Salvatore spoke to Alben, who still insisted on having Milo for himself. "No, you won’t get him. Stop talking about it. Why did you even come here tonight? I hope it’s not more bad news."

Alben sighed, but then he grew serious, and they disappeared into the study.

Milo sat down, uneasy. He waited, but didn’t want what he was waiting for. He just couldn’t sleep.

Minutes passed, maybe more than half an hour, and the door creaked open again. It wasn’t Salvatore or Alben. It was Teo, the boy Milo had met in the garden. He was carrying a stack of folded clothes and a tray with a bowl of soup and some bread.

"Milo! Roderick told me you came back!" Teo’s face lit up with a genuine smile. He ran over to the bed and set the tray on the nightstand.

Milo managed a small, weak smile in return. "Yes. I don’t know why, but I feel grateful to be here."

Teo placed the clothes on the bed near Milo’s legs. He looked at the pale, corpse-like figure in front of him. "What happened? You look like a disaster."

Milo shook his head, looking down at the white silk of the sheets. "Nothing. I just feel a bit sick."

Teo’s eyes moved to the gold rings on Milo’s chest. He saw how red and swollen the skin was. He looked away quickly, sensing Milo’s discomfort. He didn’t ask why Milo was naked or why he had been branded. He had seen enough in this world to know that questions didn’t always bring good answers.

"Put these clothes on," Teo said gently. "Then eat something. I’ll bring you some warm food."

"Really, thank you, Teo," Milo said.

With Teo’s help, Milo managed to pull on a simple cotton shirt and some loose trousers. The fabric felt like heaven against his irritated skin.

Just as he finished, Dr. Andrew arrived. Salvatore was right behind him, his expression remaining calm and cold as he watched the doctor set his bag down.

Andrew was a professional man with graying hair and a calm demeanor. He didn’t waste time. He checked Milo’s pulse and looked into his eyes with a small penlight.

He asked Milo many questions.

"The rings are new?" Andrew asked, pointing to the chest area when Milo mentioned he had just had the rings placed on his chest.

Milo nodded silently.

Andrew took a closer look at the piercings. "It’s normal to have a fever after your body goes through this kind of stress. The tissue is inflamed. It’s an inflammatory response to trauma."

Andrew reached into his bag and pulled out a syringe and a small vial. "I’m going to give you an antibiotic and something to bring the fever down. You need to stay hydrated. Your blood pressure is low as well."

Milo nodded again, flinching slightly as the needle entered his arm.

"Is he okay? Nothing serious?" Salvatore asked. He was standing by the bed, his arms crossed.

"No, he’s okay. As I told him," Andrew replied, packing his tools. "It’s a physical reaction to extreme stress. The body shuts down or overheats when it can’t process that amount of pain. He needs rest, to drink enough water, and to keep those wounds clean. If the redness spreads, call me immediately."

"Can’t you remove them?" Salvatore asked.

Andrew looked at him. "The rings?"

"I’m sure he wants to remove them." Salvatore looked at Milo.

Milo nodded. "Y-yes..." He desperately wanted to remove them.

"Well, I suggest you remove them once they’re healed. To properly assess the situation, it’s best to consult a professional. It looks like they’re permanent."

Alben was there. "I can do it for him. No problem. But yes, it’s better to remove them once they’re healed."

Salvatore agreed. "Well then."

Andrew stood up and nodded to Salvatore before leaving the room. Teo followed him out to get more water, leaving Salvatore and Milo with Alben, who seemed very interested in the young man.

Salvatore didn’t move from his spot. He looked at Milo.

Milo was leaning against the headboard, his hair messy and his face flushed with fever. Despite the paleness of his skin and the dark circles under his eyes, there was something about his face that was hard to look away from.

Salvatore understood why Nero Hartley had been so obsessed with him. Even in this broken state, Milo had a physical presence that was hypnotic. He looked fragile, but there was a strange strength in the way he had survived that house.

"Eat the soup," Salvatore said, his voice dropping to a lower register. "And sleep. We’ll talk once you feel better."

Milo looked up at him, sincerely grateful. "T-thank you, Sir."

Salvatore didn’t admit that he had only wanted to talk to Milo, not to bring him here. He disliked the idea of stealing someone else’s property. But when he saw the young man trembling naked on the floor, it reminded him of his own past. He had been so angry that he took him without hesitation.

"I need your loyalty. Work for me. And I will protect you," Salvatore said.

Milo looked at the man. He still didn’t believe Salvatore would take him permanently away from Nero. If he was serious, he would give him his loyalty.

"One important thing, I hate liars. If you betray me, I will kill you myself," Salvatore continued.

Milo swallowed hard. He immediately realized that the man, after all, was a mafia boss. He nodded obediently.

Alben sat on the edge, leaning forward. "See, he’s so cruel. You’d better stay with me."

Milo gulped.

Salvatore clicked his tongue. "Take a rest," he said, staring at Milo, then turning to Alben. "Get out! Seriously."

Alben sighed mischievously, walking out after Salvatore. "Come on, give him to me."

Milo could still hear Alben coaxing Salvatore. He didn’t hear what the man said in reply. He was lost in his own thoughts.

What was he going to say when Nero came tomorrow to pick him up?