faint, lingering smell of lavender. It was the scent that had haunted me for the last three months. The very smell that, even after all the time that had past, still made me tremble deep within.
Just like that, I was transported back to one of my beloved and most cherished places—my family’s orchard in Pavia.
Villa Allegra had been in my family since the 13 th century. Through the years, it had been gradually upgraded to include amenities from the modern world. Despite the upgrades, the overall feel of a classical Roman-inspired country estate had remained with awe-inspiring, floor mosaics; heated, indoor bathing pools; and a Roman-inspired pool that was surrounded by pillared statues of the Roman gods Apollo, Jupiter, Juno, Venus, and the entire lot, which faced Southeast, where the sun rose.
One of my cherished memories happened in the open courtyard that sat in the heart of the villa, where two shallow, ankle-deep pools were situated side by side, next to the striking Venus fountain. It was where I had spent most of my coins, throwing them in, wishing away for whatever my heart desired. It was, without a doubt, a beautiful, stunning villa with rich splendor. It wasn’t its grandeur that made it remarkably special for me, though. No, it was a woman, an American expat named Kimberly Harris.
With much anticipation, agitation, and bated breath, she had come back to drown me with nostalgia, throwing me back into the blistering hotness of an Italian summer and the unparalleled love I had once felt for her…
Rome
Three months ago…
“ Have you seen Jacques anywhere?” Andrès Franco threw me a questioning look along with his raised, aristocratic brow that most people found intimidating. Too bad I wasn’t one of them.
“ After the same woman again tonight, I take it?” I made a dry laugh, wondering when those two would end their odd fixation with the same women. Be it a one-night-stand or a temporary lover, the French man and the Spanish duke seemed to share a rather special trait of taking an interest in the same things, women included. Though I had a lot in common with the men, thank goodness I didn’t share that particular trait with them.
“ I don’t see why you find this highly amusing.” he retorted back, a little disgruntled that I wasn’t showing any bit of support when he was evidently not at all pleased by the situation.
“ Listen, chap, the world is filled with beautiful, single women who come in all shapes and sizes; must you both fight at every party for the same bloody woman? You both need to cut this ‘may the best man win’ competition. We’re not in boarding school anymore.” Shaking my head, I nonchalantly shrugged at him.
He smirked, looking devious. “Are we giving lectures now, Luca? You’re one to talk. It’s not as if you’re a saint.”
I was far from one, and I shamelessly admitted that, wholeheartedly.
“ Just be careful, yeah? I’m sure this is all fun and games at the moment, but there might come a time when things get serious. You don’t want to be caught in the middle of that, Andrès, especially when your family loathes scandal.”
He seemed thoughtful a moment before finally giving me an understanding look. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right.” He paused before grinning at me. “ But must we end this rivalry tonight? This year? Probably not.” He tapped my shoulder then breezed away towards the bar where the party was thriving.
Tonight was the opening night of my cousin Antonio’s bar, so naturally my best friends were here, all except for the other two rogues, Dimitris and Callum. We all went to the same boarding school and had remained in contact since. Our bond, though we all lived in different countries, had surprisingly only gotten stronger since Switzerland.
Andrès, Jacques, and myself had chosen the path of car racing, but it was only this year that we finally had been able to join Formula One. It was one of my
Just like that, I was transported back to one of my beloved and most cherished places—my family’s orchard in Pavia.
Villa Allegra had been in my family since the 13 th century. Through the years, it had been gradually upgraded to include amenities from the modern world. Despite the upgrades, the overall feel of a classical Roman-inspired country estate had remained with awe-inspiring, floor mosaics; heated, indoor bathing pools; and a Roman-inspired pool that was surrounded by pillared statues of the Roman gods Apollo, Jupiter, Juno, Venus, and the entire lot, which faced Southeast, where the sun rose.
One of my cherished memories happened in the open courtyard that sat in the heart of the villa, where two shallow, ankle-deep pools were situated side by side, next to the striking Venus fountain. It was where I had spent most of my coins, throwing them in, wishing away for whatever my heart desired. It was, without a doubt, a beautiful, stunning villa with rich splendor. It wasn’t its grandeur that made it remarkably special for me, though. No, it was a woman, an American expat named Kimberly Harris.
With much anticipation, agitation, and bated breath, she had come back to drown me with nostalgia, throwing me back into the blistering hotness of an Italian summer and the unparalleled love I had once felt for her…
Rome
Three months ago…
“ Have you seen Jacques anywhere?” Andrès Franco threw me a questioning look along with his raised, aristocratic brow that most people found intimidating. Too bad I wasn’t one of them.
“ After the same woman again tonight, I take it?” I made a dry laugh, wondering when those two would end their odd fixation with the same women. Be it a one-night-stand or a temporary lover, the French man and the Spanish duke seemed to share a rather special trait of taking an interest in the same things, women included. Though I had a lot in common with the men, thank goodness I didn’t share that particular trait with them.
“ I don’t see why you find this highly amusing.” he retorted back, a little disgruntled that I wasn’t showing any bit of support when he was evidently not at all pleased by the situation.
“ Listen, chap, the world is filled with beautiful, single women who come in all shapes and sizes; must you both fight at every party for the same bloody woman? You both need to cut this ‘may the best man win’ competition. We’re not in boarding school anymore.” Shaking my head, I nonchalantly shrugged at him.
He smirked, looking devious. “Are we giving lectures now, Luca? You’re one to talk. It’s not as if you’re a saint.”
I was far from one, and I shamelessly admitted that, wholeheartedly.
“ Just be careful, yeah? I’m sure this is all fun and games at the moment, but there might come a time when things get serious. You don’t want to be caught in the middle of that, Andrès, especially when your family loathes scandal.”
He seemed thoughtful a moment before finally giving me an understanding look. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right.” He paused before grinning at me. “ But must we end this rivalry tonight? This year? Probably not.” He tapped my shoulder then breezed away towards the bar where the party was thriving.
Tonight was the opening night of my cousin Antonio’s bar, so naturally my best friends were here, all except for the other two rogues, Dimitris and Callum. We all went to the same boarding school and had remained in contact since. Our bond, though we all lived in different countries, had surprisingly only gotten stronger since Switzerland.
Andrès, Jacques, and myself had chosen the path of car racing, but it was only this year that we finally had been able to join Formula One. It was one of my
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