Page 66 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Mano clenched his jaw and opened it. Inside were black pants and a black shirt. He looked up at him, eyes sharp, unyielding.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Andreas said. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.” His voice lowered. “You’re not making it easy.”

Mano broke eye contact, looking away, his shoulders tensing.

“I almost forgot,” Andreas added. “Ody didn’t like being left on read. He texted you again.”

Mano’s head snapped toward him. “Give me my phone.”

“You know I can’t do that.” A second passed, before he spoke again. “Unless you want me to remove him from the equation.”

“No!” His voice cracked, his stomach twisting. “No, don’t—please, don’t hurt him.”

“Get dressed,” Andreas said. “We’re leaving in thirty minutes.” He turned and walked upstairs.

When he came back down, perfectly put together, his gaze dragged slowly over Mano, clearly pleased. He motioned for him to follow and headed for the door.

The garage opened to seven cars. Different brands, colors, styles. Some sports, some SUVs, others built for the city, all equally expensive. He unlocked a purple BMW and opened the passenger door, waiting. Mano shot him a hard look before getting in. Andreas closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

When he got in, he leaned across Mano, close enough to make his body tense against the seat. His hand brushed past him as he reached for the seat belt and clicked it into place.

“Where are we going?” Mano asked.

“To a very nice restaurant.”

A sarcastic chuckle slipped from Mano’s lips. “Did you even book a table?”

“No need. I’ve got connections.”

Mano’s expression stiffened as he stared ahead.

When they arrived, Andreas handed the keys to the valet and gestured for Mano to go in first. The hostess recognized him, already moving to seat them at one of the best tables.

The place was upscale, with dark tones, soft lighting, and sleek furniture, everything polished and expensive without trying too hard. But Mano barely saw any of it. All he could think about was Ody, sleeping on the couch. The last thing he’d said to him. The message he’d left unanswered. He needed to see him. Fix it.

“What do you think?” Andreas asked as they sat across from each other.

“I’ve been to better,” Mano said, a deliberate edge in his voice.

That caught Andreas’s attention. “You’re not like the others.”

“You mean the ones impressed by your house, your cars and your money?” Mano raised an eyebrow.

“Something like that.”

“Too bad for you. You picked the wrong guy.” He pushed his chair back, standing. “Find someone else.”

Andreas didn’t react. He simply pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, and turned it toward him. “Ody’s home now. That’s his car, isn’t it?”

Mano’s breath caught. The dark blue Toyota sat parked outside Ody’s apartment.

“Cars are unpredictable.” His gaze stayed on him. “He drives a lot.”

Mano’s pulse hitched. He looked down, shutting his eyes. Then he sat back down. “Don’t hurt him…” His voice came out low, strained. “Please.”

“I won’t. As long as you do as I say.”

“For how long?” Mano asked, sharper now. “You’re not getting anything out of this.”