Race for the Heart: Book Two in the Racing to Find Love Series

by KT Shears

  But what should he do? He and Devlin weren’t exactly friendly, and he didn’t imagine that pushing his way into Devlin’s life and telling his brother to quit the drinking would go particularly well. But he kept thinking of Ava having to identify the body of her sister.

  His phone buzzed and he grabbed it, jumping out of bed and hurrying from the room in case it woke Ava. He answered.

  ‘Is that Asher Carter?’

  ‘Yes, who’s this?’ He hoped to God the media hadn’t got a hold of his number. Colin had warned him it might happen.

  ‘My name’s Dave, I’m a bouncer at the Cinnamon Club.’

  ‘Okay…hi, Dave, what can I do for you?’

  ‘Are you related to Devlin Carter?’

  ‘Devlin? He’s my brother. What’s going on?’

  ‘Look man, I should really have called the police and got them to deal with it, but I’m a big Formula One fan so I looked through his phone to see if there was anyone to call. Your number was the only one in his call list for weeks.’

  Asher was confused. What was going on? And surely Devlin called loads of people. Had they got the wrong guy?

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘He’s freaking out, man. It’s like he’s having some kind of breakdown.’

  ‘Breakdown? What the fuck do you mean?’ Asher felt his voice getting louder and he tried to calm down. He didn’t want to wake Ava.

  ‘Look, we’ve got him in a back room. But he’s going nuts, flinging stuff about, yelling. Now he’s sitting just crying.’

  Asher was absolutely astounded.

  ‘He’s crying?’

  He considered for a second. This sounded serious – this was not Devlin. Well, maybe the flinging stuff around and yelling. But crying? No fucking way.

  ‘I’m on my way down,’ he said. ‘Don’t tell anyone he’s there. Keep him in that room. Can you do that for me, Dave?’

  ‘Sure. Ask for me when you arrive.’

  Asher hung up, his heart pounding. What was going on? He couldn’t make sense of it at all. Breakdown? Devlin? He hurried back into Ava’s room and started throwing clothes on.

  ‘Are you sneaking out on me?’

  He froze. What should he say?

  ‘I was hoping not to wake you.’

  She sat up, yawning.

  ‘What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’ She looked worried suddenly. ‘Was it my story about Rose? I knew I shouldn’t have told you.’

  Asher shook his head.

  ‘No.’ He sighed. He might as well tell her. There was every chance it would be all over the news tomorrow. ‘I just got a phone call from a nightclub, the Cinnamon Club?’

  She nodded.

  ‘I know it,’ she said. ‘Frequented by the rich and famous. Are you off there to pick up a model?’

  ‘No, one of the bouncers called me. My brother’s there, and they said he is freaking out. They said he’s throwing stuff and yelling. God, Ava, they said he’s crying.’

  Asher stood there, helplessly.

  Ave got out of bed and started pulling on clothes.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Asher asked, confused.

  ‘I’m coming with you,’ she said. ‘You might need help to handle him.’

  ‘You weigh about 120lbs wet,’ Asher said, but he passed her the t-shirt she had been wearing earlier.

  ‘I’m stronger than I look,’ she said, looking at him intently.

  ‘This might not be very nice. I don’t know what kind of state he’ll be in. It sounds pretty bad. I knew he’d been drinking lately, but this…’

  ‘I want to come with you,’ Ava said, coming over and putting a hand on his arm.

  Asher nodded. He was glad. He wasn’t sure he could handle it on his own. Even just having someone else there would help, even if they couldn’t help with actually moving Devlin. He hoped he was strong enough – he was taller than his brother but Devlin was pretty stocky.

  ‘Come on, let’s go,’ she said, taking his hand.

  Chapter ten

  When they arrived at the club, Asher asked for the bouncer, Dave. Ava stroked his Asher’s hand as they waited, trying to calm him down. Dave showed up after a couple of minutes and shook Asher’s hand.

  ‘Sorry to have to meet you like this,’ he said, turning to Ava and shaking her hand too.

  ‘What’s the situation?’ Ava asked. She felt her PR instincts kick in – this had to be contained. For Asher’s sake, if not Devlin’s. If the papers got hold of this, it could make things worse – and embarrass Asher beyond belief. He didn’t need the distraction, not ahead of his first race in a couple of weeks’ time.

  ‘He’s in the back,’ Dave said, gesturing through the club to a room. ‘I’ve left Mike in there with him – knock twice and he’ll let you in.’

  Asher took off towards the back, but Ava stayed.

  ‘Listen, Dave,’ she said. ‘We are immensely grateful to you for this.’

  ‘It’s no problem, I’m a big Formula One fan.’

  Ava nodded, slowly.

  ‘I know Asher will want to thank you, and Mike. Do you live here year-round, Dave?’

  He nodded, looking puzzled.

  ‘How about we fix you up with tickets to the grand prix here in a couple of months? You and Mike?’

  ‘Seriously?’ Dave’s face widened into a grin.

  ‘Sure.’ Ava was sure Asher could arrange something, it was only two tickets, after all. ‘Asher will be so grateful to you for keeping this quiet.’

  Dave got the hint. He nodded.

  ‘We won’t say a word,’ he said.

  ‘Excellent. We’ll be in touch.’

  Ava smiled and patted him on the arm before heading towards the door Asher had gone through. She knocked twice and a man she assumed was Mike appeared.

  ‘I’m with Asher,’ she said, and he opened the door just wide enough so she could slip inside.

  When her eyes had acclimatised to the dull nightclub lighting, she saw a figure hunched on the ground, and recognised Asher crouching down beside him. He was talking to the figure in a low voice.

  She hung back, not wanting to intrude, but after a minute or two, Asher stood up and came over to her.

  ‘He won’t even speak to me,’ he said, looking distraught. ‘I don’t know what to do.’

  Ava put a hand on his arm.

  ‘Do you want me to try?’

  Asher shook his head.

  ‘I don’t want you to have to deal with it. It’s not your problem.’

  ‘I want to help,’ she said. ‘Remember, I know what it’s like.’

  Asher thought for a second and then nodded.

  ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Only because I have no clue what else to do with him.’

  Ava walked over and crouched down beside the figure. He stank of alcohol, and his hair was unkempt. His clothes, expensive though they were, looked filthy, too.

  ‘Devlin?’

  She thought he stirred a bit at the unfamiliar voice.

  ‘Devlin, my name’s Ava and I’m a friend of Asher’s. It’s nice to meet you.’

  She moved to a sitting position, her muscles starting to ache from squatting. Devlin made no response.

  ‘I heard you’re having a tough time at the moment. Asher’s worried about you. He might not have said that to you – boys can be pretty crap at that kind of thing – but it’s true. He doesn’t know what to do. He needs his big brother to help him.’

  She heard Devlin mutter something and she leaned closer.

  ‘What was that, Devlin? I didn’t catch you.’

  He lifted his head and Ava was horrified at the misery in his eyes and his tearstained face. This was one of the best drivers in Formula One? He looked and smelled like a tramp. She thought of Rose, standing in that doorway.

  ‘No one needs me.’

  Ava shot Asher a look. He looked anguished, but she smiled at him, reassuringly.

  ‘Yes they do, Devlin. Your little brother needs you.
You might not always have got on, but he’s here now, and he wants to help. But he doesn’t know how.’

  Devlin buried his face in his hands again.

  ‘Can you at least come with us? There’s nothing for you here. Come with us and we can talk about it.’

  ‘There’s nothing for me anywhere,’ he spat out.

  ‘That’s not true,’ Ava said, and she put an arm round him. She half expected him to push her off, but he didn’t. He just sat there, huddled.

  ‘Come with us, please. If not for yourself, then for Asher.’

  ***

  Asher felt sick as he watched Ava talk in soft tones to his brother. He couldn’t hear what she was saying, but Devlin at least seemed to be responding to her. How had this happened to his brother? His cocky, arrogant, racing star brother? He couldn’t make sense of it. He’d known Devlin had been pissed about losing his racing seat, and pissed about his wife leaving him, but this?

  Asher watched as Devlin lifted his head to say a few words to Ava. He had never seen his brother look like this. He looked…broken. Oh God, he’d have to call his mom and dad. They would want to come over here right away, but how could they see Devlin like this?

  Ava stood up and walked over.

  ‘He’s agreed to come with us, back to yours,’ she said.

  Asher stared at her, amazed.

  ‘How did you get him to do that?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘You’ll need to support him, I don’t think he can walk. He’s also done something to one of his hands, I think from punching a wall. It’s all swollen.’

  Asher followed her back to Devlin and bent down.

  ‘Ready, bro?’

  Devlin nodded and Asher hauled him to his feet, supporting all his weight. Ava turned to Mike.

  ‘Is there a back way out of here?’

  Mike nodded.

  ‘We can take him out the storage entrance,’ he said.

  ‘Get a cab there ready,’ she said, digging in her bag for her purse. ‘Dave will tell you the details, but we’ll get you tickets to the grand prix as a thank-you for your discretion.’

  Mike nodded as she pressed some notes into his hand, and left the room.

  Asher was so glad she was there. It hadn’t even crossed his mind to speak to the bouncers about not running to the media.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, propping Devlin up.

  Ava smiled.

  ‘It’s what I do for a living,’ she said.

  They stood in silence for a few minutes, Ava rubbing Devlin’s back as he leant on Asher. She murmured things to him occasionally, Asher straining his ears to hear. But he couldn’t. Devlin occasionally muttered a reply.

  Mike came back in the room.

  ‘Cab’s here,’ he said, ushering them out and down a long, dark corridor filled with boxes.

  Ava took off her jacket and draped it over Devlin’s head.

  ‘Hide your face,’ she said to Asher. ‘And don’t look at the cab driver or speak to him.’

  Asher nodded. He kept his head down as they left the club and got into the cab. Luckily the back of the club was deserted – there was no reason for anyone to be down here, but he knew photographers had a habit of popping up when least expected.

  ‘Someone had a bit much to drink?’ the cab driver asked, cheerily.

  Ava nodded, turning on her dazzling smile.

  ‘Just a bit,’ she said, smiling ruefully. ‘Could you take us to the harbour, please? The new apartments?’

  The driver nodded and turned up the radio as he pulled away. Asher looked across at Ava over Devlin’s head. He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what. It was more than thank you. He reached for her hand across Devlin and she took it. They sat in silence the rest of the way.

  ***

  When they got back to Asher’s, Ava and he helped get Devlin up the stairs to the apartment. They supported him into the spare room and laid him on the bed. He was pretty much unconscious now, and his head lolled as they put him down. Ava looked over at Asher. He looked exhausted. She checked her watch – it was 3am. She remembered him saying he had to be at the track for 9. He couldn’t drive if he was exhausted.

  ‘Go to bed,’ she said.

  He shook his head.

  ‘I need to watch him. It’s not safe to leave him.’

  ‘I’ll watch him,’ she said, putting a hand on Asher’s arm.

  He shook his head furiously.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said. ‘You need to go home to your bed. Don’t you have work?’

  Ava put her hands on her hips.

  ‘Don’t you tell me what to do,’ she said, sternly. ‘I have flex days to take, I can take one tomorrow. You, on the other hand, can’t drive at 200mph round a wiggly track on a couple of hours’ sleep. It’s not safe.’

  Asher stared at her, but she stood her ground.

  ‘I mean it,’ she said. ‘I am not going to sit at work watching the news tomorrow to find out you’ve been killed because you were too tired to pay attention. It’s dangerous and I’m not having it. Go to bed and I will wake you up if we need you.’

  She pointed to the door. Asher shrugged, looking helpless.

  ‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said, looking at her intently.

  ‘You shouldn’t be saying anything. Get to bed.’

  She watched as he turned and left.

  She felt quite awake now. Adrenaline, probably. She looked around the room, spotting a box with ‘books’ on the side. She opened it, and rummaged around, finally selecting a copy of The Great Gatsby. Huh, so not a book she would have thought Asher would have. In fact, she was sort of impressed he had books at all. He hadn’t really struck her as a reader – but then, she had never asked.

  She pulled up an armchair from the corner of the room to beside Devlin’s bed. She checked him to make sure he was okay. He was snoring slightly. She looked at his hand – it was swollen and had cuts on it. It probably needed iced, but that would wake him up. She would do it in the morning. Ava turned off the main light, keeping the small, bedside lamp on. She pulled the top cover off the bed – it was warm enough that Devlin would be fine with just the main cover on – and curled up on the armchair.

  She cracked open the book, noticing that it had been read before, and started reading. Her mind wandered, though, and she set it down after a few minutes. This night had made her think of Rose, more than she had thought of her in a long time. Not just because she had told Asher the story – she told herself the story in her head quite often – but because when she had seen Devlin Carter, hunched on the floor, it had taken her back to the last time she had seen Rose alive.

  She wondered if Rose was why she had been so determined to help Asher. She had failed with her own sister, but perhaps helping Devlin was a way to help her lose some of the guilt. And she had seen the look on Asher’s face as he stood in the bedroom, frantically throwing on his clothes. Even though they were just seeing each other for sex, she had felt his pain deep down inside her. She couldn’t have handled sending him off into the night to find his brother in God knows what kind of shape. She would have hated herself for it.

  Devlin stirred slightly, and Ava checked him again. He was breathing, deep and evenly. She dug in her handbag and brought out a notepad and pen. Asher would have to deal with some of this on his own, she knew that. But she felt like she had to help him as much as she could. Working in PR, she had a good knowledge of rehab clinics and facilities in the Monaco area; quite a few of her own clients had availed themselves of their services.

  She scribbled down the names of some of the better rehab facilities. They wouldn’t be cheap, but she imagined money wouldn’t be an issue for Devlin Carter. Then she picked up her book again. It would be a long night.

  ***

  When Asher awoke, it took him a minute to recall what had happened the previous night. He leapt out of bed and hurried through to the spare room. He couldn’t believe he had let Ava stay u
p all night with his brother – what had he been thinking? Sure he had been tired, but that was no excuse. He thought with a pang that he probably wouldn’t see her again. She would run and never look back after she left today, he was sure. And he wouldn’t blame her.

  He gingerly pushed open the door. Ava was curled up on an armchair, a book splayed on her lap. She looked up as he came in and smiled.

  ‘Is he ok?’ Devlin seemed to be asleep still, Asher was glad to see.

  Ava nodded.

  ‘He’s just been asleep,’ she said, stretching her body. ‘It’s been no trouble.’

  Asher crossed over to her and crouched down beside her.

  ‘You must be exhausted,’ he said, softly.

  Ava shrugged, but then yawned and he chuckled. She smiled at him.

  ‘I’m a little tired,’ she said. ‘But it’s fine.’

  ‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ Asher said, shaking his head. ‘You didn’t have to do this.’

  ‘I didn’t want you crashing your car or falling asleep at the wheel.’

  ‘I think I’ll have to try get out of training today anyway,’ Asher said. ‘I can’t leave him like this.’

  Ava shook her head.

  ‘I’ve got some work I can do from home. If I nip home and pick up my laptop, I can sit with him until you get back.’

  ‘I can’t ask you to do that.’ Asher was amazed at the offer, but this was too much. He felt Ava place her hand on his.

  ‘It’s no trouble,’ she said. She fished in her handbag and handed Asher a piece of paper. He looked down at it.

  ‘What’s this?’

  ‘Names and numbers of rehab clinics.’

  Asher stared. Rehab clinics?

  ‘I don’t know…’ he said.

  ‘He needs help, Asher,’ Ava said, looking at him intently. ‘Help that you can’t give. Trust me – take this opportunity before it gets worse.’

  Asher sighed. He couldn’t imagine his brother would voluntarily go into some sort of rehab. Ava must have seen his expression.