Page 35 of Brazilian Revenge

“Addie has gone out, but Bruno is inside.” Maria’s eyes widened like she just spotted the baby. “Meu Deus. Look at this cute little girl…” she started, her voice softening.

“He’s actually outside,” Bruno said, walking up to him and giving him a firm handshake then a hug. “Hey, man.”

“Hi. Bruno, this is Satyanna and Lyanna.”

“Nice to meet you,” Satyanna said. She held the baby with two hands so she couldn’t shake hands, but Bruno gave her a pat on the back and erased the distance between them, his eyes focused on the baby.

“I can’t begin to say how pleased I am to meet you, Satyanna. My wife Addie feels the same way, I’m sure. She’s gone to a meeting, but will be back later.”

“Hey, man, shouldn’t you be working?” Leonardo asked. The advantage of being a world-known software developer was he could work from everywhere, and Bruno and his wife had chosen Brazil.

Bruno smiled at the baby. A pang of jealousy threaded through Leonardo. Why, though? His brother was happily married and wouldn’t go after a woman who Leonardo had been involved with. Or was it maybe because his brother had the wife—the right one—before she conceived? Because Bruno lived with Addie, and they both shared a lot more than just sex?

Leonardo rubbed his eyes.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’m an uncle,” he said, making faces at the baby, and the little stinker smiled. “See, I have that effect on women. Do you want me to hold her?” he asked, lifting his hands.

“No, we’re good,” Leonardo said. “Thanks.”

Satyanna rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Bruno. Tell me, are all of you devilishly handsome and cocky?” she said, her tone lighter than usual.

Bruno chuckled. “My Addie is going to love you. Come inside, we’ve prepared lunch.”

As per Leonardo’s request, he would stay in a guest room by himself, and Satyanna would occupy the one next to him with the baby. It was practical that way, and it also wouldn’t put any crazy ideas in her head—or his. In Maranhão, she’d said she wanted marriage. As for Leonardo, that wasn’t an option.

“Addie bought some baby stuff for you.” Bruno pointed at the corner. “And she had me bring the crib and assemble it in your room.”

“Leonardo told me she’s pregnant, right? I don’t want to highjack your moment, or your crib,” Satyanna said, scanning the spacious house elegantly decorated with warm colors and gold accents.

Bruno waved her off. “Don’t worry. You and your baby girl are family now. It’s a pleasure to help.”

Family.The word stabbed at Leonardo’s peace of mind, and it echoed in his ears. He went through the motions and closed the door after Bruno left the room. A different type of family, maybe. “Satyanna, do you need anything?”

She shrugged. “No, I think we’re good.”

They had stopped at a pharmacy where he insisted they buy a month’s supply of formula. And he was sure Maria couldn’t wait to put her hands on the youngest member of the family.

Leonardo unbuttoned his collar. He supposed she was family, too, even with no official title. All he wanted was for Satyanna to understand where they stood. And you do the same.

“Your father?” She pointed at a black-and-white picture taken about forty years ago. Back then photography was quite the luxury for the poor folk; his father held a half smile on his handsome, weathered face. Sergio had worked his whole life to provide for his family—and they had had a good life, until his mother had fallen ill and a gloomy chapter of their lives started. A crushing reality—in every aspect he could think of. Financially. Emotionally.

“Yes.”

“He was a handsome man.”

He picked up the frame and slid his fingers across the glass, as if in a touch of magic Sergio Duarte would materialize in front of him and all those precious moments would return. “He was a great man.”

“How did he meet your mother?”

“Her mother worked as a housekeeper for a wealthy family,” he said, even though given the money that was available now, he probably wouldn’t consider them wealthy today. “He worked as a handy man. Every so often he did some small repairs or painting jobs for them. My mother said the first time she saw him, she just knew. And maybe he did too. My father never talked much about that stuff. We saw it, though. We saw it in his behavior, how much he loved her.”

“So they dated?”

He chuckled. “Back then it was different. He didn’t have the nerve to ask her out on a date, or the money to take her anywhere. So she started to break things around the house, and caused little mishaps to ensure the owner needed to call him. Eventually, they went out, and he asked her to marry him shortly after.”

She put the baby down on the crib. Lyanna studied her surroundings as she kicked her arms and legs. Satyanna leaned over the crib, watching her daughter. “I guess things were simpler in the old days.”

His fingers fidgeted, and he picked up a yellow teddy bear from the dresser and toyed with the bright bow around its neck. “It worked for them.”

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