Milo

Chapter XV: Italy

authors note: hello! just a disclaimer, this chapter skips time a lot. enjoy! :)

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           We were currently on our way to the airport. Milo was dozing off in the backseat, I guess the change in schedule was throwing him off. Santiago looked tense, while he was usually relaxed and carefree around me. I felt... apprehensive. I had never been to another country. Hell, I had barely been to other states. As a kid, I dreamed of going to California and now I'm going to Italy.

           In the car trailing behind us, was the two security guards from yesterday. I had finally learned their names, Emmanuel and Kian. For now it would just be the five of us. Santiago informed me that Armando, Luciano, and Qiang  would meet us in Italy. That gave a bit of comfort as I would at least know a few people.

         The plane came into sight as we drove onto the airport tarmac. It was the same plane from before, the day Santiago brought us back to New York. I'd be on that very plane for the next 7 hours.

        Santiago had the guards unload the car while he grabbed my carry-on bag for Milo. I grabbed Milo out of the car and picked him up. His head lolled to the side as he slept. I sighed, I wanted him to stay awake now so he could sleep for the majority of the flight. But then again, he still might. Milo's few activities were sleeping, eating, and playing with toys. A simple life for a simple kid.

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        "He's asleep finally." I breathed out as I approached my seat next to Santiago. 

        We were around four hours into the flight and a clear sky could be seen from the plane's various windows. Kian and Emmanuel were on the plane, I just couldn't see them. They were sat in a section farther towards the front of the plane. 

        I spent most of my time reading while Milo watched Pixar movies on the plane's t.v. Santiago was doing work a few feet away from us. We had to wake Milo to eat his dinner, he went to sleep soon after.

       "What time will it be when we get to Italy?" I asked out of pure curiosity.

       He thought for a moment. "Four in the morning."

       Santiago looked up as I approached, I gave a short nod. He was wearing glasses, they were sitting at the edge of his nose as he read through a set of papers. I sat down and let my body slump tiredly. My body still hadn't recovered from years and years of almost nocturnal sleeping patterns. 

      "Are you tired?" Santiago asked, his eyes moving over to me.

      I nodded.

      "Go to sleep then." He laughed quietly, he got up from his seat and grabbed a blanket. He laid it softly over me with a faint smile on his lips.

      I nodded again, this time slower, letting my eyes shut closed. 

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       I'd never felt anything like it. The way his warm hands moved down my waist and onto my thighs, with a ghostly touch. He left soft kisses on my chest leaving a trail down to my hips, making sure to miss my lips per my request. I wasn't used to being treated like this, well.

       I screwed my eyes shut when his green eyes met mine. They were piercing and held danger of some sort, but I wasn't sure exactly why.

      "Can I continue?" The man's deep voice sounded in the serenity of the room.

      I nodded and the man took that as consent to show me what love felt like.

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      I shot awake, slipping from the dream. Breathing heavily, I shut my eyes as bright light invaded my eyelids. My heart was beating hard in my chest and there was something else, an all-familiar feeling in the pit of my stomach.

     "Are you okay?" Santiago voiced worriedly but I couldn't meet his eyes, I wouldn't.

     I nodded as a response, too afraid to use my voice. I stood to my feet already moving away from the chair.

     "I'm gonna check on Milo." I said quietly, almost too quietly.

     "Are you sure, you're alright?" He tried to meet my eyes, about to stand to follow me.

     "Yes. I'm fine." I ended the conversation, making my way to Milo's chair.

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      As the plane landed I braced myself. It was still a feeling I wasn't used to and it felt as scary as the first time. I wanted to grab Santiago's hand for support but I didn't, I still felt bad for snapping at him. So instead, I clenched my hands down on the armrests of my seat.

     When we reached the car I could feel my eyes beginning to close, the short nap I had on the plane didn't exactly help. It was raining lightly, raindrops sounding quietly on the roof of the car. In my tired haze, I watched as they dropped and got swept away by the windshield wipers. Milo was sat in his car seat watching the new scenery outside the window. The more we drove the more the town of Bellagio come into view. In the dark it looked more like a fantasy silhouette, water and stars set directly behind it. Lazily I looked to the side, watching Santiago. The car was silent, but the silence didn't bother me. It simply allowed my brain time to catch up. I was in another country, with a child that was now mine and a man I swore would've killed me without a second thought.

    At some point, I dozed off and when I woke up the car was coming to a stop. In front of us was a beautiful Italian-styled home, it reminded me faintly of Mediterranean homes with its terracotta roofing and arched entryways. The sides of the house were covered in vines, and a tall iron gate guarded the front of the home. All the lights were turned off except for a set of lanterns hanging from the main porch. 

    Santiago parked the car in the driveway, the guards parking behind us. I got out tiredly and made my way to the backseat. The weather was only slightly warmer than back home and the slight drizzle had stopped.

    "You doing okay?" I spoke softly to Milo who nodded. "Okay then let's get you inside buddy.

    I unbuckled Milo from his car seat and placed him on the ground next to me. He looked around curiously, not giving much away as to how he felt. He was probably overwhelmed. I brushed my hand through his hair, noticing the way it was flattened to one side because of the long plane and car ride. 

    I'll have to refresh it tomorrow, I thought to myself.

    Grabbing Milo's hand I walked us to the edge of the yard, from here you could see the water up close. It was like a painting the way the moon reflected off the water, the image getting distorted by the lake's soft waves. With the movement of the lake came a slight breeze, cooling my face.

    "Do you like it, Milo?" I asked, watching him stare at the water. After a second he nodded and pulled me even closer to the edge of the yard, proceeding to sit on the slightly damp grass. I didn't protest and instead sat next to him. A smile came to my face as he nestled himself into my side.

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authors note: just wanted to say, have a wonderful day, night, or evening. much love. This was a bit of filler but some interesting stuff is to come. 

;)