Page 24 of A Taste Of Darkness

Technically, they would’ve gotten some, but no, I’m back.

Again.

Milo Marucci

Get your stuff, I’m picking you up. You’re staying with me, Sterlie.

Sterlie

That’s not necessary.

Milo Marucci

It very much is.

Be there in ten.

“Are you sure me staying with you is fine? As much as I wish this whole situation had been over before it even somehow started, I don’t think the issue will be resolved by tomorrow. Staying a night and possibly months are two very huge different things,” I said, following Milo up into my apartment.

Kai and Flora didn’t even notice I left.

Admittedly, I was a little embarrassed by the building after having seen where Milo lived. I didn’t think he’d judge me, but it was still strange.

While his building looked like it was worth billions, mine looked like it was in desperate need of renovations. Actually, someone probably should’ve torn it down and rebuilt it.

The stairwell was… something. Some steps were missing tiles, corners, or even pieces of railing. The walls looked as if they were seconds from giving in. If you stood too close to the doors of certain neighbors of mine, you could smell how it reeked of weed, alcohol, and cigarettes.

When I moved here, I was on a budget because I was slowly building my boutique. Sure, I could’ve asked my father for the money, but, well… I didn’t speak to him anymore. Not after what he’d done to my sister.

I only occasionally touched my trust fund as well.

My grandfather from my mother’s side died three years ago, and he left me all his money, so I have lived off of it ever since I went into no contact with my father. It wasn’t as much as I was used to, but I preferred that over staying remotely in touch with a man who knowingly put his daughter’s life at risk.

I didn’t know my mother. Well, I did, but she’d been in prison for about half of my life for attempted murder, so she also wasn’t a part of my life anymore.

It was quite a surprise when I learned that I was to inherit my grandfather’s small fortune.

“Flora’s place would’ve been safe, but you’re even safer with me, cuore mio,” Milo said. “I really don’t mind having you and Soup around for a while.” He smiled at my dog who was eagerly waiting for me to let her down so she could sprint off. “I never have company, so who knows? Maybe yours will convince me to settle down one day.”

Right, because Milo refused to be with anyone, or so he said two years ago when I first met him. It was quite sad, actually, but I understood. Some people just preferred to protect their peace.

We stood in front of my apartment door. I might’ve been biased, but I truly believed that even my apartment door looked way better than the rest of the whole building. I was a tenant who put effort into something. I had decorations up, unlike my neighbors, and I regularly cleaned my door. You wouldn’t catch me touching theirs even if I wore a hazmat suit.

“What are you looking for anyway?” I asked as Milo and I entered my apartment. God, I haven’t been here in so long. I just hoped it didn’t look like I’d thrown ten parties in one day.

“Bugs,” he answered.

“Why would anyone bug my home?” I still didn’t understand why I was being watched when it was Milo they wanted. Milo and I didn’t even talk at all before the first incident. It made no sense to me.

“To listen to your conversations. To watch you,” he said vaguely. Immediately, Milo started to look around my entryway.

I rest a hand on my hip, cocking my head at him. “Why are these people after you?”

“Uh…” His gaze fell to the floor for a hot second.

“No, better yet. Why are these people spying on me if it’s you they’re after?”

“It’s better if you don’t know, cuore mio.” He opened every drawer, and searched every possible corner, even behind furniture just to make sure there wasn’t a single bug installed somewhere. He even used fancy equipment at some point. “All you must know is that I’ll take care of it, and they’ll never trouble you again. Until then, I really need you to stay within my proximity. If I can’t see you, you’re too far away. Every second I can’t watch you, you’re in serious danger.”

---