Page 114 of Unbreakable Thread

I gaze out the window so they don’t see the tears ready to flow.

Max sighs. “I appreciate it. I do. I didn’t want you to burden yourself with my messes. And for the record, I never resented you for leaving.”

“The deal is done. I’m happy to be the one to do it.”

Max backs out of the parking lot. “Thank you for doing this for us.”

“Of course,” Drake says.

Max idles. Then looks over his shoulder with a smirk. “For the record, I’m a better fighter.”

Drake laughs. “I knew you wouldn’t let that go. We’ll have to have a match, kiddo.” Drake glances over at Hector. “Pops, who do you think is a better fighter?”

Hector groans. “You both are excellent.”

“I saw that wink, Pops. I knew you would think I’m better than Max.”

“I didn’t do such a thing.” Hector laughs, defending himself.

Slowly and quietly, I exhale. As much as I hate that Drake is now in Daniel’s chaos, I’m happy Max is now done with this shit. Now to worry about Carlos.

Drake lays a hand on my shoulder as Max drives away. “Sunny?”

“Yes.”

“You’re like a sister to me, ya know? I wasn’t trying to leave you out.”

I laugh. “I know. I feel the same way.”

“Do you?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask Drake, turning around to face him fully.

“Well, you came on to me.”

I roll my eyes.

“That’s not what happened,” I declare.

“Don’t worry, brother. I let her down gently when she asked if I was single.”

“I was only asking to get to know you. Sheesh. I was being friendly.”

“Too friendly,” Drake says, throwing fire into the pit, grinning like an idiot.

“Jeez, Sol, I can’t believe you,” Max’s voice is dry as a bone.

I gasp at him.

His body shakes with laughter.

I swat Max. “You ass.”

Something has shifted during the ride back home. They aren’t blood, but the silence between them now feels like the comfortable quiet between brothers who’ve weathered storms together. And maybe, in the way his father’s eyes occasionally find him in the rearview mirror—steady, approving—there’s the beginning of what he’s always needed but never had.

It’s no surprise when Max’s phone rings. Carlos. He always has to ruin the moment.

Max cancels the call. I peer at him. He’s never declined, which is strange. I can’t decipher the confused look on Max’s face.