Chapter 24: An Unlimited Credit Card

Mila’s POV

I want to break down and scream over what my step mom has done, but I’m not ready for Julian to see me break yet. He’s seen too many parts of me today, and after how he’s acted, he doesn’t deserve to see any more. So I take one more look at the photo before turning to face the rest of my room. It doesn’t look like there is anything intact to save. Which means I’ll have to replace everything! My stepmom took the money I had saved, so I’ll have to figure something out. Maybe Isabella has some clothes I can borrow for now.

“Mila- “

“Don’t.” I snap at Julian. “Don’t say my name like you care. I need to replace all of this, but my friend Isabella has some things I can borrow until I can save the money to get new stuff. She can help me more than Roman can, and I don’t want him to see me like this.”

He narrows his eyes on me. “And why is that, princess?”

That name again. “Stop calling me that! Look around Julian, this isn’t a castle and I’m not some pretty girl in a dress sitting in a tower waiting for my hero. This is what my life is.” I make a motion, pointing to what’s left of my room. “Whatever you think of me, you’re wrong, and I would appreciate it if you stopped with this patronizing nickname. I’m calling Isabella.”

“Who the hell is that?” Julian asks as he follows me from my bedroom.

“My friend. She’ll let me stay with her until I can figure my life out.” I say without stopping.

“You’re going with Roman. I already told you this.” He sounds frustrated and annoyed.

Well, he can join the club.

I whirl around and stare him down. “No. I don’t want or need your help, Julian.”

He scoffs and steps closer until I have to crane my neck to look up at him. “Too bad, because you have no say in this.”

Now I’m the one who scoffs. “You have no say in my life, Julian. In fact, I don’t get why you keep pushing your way into it. You’ve made your feeling about me very clear and yet you won’t leave me the hell alone. So this is me telling you to shove all your fake kindness up your ass and get the hell out of my life. Oh, and by the way, I quit. I won’t be working at your club anymore.”

Without letting him respond, I turn and storm out of the house. I walk to his car and open the passenger door so I can grab my bag. There’s a few dollars in my wallet and my phone, which is enough for me to call Isabella and maybe buy some food for tonight. When I have my bag in hand, I slam Julian’s car door and start walking away until I’m grabbed by the wrist and turned around to face him.

“You don’t walk away from me, Mila.” That darkness in his eyes appears again, but I fight down any fear it causes in me.

“Don’t touch me.” I say, pulling my arm out of his hold.

“I’m trying to protect you. Roman’s house is a fortress, and he has agreed to let you stay there.” He says once again.

“Why do I need to be locked away in a fortress if my stepmom is dead? Even if she wasn’t, she wouldn’t come looking for me now. Not after being hit by your power. So why do I need to run and hide? I much rather move on with my life.” I turn away and start walking again.

I hear him curse behind me. “Fine, but take this.”

He jogs around until he’s standing in front of me. I look down and see him holding a phone at me.

“Why?” I ask.

“In case you get in trouble again, just call the only number saved on here. They’ll help you.” I look at him and see all the tough no nonsense mask he’s had on is gone.

This version of him is real, but it’s fleeting.

“I already said I don’t need your help. Please, just let me go.” I all but beg him.

There is a second when I think he’ll drag me with him kicking and screaming, but much to my surprise, he nods.

“Be careful, princess.” Here we go again.

“I will.” Is all I say before I turn my back on him one last time and leave.

I feel an ache as the distance between us grows, but it’s for the better. This weird thing between us isn’t healthy and the matter of it is, we’re strangers who don’t belong in each other's lives. When I’ve walked far enough away, I take my phone out of my bag and call Isabella.

“Oh, my god Mila! I was freaking out! Are you okay?” She says as soon as she answers the phone.

“Yeah, but a lot of shit has gone down today. I’ll explain everything, but can you come get me?”

“Of course! Where?”

I tell her where I’ll be waiting and she doesn’t even say goodbye before ending the call. There’s a small coffee shop nearby, so I walk over and take a seat at one of the outside tables. I bite my lip with worry that one of the employees will come out and ask me to leave since I have bought nothing, and I’m ready to jump and run when someone finally does. Except the woman smiles at me.

“Are you Mila?” she asks.

I blink at her. “Y-yeah.” I hesitate in reply.

“This is for you.” She sets down an iced coffee and a small box. “He said you would know who it was from.”

She gives me one more smile before heading back inside. I look at the box like there’s a chance a snake might come out, but when nothing happens, I pull it closer and lift the top. Inside is a brand new phone, a newly released one too, and a credit card. As I look at the stuff in shock, a text messages lights up the screen. I don’t touch the phone to read it, but I can see enough.

**Your Monster**: Take care of yourself, princess, and call me anytime.

Your monster? Julian. Why did he do this? God, why is he like this?

This is so sweet and yet he doesn’t know how to give it in person without making me hate him. Seriously, this guy drives me crazy!

I lift the phone out of the box and unlock it. When I open the message, I see he’s added a file attachment. I open it and see the lease to an apartment and a pink slip to a car.

No way. Is he insane?

When I exit out of the document, I ask him that very thing.

**Your monster**: Roman arranged for this. Asshole. So don’t be pissed at me. As much as I hate the guy, we have the same goal here to keep you safe.

**Me**: This is way too much. You guys barely know me. Why are you taking on so much responsibility over my life?

**Your monster**: Don’t ask questions, just do as you’re told. Use it.

**Me**: can I ask one more?

**Your monster**: fine

**Me**: what about the credit card?

**Your monster**: unlimited use.

I nearly choke on nothing. He gave me a credit card with no limit! The man has clearly lost his mind, and there is no way in hell I’ll be using any of these things. It would give both of these men financial power over me and I’ve already had to deal with it once. I don’t bother telling him again that I don’t want it though since we’ll just be going in circles. So I put everything in my bag and take a sip of my drink. A coffee is about three dollars, so it would be easy enough to pay back one day.

As I wait for Isabella, I decide to text Roman.

**Me**: You didn’t have to do all that stuff for me.

**Roman**: I’m helping out someone who’s been through a rough time. I don’t like that Julian Keller was the one to tell me everything that happened or to think I would need him to tell me that I should help you, but it’s cool.

They really don’t seem to like each other.

**Me**: I can’t accept any of it, Roman. It’s too much for one date.

**Roman**: an amazing date with a beautiful woman that has stolen my heart

How can he say things like that so easily? It's hard for me to tell if he means them.

**Me**: I bet you say that to all the girls

Best to play it off, I think.

**Roman**: Not once. And I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean. So about our second date, when can I kidnap you?

I sigh and lock my phone. These men are making my head spin and I’m not sure how I can make it stop.