Page 122 of Unbreakable Thread

“Anything else?” I look at my girl.

She shakes her head. “No, not that I can think of. Max, I hope you’re not mad… At the gym, I realized something was off with you, and I didn’t want Carlos to come after me and blame me.”

She didn’t want Carlos to hurt her. I would have never thought he would hurt anyone, but now? My dad warned me at the rehab center. Drake and Xander also hate him. I ignored it. I thought Carlos showed up for me. I was wrong.

“You did nothing wrong. Yes, I wish you had told me sooner, but I understand why. It all started with him taking advantage of your state of mind. You were going through a lot. Your memory had just awoken. He did it on purpose when you were at your weakest. Then you found out you were pregnant. You did what a mother would do. Protect their child.” I kneel beside her. “I will not let anything happen to you and our babies. I promise.”

She clears her throat. “I know, Max.”

Our legs brush as I sit beside her. I take her trembling hand in mine. “I’ve had Carlos followed.”

They both look at me, eyes wide.

I drag my hands down my face, trying to contain my anger. “When I found out someone had tampered with my phone, I immediately suspected who it might be. Since I always leave my belongings in Carlos’s office, and Annette frequently goes in there, I decided to check the security footage.” I pause, my jaw tightening. “Sure enough, there she was—not once, but twice. What really disturbed me was seeing Carlos enter while she was showing him my phone. They both laughed. I knew they were plotting something together. I just couldn’t figure out what.” I shake my head. “I’m still trying to figure it out. Johnny came back with info. Now, this part is confusing me.”

“What is it?” Sol asks with a slight tremble in her voice.

“He has photos of Carlos and Daniel having dinner at one of the casino restaurants and another with a woman on his lap at the strip club Daniel owns. Then at the fight the other night, I’m certain it was him I saw. Is he planning something with him?”

“Maybe he’s working with him like my dad was,” Sol suggests.

“Possible, but in what way?” I ask.

All three of us stay silent. I’m trying to soak it all up. Carlos’s betrayal is a hammer to the chest. Since the day I met Carlos, he has been someone I looked up to. I thought he was a good man. Turns out the puto was using me from the beginning.

“I feel for Nessa, but she also wanted me to leave you. The night of my win, she told me that. I’m not sure if she knows of the other women or if Carlos manipulated her.”

Just when I was about to say poor Nessa… Now I don’t know what to think of her.

“I’m sorry, I thought they were people I could trust. I was blinded… I latched onto whoever would show up.” I avert my gaze to my feet. “I hate to admit it, but I was desperate for a parental figure in my life at the time.”

Sol tightens her grip on mine. My father looks at the floor. It was the truth. I longed for the attention of parental love. I’m sure once Carlos figured out who I was, he took it as an advantage.

Sol laces her hands in mine. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Max.”

“I do. I should have paid more attention when he kept pushing me away from you with his shitty advice. And now I’ve put you and the babies in danger.”

“Babies?” My dad’s eyes widen with a glint in them.

Sol giggles. “Yes, Hector. We found out today we are having twins, a boy and a girl.”

“Congratulations. This news is the best yet.” His smile is pure joy, and it eases my heart for a split second.

“Thank you.” Sol’s soft voice seeps into my heart as I stand and send a quick text to Johnny and Gary. I need them to give me Carlos’s location and one to come to the house to watch over Sol and my dad.

Gary replies with the gym’s location, and Johnny sends me a quick text that he’ll be on his way when he drops his wife and kids off. I shove my wallet into my back pocket and grab my keys.

Sol’s pretty face goes frantic. “Max, where are you going…? No. No. Please, Max, don’t go.” She runs to me and wraps her soft hand around me, laying her head on my chest. If I can hear the thunder of anger beating in my chest, I know she can.

Lifting her face to meet mine, I run my knuckles on her face. “I need to do this. No one threatens you. No one threatens to hurt our kids and friends. Our family. Carlos betrayed, used, and lied to me. I’ll be back soon.”

She searches my face. “Come back to me.”

I brush my lips on hers. “I will… Always.”

“You stay here, and when I’m done with Carlos, I’ll pick up Leo. Stay put, Soledad. I. Fucking. Mean. It.”

“Ugh. Okay…be careful.”