I stepped closer to Carlo, who stood quietly by his brother’s side, unmoving, his eyes still shadowed with worry. I placed a gentle kiss against his chest and whispered, “He’s going to be okay, Carlo.”
“I know he will. I hope he’s as forgiving as you are. I hope he can forgive me.”
“Don’t overthink it. Brando may have been dazed and weak, but he meant what he said. His words came straight from the heart.”
And over the next few weeks, my words proved true.
Brando never once mentioned the past. Not once did he bring up what had happened or how Carlo had let him down. Even confined to a bed, his body broken and bandaged, his spirit remained intact.
He filled every room with light, cracking jokes, keeping everyone on their toes, refusing to let pain or limitation define him. That spark, the mischievous, endlessly talkative Brando we all knew, never faded.
The moment his casts came off, he threw himself into physical therapy with the same fierce determination. It wasn’t easy. Every stretch, every movement, every attempt to walk came with clenched jaws, strained muscles, and sweat. But not once did he complain. Not once did he slow down. Step by step, breath by breath, Brando fought his way back.
And within two months, he was fully himself again, stronger, louder, more alive than ever. That familiar fire in his eyes was back, his laugh echoing through the halls, his presence impossible to miss. Brando wasn’t just surviving. He was back, and he was unstoppable.
***
I was sitting on Carlo’s lower back with my iPad while he powered through push-ups, completely unfazed by my added weight. His muscles flexed with each controlled movement, and I couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly strong he was.
Brando strolled into the room wearing nothing but a pair of workout shorts, his black tank top slung casually over one shoulder. He stopped mid-step, raising an eyebrow as his expression shifted from mild surprise to pure amusement.
A sly smirk spread across his face. “Well, isn’t this cozy?” he said, slipping his tank top over his head and heading our way.
Carlo, laser-focused on his workout, didn’t spare him a glance.
“Do you have a physical therapy session?” I lowered my iPad and asked him.
Brando plopped down on a nearby bench. “No, little bird. Those days are behind me. I’m a brand-new Brando now. In fact, I’m so well-recovered, I think even my virginity might’ve grown back.”
Carlo smirked but didn’t miss a beat in his push-ups. “Half the girls in Rome can testify otherwise.”
I pressed my lips together, trying hard not to laugh, but Brando wasn’t done yet. “And the other half still have no idea what’s coming for them. I’m two months behind schedule, but tonight marks the grand re-launch of His Highness.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks at his audacity, and Brando burst out laughing. “My God, little bird. Looks like Carlo hasn’t fucked all the innocence out of you yet!”
Carlo paused mid-rep, lifting his head to shoot him a glare. I quickly looked down, mortified, while Brando only laughed louder, completely unbothered as always.
“What are you reading?” Brando asked me when he was done laughing.
“I’m looking into university courses. Something I’d actually enjoy and that I can use later on, considering Carlo’s... position.”
Brando raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “You’re planning to go to university? A real one?”
“Online university,” Carlo cut in, correcting him without even breaking rhythm. “We agreed on that.”
I nodded in agreement, and Brando gave an exaggerated nod. “Still progress. A big step forward for Don Carlo the Caveman.”
This time, I couldn’t hold back my laughter. Carlo glared up at me, and I leaned down to kiss him quickly on the lips. Sliding off his back, I grabbed the towel from the bench and handed it to him. Carlo wiped his sweat while Brando watched us with a wide grin still stretched across his face.
“If you’re planning to work after your studies, you should consider one of our legit businesses. Our hotels are top-tier. What do you think about hospitality management?”
It actually made sense. Running a hotel was interesting, respectable, and completely safe. I glanced at Carlo, who gave me a small nod of approval, clearly on board.
Brando stretched lazily and stood up. “Then it’s settled. Imagine it, sex in hundreds of different rooms. Nice variety for a man who’s going to be stuck with just one pussy for the rest of his life.”
Carlo didn’t miss a beat. He reached out and smacked Brando hard on the head. Brando only laughed and ducked away, jogging to the treadmill.
THIRTY
