Page 74 of Milo

My knuckles are white around the pistol as I position myself in front of the target, my arms extended.

And I shoot.

Round after round blast through the barrel, every shot increasing my heart rate, every rip through the paper target puncturing a hole through my own reserve.

I load, reload, bullet after bullet. The cathartic experience of releasing my fury fills every corner of my being. Each round strokes the fire in my veins, bubbles the lava lying dormant in my heart, fills my bones with a sizzling inferno of rage, regret, rapture.

"Kiara!"

I fire one more shot, my muscles shaking from the blinding wrath seizing my body.

"Kiara!"

I whip my body around, my chest rising, my breathing erratic as I point the gun at Milo.

"What?" I spit. "Go away!"

Milo grips a manila envelope in his hand as he strides toward me, his eyes hooded, his expression weak, hurt.

"Put down the gun, Kiara. Go to sleep."

My molars nearly crush one another. "Why? Are you scared I'm going to shoot you?" I let out a neurotic laugh. "Because apparently, I can. I have it in me. I can shoot you right now. I could kill you so easily."

"Kiara, please…” The sharp edge of his jaw tightens, his expression so fucking soft. "Talk to me."

I'm on the precipice of losing my mind, of exploding, of detonating. A time bomb. I can hear the ticking in my brain.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

I try to calm myself down, to talk myself off the ledge but then, in a silky tone, four simple words slip out of his idiotic mouth.

"What is wrong, tesoro?"

One.

And I erupt.

Chapter 20

A Tectonic Shift

It starts in my toes, a low rumbling. The trembles of psychotic craze vibrates up my ankles, calves, thighs, filling my chest, flowing through my arms, my neck, up to my throat, to my lips.

I've reached my limit. I am no longer in control.

"What's wrong?!" I slam the pistol on the steel high-top table, my hands shaking as I storm toward Milo. My chest heaves as I glare at him. "You're seriously asking me what's wrong? Everything! Everything is fucking wrong!"

Milo is silent, the corners of his lips curved down into a frown as he stares at me with those stupid fucking brown eyes. Those wicked, decadent irises that pierce into my goddamn sullied soul.

"I am so fucking tired!" Tears flood my vision, every atom in my body boiling. "I can't sleep! I can't close my eyes without seeing his fucking face!"

"Kiara—"

"No!" I clench my fists. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to experience every emotion of the human spectrum but also feeling nothing at the same time?! Do you?!"

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