For the entire journey, my mind had clung to the events of the past few weeks, and how content I’ve become. Even though I’d thought a happy life after Reno would never be possible. I’m a different person these days.
Once we land, the engine noise cuts out, and the spinning blades start to reduce in speed.
“I’ll see you back here later this afternoon,” the pilot confirms.
“Okay. Thanks.” I drag the headset off my ears and take a deep breath.
When I unclip my harness and turn in my seat, I see him. André Souza is standing there, surrounded by armed guards. He hasn’t changed a bit, even though his life isn’t the same as it once was.
As he’s stalking towards the aircraft to greet me, my heart beats faster. I don’t recognize any of the security guys flanking him. None of them stand close, not where Reno and Letterman usually would stand.
My stomach aches, aware of how my brother is missing from both of our lives.
André wears his usual fitted black denim jeans and a snug t-shirt outlining his muscles. His dark hair is disheveled like he’s recently fucked a waitress. But I know better. These days, he’s all about his wife.
He’s at the door in seconds, yanking it open, and offering me his ringed hand. We both know I can manage unaided, yet I still set mine in his and let him help me.
Sure, he’s wild, unpredictable, and trigger-happy, but the André I love would always put his hand out for me—and I’d never refuse it.
My heart flutters. There’s an undeniable similarity between the two most important men in my life. But that's all it is, a sibling resemblance and nothing more. Aside from that, they’re nothing alike.
André’s accent is rougher and his eyes dark. His build is slightly broader, more muscular, and his energy attaches itself to fun childhood antics.
I jump onto the concrete and squeal when he lifts me into the air, spinning me around. Finally lowering my bare legs to the solid roof, I steady myself as a dominant arm clamps my shoulders, and a large hand holds my head tight to his chest.
Trapped in his embrace, I fist his t-shirt and inhale. The familiar musk of cigarettes, liquor, and his signature cologne envelops me, and all the memories flood back. It’s a bittersweet moment of love and loss.
I breathe him into my lungs, fully aware my heart is ecstatic and understanding my body isn’t primed for deviance. He’s not Giovanni.
With my ear next to his pec, I focus on his powerful heartbeat. The rhythm of it stays constant and strong, not thumping hard like Giovanni’s does when I’m on top of him.
“I’ve missed your face.” His deep voice rumbles in my skull.
“I missed yours more.” I laugh, pulling away to side-eye the men behind him. “I see you have new goons.”
André’s lips quirk and he lets out a heavy sigh. “They aren’t him, that’s for sure. But they will be following you around. So be nice,” he chuckles, low and raspy.
“Really? We’re back to bodyguards?” I roll my eyes playfully. “I bet you a hundred bucks I’ve got better aim than those guys.”
“You learned from the best. Of course, you do.” He yanks me to his side and starts to walk us across the helipad. “You’re a bad ass bitch, Indy. But those guys will have eyes on every door, so you can relax. Today is a special day.”
I angle my head and look up at him, my sandals clip-clopping as I match his quick pace.
I'm not blind. I know André is gorgeous. The older my friends and I became, the more their teenage eyes rated him as a god. They were infatuated with the three guys who hovered around me.
I never saw André in the same light as they did, though. He’s the guy who watched a YouTube video on how to fix long hair into a bun when I had to put mine up for jiu jitsu competitions.
It had taken him a few attempts, a shitload of bobby pins, and a bottle of Jack, but he mastered it eventually.
He could have easily paid a hairdresser to visit the apartment. Instead, he’d told me he liked a challenge. It was those simple things he did for me that made my heart whole.
“What’s so special about it?” I ask.
“You’ll see.”
He escorts me through a set of sliding doors and into the top floor elevator.
“Oh, come on, Dré! Tell me. Is it a gender reveal party or something?”
