Page 11 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

He sat on the bed, dragging a hand over his face, but the ink didn’t budge. She came back with a bottle and cotton pads and stepped in front of him. He went still the second she touched him. She started scrubbing without a word. It burned, sharp and relentless. But her hands on him were worse. Every touch made his skin crawl. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t move. He needed that ink off his face before he walked out of there.

“Done.” She went to her nightstand, grabbing a tube of moisturizer before coming back.

“What’s that?”

“Your face is red.” Her fingers moved over his skin, a soft, almost caring smile on her lips, like she hadn’t been the one who’d done this to him.

The contrast made his stomach twist.

He pushed her hand away and got to his feet. “Enough.” He crossed the room in a few quick steps, putting distance between them.

“When I call, you show up,” she said.

His hand froze on the door. Slowly, he turned his head. Stella was already watching him. She lifted her phone, giving it a small, almost casual shake. No words. She didn’t need them.

Mano’s fingers curled into a fist at his side. Then he looked away, opened the door, and walked out, heading straight for his motorcycle.

A sleek black sedan glided into the driveway. He didn’t look at it. He started the engine and took off, the roar of the motorcycle cutting through the silence as he sped away.

Kash stepped out of the car, his gaze following him. A slight frown formed. What the hell was he doing here…? He turned and headed for the house, unlocking the door. “Stella?” he called out as he stepped inside.

She drew in a quick breath and stepped to the top of the stairs. “Kash? You’re home early.”

“What the hell was Mano doing here?” he asked, his voice already hard.

Stella glanced away. “Kash, listen, I can—”

“Don’t.” He cut her off with a look. “Don’t start that.” He climbed the stairs, his gaze never leaving hers. “Tell me what he was doing here.”

“I told him to come, okay?”

He just stared at her. “You what?”

“Why do you even care, seriously—” She turned her back on him.

“Get back here.” He caught her arm and yanked her back. The phone in her hand caught his attention. Before she could react, he snatched it.

“Give it back!”

He grabbed her wrist and forced her finger onto the sensor. The screen unlocked.

“Kash, give it back!” She reached up for it, almost jumping, but he held it high above her, out of reach.

He was scrolling fast, then froze when the message came into view. You and Odysseus Stavrinos?! Wow. Anna is going to love this

His expression changed. It wasn’t just anger; it was something colder. “What did you do…?”

“Give it back!” she snapped, jumping for the phone.

He pulled it away. “What the hell are you doing, Stella?” His voice rose, sharp, furious. “Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”

“It’s none of your business!”

He stepped closer, jaw tight. “You’re nineteen, you little shit,” he snapped. “You’re my sister. Of course it’s my business. Especially when you drag me into it.”

He hadn’t meant for any of this to reach Stella. Not like that.

The day before, the front door slammed open. Stella looked up from the couch just as Kash stormed in, anger etched into every movement.