Race for the Throne | Formula One

68. One Last Normal Day

"Kat, I've lost you again."

I shook my head bringing myself back to reality. "I'm sorry, there's just a lot and I feel like I have to move quickly before anything else happens."

"Please let me help at least." Charles reached across the desk for my hand.

I let him take it. "You can help but I also need you to understand that no matter what happens or what I have to do, I love you more than life itself and everything I do is to protect you and our friends."

"You don't have to protect us on your own, let us in and we can help you. We want to keep you safe, you're the one that's in danger. There's a threat on your life, not ours." Charles rubbed his thumb across my knuckles.

I almost laughed at just how wrong he was but I needed my friends today. "Let's gather everyone. I know it's stupid but I need one last normal day before everything goes crazy."

Charles accepted that and we walked out of the study together. I made sure all the doors to the study were locked before I left.

He arched an eyebrow.

"Paranoid," I said quickly.

Charles shrugged. "I texted everyone, they're meeting in the cinema room."

All conversations ceased when I walked in.

Carlos pointed to the couch in the middle, it was stacked with pillows and blankets. "That one's yours."

"Are you sure there's even room on it for us?" I asked, laughing.

"She's back!" Arthur cheered.

I looked at him quizzically.

"You laughed and you smiled. This is an awful time for you but you're finding your way back to us," Pierre said.

A new pain flashed through my chest. This was going to be so much harder.

I opened my arms. "Everyone here, right now."

Charles wrapped his arms around me tightly. Carlos, Arthur, and Pierre joined quickly. I let the feeling of safety wash over me. I took comfort in their arms and my resolve strengthened. I would rather die than let anything happen to these men.

"I love you all," I said once we separated.

"I love you too, afterall you're my favorite sibling," Arthur teased.

Pierre punched him in the arm. "I love her more, she puts up with us like no other."

Carlos shook his head. "You're both wrong, I love her more than both of you because she's a Ferrari girl."

I put my hand over Charles' mouth before he could get involved. "I love it when you all fight over me but please, let's keep the peace."

We all settled in and the first movie of a series was put on. I curled up against Charles' chest, he played with my hair. For a moment, everything felt completely normal. This was just a regular Tuesday. My breathing deepened as I was able to relax for the first time since Abu Dhabi. I rested my hand over his heart, feeling the beat. I watched the other drivers. Carlos was engrossed in the movie, Pierre was on his phone liking every social media post he saw, and Arthur was dozing off. Soon Lando, Max, Daniel, and the others would be here. This was the calm. I didn't know when, if ever, I would feel like this again. I was calm but I couldn't sleep, especially because how I was laying wedged my injured shoulder against the cushions. My entire arm was numb from the pain.

I buried my face in Charles' chest, breathing in the familiar scent.

His arm tightened around me. "What's wrong, my love?"