Page 46 of Milo

Julia purses her lips. "I love my brother but even I don't know him that well. But whenever he used to get upset with—" she freezes, wincing before recovering quickly, "A Gurkha Black Dragon cigar calms him down. It's a Milo sedative. I actually have a carton I can give you."

"Thanks…” I narrow eyes suspiciously. "Who were you talking about?"

“Hmm?” Julia blinks. A horrible actress, really.

"You said he used to get upset with someone? Who?"

Julia's lips stretch into an apologetic smile. "I am sorry, cara. It is not my place to say. Milo, he—he will tell you when he is ready, if he ever is."

My mind runs wild with theories. Wife? Girlfriend? Cousin? Friend? Who is this person? Why the hell is everyone so afraid to mention her? Or maybe it's a him. A boyfriend?

Husband?!

"Relax, Kiara," Julia says, catching my perplexed expression. "It is in the past."

"Okay.”

Julia's face lights up as she peers over my shoulder. "Mamma!"

Shit.

Turning around, my gaze lands on an older woman in her late fifties, her jet-black hair pinned up. She’s wearing a gorgeous figure-hugging emerald gown with golden embellishments. She links her arm through Milo's as they approach our table.

I blink, mesmerized by the beauty of their mother. Her sharp dark features, rouged cheeks, and plump lips make me feel slightly insecure. She looks like Sophia Loren – classy, elegant, graceful.

And Milo. Well—he looks like the devil, a sinful masterpiece wrapped in couture and strapped with a Beretta; tantalizing, refined, deadly.

"Mamma, how was Paris?" Julia asks, giving her mother two kisses as they pause in front of us. A tingle of nervousness pricks at my fingertips.

"Crowded.” Her mother eyes me carefully, her expression neutral, unreadable, like she's had practice disguising her emotions. Years of practice.

"Mamma, this is Kiara," Milo says, gesturing toward me. His gaze pauses briefly on my chest. His tongue darts out of his mouth and wets his lower lip. So far, I’d say the dress is working. Milo clears his throat. "Kiara, this is my mother, Antonia."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Antonia," I say, smiling through the anxiety.

The ex-mafia queen is silent for a beat before taking a dainty step forward. She leans forward and presses her cheek against mine as she graces me with kisses.

"The pleasure is all mine, Kiara," she says. "My family owes you a great debt."

"Mamma—" Milo begins to say but his mother holds up an authoritative hand.

"Quiet," she says, trapping me in her serious gaze. "If it were not for this girl, I would have lost two sons this year, Emilio! You need to acknowledge that or else you are a fool."

The atmosphere around us drastically changes as Milo swallows, softly stating, "I am aware of the gravity of the situation, Mamma, and I will ensure that Sergio's death will not have been in vain."

Antonia's head snaps at her son. "Not in vain? Greed, Emilio, that is what caused his death. I would hope you have learned from his mistakes."

"Mamma…” Julia places a careful hand on her mother's shoulder. "It is Natalia's birthday; can we please not talk about this right now? It is a happy occasion. Please?"

Antonia sucks in a small breath that relaxes her tensed features and she cranes her neck to look up at her son. Milo's pained expression sends a pang of unease to my heart.

"Julia is correct. This is a celebration. We will talk about this later," she says then faces me, tone softened, sincere. "Kiara, I thank you, as a mother. Not many people would have been as brave as you." Her attention is drawn away by Natalia's joyous laughter. "I will go see my granddaughter now."

"Yes, let's go play with Talia," Julia agrees. "Kiara, you enjoy yourself, yes? My friends are all very kind, I promise."

"I will." I nod as Antonia and Julia waltz away, leaving me with a sulking Milo. "Are you alright?" I ask him, attempting to gauge his mood.

No matter one's age, scolding from a parent is never fun, especially when the subject matter is that of your deceased sibling. My plan to seduce him might need to be put on hold until he lightens up.

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