"Stupid fucking piece of no good shit," I grumbled as I twirled around in Mikos office chair. I wanted to hide my anger, my jealousy when Milo introduced the woman, but I couldn't. So, I told Miko I was heading up and left like the Devil himself was chasing me. 

So much for getting over him.

He moved on very quick though, and the thought made me uncomfortable. Then again, I did the same thing with Rudy back then. Maybe this is his way of getting back at me...but fiance is a little over the top for just some simple payback. I reached up and touched my chest as my heart twisted. I don't know if I'll be able to do this...or at least stay in this house with them. Knowing that he's sharing the same bed we shared with someone else. That his lips, his hands...all of him will be loving and touching someone other than me.

"No!" I snapped, slamming my hands on the desk. I refuse to let this take me over. I should go get my clothes from his room. I don't know how long this meeting is going to last, but I don't want to be caught by him right now. The less I had to see him, the better it would be and the faster I could get this shit done with Miko. With my mind set on a goal, I got up and headed towards Milo's room. I found myself speeding to get there, but once in front of the door, I froze. Slowly opening the door, I held my breath as I was hit with the scent of perfume, no doubt from his fiance. So she already was moved in here? Or maybe just spending time...I shook my head to keep it from going towards thoughts I didn't want nor need and walked further inside and towards the wardrobe. I didn't bring anything with me to carry my stuff out...shit. Guess I was going to have to make a pile and make my trips quick. Good thing Mikos office was close though; I could just drop everything off in there first and then move it after I found out where I would be staying. 

As I pulled my clothes off the hangers and put them on the floor, I found myself moving at a more leisurely pace than I wanted to. Every clothing item I picked up reminded me of memories that I wanted nothing more than to forget. Why did I have to fall in love with this man? Not once in my life did I ever think I would have to go through pain like this, and yet here I was. I grabbed a cardigan and some flannels before my hand landed on a camel colored wool overcoat. My fingers traced the fabric slowly.

"I don't know why you didn't bring a jacket." Milo chided me and I crossed my arms over my chest, turning away from him as we walked along the pier. He only asked to go try out this new restaurant in town, so I didn't dress for the weather I was currently walking in.

"Funny how that's coming from the very man who put me in this situation," I grumbled and I heard him chuckle which made me whip my head to glare at him. "You planned this from the beginning didn't you, seeing as you're wearing a fucking wool overcoat." I should've picked up on his attire before we left, but he fucking distracted me with his tight ass shirt that makes me want to just rip it off.

"I told you to bring a jacket just in case." He retorted.

"Yeah, after we were already thirty minutes from the house! You didn't even have a spare one in your car. Who doesn't keep a spare jacket in their car?!" I huffed and the minute I saw that quirky little smirk forming on his lips, I knew he was going to say something ridiculous.

"Someone who owns more than one car." Fucking prick. 

"Flaunt your money some more, why don't ya?" This earned me another chuckle which only fueled my frustration more. Nothing I was saying was funny! Why does he keep fucking laughing? I was about to storm off but was stopped when he grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards him. I kept my pout as he pressed me against him and wrapped his coat around.

"Are you going to keep pouting?" He asked after a few minutes and I chewed on the inside of my cheek before huffing when I realized I was behaving like a child. "Ah, there's that smile I've been waiting for." I couldn't stop the small smile I had from getting bigger as I looked up at my boyfriend. While his body heat and coat were warming me up, I felt like the warmth of my heart swelling was doing a better job. We stared at each other for what felt like hours; not speaking or making any notions to move.

"I love you Alec." He whispered to me. "So much." 

I was brought from my memory as I heard footsteps coming towards the room. Quickly, I wiped some tears that had fallen down my cheeks and hurriedly grabbed more things before moving over to the chest of drawers. I had only just opened the first drawer when the steps ended right at the doorway. I could feel the hairs on my neck standing as it began to feel like my back was burning from someones gaze. Turning around to see who it was would be pointless because I'm sure I knew exactly who was there.

"I'm just getting my things," I said quietly as I opened the drawer and started pulling things out. "Your fiance is going to need somewhere to put her things and there's no reason for my clothes to still be here." I no longer cared for neatness as I just grabbed different articles of clothing and threw them on the floor. I heard him move closer as I started for the next drawer, my anxiety heightening when he stopped behind me. As I tried to open the drawer it got stuck, causing me to continue to yank on it. I knew it wasn't helping to fix the problem but I just wanted to get out of here without seeing him. I cursed as the drawer stayed jammed and kept trying to pull it open.

"Alec--" Milo started and I froze.

"Don't!" I snapped. "Don't say my name. Please." I couldn't do this. I was going to have to have Miko or Alfie come to get the rest of my stuff. I'm sure Milo could help them figure out which was mine from his clothes. "I'll come back later and get the rest when you aren't here, I don't want to be a bother."

"Alec, look at me." My jaw clenched at his request. If this meant I could leave, fine. Closing my eyes for a brief second to collect myself, I lifted my head and turned to face the man I loved...no. The man I love. His eyes still seemed lifeless, which I found puzzling. He should be happy now. He's getting married. Even better, to a woman. He won't have to deal with any more problems with the other groups pertaining to his sexual orientation.  "Can you give me a second? We need to talk."

"Oh, uh...maybe later? I have some important things that need to be handled. That's why I'm back." I moved away to grab the clothes I had gathered, moving them all into one big pile. "Plus, I'm sure you're going to be busy planning a wedding and everything." God, it hurt so much to say those words.

"Listen--"

"I should really get going." I interrupted, grabbing everything in my arms. A big fucking idiot holding a giant pile of clothes in his arms. Could I look any more pathetic? "Congratulations," I said, forcing a smile that I hope seemed genuine, before hurrying out of the room and towards Miko's office. Just as I was getting closer, I saw the man himself walking down the hall towards me. Once he saw what I had in my arms, his expression actually turned into one of...anger? He remained silent as he opened the door for me and I walked in, setting my clothes down and turning to look at him--just in time to see Milo as he walked down the hall. The brothers stopped and stared at each other for a good while before Miko slammed the door so hard, a picture fell from the wall and shattered on the ground.

"Fucking bastard." He snapped and stomped over to his desk. I remained silent, not sure how to read the atmosphere. I'd never experienced an anger session with Miko, so I didn't quite know how to handle it. He began mumbling to himself as he typed and clicked away on his computer before looking up at me.

"That fucking meeting was to introduce us to Fawn." He finally spoke. "Which was stupid because we all fucking know who she is."

"I don't," I said without thinking and bit my lip, hoping he wouldn't have heard me. But of course, nothing ever goes in my favor.

"O trust me, you don't want to know but considering shes now an important factor in our private investigation, you should know." He clicked a few things before looking back at me. "Take a seat, this is going to take a while." I did as he said while he picked up the phone to announce he was in a private meeting and all calls needed to be directed elsewhere. He then stopped for a second before picking up the phone again and calling to have Alfie and Ollie stand guard by his door. "I don't trust that bitch now that she has free reign in this house. And I especially don't trust half the men here either, so Alfie and Ollie are our only allies currently, got it? Do not speak of anything in this room to anyone else other than us three." I gave him a little salute before he let out a heavy sigh and leaned back in his chair.

"I won't go into depth about Fawn because she really isn't that important, but considering what she's trying to do...she may have a bigger importance than I originally anticipated."  Now he had my attention. "She's the only daughter from an equally as large group in Birmingham. Our father did business with hers many years back and they remained mutual allies. Of course, with the news of Milo having a male partner spreading, most of our allies began to fall off due to this being a large break in a very traditional rule."

"So she's like a childhood friend to you two?" I asked to clarify because that was the only thing I gathered from what he just said.

"In a way, yes. Milo grew up with her more than I did, but when I moved in when I was older I learned she was very obsessive. Mainly because her new obsession became me." He groaned and rubbed his forehead. "The dumb bitch was glued onto the thought that we were going to get married, even after I continuously told her we weren't. Even our parents told her they had no plans to unite the families by marriage. But like I said, she's psycho. Every single girlfriend I had, she would either harm them or threaten them. It eventually became a problem when too many witnesses and victims were coming together to have her pay for her crimes. Her father sent her away to a boarding school and that was the end of it. Never in my life did I ever think I would see her again, and yet...here we fucking are."

"Okay...maybe she's doing this to get back at you? Kind of like revenge for not dating her?" I suggested it. I was slowly getting a little frustrated because I didn't understand what this had to do with Milos strange activities. That was the whole reason I agreed to come back here, not to go to a wedding between the man I love and some random chick.

"I thought that too, but here's the thing. Milo is a closed book. You never can really tell what he's thinking or feeling." I always could. "But Fawn...she's a different story. She legit looks like she's in love with him. She used to hang around Milo when we were younger to make me jealous and I could always see it in her eyes and tone, but this time that wasn't there."

"Great." I snapped. "So my ex-boyfriend has already fallen in love with someone else and is getting married. All the things he promised to do with me." My anger was boiling up now. "Remind me again why I'm here exactly? Because I didn't fucking sign up to have my heart repeatedly stomped over."

"I understand you're mad, but listen to me first before you start throwing your tantrums."

"Throwing--I'll give you a god damn tantrum in a second." I threatened, but Miko looked unamused.

"I don't think this whole thing is that legit though." 

"Okay, now you're contradicting yourself!" I groaned. "You literally just said you thought it was legit because she looked so in love, but now you're saying it's not?"

"I don't have any evidence on it, but trust me when I say I know my brother. None of what's happening is like him and it didn't start happening until after he got out and most likely when he started talking to Fawn."

"I'm going to try and not make that seem like he was cheating on me." Because it sure as hell could be taken that way if you thought about it. "So what? What kind of leverage could Fawn have on Milo if this is all actually a ruse? He's pretty open about everything."

"Now do you see why I asked you to come help? This isn't going to be easy to figure out, but I'm not going to stop trying until I get answers." Wow, he really was determined to expose this whole operation. This must be the side that no one really sees of Miko. The side that protects his family and doesn't take shit from anyone. Now, this is where I made my decision. I either help him figure this out and get Milo back or I give up on any thoughts of having a future with him and leave. 

"Nobody fucks with the Mancinis and gets away with it."