Page 70 of Thiago

“How long has it been?” Bruno asked.

“Only a few days.”

“Not very long.”

“I agree, and I have concerns. My gut tells me this guy isn’t done yet, and I’m worried going public will make him resurface and cause problems.” He told his brother about the accusations Simon’s ex-wife made.

“What’s your plan? I know you have an evil plan,” Bruno said with a smirk.

“I’m thinking of breaking his neck.”

“Don’t joke like that.”

“Who says I’m joking?”

Bruno stared at him in a disapproving big brother way. “Isn’t martial arts supposed to teach discipline and self-control?”

“It does. It also teaches how to break necks.”

“Set aside Plan A, breaking his neck. What’s Plan B?” Bruno tore off a piece of bread and popped it in his mouth.

“She and I go public and deal with the fallout.” Thiago ate a baby corn.

“I like Plan B better, and you can control when and where you make the reveal.”

Thiago ate more of his vegetables. “Maybe. I know we can’t continue like this. I find myself doing things for her I haven’t done for any other woman. She’s been to my house and spent the night. For some reason, I want this relationship to be normal and out in the open.”

Bruno studied him for a moment. “You know why,” he finally said.

“What do you mean?”

His brother sat back and let the silence speak.

Thiago laughed, shifting uncomfortably in the chair. “No. You, Ethan, and Ignacio have fallen, but me—no. Maxwell and I will be bachelors for a very long time.”

“Maxwell, maybe. You? Sounds like your days are numbered.”

“No.” He shook his head vehemently. “Love and marriage are not in my five-year plan.”

“No one ever plans for love and marriage. They club you on the head and drag you away whether you want to go or not.”

“How romantic. I see why Marissa fell in love with you.”

Bruno laughed. “I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

“Okay, Mr. Confirmed Bachelor, do you want to end up like Father? Alone in your sixties, regretting you lost the woman of your dreams?”

“I won’t be alone, and you know as well as I do why Father is. He didn’t like being told what to do and revolted, just as he did with Mother.”

“Mother was a different situation. They were toxic together. His marriage to Mama Rosa lasted a long time, but now he’s alone, wishing he had made a different choice. All because she wanted to spend more time with him.”

Thiago couldn’t argue there. Their father had miscalculated, putting work and business before his marriage.

“Have you heard from Mother?” Thiago asked.

“The last time I spoke to her, she was still in California but said she would fly in as soon as the baby is born. Marissa is nervous about meeting her.”