Page 49 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Nick didn’t comment. He just motioned toward the back seat before getting into the front passenger side. Mano slid into the car, already pulling out his phone to text Ody. Landed in London

Ody, seeing the message was from him, replied right away. Everything okay? Did your brother pick you up?

Mano sent a quick yes, then heard the driver’s thick British accent. “How are you, sir?”

He didn’t answer, turning his gaze to the window.

“He’s talking to you, kiddo.”

“Don’t call me that.” Mano’s eyes hardened.

“You still haven’t learned what manners are?” his brother snapped.

“Tell Jeremy to go to hell,” Mano spat in Greek. “And you can go with him.”

Nick shook his head with a quiet sigh. “He’s doing great, Jeremy. Just had a long flight,” he said in English. “Take us home.”

“Home? You didn’t book me a hotel?” Mano shot back, again in Greek.

“No. You’re staying with me.”

“Why?” He leaned forward, anger flaring.

“Because I said so.”

“I’m catching the first flight back to Athens, I swear to God! You know I will!” he snapped, and Nick turned to look at him.

“Mano, please… I want to talk. Don’t be like this.”

Mano’s expression tightened as he leaned back into the leather seat. If it weren’t for the damn meeting tomorrow…

They stepped into the apartment, London unfolding beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows in endless lights. Inside, the space felt carefully arranged. Marble floors. A wide living area flowing into a sleek kitchen, everything in its place, nothing out of line. It felt familiar to Mano. Not in warmth, but in taste. There was the same restraint. The same need for control.

“Want something to drink?”

“Anything cold,” Mano said, dropping onto the couch.

Nick returned a moment later with two beers and sat beside him.

Mano cracked his open and took a sip. “So, what is it you wanna talk about? After that, I’m booking a hotel.”

“You hate me that much?” Nick asked.

Mano turned to him, beer still in hand. Their eyes held, the tension thick, neither of them willing to look away.

“Mom and Dad wouldn’t want us like this—”

“Oh, now you bring them up?” Mano snapped. “Now you care? All these years you acted like they were some kind of disease. And now what? You ask me if I hate you? You don’t know?”

“Mano—”

“You don’t know what you did?” His voice rose.

Nick lowered his head. “I’ve been trying to fix it for years… I’ve been trying to reach you, but you wouldn’t let me—”

“I don’t care!” Mano cut in. “I don’t want anything from you. Not your money, not your help… nothing. I stopped having a brother the day you walked out.”

Nick’s eyes shut briefly. “Don’t say that…” He looked at him, something breaking in his expression.