Chapter 38

Olivia Quinn’s YouTube Tell-All: What We Learned.

Olivia Quinn and Nixon Armas Official.

VinnyGarvswould have been prosecuted for rape with new evidence.

Police Release Statement in Olivia Quinn and Vinny Garvs Accusation.

The whole world knew we were together now. And Nix was eager to show me off — as his, this time — but we were shocked to notice there were very few pictures of us together.

So he posted the picture of me practically squealing in the jacket he’d bought me.

He’d spoken to the manager ofMotoBikeafter we got off the phone withCrisand already had a contract in his inbox. He knew one of the riders had his number 18 in theMotoBikechampionship, so he’d requested he could have 23. The number on my back.

He’d captioned the photo, ‘My lucky number.’

All the shit felt so far away. On the plane, thousands of miles in the sky, surrounded byCiclatiworkers, who had all hugged me and gave reassuring words — and not so reassuring to Nix, warning him they had my back always — I could happily breathe .

And I connected to the onboard Wi-Fi and got to work.

I deleted emails about me and instead wrote a draft statement for Nix leaving. Something he wanted to announce after the race at the weekend.

Crishad sent me a list of potential replacements for a year-long contract and I vetted their socials, checking they were theCiclatibrand.

They were already heavily scouting a guy inSprint2that had been inLuca’steam last year.

While I’d been on my break,Nazminhad taken overLuca’ssocials but the first thing he’d done since getting on the plane was also post a picture of me and him. We were grinning, his arm around me at the theme park we’d all gone to when we were in Spain.

‘Quinnie’sthe strongest woman I know.’

But I didn’t necessarily feel strong. I just felt… like it was life. Like this shit had happened, and I was pushing through.

That video wouldn’t solve everything. The police couldn’t actually do anything.

In the pit box, Nix took great pleasure in kissing me in his leathers for all to see. AndLucatook great pleasure in being the one to take a picture of me for once.

I stumbled back, my hand on the saddle of his bike. His kiss had taken me by surprise.

Nix caught me.

“Christ, mind the bike!” Abbe shouted.

Nix chuckled, hands on my elbows as I steadied myself. “You have no idea what we’ve done on that bike.”

Crisswore, shaking his head. “Maybe I need a break from you for a year, too.”

“Ah, you don’t mean it,” Nix said, slapping his back with glee. “You love me really.”

His boss frowned but looked surprised and gave a nod. “Suppose.”

And then Nix blinked.

“Think you might have some competition,”Lucastage-whispered beside me. “Do you think they’re going to make out?”

Cris’ face went beetroot red as Nix grabbed his helmet.

“Luca, get on that bike and fuck off!”Crisshouted.

Lucasnorted, hugged me and then did as he was told.

Nix couldn’t win the championship, as he’d lost too many points with the races he’d missed.

But he wasn’t going down without a fight.

Frank had already celebrated his win when it was official that no rider would be able to catch up within the weeks they had left.

If Nix had continued as he’d started, he would have thrashed him.

But thrashing him today was all he wanted.

And he did.

This time it was me waiting at the winners’ box for him. It was me he sauntered over to, pulling his helmet off as he walked and kissed me with the same movement, fingers tangling in the back of my hair.

Cameras flashed and, though a couple of weeks ago it might have triggered some panic, I was at ease in his hold. What could they possibly say about how much I loved this man?

And, if they did say anything, I no longer cared.