Inside the office, Alben let out a long breath and sank into the sofa across from Salvatore's desk. He stretched his legs out in front of him, completely at ease, the way he always was after stirring up a room.
"Why are you so protective?" he said. "I was just playing with the kid."
Salvatore didn't sit down. He stood by the desk with his arms crossed, staring at the door Milo had just walked through. He slowly turned his head toward Alben.
"Seriously, Ben." His voice was flat. "I'm just teaching him to value himself, that he has the right to say no. And you walked in treating him like a toy. You almost ruined everything."
Alben raised an eyebrow. "I barely touched him!"
"Because I didn't let you touch him," Salvatore mocked. "He's not like everyone else. Don't scare him."
Alben waved one hand in the air. "Okay, okay. It's not like I was about to kill him."
