Her eyes widen in disbelief.

  “Really?”

  I nod.

  “Mmm-hmm. I still don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I will come up with a plan.”

  She starts cheering and clapping before she wraps her arms around me and hugs me.

  “I am so happy,” she chirps before we break our embrace. “I can’t wait to tell James.”

  Reality jolts through me.

  “No, no. Don’t tell him yet.”

  Her eyebrows tilt up.

  “Why?”

  “There’s no particular reason why. I just want to figure things out and plan my move before I talk to him.”

  “Don’t be a chicken, Eve. At least tell him that you’re planning on moving back. You should talk to him tomorrow evening,” she adds before she pivots, heading to the living room.

  “Yeah... I’ll see about that,” I mumble as I follow her.

  A moment later, we both slide onto the couch.

  “Would you like to see a movie?” I ask, eager to shift the conversation to a different topic.

  “Yes, sure.”

  I press ‘play’ when she starts to speak again.

  “Oh... By the way, I forgot to tell you about the most important development.”

  I shift my eyes to her as I set a bowl of snacks between us.

  “What development?”

  Her eyes twinkle with a secret smile.

  “We might have an unexpected guest tomorrow evening at dinner.”

  “Who?” I ask, munching on a sesame stick.

  She takes a couple from the bowl too.

  “James’ brother.”

  I suck in a short breath, and the piece of snack gets stuck in my throat. I start to cough while she offers me water.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Uh-huh. James’ brother? You mean, Tiago Rossi? How?” I blurt out before I clear my throat and try again with a softer voice. “How come? Are they in speaking terms now?”

  “I’m hoping that they’ll be. James talked to Theresa a few nights ago and had a change of heart. He’s willing to make amends and give the whole idea of the brotherhood a try. He doesn’t hold his hopes high though, but it’s worth the effort, he said. In fact, he’s at Tiago’s place as we speak.”

  I choke again.

  “What...? What?” I stutter. “What do you mean by ‘he’s at Tiago’s place’? How does he know where he lives?”

  “He knows. Tiago gave him the information at the Christmas party last year.”

  With trembling fingers, I shove another sesame stick into my mouth, acting as I’m a complete nervous wreck.

  “Why are you so unsettled?”

  “No reason,” I say curtly. “I mean, Tiago Rossi... keeping us company. That’s going to be interesting.”

  The cadence of my voice gets on my nerves.

  “Don’t worry,” she says, grinning. “He’s not going to make a pass at you as long as James is there.

  “Thank God for that,” I say, half-jokingly.

  A smile sprouts on her lips.

  “Who wants that, right?” I continue, rolling my eyes. “The last thing I wanted was Tiago Rossi bothering me,” I add humorously.

  “You still have preconceived notions against younger guys?” she asks.

  I’m sure, my endless blabbering reminded her of that.

  “Younger guys? Me? Why?” I say, laughing nervously. “Do you think Tiago’s age is the only drawback?”

  “I didn’t say it was. You said it,” she tosses back at me.

  “Um... Yeah, right. Well, it was merely an observation.”

  “Based on what? The younger guys you’ve never dated before?”

  I lift my finger in protest.

  “I said I wouldn’t date a younger man.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “The difference is that I have nothing against them. It’s just that I’ve never had the chance to go out with them. Besides, you said it yourself. James would be against his brother hooking up with me. And why are we talking about him as if he’d be a real possibility for me, anyway?”

  “For one, you may not be interested in him, but he might be interested in you. And secondly, James wouldn’t have anything against you to be with his brother.”

  “That’s not what you said before.”

  “He doesn’t trust Tiago. And obviously, he doesn’t want you to fall prey to him.”

  I swallow hard.

  She keeps going.

  “And I happen to side with him on that. It won't do you any good if Tiago proves to be the shallow, careless guy he seemed to be in the past.”

  “Regardless, there’s no point in talking about him. He is who he is. And I’m not available right now,” I say, wrestling with a bout of jitters.

  Everything she says sounds good in theory, but all her nice words and good intentions would go right out the window if they’d know the truth about Tiago and me.

  Speaking of each, this is a good time as any to warn Tiago.

  I push up to my feet.

  “Where are you going?” she asks.

  “I want more of this,” I say, picking up the bowl of snacks before heading to the kitchen.

  I replenish the crunchy nuts and sesame sticks, filling the bowl before I fish my phone out of my pocket and secretly send Tiago a message.

  Me: James is coming to your place.

  I feel like a snitch as I wait for a few moments, hoping to hear from him when I finally slip my phone into my pocket, having a feeling that he already knows.

  10

  TIAGO

  The street is empty, and the pavement is covered in frosted snow when the cab comes to a smooth stop in front of my building.

  I pay the fare, tell the driver to keep the change and climb out when a Bentley parked a few feet away from me snags my eye.

  I lift the collar of my jacket and briskly walk past it, sweeping the tinted window with my gaze when I hear my name called out.

  “Tiago.”

  I instantly recognize his voice.

  I come to a sudden halt and turn around just as a dark-haired man climbs out of the Bentley.

  He sports a sharp-looking suit and a white dress shirt.

  “James?”

  He closes the gap between us, his eyes holding mine.

  “Do you have a moment?” he asks.

  I search his eyes. The man doesn’t let out much.

  “Yeah... Sure. Let’s get inside,” I say, gesturing to the entrance.

  “Did you call me?” I ask as we walk across the lobby and near the bank of elevators.

  “Yeah, I did.”

  I pat my pockets, looking for my phone when I remember that I tossed it into my gym bag.

  I fish it out as we enter the elevator.

  Absently, I press my floor number while I sweep the screen with my thumb and notice a couple of missed calls and Eve’s last message.

  Eve: James is coming to your place.

  I palm my phone and push it into my pocket.

  “Everything okay?” James asks.

  “Yes. Everything’s fine. What brings you here?” I ask as we exit the elevator a few moments later.

  “You,” he says laconically.

  I open the door to my apartment and invite him in.

  He takes a few steps in and stops in the middle of the room while I look around. For the most part, the place looks neat, although the signs of the last night party are easily noticeable.

  My eyes set on the drawings first.

  I collect them and slip them into a box before I plop my duffel bag on a chair.

  “Are you still drawing?” he asks as I shove the box into a drawer.

  “Uh-huh,” I mutter. “What would you like to drink?”

  “What you have,” he says without looking at me.

  He takes a seat on the sofa while I head to the bar. I return a few moments later, carrying two glasses of scotch.

  I hand him one.

  “You had company?” he asks, tipping his chin and pointing to the torn dress crumpled on one of the armchairs.

  A knowing smile lines his lips.

  I mumble a response as I swiftly collect Eve’s dress and place it on the side table.

  He peels his eyes away from the pile of red fabric while I sink into my seat and lean back. I bring my glass to my lips as he observes me in silence.

  He reads my eyes for a few moments before he speaks.

  “So, how are things with you?”

  “Good,” I say, nervously. “I can’t complain,” I add as I set my glass on the side table. “What brings you to New York? Business? Pleasure?”

  “A little bit of both. There’s an auction at Christie’s on Monday morning, and my wife wanted to visit her friend.”

  I throw him a questioning look as if I have no idea what he’s talking about or who her wife’s friend is.

  The corners of his lips lift into a mysterious smile.

  “Eve Malone,” he says, his gaze scanning my face.

  “Oh... The woman you wanted me to stay away from?”

  “The very same woman,” he mutters, amused. “I see that you found someone else,” he tosses at me as he brings his drink to his lips and motions to the red dress with a flick of his hand.

  He tilts his glass against his mouth and takes a sip before he sets his drink down.

  “No longer interested in Eve Malone?” he mutters, his eyes not leaving mine, a taunting grin flashing through his gaze.

  “I never was,” I say, smirking as well. “I merely dragged her name into the conversation back in December because I wanted to fuck with you. And I can’t stand to be told what to do.”

  “I got that, brother,” he says, his low, guttural voice vibrating in his chest. “But when it comes to people who are close to me, your rules mean nothing to me.”

  I open my mouth to retort when he flicks his hand up and speaks.

  “I’m not here to start that conversation.”

  “Why are you here then?”

  He leans back against the couch and swings his gaze to me.

  “I spoke with Theresa.”

  My hand goes through my hair as I breathe out a chuckle.

  “But of course.”

  “Don’t jump to conclusions, kid. She’s still your mother, and whether you like it or not, you’re still her son.”

  “Is that what she said?”

  “It’s what I’m saying. She wanted to make sure that you’re okay.”

  “Hmm... Let me guess,” I say, smiling. “She wanted to know if I was okay after you both waited for a while to see if I’d make it on my own or not. If I’d break my neck or not?”

  “It was your wish to go on your own. You wanted a clean slate, and you got it. Seemingly, you’ve learned your lesson and chosen a better path.” A smile tugs at his lips as he reads my eyes. “So how do you like it so far? No plans of going back?”

  “Not at this moment. I’m okay.”

  “You’re okay with what exactly?”

  “Life in New York. Living on my own.”

  “Got any new friends?”

  “Close friends were never my thing. I’m doing fine without them.”

  “How do you earn your money?”

  He lifts an eyebrow, waiting for my response.

  “Are you doing anything for money?”

  “A few things. I work with the banker that you hooked me up with in Switzerland. He recommended me a lawyer and an accountant. I have a firm now.”

  “I noticed,” he says, pulling my business card from his pocket. Holding it between his fingers, he flips it a couple of times. “How does that work for you?”

  “So far, so good.”

  “You still didn’t tell me how you make your money.”

  “I no longer fight for cash if that’s what you want to know, but I’m still in the sports circuit, getting paid to draw in big crowds. It’s good money. Other than that, I’m doing small investments with reasonable payouts.”

  “Legal?”

  I crack a smile.

  “Yeah, legal. What kind of question is that?”

  He grins as well.

  “Do you want me to remind you?”

  “That was in the past.”

  “Perfect. That’s what I wanted to hear.”

  “Are these Theresa’s concerns?”

  He flashes an amused smile.

  “Do I look like momma’s boy?”

  “No,” I say more relaxed than a moment ago.

  “I just wanted to make sure that you were okay.”

  “I’m fine. You don’t need to be concerned with me,” I say, flicking my hand up. “I was okay before you showed up, and I’ll be fine from this point on, without your assistance.”

  He studies me for a moment, a trace of a smile on his lips, a different thought flashing through his eyes.

  “Listen...” I continue. “I know you’ve helped my mother, and I know more about you now than I knew back then. She told me how she met my father and why she moved out of the US. I know that you were mad at her and felt betrayed because she left you with your father. I also know that you didn’t think much of me when you met me. The fact that you risked your reputation to help me speaks of courage, but also about a compromise you had to make for everybody's sake. I’m sure you felt relieved when it was all over. I know people well. And I think I know you, James. You were in no hurry to tell anyone about me, let alone make me part of your life.”

  The ghost of a smile brushes his lips.

  “Where did you get all that?” he asks.

  “It wasn’t that hard, man.”

  He watches me in silence, no expression on his face.

  Grinning, I run my hands through my hair as I continue.

  “Come on, man... Last month at the Christmas party. Rain’s friend had no idea that you had a brother, and neither your buddy, David Moore. You kept it a secret. You didn’t bother to share the news, not even with the people close to you. That tells me a lot. In fact, it says everything I need to know. So, yeah... I’m good. I can be on my own, make my own money, have my company, and get the women that I want,” I say, pointing to the red dress. “With this being said, I have nothing against you, and I have no intention to push you away. Just so you know, I’ll talk to Theresa more often from now on, but I’m not going to share everything with her or you or anyone else for that matter. By doing so, my life is much simpler and more manageable,” I say in a lighter tone.

  “You learned everything you needed to know, kid.”

  He lifts his drink from the table and takes a swig of scotch before he sets the glass back on the table and ponders over something.

  “Everything you said about me is true,” he says in a low, raspy voice. “I didn’t care much about you in the beginning, but mainly because there was no point in trying to be your brother when you hated your life so much. The last thing you needed was me in the picture.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  A soft grin arches his lips.

  “The fact that you acted out and severed ties with your mother, for instance. I know how it feels. I’ve been there. I know that pain. When you hurt like that you destroy anything and anyone who tries to help you. Theresa made peace with it eventually, and I had it clear in my head that you needed to find your way, whichever way that was. I know that we met in horrible circumstances. You were fighting so many battles, and I was the last person you wanted a war with. It’s true. I didn’t want to make our story public. They would’ve chased you around and questioned you as much as they would’ve tried to do that with me. And while I have the means to deflect that kind of harassment I’m not so sure it would’ve worked that great for you. We can go public at any moment. I don’t mind fighting them and using my resources to mitigate a scandal if I’m doing it for someone who understands how this world works. I don’t mind having your back if you have my back too. I like you, Tiago, as much as I like to fuck with you occasionally. I see myself in you a lot. And I want to be that man for you–– your brother, but you have to show me that you have your head’s screwed on right. Otherwise, we’re just wasting each other's time and fucking with each other’s life.”

  He pauses for a moment and looks down briefly before he talks again.

  “I talked to Theresa, but that’s not what brought me here.”

  He nods a couple of times in response to my expression of surprise.

  “Yeah, it wasn’t. I wanted to check on her, see how she was doing. She said she was fine, but she struck me as lonelier than she was before. She didn’t confess to me, yet it wasn’t that hard to figure it out. Last year, she seemed set in her ways, content with her life. I asked her if she wanted to come here. She said her friends were over there, her business too. She works a lot, and she’s still happy with her work, but other than that she feels somewhat adrift. Then she mentioned you and the little information that she got from you. As she was talking, I sensed her regrets, her longing for being closer to either of us. Again, she wouldn’t admit it to me, but it wasn’t that hard to pick up on that as well. And then it dawned on me that we sort of switched places––you two, in a way, are living the way I lived when I was growing up. When I reconnected with her last year, and she told me that I had a brother, the first memory that came to mind was me growing up with an aloof, ruthless father who shaped my life in ways that even she couldn’t imagine. I can’t say that everything was bad. The skills he’d taught me helped me to become the man I am today. But when it comes to life and people, he created a toxic desert inside me. It took me years and years to make peace with it and change my ways. The reason why I was saying that we’ve switched places is that I was on my own while you were having a family–– albeit it wasn’t a perfect one. And now that I have a family, you and Theresa live apart from one another and live alone. I don’t know how your life will unfold from this point on or what your plans are for the future. I don’t even know if what I’m telling you means shit to you. All I know is that I’ve had that experience–– not having a real family, and it’s not something worth going through. I didn’t tell her that I’d come looking for you–– I wanted to talk to you first, although these are not the kind of things that can be mended overnight. Again, I don’t know what the future holds for you or her or even me, but we can at least try to be a family as we should be. Be there for each other instead of fighting with each other... What do you think?”