1 Chapter 1: Her own hypercar, Bugatti Chiron

Grabbing a jacket from the chair, Erica Tesoro made a mad dash out of her room. She had to send her brother to school today no matter what. With that goal in mind, she headed for the right-wing of the apartment, where her brother's room was.

Passing through the living room, she stopped in her tracks. There was her brother, Felix, checking himself out on the mirror despite the spider web cracks on it. He was fully dressed with his bag hanging limply on his right shoulder.

Good. He hadn't left yet.

Raking his fingers through his black hair, he put on his favorite cap and turned to Erica. There was a hint of amusement in his dark green eyes as he studied her appearance. Felix was now in his last year of senior high school though he didn't resemble one. He looked younger with his features soft and smooth as a baby.

"Morning sis. I've just finished. " He gave her a small smile and she felt a quick tug of excitement in her heart.

"Have you eaten?" she asked as she strode towards the doorway to put some shoes and he followed.

"Yup. Go back to sleep, sis. I can go by myself."

Adjusting his cap, he walked past her and unlocked the door. She grabbed his arm and told him to wait. He squirmed and she tightened her grip.

"I said wait."

"You need to rest more. You're going back today right?" he asked while tilting his head to the side.

He was right. She would be going back but that was not important for now.

The siblings only met at weekends and on some occasions, after a month. Though her older sister, Denise, looked after him, sometimes work held her up and she couldn't go home. Frankly, she didn't trust her sister that much. Denise got various jobs which meant Felix was mostly alone. So as the other sister, Erica thought she should do something nice for a loved one who felt neglected sometimes and she could only come up with this kind of surprise that would give her a perfect score. She wanted to be assured that her brother was pleased and contented before she left again.

"I will, but later. Now let me give you a ride to school."

"I can take the bus." His face twisted in confusion.

She just gave him a look and pointed to the door. Rolling his small eyes, he walked out. Tugging him, they briskly walked along a narrow alleyway on the side of the four-story apartment. She guided him as they did some turns in the spaces between residential buildings built in mixed Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Some buildings were designed with extreme ornamentation, elliptical forms, and curved lines whereas some maintained the classical style of symmetry, straight columns, and pilasters. The city gave off a solemn and mystical air, making them both quiet. Only the sound of their steps echoed on the stone pavement.

Erica didn't release Felix's hand until they arrived before an empty field where an abandoned warehouse stood ground.

He immediately snatched his hand and snapped, "I would've probably been halfway to school if I had taken the bus!"

He gazed at his watch and she just stared at him blandly. The morning breeze glided through, scattering the smell of dew and fresh flowers sprouting in the ground. The day was too serene to be ruined by an argument between them. She just bit the inside of her cheeks to hold back her irritation.

"You will be walking through your school gates before you know it," she retorted as she touched her pocket and plucked a huge key from it.

Unlocking the rusty metal door, she pulled it hard, dusted off her hands, and plunged her way through the darkness. He only stood outside with eyebrows knitted.

It was Monday, the busiest day of the week. The private school she had found for her brother was one hour away from their home yet it was the nearest in their area and was the decent one for him. Weighing the traffic, they would probably be late but not really since Erica was the one driving.

"Come on, kid. We're running out of time here!" she yelled from the inside and flicked on the lights.

"We're not allowed inside!" he barked back and she sighed.

He was such a good kid, very law-abiding, and very different from her. Not that she had any problems with it. Having that trait was much better anyway. Denise and Felix were living in the Imperial after all. People in the Imperial were typically stiff, obedient, and civilized since it was the political core of their country. But in the other cities, drawing attention and being one of a kind were a death wish since getting noticed by them wouldn't do any good.

By them, she meant the special ones who didn't bother with the norm. The mafia. Only they could bend the legal laws and could impose their straightforward rules that should be absolutely obeyed to survive. Such as— turn a blind eye, shut up, and stay out of their business. Easy as pie. Just follow those and continue to live merrily.

Although her brother was not naive about their existence, she still deemed him weak, both physically and mentally. Considering that he had been sheltered in the Imperial for all of his life, she couldn't blame him. He didn't have the opportunity to see the much darker side of things yet. But that was fine for now. He should just relish the simplicity and peacefulness he had. Eventually, as he got older, he would discover more about them and he would gradually learn how to find the ones worth trusting and protecting in a country filled with two-faced vicious people. Besides, experience was the best teacher. But she would be there to guide him along the way.

"I know and I don't care," said Erica.

"But..."

"Just this once Felix! Hurry up already!" she yelled again, getting annoyed by the minute.

Alarmed by the tone of her voice, he let out a breath as he ran inside. Now standing beside her, he took notice of something concealed in the middle. That was when she broke out in a grin.

This was it. The surprise was to give her brother the greatest ride ever.

Erica removed the covers. There, resting, was god's gift. Bugatti Chiron, the best hypercar. He was like a phoenix. No sophisticated designs or pattern, just a big mass of classy red carbon fiber. The front hood featured an angular V-shape that gave its nose a more aggressive appearance like a beak. On its sides were sweeping black C- shaped curves like wings that defined the profile and acted as aerodynamic devices. He was simple yet majestic at the same time. Splendor was radiating off of him despite his deep slumber and he was smug about it as he flaunted it like a garage king he was.

Erica glanced at Felix and saw his eyes went wide in shock as he sucked in a breath. He blew out a low 'wow'. The 'o' shape never leaving his mouth as he strode towards it. Incoherent words came out from him after. She followed to pat his shoulder, agreeing with him.

Every time Erica saw her car, sweet shivers ran through her body, making her fingers itch for action, and drooling over her like a dog asking its owner for a treat. Those delicious treats of a ride were her stairways to heaven. Behind those layers of red and beauty was a sleeping beast. Speed was its secret weapon. Deadly, dangerous, and insane. It was the epitome of flame and wind.

He trailed his fingers over the hood of the car, touching, feeling, and taking it all in as if he owned it as well. As much as Erica wanted him to savor the moment, her breath hitched at the contact. She eyed at his fingers warily.

𝘍𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘹, 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦.

"This is awesome!" he exclaimed but shook his head almost immediately, "No, no, it's way beyond that. It's...it's...there's no word for it. It's just everything, sis!"

She relaxed. Releasing the breath she unconsciously held, she felt a surge of pride and bliss went up through her body. She knew he would love it.

"Thank Zeke for me. This is the best car that you've received from him! Come on, come on! Start it up and let me ride it!" He clapped and stomped giddily like he was getting ready for a race.

She chuckled. "Calm down!"

She clicked on her car keys. The second the door unlocked, he climbed in without hesitation but froze at once on his seat. He was holding his breath as he swung his head, left and right, trying to reel in the sight before him. While the exterior looked sleek and sexy, inside was rough and beastly. Exactly how she wanted it to be. She could thank the creator of this masterpiece, her younger best friend, Zeke, over and over again for this. He understood and he knew what she wanted and modified it to suit her. Only her. She was forever grateful to him.

She climbed in too and they soared to the sky.