ONE
Milo
Gutted,alone, scarred… I wasn’t supposed to have regrets, but I fucking did. Those regrets screamed the loudest in the dead of night. They were so haunting that not even the vodka could quiet them.
It had been a few days since I had abandoned Sable in the woods, leaving her to care for her useless brother in an enemy cabin in the middle of a snowstorm. But to be fair, she did put herself in that position. Despite my anger, I sent a car the next morning and got them safely back to the city.
Maybe I’m not such a bad guy after all. Whatever gets me through the night.
The torment that plagued her over being caught between me and Chance was never going to subside. One of us had to turn their back and walk away. It had to be me. Letting go and forgetting was a little tougher than I had anticipated.
I obsessed over the tracker that I had planted in her bracelet, checking the app fifty times a day like some fucking consumed stalker. I was more distracted now than I had ever been before.
“Hmm…” I studied my phone screen, following her every move. “You’re leaving the house today. Where are you going?”
“Milo,” my father said.
I swiped my finger over the screen and closed the app. “Hey, Dad.”
He stood in the doorway of my office at the car dealership wearing his blue Armani suit and appearing every bit the boss he was. Today was his first day back in months. He stepped into the role of the head of the company without missing a beat. While he was away, he somehow managed to stay on top of all the business Marchello and I had worked so hard to maintain in his absence.
What my brother and I struggled with every day, our father accomplished with little effort. I was glad to have him back. I wanted to be the heir for as long as I could. He could have the throne.
“How’s it going?” I stood and straightened my tie. “Do you need my help with anything?”
He entered the office, shut the door behind him, and then took his time striding across the room. His calm demeanor allowed him to assess situations for what they were. He didn’t act on impulse and there never seemed to be a sense of urgency in his plans. Only striking when necessary and never losing focus worked for him.
I wish I could be half the man Nico Accetti is.
“I need your help with plenty of things.” He smacked his hand on my desk in an attempt to make sure I paid attention. “I’m just not sure you’re ready to assist me.”
“What do you mean?” Wasn’t I the one who held down the fort for the past few weeks? Making sure the dealership ran smoothly, keeping the cartels happy, and backing off Diego Medina? “I’m always ready to help you.”
“I asked you to take the nose ring out, but you haven’t.”
“I forgot.” I had piercings in my ears at various times throughout my life, and I was running out of skin to tattoo. That didn’t seem to irritate him, but I couldn’t figure out what it was about my nose ring that pissed him off. “I’m sorry.”
The memory crashed into me harder than my car had hit the tree, reminding me why I didn’t want to remove the hoop.
“The first night we met,you didn’t have this,” Sable said.
“I had the piercing, but I don’t wear it all the time.”
“How come?”
“My father doesn’t like it.”
“I like it.” She touched the hoop. “It’s sexy.”
“I’ll wear it for you.”
“While I don’t lovethe piercing, it’s not about that,” he said. “It’s that you’re not present, and that’s a problem.”
Nothing rattled me more than my father’s disapproval. I strived to be at the top of my game for him. I never wanted to let him down, and I definitely didn’t want him to think I wasn’t there for him.
“Dad, listen, I?—”
“I’ll do the talking.” He pointed at my chair. “Sit.”
