Manacled in Monaco by Jianne Carlo Read Free Book Online Page B

traffic.
    “And she turned down Mr. Chapman, too. He has a Porsche. A Lamborghini is better than a Porsche, right?”
    Exactly how many proposals had she turned down?
    “About a million dollars better.”
    They hit the winding mountain road Rolan favored and the conversation stuttered to a halt, as he had to focus on the hairpin bends. For all its racing car fame, Monaco had little room to pace a vehicle like the Reverton, which could accelerate from zero to sixty-two miles in a mere five seconds. The country measured around two and a half miles in length and less than a mile wide . Its legendary cliffs and corresponding roadways, with tight twists and turns and steep inclines, drew the top drivers in the world. They reached a level stretch of smooth asphalt, and the roar of the car’s engines no longer prevented conversation.
    “So, you play football. What position?”
    “Quarterback. I’ve got a good arm. I’ve watched your games. You’re fast. Didn’t you ever want to be quarterback?”
    “I like making the touchdowns. As wide receiver, you get more than your share.”
    “They subbed that new guy for you during the last games of the season.”
    Rolan shot him an assessing glance. The boy had street smarts, knew when someone had your balls in sight, and so did he.
    Jimmy Rizzo, the twenty-four-year-old, testosterone-pumped young buck gunning for his position.
    And worse, a Heisman winner.
    And worse, Rookie of the Year.
    And he’d set the record for the forty last year, running it in under four seconds, breaking every football record for a college player and the NFL.
    Age was such a bitch.
    “Tore my shoulder tendon and they wanted me to rest up for the big game.”
    “You have three Super Bowl rings, don’ cha?”
    Balancing the steering wheel between his knees, he tugged the last one off his ring finger. “Here, try it out. I’ll let you wear it to school. You can show it to all your friends.”
    “I’m not real popular at school.” Tony’s tone turned sullen and his mouth crooked down. He stared at Rolan’s palm, but didn’t pick up the ring.
    “Orangeville is a tough town to grow up in. You’re at Jefferson Middle?” He dropped the ring into an inlaid groove.
    “Yeah. I hate school. The only thing good about it is football. Nobody messes with me on the field. I’m the best and the other guys know it. Coach thinks I have real talent.”
    “What are your grades like?”
    “C’s mostly, D in math. I hate math.”
    A carbon copy of Rolan’s youth.
    “It’s not my favorite subject, either. I met your mom in detention for not doing my math homework.”
    “And she’s such a nerd. She loves math. I hate it when she decides to help me. It’s hours and hours of numbers.”
    “So, what do you think about us forming a family? Living together in one house?”
    “In Orangeville?” He scrunched up his nose and snorted.
    “In Salem. That’s where the football field is.”
    “Your own football field.” Tony had turned sideways and their gaze met for a second. “Awesome.”
    “It could be yours too.”
    “You think Mom might agree?”
    “She did, but then she took it back. We had a little quarrel.”
    “Oh boy, did she give you the disappointed look?”
    “Worse, she yelled.”
    “Mom?” His eyebrows flew upward and his mouth dropped open.
    A loud growl rumbled around the car’s luxurious leather interior.
    “Is that your stomach growling?”
    “It’s past snack time. Mom says I have a bottomless pit.”
    “Snack time?”
    “Yeah, I eat like five times a day. I’m always hungry around four in the afternoon.”
    Rolan checked his watch. “Damn!”
    His palm thwacked the leather sleeve sheathing the steering wheel. “I have a meeting on the boat at four and it’s ten to now. Hold onto your seat, son. We’re taking this baby full throttle.”
    “Yes,” Tony exclaimed, and he yanked his elbow down, fist pumping in his excitement.
    It took less than twenty minutes to reach the