Page 134 of Unbreakable Thread

“I know that. I have sour cream all over my face,” I tell him while dragging the cloth napkin over my mouth. Just then, Lana comes storming in. I scan her quickly. It doesn’t look like she screwed him in the restroom, but she looks mad.

Max lifts his brow as if to say what’s with her.

“I’ll tell you when we get home.” My breath fans his neck, whispering in his ear.

Xander storms in minutes later, appearing more pissed off than he was minutes ago. Usually, Max is so damn oblivious, but right now, he’s looking at Xander’s facial expression, then Lana’s. He peers at me, and I shrug.

Conversation keeps flowing, drinks keep coming. The guys begin talking about Carlos. Drake is the first one to say, “I knew something was up with that crooked ass. He must be doing illegal shit.”

Then Xander jumps in, talking shit about Carlos. For right now, the guys will be training at the pool house until Max finds a location to open his own gym. We talked about this the other night, and I’m excited for him. It’s been a dream of his. Even Hector said he would help Max in any way he could. I’m so happy with the progress Hector and Max have made. I was afraid bringing Hector home would backfire. Sometimes a second chance is worth a shot.

Lana’s lips remain sealed, her gaze deliberately avoiding the man across from her. The silent treatment seems to crawl under Xander’s skin like a parasite. His knuckles whiten around the handle of his steak knife as he saws through the medium-rare fillet, metal screeching against ceramic with each aggressive slice. The tendons in his forearm flex and twitch. I find myself calculating the distance between the tip of that gleaming blade and Toby’s grayish eyes. Inches away. The jealousy radiating off Xander is almost enough to make him accidentally stab Toby’s eyeball with the knife.

Lana was wrong. Xander feels something for her. So it seems.

“Xander, I told Henry to get you tickets for the Gala,” Max says. “And for you, too, Drake and Leo.” Max had asked Hector, but he declined. He didn’t want to miss his AA meeting. Also, Max planned to tell everyone no alcohol tonight, but Hector said he would be fine.

“It seems I will be fighting at the gala,” Drake says, bringing his glass to his lips.

Max curses under his breath. “Now more reason to go. I had second thoughts. Since it was for a good cause, I figured I’d make an appearance.”

Drake empties his glass. “I’ll make it worth your time.”

Daniel must be forcing him to fight.

“I guess I’ll see you all there. Lana and I will be attending.” Toby drops kisses on her bare shoulder. She does seem uncomfortable.

Xander lifts his cup. “See you there, Toby…and Lana.”

He winks at her, then chugs it.

“What was that about?” Max asks, clicking the truck’s fob. “Xander was acting…strange.”

I tell him the entire story on the ride home. He lets out a dramatic gasp. Leo and Hector are silent in the backseat, getting in on the gossip.

“The thing about Xander is he always gets what he wants. She’d better say bye to Toby. He’s no match for Xander. Lana better be ready for what Xander has in store for her.” Leo’s voice is full of humor. “I do remember him saying something about a woman when we were in the Underground the day I fought. Come to think of it.”

“He’s right,” Max agrees. “Xander had her first.” Max rubs his chin. “I do remember him saying he was with a woman who liked to stir things up. His words, not mine.”

Lana finally found her match.

If she’s falling for Toby, then she’s in a world of trouble. She might just be in love with both.

Chapter 39

Max

My body is drenched, rivulets finding paths down every curve and hollow. My dad was up at the crack of dawn to train me. His training methods were slightly different. More effective and old school. He exclaimed, “We don’t need any fancy equipment.” For a man who has done no physical activity in years, he’s pretty fit and has plenty of stamina. He runs with me, surprising me that he could keep up. All week it’s been brutal. My mornings begin with cardio, I head to work, and I finish the day in the ring.

With Dad’s training, I become mentally and physically strong. He doesn’t just teach punches as Carlos did. My dad has been building me from the ground up—shaping me. He went through every strategy. Fundamental techniques, fight strategy like setting traps and combinations, adjusting tactics mid-fight, just to name a few, then went on to conditioning and fitness. Then on to sparring. Although I knew all of this, it was a refresher, and I wanted him to feel needed.

“That’s it for today, son,” Dad shouts, tossing me a towel. “Big day today.” He grins.

He’s been completely giddy, like a chick over me proposing to Sol tonight. While I’m nervous as fuck, I know she will say yes, but damn, she literally brings me to my knees with nervousness. I rehearsed every word in my head several times. It keeps bringing me back to young Sol asking me to pinky promise to marry her. She once had me pinky promise to find her if we got sent to different homes. Life has a way of coming full circle.

“The decorator should be here in another hour.”

He wipes the sweat from his face. “You get yourself ready while I instruct them in the backyard.”