Braking Hearts

Chapter Three

Carlos Santos

I watch as Nathan finishes from his stimulator section, sliding out of the race car and sliding of his helmet. I look to my side to see Nacho, the manager, standing beside me as we watch Nathan unzip his suit, letting it hang around his hip. "How's Sophia?" Nacho asks me, i look to my side, watching him as he folds his arms against his chest.

"Not doing very well, she went to the hospital a couple of days ago."

"Fuck. He must be stressing out." Nacho whispers.

"Yeah."

"He went to prison you know." I raised a shocked brow.

"What?"

"Yep."

Nathan, known as 'speed', in the F1 race world, is the best Formula 1 driver to have ever graced a circuit.

He has taken wins in thirty different countries, won a race in almost every season he's competed in, and is currently tied on world championships with Marcus Hamilton.

His journey to greatness has been marked by a remarkable string of championships, medals, and awards that speak volumes about his extraordinary skills and dedication to the sport. He has been recognised as the Most Valuable Player in numerous races, and received over one hundred awards, the team would fail without him.

He is a bit of a loner, preferring to keep to himself rather than socialise with others, including me and his teammates. Despite this, I playfully call him my best friend just to tease and annoy him. Since he lost the mother of his child during childbirth, he's been a single dad since and his daughter was the only one he really got along with. Sophia was the teams little mascot, we all loved her and would do anything to make sure she's safe and happy.

Nathan hasn't been back on the track since last season, his focus solely on Sophia, as any father should. He's struggled, i know that, you can see it from the tired nights he spends in Sophia's room to make sure she's still alive.

"Why is he arguing with his assistant?" I snap out of my head, and look to see Nathan shuffling through the files Anna gave him.

Nathan's voice cracked with urgency as he rifled through the paperwork. His assistant, a young woman named Anna, looked flustered but determined to help. The tension in the room was palpable, a testament to the weight of Nathan's desperation.

"Her name is Kandy Kane. Find out where she lives, who she is, and her record. I need her," Nathan repeated, his voice strained but resolute. "No that's her actual name."

Anna nodded quickly, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she began her search. Nathan's eyes, dark with exhaustion and worry, darted back to the files in his hands. Every second felt like an eternity as he waited for Anna to unearth the information he so desperately needed.

I watched him from across the room, my heart aching for my friend. Nathan had always been strong, a pillar of resilience on and off the track. But Sophia's illness had chipped away at that strength, leaving him raw and exposed.

Anna finally broke the silence, "I found her. Dr. Kandy Kane. She used to work at St. Mary Medical Centre but left two years ago. No current address listed, but I can dig deeper."

Nathan's face softened with a glimmer of hope. "Do it." Nathan didn't waste a second to grab his duffle bag, heading towards the exit.

"He's leaving early again? We have a race in Monaco, you're his partner, make sure he's there or he's fired!" Nacho groans, walking away stressed. I head and jog after Nathan.

"Nathan!" I called again, my footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway as I jogged to catch up to him.

He stopped abruptly and turned to face me, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and desperation. "What, Carlos?" he snapped, impatience radiating from his every movement.