"One step at a time," I murmur, more to myself than to them.
Blake checks his watch. "William and James should be arriving any minute. What do you want to tell them about our approach?"
"Everything," I say without hesitation. "William deserves to know the full plan. This affects him as much as it does me."
Belforte nods, then gestures toward me with his now-empty glass. "You know what I like about you, Violet? You don't flinch. Most people in this paddock talk big but crumble when the pressure comes. You get calmer, more focused."
"High praise from a man who used to break kneecaps for a living," Blake mutters.
"Hey!" Belforte looks genuinely offended. "We need to stop this rumor. I never broke kneecaps. That's so cliché." He pauses. "Other body parts, sure, but never kneecaps. The noise irks me."
Blake pales slightly, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. The dynamic between these two men—one a former enforcer turnedConsiglierifor the Sbagliare family now on sabbatical, the other a lifelong professional always connected to motorsports who most likely never got a parking ticket—never fails to amuse me.
"While you both have very different approaches," I say diplomatically, "I value having you as my advisors. My Dad always said a good leader surrounds themselves with people who think differently."
"Frederick was a wise man," Blake says softly.
Would he be proud of how I'm handling this? I think he would. He never ran from a fight, and neither will I.
"So the plan," Belforte recaps, "is to confront Dominic publicly but politely, where his sponsors can be within earshot, making him squirm without actually accusing him of anything. Then be transparent with the board to get ahead of the rumors." He nods approvingly. "Clean, effective, and no bodies to dispose of. I like it."
"Thank you for your restraint," I say dryly.
"For you, anything," he replies with a theatrical bow of his head. "Though my offer stands if you change your mind. I know a guy who knows a guy who—"
The door opens, cutting off whatever dubious connection Belforte was about to share. William walks in with James close behind. My heart does that stupid little jump it always does when I see him, but it immediately sinks when I register his expression. He looks frustrated, worried, and exhausted. James doesn't look much better.
"Welcome to the war room," Belforte says, raising his empty glass. "We were just finalizing our battle plans."
William locks eyes with mine immediately, searching, questioning. In that moment, I wish everyone else would disappear, so I could just hold him, tell him we'll get through this. But that's not an option right now.
Instead, I straighten in my chair and gesture to the empty seats. "Perfect timing. We have a lot to discuss."
As William moves to sit beside me, I catch his hand briefly, giving it a quick squeeze before letting go. A small gesture, almost imperceptible, but his eyes soften slightly in response.
Message received. We're in this together. And we're going to fight back.
Chapter 25
Standing together
William
The Jeddah paddock buzzes with unusual energy as James and I make our way through the entrance. People stare. Some whisper. Others point phones in my direction, not even trying to be subtle. News travels fast in F1, but gossip—especially the juicy kind involving Team Principals and drivers—that shit travels at light speed. I square my shoulders and keep moving, pretending I don't notice the extra attention. Yesterday's airport ambush was just the beginning.
"Keep walking," James mutters beside me, his eyes scanning the area like a bodyguard. "Don't give them anything to work with."
I nod, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. The familiar Colton Racing motorhome comes into view, its exterior a welcome sight after the gauntlet of curious eyes. Outside, I spot three familiar figures—EJ's lanky frame, Maya's perfect posture, and Felix's towering height—huddled in conversation.
Felix notices me first, his face breaking into a wide smile that eases some of the tension from my shoulders. He strides over, arms outstretched, and pulls me into a bear hug that lifts me slightly off the ground.
"There he is! The most famous man in the paddock," he announces with his signature German accent, loud enough for nearby reporters to hear. He sets me down and ruffles my hair like I'm still the kid he used to mentor. "Always knew you'd make headlines, though I thought it would be for your driving, not your personal life."
"Very funny," I mutter, but I can't help smiling.
Felix's easy confidence has always been contagious, and it’s been a delight to see him no longer falling into that dark place he was in early in the season.
EJ bounds over next, vibrating with his usual energy. "Man, this is wild! There are more cameras around our motorhome than at Vortex Racing. Dominic must be losing his mind."
