Page 1 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Chapter 1

Ody stood frozen as realization crashed down on him all over again. He didn’t answer. His lips parted, but nothing came out.

Mano held his gaze, searching, waiting. “Talk to me, Ody.” The words came out strained. “What did you do? How did she find out about us?”

Ody swallowed.

Kash. The name burned at the back of his throat.

Stella knew. And if she told Anna…

He had to say it. Had to tell him everything. But the words wouldn’t come.

“You’re hiding something from me.” Mano’s grip tightened on his shoulders. “Aren’t you?”

Ody’s gaze flickered, unfocused.

“Damn it, Ody, talk to me!” Mano snapped, shaking him.

Air rushed into Ody’s lungs like he’d been drowning. His eyes snapped up to him, wide, fragile. “Kash…” His voice barely held. “He came to see me.”

Mano went still. “When?”

“Yesterday,” Ody said. “At my place.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing. I swear.”

“Then how did Stella find out?”

Ody dragged a hand down his face. “He figured it out. I don’t know how. He kept making comments about you and me. About Serifos and how things changed there.”

Mano’s voice dropped, quiet and dangerous. “Did he touch you?”

“No.” Ody shook his head. “He just assumed we’d keep… whatever we had before.” His gaze fell. “But I told him I didn’t want anything with him. I made that clear. And then—”

“He threatened to tell Anna,” Mano cut in, eyes narrowing.

Ody didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

Mano was on his feet in an instant. “I’m going to kill that bastard.”

Ody grabbed his arm. “Mano, don’t. Please.”

“Don’t what?” Mano turned on him, fists clenched. “Break his fucking jaw?”

“Please,” Ody said, his grip tightening. “I don’t want Anna to find out like this. I want to tell her myself.” His voice cracked. “Stella will destroy everything. You know she wants revenge. Who knows what she’ll do now that she knows about us.”

“And what do you want us to do?” Mano shot back. “Sit here and wait for her to tell everyone?”

“I’ll talk to Kash,” Ody said quickly. “I’ll try to—”

“You’ll try what?” Mano snapped. “Stella is going to talk to Anna, Ody. She’s going to tell her about us!”

Ody’s expression broke, panic flooding his eyes. He dragged both hands through his hair. “Fuck… fuck…” His breathing turned uneven as he looked at Mano. “Anna can’t find out like this. She just can’t. Please, just… let me talk to Kash. Maybe I can get him to talk to his sister.”

“You’re not going anywhere near that asshole again.”