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ChapterEighteen
THEO
Pulling up to the showground in Italy, nerves and excitement course through me. It’s been two weeks since we left Wellington and, after boarding the horses at a farm in Holland for a week, we got on the road to Italy. It was a sixteen-hour road trip, but with horses we could only travel for nine hours at most each leg. We stopped twice and boarded them at barns I had pre booked and now we’re here.
My final destination.
After nearly a year, I’ll get to see my piccola again. Trying not to let thoughts of her not wanting me, us, get the best of me, I reaffirm to myself that Thalia Maxwell is mine, no matter what. It might take some coaxing on my part, but the only possible outcome is for us to be together. She may think she has moved on, but she hasn’t. And neither have I. I haven’t so much as looked at another woman in the time we have been apart let alone been intimate with them.
It angers and upsets me that my piccola has let another man touch her, be inside her. I understand she thought she had to move on, but the fact that she let someone else touch what’s mine pisses me off to no end. I won’t take it out on Thalia. Can’t say the same for that Francois fucker though.
“I’ll get the horses set up and settled in the stalls, then the trailer sorted.”
I glance over at Tessa, who is sitting in the passenger seat of my rented horse truck. It’s a Dutch lorry, with room for five horse and a living area that has plenty of room for Tessa to live for the next two months. I booked one of the on-site apartments to stay in as I want my privacy for when I get my piccola alone. And I will get her.
“Thanks, Tess. I need to go and check in with the officials and find out where I collect my keys for the condo.”
She smiles. “You get that sorted. Don’t worry about the horses, I’ve got this.”
“I know you do, Tessa. It’s why you’ve been with me so long.” I chuckle before sliding out of the truck. My feet hit the ground and I breathe in the Italian air. I’ve competed in Rome at the Piazza di Siena before but never here. The showground here in San Giovanni is beautiful with its lush greenery, and it’s only a stone’s throw away from the beach. It has an almost romantic aura about it. I smile. It’s the perfect spot to make Thalia see that she’s still in love with me.
I won’t stop until she’s in my arms again.
* * *
After speaking with the FEI officials and locating the place to go to speak with someone about my condo, I head back to the truck to see what Tessa’s doing. We have two days for the horses to get settled and then they’ll have all their vet inspections. It can be an anxious time, going through the process of making sure your horses are sound and they don’t have any drugs in their systems, but I’m one hundred percent secure in the knowledge that both of my horses will pass. Although I haven’t been to any competitions in months, they’re the fittest they have ever been.
I’m striding to my truck when I hear my name being called. I know the feminine voice but it’s not the one I want to hear. Thalia isn’t here yet.
“Theo? Is that you?” Mackenzie Allen purrs.
Stopping, I glance over my shoulder. “Mackenzie,” I greet, then carry on my way. A few seconds later, her hand lands on my arm, fingers wrapping around me. I shrug her off me. “What do you want?” I hiss.
She rolls her eyes before batting her lashes like this is all some game. “I thought you had dropped off the face of the earth, Theo. You’ve been radio silent for months and I haven’t seen you at any competitions.”
“I had a lot going on,” I say dismissively.
She hums. “I heard that you and Melody broke up. Do you still see your son?”
I freeze, spinning around to face her. Mackenzie is attractive, but her personality makes her ugly. Just like Mel. She’s a viper in disguise, one that if you give an inch, will take a mile. Desperation seeps from her paws, not like my piccola who all class. “That is none of your business. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do,” I spit, then stride away from her. I don’t need her getting the wrong idea. And she will if I give her the time of day. My goal is to get my girl back, not have bitches like Mackenzie thinking I want to fuck them.
What I do find interesting though is she mentioned knowing about Mel and I splitting but she doesn’t know the child isn’t mine. I can assume that Mel has also stayed away from the showjumping scene, because I know for sure that if she hadn’t, everyone would know that Samuel isn’t mine. You only have to look at the child. This means Thalia also has no idea that I’m not his father. I can’t wait to tell her. Hopefully, knowing this, she’ll come back to me without a fight. Will give me another chance.
I just need to get rid of the prince first.
* * *
After helping Tessa finish off the horses, I get myself settled in the place I’ll call home for the next two months. I shower, eat, then lay in my bed where my thoughts drift to where they always do.
My piccola.
I wonder what she has been doing these last few months without me.
I wonder if she still loves me like I love her.
I wonder about Francois Toussaint and whether she loves him.
I clench my jaw. I know she does. It fucking kills me to admit but it’s in her facial expressions whenever she looks at him. My hands fist by my sides and I will myself to calm down. I only have myself to blame anyway. I should have fought harder for her when I had the chance. I should never have let her walk away that day outside her apartment building.
