Roderick, Joe, and Alben came out onto the balcony after dealing with the aftermath of what Salvatore had done. The staff had been paid off. The guests who had witnessed anything had been quietly reassured.

Sean had been removed from the premises without drawing attention. Everything had been handled the way it always was, efficiently and without a trace.

Fortunately, all the guests were from the same world. They were merely speculating about Hartley’s position after angering Salvatore.

And they realized just how crazy Salvatore was to cause a scene in broad daylight.

The three men stopped at the balcony entrance.

Felix was already standing there, his shoulders rigid. He wasn’t looking at them. He was looking at Salvatore.

From this distance, Salvatore—the man known for his cold calculations and brutal efficiency—was sitting in a cushioned chair with Milo tucked against his chest like something fragile.

Salvatore wasn’t saying anything. He was just holding Milo. His face was relaxed in a way none of them had often seen.

Roderick, Joe, and Alben stood quietly for a moment.

Alben looked at Felix. He noticed how Felix clenched his jaw and how still his body was. Alben understood. He did have feelings for Felix. But he couldn’t resist the urge to rub salt in the wound.

He stepped closer to Felix and lowered his voice. "Seems like someone just got their heart broken."

Felix turned his head and looked at the three of them. His eyes landed on Alben and stayed there. "Tsk."

Alben smiled. "Don’t mind him. Come with me."

He put his arm around Felix’s shoulders casually.

Felix moved away immediately. "Go away!"

Alben laughed quietly. "Oh, come on. How many times has he refused you? Aren’t you tired of it? Come play with me instead."

"I’m not your toy, you motherfucker," Felix said flatly.

Alben laughed again and grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him in. "I have plenty of toys. You can be my little rabbit."

Felix shoved him off. He wasn’t in the mood. He couldn’t stay here any longer either. Every second he stood on this balcony watching Salvatore hold that young man as if he were something precious was another second he couldn’t afford.

His chest felt as if something were pressing against it from the inside, so painful and uncomfortable.

He turned to Roderick. "I’ll go check on things."

Roderick looked at him for a moment, then nodded. He had already taken care of everything. There was nothing left to check. But he understood why Felix needed to say it, and he let him go.

Felix walked away without looking back at the balcony.

The three of them stood there now, watching Salvatore from a distance. The Don hadn’t acknowledged them. He was entirely focused on the person in his arms.

Joe watched for a few seconds, then turned. "I’ll go back to the room."

He said nothing else.

Roderick nodded. "Yes. It’s better if one of us stays there."

Joe left.

Alben looked at Salvatore with a smirk. There was no mystery here, not to him. He had known for a while, the way that man reacted when Milo was in the room, the way his attention always shifted without him realizing it.

And now this. Alben didn’t need anyone to explain it to him.

He and Roderick stayed back and said nothing. They didn’t disturb Salvatore.

Then footsteps came from the corridor. Andro Hartley appeared at the entrance to the balcony area, his face flushed and his eyes scanning until they found Roderick.

"Is Salvatore there?" Andro asked. "I need to talk to him."

Roderick stepped slightly forward. "I’m sorry. He can’t talk to anyone right now."

"He hurt my son."

"I don’t think he hurt your son," Roderick said.

"He hurt my people."

"Mr. Hartley." Roderick kept his tone even. "If he did what he did, then something must have been done first to cause it. Don’t you want to know what your son and his bodyguard did that made Salvatore respond that way?"

Andro’s expression shifted. Not softened, just uncertain for a moment. "That’s exactly why I need to speak with him."

Alben crossed his arms and looked at Andro with mild interest. "You’d better leave now. Or he might kill you too."

Andro stared at him. "Unbelievable. You’re treating me like I’m a nuisance."

"I’m looking out for your life," Alben said. "You should teach your son better than to cross Salvatore."

Andro was shocked to hear that Nero had caused trouble with Salvatore. After all, he had to think about their business. It would affect everything.

He just hoped Salvatore would let it slide and not let his personal feelings interfere with their business relationship.

Andro looked back and forth between the two of them, then back toward the balcony. For now, there was nothing he could do. He pressed his lips together, turned, and walked out.

Alben watched him go, then looked back at Salvatore.

On the balcony, Salvatore hadn’t moved. His hand was still on Milo’s back, moving in slow, steady circles.

Milo had buried his face into Salvatore’s neck. The trembling in his body had gradually been calming over the past few minutes.

Salvatore could feel it easing under his hands. The young man had been so tightly wound with fear that it was taking a long time for his muscles to relax.

Milo’s breathing slowed. It evened out.

Salvatore felt the weight of him shift and grow heavier. He looked down. The young man had fallen asleep.

He did not move. He held him.

An hour passed.

Roderick came to the edge of the balcony doorway and caught Salvatore’s eye to signal that the event was over and everything had been handled.

Salvatore raised one hand slightly and gestured for silence. Roderick nodded and stayed back.

Salvatore’s arms had started to cramp. He adjusted slightly but did not put Milo down.

Eventually, Milo stirred. His eyes opened slowly, unfocused. Then he went still. Then he turned his head and saw Roderick standing several feet away, watching with a composed expression.

Milo’s face flushed. He realized exactly where he was and what position he had been in. He started to sit up and get off Salvatore’s lap.

But Salvatore held him still.

He placed a hand on Milo’s back and kept him in place. "It’s okay," he said.

He patted his back once. "We’ll go for lunch after this."

Milo swallowed. He didn’t look at Roderick again. He just nodded, feeling the warmth of Salvatore’s hand still on his back.

"Feeling better?" Salvatore asked.

Milo nodded. "Yes. Thank you, sir."

"Can you stand?"

"Yes." Milo stood up carefully. His legs were a bit shaky. The fear from earlier felt distant now.

He felt embarrassed that Roderick had seen him like that.

Salvatore stood. He straightened his jacket with one hand and placed the other on the small of Milo’s back, guiding him forward.

Milo looked at Salvatore before looking down at the floor. "Sorry, sir... I didn’t think I’d fall asleep."

Salvatore looked at Milo’s messy hair and adjusted his collar. "Don’t worry about it. I won’t charge you for it. You’re safe now. Let’s go."

They walked past the event room. The staff were cleaning up. The guests were gone. The event was over.

He felt a deep, physical sense of relief at that.

They didn’t leave the hotel. Instead, Salvatore led them directly to the hotel restaurant.

Roderick followed. There was no sign of Alben, Felix, or anyone else.

The restaurant was quiet. Only one or two other tables were occupied. Salvatore chose the private room without being asked.

He sat down and pushed the menu toward Milo. "Order whatever you want. Eat a lot. You need the energy."

Milo looked at the menu and didn’t hold back. He ordered a steak, then pasta, then looked at the menu again.

Salvatore watched him. "You’ll eat all of that?"

Milo nodded.

He ate all of it. He finished the steak and worked through the entire plate of pasta without slowing down.

Salvatore watched him finish and said nothing for a moment. "Were you starving?"

Milo looked up and nodded. "I only had a small breakfast today."

"Didn’t you like the food?"

"No, it’s not that." Milo set his fork down. "We’ve been getting smaller portions lately. Luke said Maureen stopped letting him buy a lot of things."

Salvatore’s brow furrowed. He looked at Roderick.

Roderick nodded. "Maureen set a tighter budget for the household. For everyone."

"How small are the portions?"

"For me, it’s enough. But I’m not sure if they don’t have enough food."

Salvatore said nothing. He looked at Milo, who had cleaned both plates and was sitting back with the calm expression of someone who hadn’t eaten properly in days. He hadn’t known that. He hadn’t thought to ask.

Milo felt safer now than he had all his life. He believed that Salvatore would protect him.

He was right about that part.

He was wrong about the rest.

Because the next morning, Milo was in the office, gasping for air, his body hitting the floor for the fourth time in a row as Salvatore stood over him.

"Get up."

Salvatore might protect him from anyone else, but not from himself. That man was the only one bullying Milo right now.