The atmosphere shifted instantly. Everyone was more concerned now. Salvatore’s presence was heavy, his eyes scanned the room and settled on the tense group gathered in the corridor.

"I thought there were too many things to do this morning instead of shouting in the kitchen." His voice was low but carried to every corner of the building.

Felix immediately let go of Milo’s wrist.

Milo pulled his arm back; his skin was red where Felix’s fingers had dug in. He tried to steady his breathing, looking down at his shaking hands.

He didn’t want Salvatore to see him as a source of trouble, but the sight of Jojo standing there made his blood boil with a mixture of terror and rage.

Felix stepped toward Salvatore, smoothing his shirt. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Morning, Sal. I was just settling in the new guard. Hartley sent him over. They say he is capable of many things. They offered him as a gesture of good faith."

Salvatore looked at Felix, then shifted his gaze to Jojo. Jojo stood tall, trying to look like a professional soldier, a polite but hollow smile on his face. He nodded toward Salvatore.

"Why?" Salvatore asked. "I don’t remember asking for a new guard."

"Don’t worry, Hartley will pay his salary," Felix explained quickly. "He’s part of the broader agreement we discussed yesterday. Just take him as a gift. We don’t lose anything by having an extra pair of hands."

Salvatore stared at Felix for a long, silent moment. The air in the kitchen grew cold. "Who told you that you could decide who joins my guard?"

Felix gulped, his eyes darting to Roderick for support, but Roderick remained silent. "What? We don’t lose anything. It’s a free gift."

"I don’t take anyone I don’t trust," Salvatore said. "And I don’t accept another ’gifts’ from men like Nero Hartley. Everything he gives comes with a hidden price."

Salvatore then turned his attention to Milo. He saw how tense the young man was, his face pale and his eyes fixed on Jojo with a look of pure, unadulterated hatred.

"Why are you angry with him, Milo?" Salvatore asked.

Milo looked up. He was surprised Salvatore had asked him.

"He is a liar!" Milo said, his voice loud and cracking with emotion. "He was the one who reported me to Nero. I don’t think he’s capable of being a loyal guard."

The room fell silent again. The other guards looked at Jojo, their expressions turning suspicious. In their world, a man who betrayed his own kind was the lowest form of life.

Milo’s chest heaved. He couldn’t believe he had just spoken back to Felix and contradicted a deal in front of the Don, but he couldn’t help it.

The thought of sleeping in the same house as Jojo made him feel like he was back in a cage.

Salvatore looked at Jojo, then back at Felix. A small, dry smile touched his lips. He nodded.

"My man dislikes him," Salvatore said. "Bring him back to the Hartleys."

Felix’s mouth dropped open in complete disbelief. He looked between Salvatore and Milo, his face turning a shade of angry purple.

"Seriously, Sal? You’re just going to take his word for it like that? Who knows if he’s the liar? He’s just a servant. He doesn’t know anything, he just wants to ruin everything!"

"I don’t have any better reason to object," Salvatore replied calmly. "Milo says he’s a liar. He’s lived with Nero his whole life, he knows better than you, for sure. I don’t need a new guard, especially not one that makes my man uncomfortable. Get him out of my house."

Jojo’s smile vanished. He took a step forward, his hands open. "Mr. Portello, I don’t have any problem with him. He is just a liar. I was a loyal guard to Hartley for years—"

Salvatore said nothing, but gestured for Jojo to stop talking.

Roderick moved fast. He stepped into Jojo’s space, his hand resting on the holster at his hip. "Salvatore asked you to leave. Move your feet before I move them for you."

Jojo looked at Salvatore, then at Milo. The smugness was gone, replaced by a flicker of genuine fear. He realized he was no longer protected by the Hartley name in this room. He turned and walked out.

Felix stood frozen, his hands clenched into fists. He felt humiliated. Salvatore had just ignored his "logical" business move in favor of the emotional outburst of a boy who had been in the house for less than a week.

"Roderick, make sure he is escorted off the property and tell the Hartleys that if they want to send another ’gift,’ they should send a bottle of wine instead," Salvatore said.

"Understood," Roderick said, following Jojo out.

Salvatore looked at Milo. "Go get your breakfast. You’ve wasted enough time this morning."

Milo nodded, his heart still racing. He felt a wave of relief so strong he thought he might faint. "Thank you, Sir."

Salvatore didn’t answer. He turned to Felix. "In my office. Now."

Felix stood there for a second, glaring at Milo. The look in Felix’s eyes was murderous. He didn’t say anything, but Milo knew he had just made a very powerful enemy. Felix turned and followed Salvatore.

Milo leaned against the wall, his legs shaking. He had survived the encounter, and Jojo was gone, but he knew the peace wouldn’t last.

Milo saw Felix leaving Salvatore’s room after he finished his breakfast. He tried not to let it bother him. He knew he should be careful around that man.

Milo knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Salvatore’s voice boomed.

Milo stepped inside. He walked up to Salvatore’s desk and handed him the golden key. "It’s been two days. I need to give it back to you."

Salvatore put down his phone. He looked at the key and smiled. "Okay. You know you didn’t get your reward because you failed so many times."

Milo just smiled.

But Salvatore handed him an envelope. "Take it."

Milo looked at it, a bit confused. But he opened it.

An ATM card?

"I put some money in there as a reward for finding my box. You can keep it. The password and everything are in there."

Milo looked at the ATM card. It looked so shiny. He smiled. He had his own bank account?

"T-thank you, Sir..."

Salvatore nodded. He smiled. "You’re making good progress. I love it when you stand up for yourself. Never afraid of anyone."

Milo thought Salvatore was talking about Jojo. He looked down. "I was just so scared."

Salvatore stood up. He took the golden key back. Then he patted Milo on the head. "I’d rather see you angry than see you so weak. Good job," he whispered.

Milo felt his cheeks flush, especially since Salvatore was speaking so close to his ear.

And Milo realized that today Salvatore was giving him another test. That man was so demanding, asking him so many things and still not satisfied.

That afternoon, he had already served the man ten cups of coffee, and none of them had made the man smile.

"Can you make me another? This one is crap."