Milo looked down, not daring to look at the murdered men. His body trembled. It seemed that this man was much worse than Niccolo. What if he was killed just for making a small mistake?
"Take care of them! After this, gather all the guards!" The man's voice was loud and deep, making Milo tremble just hearing it.
Milo looked up slightly, and their gazes met. He quickly looked down. Damn!
Milo heard the man stepping closer. "You are... Hartley's son?"
Nero looked nervous. "Yes, I'm... Nero. Andro Hartley's son."
"You can't even wait in the room?" said the man as he walked past them.
Milo felt a chill as the man passed by. But the man's body was very striking in his eyes. He looked very healthy. He had an aura that made Milo's body feel like it was being electrocuted.
Nero walked behind the man. The man's steps were very quick and firm. Once inside the room, the man immediately sat down and placed his gun on the table, making Milo swallow hard.
Milo was sure the man was Salvatore. The man lit a cigarette and stared at Nero.
Milo stood next to Nero, staring at the red carpet. Roderick and several men surrounded them, making the atmosphere tense.
"I've heard what you want to talk about. You didn't need to come here."
Sean handed Roderick a small box and some wine. Nero smiled at Salvatore.
"Oh, I really needed to meet you, Mr. Portello. We will have a long, good relationship. I wanted to congratulate you myself," Nero said politely.
"Congratulate me for killing my uncle?" Salvatore retorted, grinning.
Nero looked uncomfortable. Salvatore was far from what he had expected. The man seemed even more unethical. Nero was not used to dealing with people like this.
"We never had a problem with the Portellos before. We always provided more than you asked. So, this time, I really wish our relationship will be stronger."
Salvatore stared at the box Roderick had handed him. It was a lot of money. But he grabbed the wine bottle instead. He twirled the bottle, smiling slightly. "Nice wine. You can leave this one. But bring that money back. I don't want to owe you anything."
Nero stared at Roderick, who closed the box and handed it to Sean.
Before he could speak, Salvatore spoke again. "If you need our protection, you will pay me for each transaction. Beyond that, we have no ties."
Nero stared at Salvatore as if the man was completely insane. Niccolo loved money; it was highly unlikely that Salvatore would refuse it. Or was the man trying to test him?
Nero smiled. "Well, then." He looked at Milo. "You have to accept my gift. He is my precious man, very good and well-trained. He will serve and satisfy you tonight. I will pick him up tomorrow night," Nero said proudly.
Salvatore looked at Milo, who bowed his head. The young man was very handsome. Salvatore leaned back and stared for a while.
"Milo..." Nero prompted.
Milo swallowed. He looked at Salvatore for a moment before walking in front of the man and kneeling.
"My name is Milo, Master. Order me anything. I'm used to pain and humiliation," Milo said, looking up and smiling sweetly.
Salvatore took a drag on his cigarette. "Anything?"
Nero chimed in. "Anything. Milo, show him."
Milo swallowed and took a deep breath. He stood up and slowly unbuttoned his shirt with a seductive rhythm. He tried to ignore his surroundings. He lowered his shirt, exposing his shoulders. The cold air made him shiver, but he continued.
Salvatore was silent, frowning. "What are you doing?"
Nero smiled and answered for him. "He will show you what he has."
Salvatore looked at Nero and grinned. "Don't do a strip show here. I'm not interested. Take your pet back. I don't need him."
Milo stopped. His face felt red and hot. He hadn't expected this rejection. For some reason, it felt more embarrassing than being naked.
Nero stopped smiling. "Oh, try him. You won't regret it."
Salvatore didn't look at Milo; he looked at Nero with disgust. "If you have nothing more to say, just leave."
He didn't even use the word "please."
Milo looked down and stepped back slowly while pulling his shirt back over his shoulders and buttoning it. But when he looked at Nero, the man was glaring at him.
Milo stopped. What did the man want?
Nero kept staring at him sharply as if signaling something. Milo panicked. He looked at Salvatore.
Nero wanted him to try harder.
Milo swallowed hard, trembling. He wasn't used to being rejected. He had been belittled, humiliated, and laughed at, but never rejected like this. He looked at Nero again.
The man looked at him as if there would be heavy consequences if he failed to seduce Salvatore.
Milo gave in. Anything would be better than being beaten by Nero.
He knelt again, looking at Salvatore pleadingly. "Please... l-let me serve you."
Salvatore puffed on his cigarette, looking at Milo and sensing the fear in the young man's eyes. He gave a small smirk.
"You're scared of him? Go on, shoot him in the head. Why do you need to be scared?" Salvatore said, blowing smoke into the air.
Milo looked down, his body shaking. Nero chuckled, looking at Salvatore in disbelief that the man had just said that right in front of him. Nero looked at Milo with annoyance; the boy was embarrassing him with his weakness.
Milo could feel Nero's frustration. He gave up and closed his eyes. He looked at Salvatore, pleading again.
"Please... save me." Milo didn't say it out loud; his lips just formed the plea.
Salvatore took another drag. "I can do anything to him?"
Nero smiled, thinking Salvatore was finally interested. "Yes."
"I can kill him?"
The question made Nero gasp. Milo was instantly terrified.
Nero then chuckled. "You can do anything, but please don't kill him or cause permanent damage. He is my precious thing."
Salvatore grinned. "Not fun."
Milo squeezed his hands together, shaking. It felt like he had been kneeling there for a long time, the center of attention. He was sure everyone was laughing at him.
Finally, Salvatore spoke. "Take him back. I don't need anything from you."
Nero bowed slightly, then smiled and stood up. He straightened his jacket. "Please accept my friendly gift. I will pick him up tomorrow night. If you don't need him, just leave him here until I come back. You don't need to feed him."
Nero walked out, leaving Salvatore sitting there playing with the cigarette in his hand. Milo stared after him in disbelief. He had been abandoned like this. What if Salvatore shot him?
Salvatore gave a small smirk, as if he couldn't believe he had just been given a human being as a gift. He looked at Milo but didn't say anything as he stood up.
Milo flinched.
Salvatore reached for his gun. Milo instinctively closed his eyes, ready to be shot. His body was shaking violently.
"Gather the guards, now!"
Milo opened his eyes. Salvatore was no longer in front of him. He turned and saw the man standing behind him.
He hadn't been shot?
He quickly crawled to the edge of the room, trying to make himself invisible.
In an instant, the room was filled with large, muscular men. Milo watched them while kneeling next to a sofa. They looked at him in confusion. But their attention quickly returned to Salvatore.
The man's presence was impossible to ignore. His movements and aura commanded respect.
"You've gotten used to being lazy, doing nothing. You didn't even realize there were spies all around you," Salvatore said. His voice sounded casual, but Milo felt a chill at his words.
"Get down! Push-ups, 100!"
The men seemed ready and immediately got into position. Milo watched without blinking. He saw that Salvatore was already staring at him.
"You too," the man said.
Milo looked confused.
"Get in position!" Salvatore added.
Milo looked at the men, who were now staring at him. What? I have to do push-ups?
"Sorry? Me?" Had he heard wrong?
His question made the men groan instantly, making Milo even more confused and panicked. What had he done?
"Add 20 more!" Salvatore said.
Milo was about to speak again, but the man closest to him quickly pulled him into position. Milo couldn't believe it. He was in a push-up position.
He had come to serve the man, prepared to be stripped and humiliated, but instead, he was here.
Push-ups, 120 times.