaw with a sickening crack. Josh staggered back, falling to the ground, and Alexander didn’t hesitate, landing another punch.

“You don’t fucking touch her,” Alexander roared, his voice echoing in the parking garage.

“Alex, stop!” I cried, but my voice barely registered.

Josh tried to scramble up, spitting curses, but Alexander was relentless.

“Enough!” Matteo’s voice thundered as he arrived with security. He pulled Alexander off Josh, his grip firm. “He’s not worth it.”

Security swarmed, pinning Josh to the ground. Matteo turned to him, his face cold with fury. “If you ever come near her again, you won’t just deal with him—you’ll deal with me. And trust me, you don’t want that.”

Alex had guided me to a car. I was numb—silent and still. It wasn’t until he slid in next to me. The doors locked and the car began to move. That was when the dam broke, when the walls I had so carefully placed brick by brick crumbled. It was like years of trauma, the shit that awful man had put me through, all crashed into me. Alexander pulled me into him. I was clutching Alexander’s shirt as I sobbed into his chest, the walls had crashed down, the dam was broken. He held me, his arms strong and steady, stroking my hair and murmuring soft reassurances.

“You’re safe,” he whispered, his voice a soothing balm. “I promise you, Lucia. He won’t hurt you again. Ever.”

His words wrapped around me like a shield, but the fear still lingered. The memory of Josh’s sneer, his voice—it clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake. I knew he was full of shit. I had full custody of Gianna. He hadn’t even fought me on it; papers just appeared three years ago. Josh’s own words came back to me, “ sending someone to get custody papers signed over to you, having someone threaten me”

* * *

When we got back to the hotel, I felt like a hollow shell. But then, the door opened, and Gia’s joyful squeal filled the air.

“Mommy!” she cried, running toward me, her tiny arms outstretched.

I dropped to my knees, pulling her into a tight hug, tears streaming down my face as I held her close.

“Mommy, are you okay?” she asked, her little hands brushing my cheeks, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Yes, baby,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Mommy’s okay. I promise.”

I held her tighter, breathing in her scent, letting her warmth chase away the lingering fear. In that moment, I knew I would do whatever it took to keep her safe. Whatever it took.

I wasn’t alone that evening. No one went out and celebrated, no parties were attended. For the first time in a while, all six of us stayed together. Nicola and Anna ordered food—bought every comfort snack they could think of. Matteo had extra security posted around the hotel, and Alexander had already had a restraining order in the works through Dante. Not only would none of them let that piece of shit near us again, but they would make sure he would be arrested, no matter the country, if he even tried to get close.

Matteo and Nicola had been talking in hushed tones. They entertained Gianna when I needed a moment, but I wanted her near me, just like I wanted them all with me. This was my family, mismatched and found, but mine all the same.

Gianna went down early that night. Nicola, Anna, and Matteo left after tight hugs and sad smiles. When it was just Alexander left, I turned to him. The room felt too big, I didn’t want to be alone. So I didn’t think, I just said what I needed.

“Stay,” I asked in a whisper. He nodded, led me to the bathroom, and sat me down on a chair. He pulled out items from my bags and began taking care of me. I felt frozen, but I allowed it. Allowed someone to help, allowed myself to accept the help.

With gentle hands, Alexander moved around the room. He found the right skin-care products on the counter and knelt in front of me, softly dabbing away the remnants of my smeared makeup. His hands were steady, soothing in a way I didn’t realize I needed.

When he handed me my toothbrush, I managed to handle that part myself, but the moment I finished and turned back around, he was pointing at the chair again.

“Sit,” he said softly, but firmly.

I hesitated, but when I saw what was in his hand, a bright pink hairbrush, I couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at my lips.

“Where did you even get that?” I asked, my voice small but lighter than before.

He shrugged, a lopsided grin playing on his lips. “I think it’s Gia’s, but I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

I sank into the chair, exhaustion draping over me like a heavy blanket. When he began to gently glide the brush through my hair, a lump tightened in my throat. Each stroke was deliberate, tender, as if he knew exactly how to unravel the tension knotted deep inside me.

The tears came quietly, slipping down my cheeks before I could stop them. I didn’t speak, and neither did he. He simply kept brushing, his fingers occasionally brushing my skin—a touch so small, yet somehow grounding.

“This is the second time you’ve done this,” I said, my voice breaking. “Did you ever think you’d be brushing a crying woman’s hair after a race?”

“For you, I would,” he replied softly. I let my eyes close, let myself be taken care of.

With my eyes sealed shut, afraid of the real answer, I asked in barely a whisper, “Was it you…behind the custody being signed over?” A pause, a silent breath, hearing the wind outside breezing in through a cracked window.

“Yeah,” his reply came, so softly it was barely audible. I turned and wrapped my arms around him, I heard the clatter of the brush on the counter and then I was enveloped into his arms.

By the time I shuffled into bed, clad in my softest pajamas, I could barely keep my eyes open. Alexander slid in beside me, pulling me into his arms. His warmth surrounded me, and I nestled into his chest, the sound of his heartbeat steady and calming.

And as I drifted off, three words were whispered, like a quiet mantra wrapping around me like a shield:

“I’ve got you.”