MAX

"Well, thank God there's no media in here," I say in a semi-joking tone as the five of us pack into an elevator at the hospital, accompanied by a doctor.

This is a place where people are too focused on the immediate, the crucial, the tragic, to recognize us, and the hospital's diligent about keeping reporters away.

The familiar and omnipresent smell of antiseptic soap permeates everything. It's a smell that reminds me of being a teen and visiting Hans in the hospital when he was small. Hospital scents have always made me feel anxious and uneasy. My stomach tightens as those old fears surface, but then I remember that everything's okay for the moment. That Hans is safe, Adrian is getting the best care, and that Lily is next to me.

Where she belongs.

Being a Formula World driver is an exercise in Zen. It's all about living in the moment. That's a simple philosophy on the track, far harder in real life.

Lily's eyes meet mine and she shoots me a little smile, one I can't interpret. She seems to have changed a lot since we were together seven years ago. For some reason, she's more guarded, quieter, pensive. Or perhaps that's just because she's worried about Adrian. It's difficult to tell, and the mystery of it all gnaws at me.

I used to know exactly what she was thinking, how she was feeling. I've never experienced that with any other woman, and now that I can't with her, it's frustrating. A little disappointing, too.

We troop down the hall in silence, toward Adrian's room. The doctor opens the door.

"Mr. Onassis, you have some visitors," he says.

"Papa!" Lily cries. "You look so much better today. Your color's almost back."

She goes to his bedside and kisses his cheek. Her father chuckles, but instead of his usual robust laugh, it's a weary sound. It's a sound that speaks of pain, and the new-found knowledge that he's mortal — something I'm not sure the gregarious Adrian ever considered before this week. I stand back, with my bodyguards, and watch as Lily and Mrs. Onassis fawn over Adrian. Lily strokes her father's brow, and Mrs. Onassis brings him a cup of water.

"Dad, look who wanted to come see you. I hope that's okay." Lily rubs her father's arm and glances to me.

Adrian's eyes crinkle at the corners as he shifts in my direction. To the side of his bed, monitors beep softly.

"Hi, sir." I smile at him and move toward Lily. She stands to allow me to move closer, and in the process, she squeezes my upper arm. I get a jolt of adrenaline from her touch and sit at the edge of the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

Adrian nods and smiles. "A little rough around the edges, but I'm going to be just fine. My wife's here and she's going to whip me into shape."

He winks and I laugh. Adrian is truly one of the men that I admire most in Formula World, and working for him is everything I thought it would be. I'm going to miss his presence on the track.

"I heard about the race. Finally got an orderly to tell me the results. They wouldn't even let me watch the damn recaps on television," he said bitterly.

I take a deep inhale. This, I didn't expect. "Maybe it's best if you don't focus on that right now. We'll work out the issue with the engine."

"That's what the doc over there says, that I need to let it go, but it's difficult not to think about it while I'm lying here. What happened with the car?"

"Dad, you don't need to worry about the cars now," Lily's voice soars across the room.

Her father slowly lifts a hand and moves it through the air in a dismissive motion. "Tell me what happened."

I briefly explain, making sure to keep any disappointment or anger out of my voice. "We're going to discuss it in a call today with the engineers, sir."

Adrian nods slowly. "You're still doing well in championship points. I think we can come out on top this season. But what the hell happened to Esteban?"

"Dad." Lily's voice is sharper, a warning. She turns to the doctor, her hair flying everywhere. "He shouldn't be stressing himself like this, should he?"

The doctor says something to her and Adrian tugs on my arm again, demanding my attention.

"Now, Max, I need to tell you something. Come a little closer." Adrian coughs a bit but beckons me with a hand that's attached to a tube.

I scoot a little nearer and nod.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lily and the doctor huddling together, murmuring near the window. For a second, I'm mesmerized at the sight, of her mere presence in the same room. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminates her face. Her profile is refined and soft like an antique cameo. Her lips, so pink and perfect, stick out in a slight pout, her nose scrunched, her eyebrows raised as she focuses on Dr. Patel.

The tabloids used to call her plain, unglamorous, even ugly. Nothing could be further from the truth. To me, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and in those seven years since we were together, I've been with my share of women. Models, actresses, pop stars — none have been as beautiful inside or out as Lily.

She's wearing the same dress as yesterday, and it skims her curves without being salacious.

Adrian jolts my attention away from his daughter when he reaches for my arm and clasps it, and that's when I realize that he's more physically weak than I expected. Of course he is, he just had major heart surgery. Still, it's a shock because he's usually so filled with exuberance.

Perhaps he's not going to recover as quickly as we all anticipate, and this realization sends a pang of fear in me, in part because I want the man to live a long life, and I don't want Lily to hurt in any way.

I also don't want to be part of a team in chaos.

"Lily's going to be running the team in my absence. I thought about asking Jack, and a few others. But I think she's what the team needs. She's sharp and knows how I want things done. It'll only be for a couple of months at the most."

"I understand, sir. I think she's an excellent choice." I have to say that, of course. It's not like I can express my real feelings, that having her as my superior is disastrous for both my concentration and my heart.

"I want you to help her out."

I swallow, unsure of what he's getting at. "In what way?"

"Some of the team might not want a woman at the top. You're the star. Everyone looks up to you, so you must set an example. Make sure everyone treats her with respect and follows her orders. She went through hell at that game company. You know I loathe those racing video games."

His gruff words make me grin. This is the Adrian Onassis I know: totally old school about racing. Although lots of us drivers use video games and simulators to practice, Adrian thinks drivers are too reliant on tech these days, and don't spend enough time in actual racecars.

"Lily's a bit stubborn. Like her father. She might not want your help at first." He grins.

That's an understatement. "Okay," I hedge.

"She's going to need someone to bounce ideas off, and I want that person to be you. You're the senior driver, you've been with three other teams, and your instincts are impeccable. I want you two to work well together, you hear? No shenanigans, no controversy."

His eyes narrow, and I'm left speechless. Surely he'd heard the rumors about his daughter and I all those years ago, but it was never discussed when I signed my contract with his team. What exactly is he trying to say now?

Instead of asking, I nod soberly. "Absolutely. I'll help her in any way I can."

Lily moves toward us with a fake, bright smile pasted on her face. "Okay, I think we need a family meeting with the doctor. Max, could you and your men go in the hall for a few minutes? Mom and I want to discuss a few things in private."

I jump to my feet. "Of course."

"Max can stay, he's like family," Adrian protests.

"Dad," Lily says, her tone a warning.

"See what I mean?" He looks to me. "Stubborn girl."

Lily stares at me and blinks, then tilts her head to the door.

"How about I go down to the Starbucks and get you some coffee? Anyone else want anything?" I offer.

Her mother chortles. "Good god, you've got him trained already, Lily."

"See? This is why she'll be excellent for the team," Adrian says.

"Mom. Dad. Please. We need to focus on Dr. Patel's plan." Lily's voice is sharp, and she scowls in my direction. "Coffee would be amazing, since I haven't had any yet this morning. Thank you. Please ignore my parents."

I grin and walk out with my guys, humored by her parents' remarks. If only Mr. and Mrs. Onassis knew what I'd be willing to do for their daughter — and if only their daughter would let me.