Page 45 of Milo

...And the locks are for me.

Chapter 14

Nearing the Edge

It took me longer to fall asleep last night than I'd care to admit. With the covers pulled up to my chin, anticipation rose in my chest as I waited for Milo to come into my room and slither under the silk lavender sheets.

I wanted him to take me, do unspeakable things to my willing body, show me just how powerful he can be. I wanted him to corrupt me, destroy me, put us both out of our goddamn fucking misery.

But he didn't. He never came.

Bastard.

It would seem that we're at a stalemate, neither of us willing to admit defeat, to give in to temptation, to lose.

Well, that will change... today. I'm sure of it.

After spending the afternoon gallivanting through Monaco with Julia, I've come to realize that she and Milo have more in common than I originally thought; they both don't take no for an answer and they both have very expensive taste.

I know that a child's fourth birthday party is not the ideal occasion to try out seduction techniques, but the dress Julia forced me to buy yesterday might just drive Milo over the edge.

The mauve long-sleeved mini-dress features a deep V, a knotted neckline, and an overlap-style hem that showcases a high leg slit. It’s not a garment I would personally consider appropriate for such an event, but if Julia has no qualms, I say eat your heart out Mr. Di Vaio.

My only hesitation with wearing something so skimpy before 7 p.m. is that Julia informed me their mother would be returning from Paris today for the festivities.

Do I want an ex-mafia queen's first impression of me to be that I'm a tramp? No, of course not. But after getting a glimpse at what Julia herself is wearing, I think I'm dressed quite modestly, well, aside from my spilling breasts.

When my chestnut brown hair is perfectly curled into large cascading ringlets and I've coated the last of my lashes with charcoal mascara, I complete the mirage with a single spurt of Coco Mademoiselle.

I've got to cover all the senses if I'm going to bring Goliath down.

Julia greets me at the bottom of the spiral staircase, and we make our way to the gardens at the back of the estate. As we pass the many unfamiliar faces, the vibrant scent of roses engulfs my lungs.

"That dress! It's amazing on you. I have such good taste, no?!" Julia gushes, picking up a glass of champagne from the floating servers.

"It's a little revealing…” I peer down at my chest, making sure everything is still in place. This is my first-time using tape to secure the ladies in place. Julia has lots of tape.

"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."

"True," I stifle a laugh.

Surveying the crowd for Milo, I admire the muted string lights laced tree to tree, the whimsical slides, bouncy castles, and balloons filling the garden. My birthdays have never been this glamorous.

My gaze lands on the tiny white benches set up next to a rose floral backdrop with 'Buon compleanno, Natalia' written across the top with shimmering gold cut-out letters. Giggles stream from the benches, a handful of children decorating tiaras; gems, glitters, and glue spread across the table.

"Who are all these people?" I ask, taking a sip of bubbly. The only faces I recognize are Milo's associates— Mateo, Gio, Marchello, a few others. "Are they friends of the family?"

"No, thank God.” Julia snatches an hors d'oeuvre off a passing plate and shoves it into her mouth, releasing a small moan of satisfaction. "These are mostly our friends and their children. Obviously, they are unaware of who we are, so please?—"

I wave her off immediately. "Oh, don't worry about it. My lips are sealed. Milo has hammered home the importance of discretion more than once. I value my life more than I value gossip."

Julia rolls her eyes. "Milo has never hurt a woman before. I doubt he will start now. He is like a Rottweiler, barks and growls, but if you throw him a bone he'll go away."

I set my drink on the table. “Yeah? What's his version of a bone? This information might be of some use in the future."

Julia flips her blonde hair over her shoulder, casting me a knowing grin. "He is a man, Kiara. Unfortunately, his bone is a bone."

"I figured," I sigh, hoping I'd get a different answer. This really is the only card I hold. So annoying. "There's nothing else?"

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