MILO

by E.L. Lewis

His stubble grazes my jawline as he whispers, "Hit me, Kiara. I want to feel your hands against my body."

"Come and get it, Kiara."

Based on the headlines of worldwide newspapers and the political and social turmoil across the globe, perhaps Hell is not such a foreign place after all.

"God gave women breasts for two reasons, Kiara," Julia muses as we push through the guests toward the high-top tables scattered across the trimmed green grass. "To feed our children and to wear slutty dresses."

And so, I will conceal. I will hide. I will be strong. I won't let them see me falter.

Now only if I had protection against Milo the man, not Milo the boss. And shit, what a man he is.

Hatred. That's my power move. That's what will keep me going. That's what will keep me sane, safe, secure, stable. Time to start my new life. The life of a murderess.

"Kiara, there is no going back if you do this." His voice is gruff, hoarse, taunting. "You will be mine. Only mine. Do you understand?" No going back. It's a warning, a disclaimer. But I don't care. This is it. This is what I want. Him. "Yes," I whisper, panting with desire, with anticipation, with uncontrollable lust.

A tiny breeze blows between my legs. My eyes widen. I am not wearing any underwear. Oh God.

Why is that so concerning?

For me, ignorance is weakness, knowledge is power, and power is confidence. Confidence to make my own decisions, to come to my own conclusions, to feel secure, to feel safe.

I murdered a murderer. I took the life of a rapist. I saved Milo. I probably saved myself. These are the facts. These facts should exonerate me of my crime. They should absolve me of my sin. They should justify my actions. But do they? Do they really? I am not the judge.

Milo pulls back, brushing his nose against mine as he rasps, "Resta con me per sempre."

feels a little soon to be saying "stay with me forever."

"More women need to get mad. That is how change happens."

"Sei la cosa più bella che mi sia mai capitata. Ti amo,

"The greatest challenges yield the greatest rewards, tesoro,"

"That's not silly at all. The laws of thermodynamics state that energy cannot be created or destroyed, so when a person dies, where does all that energy go?" I grin. "Ghosts."