Revived (Revved Series Book 2) (32 page)

“Just…don’t make any rash decisions. Talk to India first, see what she thinks.”

“I’ll discuss it with her when I get back home.”

“Good. God, it’ll be weird without you around. It was strange last year when you weren’t on the track, bugging the fuck out of me, getting in my way.”

“Love you, too, Ryan.” I smirk at him.

“Yeah, well, don’t expect me to give you a pity win for this championship, so you can go out on a high.”

“Ha! Like you need to. I’m kicking your ass, and you know it.”

“Fuck you, Silva. I’m gonna kick your arse on Sunday. My car’s performing like a dream. And I have the best mechanic on my side.”

“Yes, you do.” I have to agree with that. Andi is one of the best mechanics around. There was a time, just before my accident, when I was considering how to poach her from him.

“Don’t worry though. If you do retire, I’ll make sure you’re remembered for being a great driver. Second to me of course.”

Laughing at him, I take a sip of my beer.

“So, what will you do, if you do decide to go?” Carrick asks with genuine curiosity.

“I don’t know.” I rest my bottle on my thigh. “I’ll have to do something though, or I will go out of my mind with boredom while India is at work.”

“You could always take up drinking and whoring around like you did last year.”

“You’re a prick.”

“I know.” He smirks. “But, in all seriousness, you know my dad gave his job up when I was younger, so he could be there full-time for my career.”

“And what does that have to do with me retiring?”

“Well, Jett is showing a real interest in karting, and the kid’s really good. He’s got real natural talent. You could help him hone it, get him racing, entering competitions, building his reputation. That’d keep your retired arse busy. I know my racing kept my dad busy. Still does. And at least you’d still be a part of the racing circuit, so I’d get to see your ugly face around.”

“I suppose I could. But it would depend on that being what Jett wants.”

“A racing-obsessed kid getting the chance for Leandro Silva to coach him. Yeah, I’m sure he’d turn it down.” He chuckles.

I’m pondering Carrick’s suggestion when a throat clears beside me. I turn my head, and my eyes meet with a huge pair of tits. I mean, they’re literally in my face.

I tilt my head back to find the chick who’s been eye-fucking me from the bar now standing over me.

“You’re Leandro Silva, right?”

She sounds English. She must be here for the race. She clearly knows who I am. Surprised she hasn’t clocked Carrick though.

“I am.” I give her a congenial smile so not to come off as a bastard. I still have a public profile to keep up.

“Could I have my picture taken with you?”

“Sure.” I hold back the sigh I feel. The last thing I want is to have my picture taken with a chick who is probably aiming to get in my pants.

“Bev!” she calls to her friend at the bar. “Come take the pic for me.”

Her friend comes wobbling over on her high heels, clearly well on her way to being drunk. She gives me the eye as she takes the camera from Big Boobs next to me.

Big Boobs puts her arm around my waist, sliding in close to me. “My name’s Andrea,” she says, trying to sound sexy.

All it does is make me cringe. “Nice to meet you, Andrea.” I give her a friendly smile. “Are you a racing fan?”

“No, my boyfriend is. He’s a big fan. His company got him tickets for the race, so he and his best mate are watching. They brought me and Bev along with them for the weekend.”

“Sounds nice.” I look ahead, ready to have my picture taken so I can get back to my beer.

“Not really, but my weekend’s been made, meeting you.”

I flash her a smile, and then my eyes look forward again. Her friend is taking for-fucking-ever to take the picture.

“So, my boyfriend is out at dinner, schmoozing some clients for his company while he’s here.” She leans in, whispering in my ear, “Meaning my hotel room is empty for the next few hours. You wanna come up and fuck? I give amazing blow jobs, and I really want to suck your cock. I bet it’s massive.” Her hand grabs my cock through my jeans.

“What the fuck?” I grab her hand to remove it from my junk and spin my face to her.

I don’t get a chance to say anything else. The next thing I know, she’s landing a kiss on me.

I jerk my head back, pushing away from her. “Jesus! What the fuck is wrong with you? Seriously, not happening.” I lift my hands, backing away from her. “I have a girlfriend.”

“So?” She shrugs. “I won’t tell her if you don’t.”

“Did you not hear me the first time?
Not fucking happening
.”

“Your loss.” She shrugs. “What about your friend?” She looks at Carrick. “I wasn’t kidding about my blow-job skills. I’m amazing.”

Carrick sputters out a laugh. Lifting his hand, he says, “I’m sure you are, and I’d tell you I’m married—happily—but clearly, that wouldn’t matter to you. So, I’ll tell you, you’re definitely not my type. No, thanks, and we’ll leave it at that.”

“Andrea, I got some really good pics!” Her friend beams at her, handing her the phone back.

My eyes flash to it.

Oh no.
“Did you take a picture of her kissing me?”

“Um, yeah, of course I did.” The friend gives me a dumb look.

“It’s a good one, too.” Andrea turns the screen to me, showing me the picture.

Jesus Christ.
It couldn’t look more incriminating than if she were straddling me. Her hand is on my junk, her mouth on mine.

For fuck’s sake.

“You need to delete that picture. Now.”

Hearing the pissed off tone in my voice, Carrick gets up from his seat, coming to stand beside me.

“No way am I deleting it!” Andrea laughs. “This one is going in my personal spank bank, and I’m putting it up on Facebook. The amount of likes I’ll get with this will be awesome. I’ll be a fucking celeb among my mates.”

“Are you for fucking real?” I move toward her, but Carrick catches my arm, pulling me back. “I have a fucking girlfriend. And you have a boyfriend!”

“He won’t care.” She shrugs the words off. “If he even notices, then he’ll be impressed that I managed to get a kiss from you. You’re his hero. He loves watching you race. You’re the reason we’re here.”

This woman is crazy. “You’re insane. You and your fucking boyfriend. Now, delete the fucking picture.”

“No.” She lifts her chin in a defiant manner before putting her phone in her clutch.

I grind my teeth in frustration. “I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. Delete that fucking picture.”

She lets out a laugh. “You can’t make me. Actually…” She taps her finger to her lips. “A pic like this and you having a girlfriend. I bet I could make a mint, selling it to a tabloid.”

I actually growl.

“Let her sell it,” Carrick says from beside me. “All that matters is India knows the truth. Tell her what happened, so she expects to see it. I was here. I can vouch for you.”

Ignoring Carrick, I step toward Andrea, and she takes a step back.

“Delete the fucking picture,” I repeat in a low, menacing voice.

“Fuck you.” She turns on her heel and starts to walk away from me.

“You’re a fucking bitch!” I yell to her back, losing my cool.

Stopping, she turns back, a smug smile spreading across her face. “You’ve just doubled the money I’ll get with that comment.” She wafts a hand at the people who are watching our exchange. “You’re my witness, right, Bev?” She nudges her friend.

“Yeah.” Bev lifts her chin. “I heard everything. How he tried to hit on you and then called you a bitch when you turned him down.”

What the actual fuck?

I shouldn’t be shocked, but I am. I guess I’ve gotten used to being around India and how much of a good person she is that I’d forgotten what fucking bastards people could be.

“And you”—I point a finger at Bev—“you’re a fucking cunt. Use that to quadruple your money, you pair of soulless bitches!”

Andrea gives me the middle finger, and then they’re both walking away.

“Nicely played.” Carrick’s hand lands square on my shoulder. “I thought you handled that really well. I specifically love the soulless bitches line.”

“Fuck off,” I grunt, shrugging off his hand.

He laughs, loudly. “It’s a good thing you are retiring. Keep this kind of shit up, and you wouldn’t have a fucking career left. Come on, old man. Let’s finish our beer, and then you can call India and tell her what happened.”

I’M RELAXING IN MY BATH
, sipping on my wine, Adam Levine telling me “It Was Always You.” Well, not me specifically, but a girl can dream, right?

Then, my phone starts going crazy. When I say crazy, I mean, a quick succession of texts come through, and my phone starts ringing at the same time.

I reach a hand out of the tub, quickly drying it on the towel hanging on the rail by my head, and grab my phone off the floor.

I don’t recognize the number, but it’s a local area code, so I connect the call. “Hello?”

“Am I speaking with Dr. Harris?”

“You are. Who is this?”

“My name is Sally, and I’m an operator at Safer Security, your alarm provider. I’m calling to let you know that the alarm at your office has gone off. I’ve temporarily disabled it from my end, and the police have been notified and are on their way to check it out.”

“You’re kidding?” I sit up, the water sloshing all around me. “Was the office broken into?”

“I don’t know the situation yet. But if you want to wait, I can call you back once the police have notified us.”

“No.” I stand up, stepping out of the bath. “You say the police are going now. I’ll head there myself. Thank you for calling me.”

“All part of the service, Dr. Harris. Please call me once the police have assessed the situation. I can have the alarm enabled at my end, and I would advise setting a new code.”

“I will. Thanks.” I hang up and grab a towel from the railing, wrapping it around myself.

I don’t believe this.

I glance down at my phone, seeing the texts are from Leandro. Four of them.

Trying to call you, but for some reason, it’s not connecting.

Ring me when you get this text.

P.S. I love you.

A lot. XX

That puts a temporary smile on my face, and then I remember that my office might have been broken into.

I’ll text him back once I know what’s going on at my office.

I quickly dress in jeans and a T-shirt, leaving my hair tied up, and I jog down the stairs.

I’ve just reached the bottom step when Kit and Jett come in through the front door, pizza boxes in hand.

“Hey, Mum. What’s up?” Jett asks at my expression.

“I just got a call from the alarm company. My office alarm has been going off. I’m heading there now.”

“You’re kidding,” Jett says.

“Wish I was.” I sigh.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Kit asks.

“No, it’s fine. The police will be there.”

“The police?” Kit frowns.

“It’s the alarm company’s standard policy when the alarm goes off. You stay here with Jett.”

“Well, take Jonah with you, just to be safe.”

“No. I’d rather Jonah stay here and watch over Jett.”