Page 91 of Milo

"I'm never late.”

Hurriedly, I give myself what can only be described as a whore bath before I pack a small travel bag and shove make-up, a Kindle, and my phone into a purse.

At this point, I'm giving up on trying to understand Milo. He is who he is and for now, that's okay. Julia might have a point. Eventually, a clear definition of what our relationship is might be helpful, but right now? I don't fucking care.

Right now, I'm on cloud fucking nine.

Before heading out of my room to the parkade, the silver bowl of jewelry on my vanity table catches my eye. I need something to wear with the dress tonight. I pick a couple of necklaces off the top. One diamond-studded choker, the other a ruby heart on a simple chain. We went through so many pieces today; I can't remember if there's something better on the bottom. Doesn't matter, I don't have time to look anyway.

When I get down to the garage, Milo is already in the backseat of the SUV, his clothes changed, his hair damp from a quick shower. He looks refreshed. Still deathly tired but refreshed.

He casts me a playful scowl. “I told you not to be late.”

"I'm a woman, we need time.”

The driver starts the car and pulls out of the six-car garage.

"Mmm.” Milo suppresses a yawn. "That is true."

I tilt my head, getting secondhand fatigue. "Why don't you take a nap? It's a two-hour drive."

His weary eyelids flutter. “I would much rather talk to you, tesoro. I am fine."

I sidle closer to him. “I’m not going anywhere. Just sleep."

And for once, he doesn't protest, doesn't argue. He lowers his head on my shoulder and within seconds drifts off into a deep sleep.

I smile, glancing down at his peaceful face as I pull up Pride and Prejudice on my Kindle.

I'm in the mood for a romance.

And this time, it's not for an escape.

Chapter 24

Cracking the Surface

"Hey," I whisper, tapping Milo's shoulder as the SUV pulls up in front of Hotel Di Vaio Milan. "Wake up. We're here."

Milo stirs, slowly sitting upright as he pinches the bridge of his nose. Once he's adjusted to the soft light beaming into the car, he stifles a small yawn, his dreamy gaze flickering around my face.

"Already? I could have slept years if you did not wake me, tesoro."

"Unfortunately, yes.” I slide my Kindle into my over-the-shoulder purse as he opens the car door. "Do you feel a little bit better?"

"Much," he says, his tone warmer than the early December sun. He offers me a hand getting out of the vehicle. I roll my shoulders, attempting to loosen the kink in my right blade. He notices. "Are you sore?"

"I mean I did have the weight of your inflated ego resting on my shoulder for two hours," I tease him as Marchello, Gio, and Matteo approach us. "So yes, a little sore."

He casts me a playful scowl. "You could have woken me up, Kiara."

"I know.” I toss him a coy shrug. "But you just looked so...tame."

He raises an amused brow. "Tame?"

"Ye—"

"Milo," Marchello cuts me off as he stops in front of us. He holds out his phone, tilting the screen away from me as Milo reads a text. Or is it a photo? I can't tell. "We should go call Nico immediately."

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