Milo tried to scream, a frantic, vibrating sound muffled by the tie. He threw his weight to the side, crashing to the floor.

Salvatore stood still. He looked at the scene before him.

Milo was bleeding, bruised, and naked.

Nero and Sean looked at him in horror.

They looked terrified, and they had every reason to be.

Salvatore looked at the gun on the counter. He just chuckled.

Nero stood up. "I’ll take him with me."

Salvatore looked at him. "You couldn’t make him walk to you, and now you’re forcing him to follow you?"

"Stay away. He’s mine!"

Salvatore looked at Sean. "Let him go. You really have the nerve to touch my man."

Sean looked afraid, he looked at Nero for a sign. But Nero said nothing.

Salvatore moved forward, fast enough to reach Sean in two steps before grabbing his collar.

Sean was too shocked by Salvatore’s strength as he felt his body fly and slam into a door inside the bathroom, shattering it.

Before he could stand, he felt his body being pulled again. He couldn’t scream as his head slammed into the mirror.

Milo flinched as the mirror shattered and glass scattered before him.

Sean was bleeding. He moved quickly, stepping back. But Salvatore landed punch after punch on his head.

Sean had no chance to move. He slumped to the floor, feeling his jaw break.

"I don’t like to repeat myself," said Salvatore, seeming to channel half his energy into Sean.

Sean couldn’t move. "Damn..." he whimpered in pain.

Milo was shocked to see Sean drowning in blood. His face was covered in blood.

"What are you doing?!" Nero clenched his fist tightly. His man! How dare Salvatore touch his man?

Before he could reach Sean, Salvatore stepped in front of him. "You won’t move until you put his clothes back on him." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Nero looked at Salvatore with disgust and anger.

But before he could argue, Salvatore simply pressed the gun’s muzzle against Nero’s temple. "Or I’ll have to shoot you."

Nero’s eyes widened in disbelief at how crazy that man was. "Do you know what you’re doing?"

"I do. I’ll kill you if I have to. I don’t care. You touch my man, you know what that means."

Nero looked furious but didn’t dare move.

"Do it. Put the clothes back on him if you want to leave peacefully," Salvatore repeated.

Nero couldn’t believe his eyes. But he was here, under the threat of a gun from his own ally. And he had to put clothes back on his toy?

But did he have a choice?

Nero knew he didn’t.

Slowly, he grabbed the clothes and helped Milo put them back on.

Milo was trembling violently, but he managed to get everything on. He removed the tie from his mouth and walked quickly behind Salvatore.

Salvatore grabbed Milo by the arms, looking at him while his gun was still pointed at Nero.

Milo looked at Salvatore, wanting to hug him. But before he could act, the man had already pulled him closer, embracing him.

Milo was shocked when the man pressed his lips against the top of his head.

"My poor thing, how dare they scare you like this," Salvatore said gently.

Milo didn’t understand what was happening, but he felt his face pressed against Salvatore’s chest now.

Salvatore looked at Nero. "Go, before I smash your head against the toilet. I hope this never happens again. I’m not joking. I’ll kill you if you touch him again."

Nero grabbed Sean, helped the man to his feet, and walked outside.

Milo expected that Salvatore was just being nice. But the man didn’t let him go. Instead, he hugged him tighter.

"I shouldn’t have left you with a gun." Salvatore’s words were soothing.

Milo, who had been holding back his tears, was now crying.

He felt Salvatore’s large hand on his back. "It’s okay now, I’m here."

And that made Milo cry even harder.

The staff were shocked to see them and the blood in the bathroom.

Salvatore simply lifted Milo into his arms and walked out.

Milo didn’t open his eyes, but when he did, he saw the city view from the balcony.

It was empty there, so calm.

Salvatore sat on a chair there with Milo on his lap.

"Let me see, you’re bleeding," said Salvatore, wiping the blood from Milo’s nose.

Milo flinched. He hadn’t expected any of this.

Salvatore stopped. He looked at him tenderly. "Tell me if you’re not comfortable. I won’t touch you."

Milo shook his head quickly. He didn’t pull away, instead, he hugged the man tighter. He needed that hug.

"I’m so sorry..." Milo cried. "I’m not strong enough to be a guard."

His voice was muffled against Salvatore’s neck.

The man didn’t push him away, instead, he hugged him tighter.

Salvatore saw just how fragile Milo was. So easy to handle. And seeing how naked and helpless Milo had been set something ablaze in his chest. He was so angry.

Milo was still crying.

"Okay, you can wet my shirt as much as you like," Salvatore said.

Milo finally realized and pulled his head back. He saw a wet patch on the collar of the shirt.

"I’m sorry..." He looked at Salvatore, but the man just smiled.

The man wiped Milo’s bruised cheek. "What did he do to you?"

Milo wiped his tears. "He used to beat me hard. He slapped me and kicked me."

"And you still can’t kill him?"

Milo looked down. "I didn’t see any sign of death on him. It’s just useless even if I try."

Salvatore felt Milo’s body trembling violently. He knew the young man wasn’t lying. He hugged him again. "Stay still."

Milo felt a strange warmth as his head rested on Salvatore’s neck. Was that man not angry with him?

"It’s not your fault the world is cruel to you. Let your tears fall now, and be stronger whenever you’re ready," said Salvatore.

Milo’s breath caught, he hugged Salvatore tighter. So warm.

"Can I stay like this for hours?" asked Milo.

"Yes, but you’ll have to pay me a lot. You know, no one’s ever touched me before?"

Milo looked at Salvatore and swallowed hard. "Expensive?"

"It could be."

Milo pulled away quickly, looking worried.

Salvatore just chuckled and pulled him back against his neck. "It’s free today. I’ll even buy you food after this."

Milo smiled, smelling the scent of perfume and cigarettes on Salvatore’s body. "Thank you, sir..."

He felt so peaceful, for the first time in his life, to be hugged like this.

Behind them, Felix stood with a sad expression. No one knew how heartbroken he was to see Salvatore like that.