GIO
Damn it. Sebastian was my brother. If others began entertaining the same thoughts, a bloody demonstration would be necessary yet again. All of this, thanks to Millie. I slipped into my car, Sebastian mounting his bike, and we sped off to meet Dario.
He awaited us in my penthouse, next to a dazed Gabriele. The fool should have been vigilant over Millie and Harper. Instead, he allowed two inexperienced women to overpower him. My glare bore into him, but I shifted my focus to Dario before my urge to eliminate the worthless traitor took over. “Tell me,” I rasped through clenched teeth.
“Ten grand and two passports are missing. Looks like they’ve been scheming this for a while.”
I tilted my head in a slow, deliberate nod, my mind a whirlwind of emotions as I tried to conceal the impact of this revelation. The words had flowed from Millie’s lips, those three precious words – she had confessed her love for me. Reciprocation had come naturally from me, accompanied by tender gestures and genuine care. I had woven a tapestry of affection, ensuring I never caused her any pain. And yet, here I stood, a recipient of unexpected information that threatened to shatter my carefully crafted reality.
“I’ll stand by your side no matter how obscure the journey,” the words echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain. The sweet promises of the past seemed to clash with the present turmoil. Had the recent months all been an elaborate facade? Could someone truly masquerade with such authenticity? Doubt gnawed at me as I grappled with the new reality. It wasn’t just anyone behind this revelation; it was Harper. The weight of her involvement bore down on me, a mix of frustration and anger intertwining.
Sebastian’s voice sliced through my thoughts, his words carrying an air of contemplation, “We should start looking for them.”
I shot him a sharp, almost incredulous glare, as if his suggestion were redundant. “And where would you suggest we begin? They could be anywhere by now. They’re not naive enough to drag their phones along.”
Dario, quieter in demeanor, chimed in, his voice a subtle suggestion in the midst of our tension, “Perhaps it’s still worth attempting to track them through their phones.”
Seeking a moment of clarity amid the storm of emotions, I breathed in deeply, attempting to steady myself. With a barely perceptible nod, I acknowledged Dario’s wisdom. Retrieving my phone, I launched the tracking app with a few swift taps. It was both a surprise and a relief to see Millie’s phone signal light up on the screen, a beacon of hope cutting through the uncertainty. Yet, suspicion lingered, clouding the relief with its tendrils. Why was she heading out of the city, venturing north?
Sebastian leaned in, his eyes scrutinizing the screen, voicing the skepticism that had been lingering in my mind. “Do you truly believe they’d be foolish enough to keep their phones with them?”
I met his gaze, my expression a mix of determination and uncertainty. “It’s possible this could be a diversion, a well-constructed smokescreen. But for now, it’s the only lead we’ve got.”
Resolute yet conflicted, I turned to Sebastian, a silent understanding passing between us. Without a word, we both acknowledged the task ahead. But before embarking on this hunt for the women who had taken flight, I turned to Dario, my tone firm with a hint of urgency, “The moment you hear anything, reach out to me.”
With that, Sebastian and I set out, driven by a concoction of emotions – worry, anger, love, and betrayal – intertwined like a complex braid of feelings, propelling us forward into the unknown.
MILLIE
I embarked on a lengthy drive, my path twisting in two directions as I pondered the current state of affairs. Thoughts raced through my mind, consumed by the notion that Gabriele’s discovery was inevitable by now. The abrupt departure of Harper hadn’t gone unnoticed either. Doubt gnawed at me-what would Gio make of my connection to her escape? Could he perceive my earlier words as deceit? These uncertainties weighed heavily on my heart, inflicting a dull ache that resonated with each beat.
Gio, a man who harbored trust with caution, had once bestowed his faith upon me. Yet, in the wake of recent events, that trust seemed to teeter on the brink of collapse. The question of its existence now loomed, a painful uncertainty clawing at my thoughts.
A glance at the dashboard’s clock snapped my focus. Almost an hour had slipped by since Harper’s plane had taken off from Schiphol. The urgency to return home gripped me; it was crucial to shake off any potential surveillance on my mobile. Hopefully, their attention had veered astray, ignorant of Harper’s airborne escape. Multiple calls from Gio blinked on my phone, a testament to his likely fury.
Adjusting the steering wheel, I redirected my course towards Manhattan, my heartbeat accelerating with every mile. The proximity to my residence seemed to amplify the tension pulsating within me. The subterranean parking garage eventually welcomed my arrival. As I pulled in, I couldn’t shake the thought that the vigilant desk clerk was relaying my whereabouts to Gio.
Ascending in the elevator, the anticipation grew tangible. The doors slid open, revealing Dario’s presence. His demeanor exuded an emotion akin to anger, a novel display of sentiment towards me. His cellphone pressed to his ear, his gaze remained fixed upon me.
The recipient of his call required no clarification. I moved past him, drawn to the view beyond the windows. Harper was en route to a new life, a plane bound for Amsterdam, emancipating her from the clutches of mafia enforcements and arranged unions. The confines of a gilded cage and the constraints of manufactured norms would soon fade into her past.
Yet, apprehension clouded my hope. Harper’s elusiveness would be tested; my father’s determination to retrieve her was unwavering. Sebastian, too, held onto her figurative leash. She needed sanctuary, a new identity, elusive safety. A whisper of thought regarding the Bratva flitted by-potential saviors but dangerous liaisons. A desperate plea to them could seal our fates.
Prayers for Harper’s success echoed within me, a fervent wish for her to grasp the life she yearned for.
“Gio, she’s arrived,” Dario’s voice cut through the silence, confirming the inevitable connection.
“Alone?” A brusque inquiry followed, laden with a mix of suspicion and urgency.
“Yes, alone. Understood. I will inform him,” Dario’s responses carried a weighty sense of duty.
Closing the distance between us, Dario’s towering presence cast a shadow over me. A casual jest fell from my lips, met with an uncharacteristic lack of humor. His approach was unnervingly close, his eyes assuming a hardness that struck me.
His words tumbled out, impassioned and fierce. Gio’s prowess as a Capo was anchored in his ruthless dominion, his capacity to reward loyalty, his shield against threats. A capo whose reputation demanded unyielding authority. The truth emerged starkly-betrayal had its own definition in our world, and it seemed I had unwittingly walked that treacherous path.
Before I could interject, Dario silenced me. Accusations sliced through the air-he condemned my actions as a betrayal, a transgression against Gio. I tried to protest, to clarify, but he held no patience for excuses. The perception of Gio’s eyes through Dario’s lens left me shaken.
Dario’s nearness pressed upon me, a reminder of the lethal undercurrent beneath his easy demeanor. His final words hung heavy-Gio’s veneer had to be preserved. Pushing him too far, endangering his image, could result in irreversible consequences for both of us.
A heavy gulp accompanied my gaze downward, landing on my bracelet-the guiding light in my darkest moments.