Crash Landing [✓]

04

Chapter Four | IS SOMEONE'S LITTLE FRIEND EXCITED?

Milo was silent as we drove into the inner city, where architectural, marvel delights were scattered down-town. I was more than familiar with the area, since I had a habit of driving here every week, to visit my father at the health clinic.

That was personal though.

"Do we really have to share a room?" I said nervously, trying to keep up with his pace as he climbed the steps to the cities most prevalent hotel.

The Amore Emporium loomed over us, in its glitzy, five-star glory. I felt like a bug next to Milo, because unlike me, he naturally fit in here and he'd managed to change out of what he'd been wearing pre-operation, making himself look polished and presentable.

"We need to stick together, have each others back Ada," He told me grumpily as he entered the lobby. "I might not have a tracking device inside me anymore — but I sure as heck know Julian won't stop coming after me until I give him what he wants. I don't intend to give him what he seeks."

"Why don't you do the logical and sensible thing — give him what he wants. You did steal it off him after all." I admitted with a tut. "Do you have any sense of morality?"

"Have you forgotten the part where I told you he's a criminal and he stole from my agency too — that by stealing whatever it is I did off from him, can only help us put the Vipers down?" Milo laughed. It wasn't light or airy, it was unpleasant and vindictive — he wasn't playing games anymore.

Milo didn't speak another word to me as he collected the keys off the main reception and headed for the elevator, with me prancing after him. For some reason I felt as though he was upset about me causing him so much trouble, by being around him since last night.

"Are you mad at me?" I blurted, incapable of keeping my mouth shut for just a few seconds as we rode up the spacious elevator.

He looked at me from the corner of his eyes — under his scrutinising gaze I couldn't help but squirm. "No," He finally responded. "My Maserati is wrecked, I have no source of information from the other side to help me bring Julian down — and Toffee is always asleep while we're busy getting chased down."

"Wow," I let out breathily, gripping Toffee securely in my arms. "I can sense your frustration. But I'm sure it'll be okay, we're going to load up your laptop and find out what those chips contain and what intelligence has been stolen, right? And once we figure it out I'm sure the agency will hear you out and help you."

"I let them down Adeline," Milo whispered in rage, "I left my own team to die! Don't you understand how terrible that is, it's like I'm experiencing guilt."

The sass-pot in me wanted to give a sly response. Because he has the audacity to claim he was the good guy, but didn't want to admit to being guilty or hold himself accountable for his own wrongdoings.