Page 66 of Significant
Rules are meant to be broken
“Why do you believe she’s really here, Aaron?” André spits his venom.
“She’s here for me. Now, you back off from Elle.” I don’t need to threaten André twice. Everything he touched, he destroyed.
“She uses you. She’s here for an article. Her boss asked her to deliver information on you… Since the start.”
I shake my head, not believing a word he’s saying. “Stop your bullshit, André.”
“I got the information from Mr. Black himself. She never loved you, Aaron. Do you really think someone could care for you apart from your money and fame? She betrayed you.”
“No, you’re fucking lying. I trust her.” She would have told me. She promised me she wouldn’t. She couldn’t. I can’t believe I’m even considering this.
“See for yourself. She’s writing an article about you and Henry, that’s why she’s here. You know how the media are? They wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. An opportunity I gave her as a test of her loyalty at my press conference. I did that because I love you, and I wanted you to see her real color.”
“Bullshit. You’re desperate, André.” My irritation starts to grow, knowing he’s up to no good. “I’m going and you stay the fuck away from my woman.”
“Think about it. She had an opportunity, and she seized it even at the risk of crashing your life. She stays with you for information or maybe, who knows, money or fame? All of that is fake, she never cared, and you’re stupid to believe she ever did.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Now you know what I’ve been feeling. You really believe she could have loved someone like you? With everything that you did? With what you are? You’re a joke to her. You’re weak. Far from a man.”
I awaken from my thoughts when the speaker shakes my hand, handing me the microphone on stage. I need to stop replaying in my mind the talk with André. Why can’t I forget his fucking words?
Damn it—all of this shit. I’ll give these vultures what they are here for. I don’t have a choice. Betrayal is the only color of the night. I stare over at the only person I trusted, Elle. She smiles coyly at me, encouraging me to speak up.
But she used me, too.
“I would like to thank my team, my sponsors, and my coach for their support this season. We won this together.” I show the crowd the trophy before they start to applaud. Truth is, I’m not a man of words, but sometimes you have to put on a show. But all I want is to explode. I need to remain in control. If I don’t, I’ll lose the only thing I’ve left.
“I’ve dedicated my life to racing and let me tell you… it’s one hell of a ride. That’s the thing with racing, you can hate it, and yet you can’t live without it. It’s in your blood.” I smirk. “Judging by the front row of reporters, I suppose they’re all here to know about my brother’s death.” I narrow my eyes at each of them, speaking to them directly, while they swallow under the intensity of my gaze. People say you can see the soul of a man in his eyes, well mine is definitely dark. “You’ll be pleased to know that today, I’m gonna give you exactly what you’re here for. A story.”
I don’t have a choice. If I don’t speak the truth, the media will continue to look for dirt—I couldn’t let her betray me.
So I tell them.
I tell them about the accident we had. Without blinking. Ignoring how my heart is breaking at each of my words. I’ve never felt so naked. Exposing myself publicly is a nightmare. The mental images of my brother’s blood on the passenger seat are flashing in my mind. My throat is dry. This is worse than therapy.
I’m no freaking hero. I race because I’m a fucking coward. I’m the villain. And today I’m exposing my skin. A coward who couldn’t save his brother. A coward who never had the courage to verify if the traffic light was green or red. I got left free of charges for killing my brother. Supposedly, it wasn’t my fault—or André paid the judges and police. I glare at their faces with disgust. I don’t want their fucking pity.
“Henry was the greatest brother, friend, boyfriend a person could have.” Each time I call out Henry’s name, I feel like a blade is cutting my twisted, rotten heart out.The sea. The waves. The sand.I should have died and not him. I keep pushing my feelings away. I cannot be weak. “He gave me the strength I needed. I raced with him. Some people say I’m reckless, I would say I’m driven…”
Driven by fear. Sorrow. Hatred.
I know what these vultures are thinking.
Wolf has a heart.
I wanted to become a better man for Henry—and forher. Truth is, I want to honor his death and be the man that he was. I want to be good. To give back. To ask for redemption. And I want to make herlo—Bullshit.
“As for today, I’m creating a foundation under his name. We will give a future to kids who don’t have the necessary funding to pursue their dreams.” White flashes haunt my mind, the same I feel when I race. “When I was fourteen, I stole a kart and raced it when I wasn’t allowed to. Thomas discovered me and took me under his wing, but Henry had to pay for my mistake. All of his savings were put into it. Henry was working two jobs. He invested in me. He believed in me. Without him, I’d be a nobody.”And I thank him by killing him.
“I had a dream. To be a racing driver. And thanks to my brother, I became one. And in this world, there are plenty of kids like me. Thanks to Henry, they’ll have a chance to touch their dreams. Thank you for your time.”
I’m a fraud. People stand up from their seats and applaud. Pity. Caring. Sensibility. Everyone is feeling something, even André has a dry smirk across his face. I stare over at Elle, and she has tears in her eyes, her expression showing how proud she is. She bites her lower lip, a naive smile on her face, a gesture that usually makes me weak toward her.She’s gorgeous.But I don’t return her elation.Could she have betrayed me?I trust Elle.
But I also trusted my mother, who abandoned me for money.
I trusted my father, who broke me.
I trusted my best friend, who fucked and humiliated my sister-in-law.
