Page 214 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

“Hey, Chris. Stop cheating, man. Drink!” they shouted, their attention shifting toward him.

Steve’s expression shifted the moment he noticed him. “What’s wrong?”

Chris looked up and handed him the phone.

Steve’s eyes dropped to the screen and widened. His finger hit the call button.

When Mano saw the call, his chest tightened. He swallowed and answered, pressing the phone to his ear. “Yeah.”

“What happened? Where are you? Is he okay?”

Mano stilled at the sound of Steve’s voice. He closed his eyes and let out a breath. “He—he’s okay. He lost some blood. They’re stitching him up.”

“Which hospital are you at?”

The others turned toward Steve, trying to piece together what was going on.

“We’re not in Athens.”

“Where are you?” Steve asked, already on his feet.

“Sparta.”

“Sparta? What the hell are you doing there?”

Mano didn’t answer that. “He’ll need clean clothes.”

Steve ran a hand over his buzz cut. “How did it happen? Talk.”

Mano closed his eyes, exhaling. “They attacked us. Five guys.”

“Let me guess,” Steve shot back. “You played the tough guy like always, and Ody ended up in the hospital.”

Chris stepped in and placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to steady him.

“Send me the location.” Steve hung up and turned to the others. “Elias. The car. Now.”

“What the hell happened?” Elias asked. “You going to tell us or what?”

“Ody’s in the hospital. Can you drive us?” He looked at Chris. “You coming?”

“I’m coming too,” Pierce said, already moving.

The four of them headed for the door.

Mano spent the next three hours in the waiting room. Two police officers showed up after the hospital reported the assault. He told them five guys had attacked them and that they’d defended themselves.

They asked Ody a few questions. He said the same. No details. He didn’t want it to escalate. Mano had beaten them badly, broken one guy’s wrist. If they were found and pressed charges, things could get complicated.

Around midnight, the four of them arrived and moved quickly down the corridor. Mano heard footsteps and lifted his head. Their eyes went straight to the blood on his shirt. His face was clean now.

“For fuck’s sake, why?” Steve snapped as soon as he reached him. “Ever since he met you, it’s one thing after another. Those assholes beating him at uni, him breaking down because of you, and now he ends up in the hospital, stabbed. Why?”

“Steve. Let him talk,” Chris cut in, nudging him.

“Actually…” Mano’s voice came out weak, his gaze drifting. “I can’t… not right now.” He looked at Steve. Then at Chris.

“What?” Steve’s brows lifted. “Are you serious?”