89

MILLIE
In an attempt to emphasize my point, I gripped Harper’s shoulder gently, searching her eyes. “Do you truly grasp the gravity of this? Few dare to defy the mob, and history has shown why. Most who attempt to flee end up ensnared.”
“Most, but not every single one.”
“Can you recall ever hearing of someone who managed to successfully escape the clutches of the mob?”
She shook her head. “No, but would they ever willingly share their story with us? Father, Sebastian, or even Gio-they would never want such notions planted in our minds.”
Allowing my hands to drop, I released a resigned sigh. “You’re resolute about this, aren’t you?”
Her answer was steadfast, unwavering. “Absolutely.”
With a knowing acknowledgment, I yielded, recognizing the unyielding determination in her gaze. “Alright then. I understand I can’t change your mind, and I wouldn’t want you to keep secrets from me. If you’re set on this path, you won’t traverse it alone.”
Unexpectedly, she contradicted, “No. I have the conviction to do it alone.”
In hushed tones, I divulged my inner turmoil, the weight of my decision evident in each whispered word. The implications were vast and intricate. By aiding her escape, I would inadvertently turn against not only the Famiglia but also my own husband, Gio. Such an act would undoubtedly be perceived as a betrayal in his eyes. Growing up, Gio had imbibed the unwavering belief that his commands were sacrosanct, and any divergence was tantamount to treason.
“You’re absolutely right,” she acknowledged, her voice laced with the gravity of the situation. “I can’t let you shoulder that kind of risk.”
Seeking a semblance of reassurance, my fingers intertwined with hers. “Yet, I’m resolved to assist you. Frankly, you have no other viable recourse. And if there’s anyone capable of pulling this off, it’s you. This life was never what you aspired to.”
Her features contorted with uncertainty, grappling with the enormity of the path before her. “Millie, as you pointed out, my actions constitute a betrayal, one that the mob doesn’t take lightly. Those who cross them meet unforgiving fates. Gio isn’t known for his clemency.”
“Laying hands on me is something Gio won’t do,” I asserted with a conviction borne not just from my place in his life but from the indelible mark he bore of my written words etched into his skin. “He won’t. Even if Agatone Merante still held the reins, the dynamics would differ. But now, Gio holds the title of Capo, and he won’t jeopardize his standing.”
She hesitated, skepticism coloring her gaze. Yet, deep down, I held steadfast to the truth of those words. “Perhaps,” she conceded, her tone reflective, “but his subordinates might force his hand. He’s a nascent Capo, and any show of weakness could ignite dissent among his ranks. He won’t hazard his supremacy. To the Made Men, the Famiglia reigns supreme.”
“Have faith in me,” I implored, my sincerity a balm to her worries.
“I do trust you. It’s Gio’s intentions that keep me wary.”
“Consider this angle: in essence, my allegiance wouldn’t be to the Famiglia. Until your union with Sebastian, you remain a part of the Outfit. So, what I’d be contravening, at most, is the Outfit’s code. Yet, as an outsider, I’m not beholden to them; therefore, betrayal isn’t within my scope.”
Her forehead creased, harboring doubts about Gio’s interpretation of such nuances. “Gio might perceive it differently. Irrespective of the actual betrayal, the fact remains that you’d be circumventing his authority. And don’t forget, Sebastian won’t rest until he unearths my whereabouts.”
“Indeed, he will relentlessly pursue you.”
A fleeting hope crossed her expression. “He might eventually lose interest.”
Knowing all too well the intensity of Sebastian’s fixation on my sister, I harbored doubts about that possibility. “Perhaps, but banking on that would be precarious. Our task is to ensure he can’t trace you.”
“Millie, I shouldn’t have burdened you with this. You shouldn’t be entangled in this peril.”
“Don’t endeavor to dissuade me. Failing to aid you would leave me grappling with remorse if you were to be apprehended,” I countered, resolute in my stance.
“And if my plight brings you harm, the guilt will be mine to bear.”
“My commitment stands. I’m here to assist you. Period.”
GIO
[one month later…]
“The Sphere’s enduring success cast a shadow over us, though the Pergola was gradually closing in on our territory. Despite the Russians attempting to disrupt our operations, our dance clubs continued to churn out substantial profits. Sebastian, with a sense of certainty, declared that the Pergola would reign as the most sought-after club in the city by next year. He meticulously examined the previous month’s earnings from our array of dance clubs, a slight grin curling on his lips.
For me, the dominance of our clubs in the city’s nightlife wasn’t a priority. Our primary enterprise centered around the drug trade, and the statistics displayed on my laptop screen communicated a disconcerting truth our narcotics weren’t moving as swiftly as they could. “Heroin sales are stagnating. People are flocking to those new designer drugs,” I voiced my concern. “We need to ensure our distributor steps up their game. I don’t care if the labs are working at full throttle; it’s not good enough. Pay him a visit.”
Sebastian’s lips contorted into a chilling smile that sent shivers down my spine. “Consider it done.”
Shaking my head, I managed a smile in response. “You’re one twisted individual.”
“Takes one to know one.”
Interrupting our banter, the ringing of my phone demanded attention. I fished it out from my pocket and glanced at the caller ID Dario. “Yes, Dario?”
“Gabriele’s out cold in the kitchen. Millie and Harper have vanished.”
My heart rate spiked instantly. The Russians. “Repeat that.” Swiftly, I closed the laptop and sat up straight, alertness replacing Sebastian’s casual demeanor.
“He’s been drugged and tied up with tape. One of the cars is missing. Looks like Harper and Millie packed their stuff some clothes are gone from the wardrobe. No signs of a struggle. They must have bolted.”
Bolted? My eyes settled on the graffiti painting gifted by Millie months ago, adorning the wall behind my desk.
Sebastian’s voice cut through the tension, his laptop snapped shut and stowed away. “What’s happening?”
I rose from my seat, a mixture of anger and an unfamiliar sensation bubbling beneath my skin a vulnerability I refused to acknowledge. An emotion that had never occupied my thoughts until Millie came into my life, and now, she had vanished. “Dario found Gabriele drugged and tied up in the penthouse. Millie and Harper are gone.”
Sebastian stood, his ascent deliberate. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Fury etched lines on my face as I confronted him, a raging fire igniting within. Rage and worry intertwined, a turbulent mix, because Millie my wife was missing. Millie had fled. Run away from me. “Do you think I’d joke about something like this?”
“I thought Millie was devoted to you,” Sebastian’s tone carried a sharp edge.
My fingers twitched, a primal urge to seize his throat, to crush. The memory of the sensation surged the satisfaction of crushing a man’s windpipe. Yet, Sebastian hadn’t betrayed me. The desire to harm my wife for evading me should have been overwhelming, but it wasn’t. Damn it. Millie, damn you. Damn you for making me care.
Exiting the depths of the Sphere, I stormed out. Some of my men lingered at the bar, curiosity etched on their faces. Others rose, ready to join me in whatever pursuit I was embarking upon. But I couldn’t risk exposing the fact that my own wife had fled, that I couldn’t control the woman by my side.
Love, the seed of weakness. That’s what our damned father had proclaimed. I despised the man, loathed him to my core, but maybe, just maybe, he was right this time. Millie was chipping away at me, reducing me to a fool, and I had allowed it to happen.
Sebastian followed close behind, a silent witness to my unraveling.
If he hadn’t desired the fiery redhead, none of this would have unfolded. It was likely Harper’s doing, that conniving girl.
“This is Harper’s doing. She’s at the root of all this chaos. Why didn’t you stay the hell away from her, as I advised?”
“Perhaps for the same reason you let Millie get under your skin,” Sebastian muttered.