JOSEPHINE

'How could he?', I thought outraged while reading a new book. Matteo's suggestion had sounded harmless enough at first—"Hey, try this book, you might like it." And at first, I had. The writing was smooth, the characters intriguing, and the plot had me hooked from the very first page. It was a world I could get lost in.

But then, there it was. A plot twist that hit me like a sucker punch to the gut.

I flipped back to the page, rereading the part that had set my heart racing in anger. The protagonist—who, up until that point, had seemed like a decent, relatable character—had done the unthinkable. He'd betrayed his best friend. And the worst part was that he did it without any remorse. No apology, no guilt. Just cold, calculated betrayal.

"How could he?" I muttered under my breath again, my fingers tightening around the book. My stomach churned as I tried to reconcile the character I had liked with the person who had just stabbed his friend in the back for personal gain. I slammed the book down onto the coffee table, feeling that sense of injustice rising within me. How was I supposed to root for this character now?

"-be so awesome? I often wonder myself, since it can't be genetic. I mean, look at the others." Valentino leaned at the doorframe, his arms crossed and a grin on his face. "Am I interruppting something?"

I jumped, the sudden sound of his voice pulling me out of my spiral of frustration. The book, still lying open on the coffee table, felt like an anchor weighing me down. I glanced up at Valentino, feeling a mixture of surprise and irritation. "Really?" I shot him a look. "You couldn't just knock?"

He smirked, pushing himself off the doorframe and taking a step inside. "Knocking is for people who care. And besides," he motioned to the book, "that seemed like a pretty intense reaction. What's got you so riled up?"

I huffed, closing the book with a bit more force than necessary. "This character," I muttered, holding it up for him to see. "Betrays his best friend without even batting an eye. It's... I don't know. It just doesn't sit right."

Valentino raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You're upset over a book? Come on, that's like getting mad at a movie villain for being bad." He grinned wider, clearly enjoying my annoyance. "You know it's just fiction, right?"

"I know that," I snapped, the edge in my voice betraying my frustration. "Why are you even here? Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

Valentino shrugged, unfazed by my irritation. "You always ask that like I'm some kind of mysterious creature that needs to be out and about all the time." He grinned, leaning back casually into the couch. "But honestly, I had other plans... until I realized I'd much rather stick around and watch you get all worked up over a book."

I shot him a glare, but it was hard to stay mad at him when he looked so annoyingly pleased with himself. "Well, don't let me keep you," I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "If you're so bored here, go on, get lost."

Valentino chuckled, standing up and stretching. "Nah, actually, I've got something better in mind. I was thinking we could go out. You know, clear your head. Get away from all the book drama." His grin turned a little more mischievous. "I know a place you'd love."

I narrowed my eyes, skeptical. "A place? What kind of place?"

Valentino looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Come on, don't make me beg. It'll be fun. I'll even let you vent all you want about your protagonist while we're get there."

I hesitated, glancing at the book again, unsure if I wanted to give it up just yet. But then, I realized that maybe I needed a break. The frustration I felt was starting to bleed into everything around me, and maybe getting out of the house—away from the pages and from all the built-up tension—would actually be good. "Fine," I said with a sigh, tossing the book aside. "But if this is some kind of weird brother-sister bonding activity, I'm holding you responsible."

Valentino laughed and gave me a playful wink. "I'll take that responsibility. Now, get your shoes on. We're going somewhere cool."

He didn't wait for another word, already heading for the door with that confident swagger of his. I stood up and grabbed my hoodie, still curious about where he was taking me. "Where are we going?"

Valentino glanced over his shoulder, his grin widening at my question. "Ah, that's the fun part," he said, clearly enjoying the mystery. "You'll find out when we get there. But trust me, you'll like it." He mentioned me to follow him. "Come on, don't make me drag you," he teased, holding open the door for me.

I hesitated for just a moment, a part of me still wanting to pry, but I could tell from his playful energy that he wasn't going to give anything away. Maybe it was better to just go with the flow for once. With a small sigh, I followed, trying to ignore the slight thrill of anticipation building in my chest. "This better be worth it," I muttered, though I was already starting to feel a little lighter.

Valentino chuckled as he started the engine. "Oh, it will be." His eyes gleamed with mischief, but there was something else too—a sense of freedom, of possibility that I couldn't quite place.

The drive was a blur of city lights and winding streets, the soundtrack of the car just loud enough to fill the space without drowning out the quiet between us. I leaned back in my seat, letting the music wash over me, trying to relax and let go of the frustration that had followed me. As the drive stretched on, the familiar cityscape slowly faded, replaced by the darker expanse of open roads and empty fields. I glanced out the window, my curiosity only growing with every turn Valentino took. It was like we were driving farther and farther away from everything I knew, and the thought was both unnerving and oddly freeing.

Finally, we turned down a dirt road that seemed to lead to nowhere. The car rumbled over the gravel, the tires kicking up small puffs of dust, and I shot Valentino a sideways glance. "Are you sure you're not taking me to some remote hideout to trap me in a secret lair?" I said, trying to keep the unease from creeping into my voice.

He shot me a playful grin. "Don't worry. If I was gonna trap you anywhere, it'd be somewhere with better food," he teased. "Now stop being dramatic and enjoy the ride."

As we rounded the next curve, my eyes caught the glimpse of lights in the distance, growing brighter the closer we got. It wasn't long before I saw what we had arrived at—a race track. The kind you see in movies, with high-speed cars and the smell of rubber and gasoline in the air. "What the-" I muttered, blinking in disbelief. "A race track? You brought me to a race track?"

Valentino pulled the car to a stop, cutting the engine with a flourish. "Not just any race track," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "A place where you can learn to ride a motorcycle—safely. Maddy's gonna teach you."

"Who's Maddy?" I stared at him, unsure if I heard him correctly. "You know that Domenico said no, right?"

He shot me a look that made it clear he wasn't joking. "He doesn't need to know. Trust me, Maddy's one of the best riders I know, and she's been training people for years. You said you wanted to ride? Well, now's your chance. No backing out."

I blinked a few times, my mind struggling to catch up with the situation, but before I could say anything else, the sound of an engine revving interrupted my thoughts. I turned toward the noise, and out of the shadows emerged a woman in full riding gear, her helmet tucked under her arm. She had a confident swagger to her, and when she saw Valentino, her face lit up with a grin.

"Well, well, look who decided to show up," she said, her voice teasing yet warm.

"This is Maddy Jones," Valentino said with a smirk. "Maddy, this is Josephine, my sister. She wants to ride."

I gave her a hesitant wave, still processing the whole situation. Maddy's laugh was light and easy. "Don't worry," she said, walking over with an outstretched hand. "I'll take it slow. We're not here to turn you into some speed demon overnight."

I shook her hand, still not fully convinced this was real. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."

"That's what I'm here for," Maddy said with a wink. "We'll start with the basics. You've got this, trust me."

Valentino leaned against the car, clearly enjoying the look of disbelief on my face. "You wanted to feel the thrill, right? You're not gonna get it sitting at home with a book."

I glanced at the track, my heart pounding slightly faster. The idea of riding a motorcycle, of feeling the wind and the freedom, still held its allure. But there was that little voice in my head— the one that warned me about the dangers, about how unprepared I might be for something like this. But when I looked back at Valentino, I saw the same spark in his eyes that had led him to bring me here in the first place. He wasn't asking me to do anything crazy. He was giving me a chance, a chance to step out of my comfort zone. "Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."

Maddy grinned and clapped her hands together. "That's the spirit!" She led me toward a sleek black motorcycle, the engine humming like a beast waiting to be unleashed. "First lesson— go change into the gear." She waited until I was fully coverd. "Second lesson-getting on and off safely. It's all about balance."

I followed her instructions, my hands a little shaky as I mounted the bike, but once I was sitting there, straddling the machine, the feeling was... unexpected. It felt natural, almost like it was meant to be. My nerves were still there, but they started to settle as Maddy walked me through the basic movements, showing me how to grip the handlebars and control my posture.

After a few warm-up laps around the track with her, Maddy stood back and let me take the reins. Valentino stayed by the sidelines, watching with a grin that made me feel both nervous and oddly supported. As I took off, the bike beneath me vibrating with power, the wind whipping around my face, something shifted inside me. It wasn't just the thrill of the ride or the adrenaline that made my heart race. It was the feeling of a deep, almost nostalgic sense of belonging to this moment.

I could almost hear my parents' voices in my head. "You'll get the hang of it, Josie. Just trust yourself." They'd said that to me every time I tried something new. And when they were alive, they used to ride together—my dad on his old, well-worn bike, my mom beside him on hers, always laughing. Riding had been their thing. Their way of teaching me freedom.

I could see them so clearly now, more than I did before. The way they'd smile, the way my mom would always tell me to trust my instincts. I hadn't thought about it in years—not this intensely. I took a deep breath as I pushed the throttle down a little more, the track blurring in front of me, my mind quieting for the first time in weeks. This wasn't just about learning to ride anymore. It was about them. For a moment, I let go of everything else. The frustrations with the book, the anger at the character's betrayal, the grief I'd buried deep down—it all faded as I glided through the turns, finding my rhythm on the bike.

When I slowed down and pulled to a stop, my heart was still pounding, but it wasn't from fear. It was from the realization that I was reconnecting with something, some piece of myself that I had lost after everything changed. I looked over at Valentino, who gave me a thumbs-up from the sidelines. His grin was wide, but there was something deeper in his eyes—like he could see it too, the way this moment meant so much more than I had expected.

I pulled off my helmet, my hands still a little unsteady, but the smile that stretched across my face was real. "I'm not bad at this, huh?" I said, a little breathless.

"You're a natural," Maddy called out, walking toward me. "Told you you had it in you."

Valentino nodded, his expression softer now, like he understood more than he let on. "I think it's in your blood."

I swallowed, trying to keep my emotions in check. This wasn't just about the bike or the rush of the ride. This was about them. My parents. Their legacy. I was riding not just for myself, but for them too. And in that moment, I felt like maybe I could be just a little bit more like them—free, unstoppable, and alive in a way that felt like it was always meant to be. "Thanks," I said, my voice almost quiet. "This... this means a lot."

____________

When we pulled back into the driveway, the cool evening air still fresh from the ride, I felt a strange sense of calm. The night had turned into something more than I had ever expected. Valentino killed the engine and hopped out of the car without another word, letting me process everything that had just happened. I lingered for a second, the weight of it all settling into my bones. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I thought about how alive I felt for the first time in so long.

But reality came rushing back when I noticed the porch light flickering on. Domenico was standing by the front door, arms crossed, an eyebrow arched expectantly. He was waiting for us, his posture radiating that familiar authority I had never quite gotten used to.

Valentino wasn't fazed, though. He was quick to step out, giving me a wink as he closed the car door behind him. I wasn't sure if he'd meant to keep me from worrying, but I was definitely grateful for the distraction. As we approached the front steps, Domenico cleared his throat, eyes narrowing. "Where were you two?"

I could feel the tension creeping up my spine as I took a deep breath. "We just went for a drive," I said, my voice steady. After all, it wasn't a complet lie. "Needed to clear my head."

Domenico eyed me for a long moment, his face unreadable. I could see the wheels turning in his head, weighing whether to press me further. He finally let out a small sigh and gave a nod, the tension lifting just a little. "Alright," he said, his tone still guarded. "Just make sure you're home at a decent hour next time."

I nodded, knowing the conversation was over. For now at least. I pushed past him and entered the house, the weight of the evening still heavy on my shoulders but not in the same way it had been before. Valentino followed me inside, his grin still teasing. "Good safe there, looks like you're my sister after all."

"I learned from the best.", I replied, winking at him.