MILLIE
Time stretched like taffy, as the clock’s relentless tick-tock echoed through the dimly lit room. I remained perched in the same worn armchair, my thoughts tangled in the web of events that had unfurled. Hours had passed since the storm of emotions had swept through, leaving me drained and hollow.
Then, almost like a whisper in the air, the door creaked open, revealing Sebastian’s cautious entry. His presence seemed to carry a weight of its own, a solemn gravity that matched the somber atmosphere. With a cautious hand, he reached for the button that unfurled the curtains, and as the sunlight filtered in, the room transitioned from obscurity to light. The sudden change was jarring, and I blinked, my eyelids heavy as though molded from lead. A groggy slowness accompanied my motion as I lowered my trembling palm from where it had been pressed against my tense stomach.
“He didn’t kill you,” Sebastian’s voice pierced the silence. It was a statement delivered with an uncanny lack of emotion, leaving his true feelings shrouded in enigma. His features bore an uncanny resemblance to Gio’s, a familiar structure of lineage, but where Gio was all sharp angles and rugged allure, Sebastian seemed carved from a different mold, a visage of pristine handsomeness that was hard to ignore. Yet, even in this unfamiliar guise, his likeness to Gio ignited a pang of heartache, a reminder of the love that now stood on uncertain ground.
With each step, he drew nearer, his eyes taking in the scene before him the splatters of blood staining my clothes, the crimson stains besmirching the couch and the floor. Concern etched its way into his expression, leaving an indelible mark of worry.
“Do you need a doctor?” he inquired, his words threaded with genuine concern.
My voice emerged as a raspy whisper, as if dragged forth from a well of exhaustion. “It’s not my blood.”
The silence stretched, a canvas on which unspoken thoughts were painted in shades of contemplation. Sebastian’s gaze remained locked onto me, his scrutiny unrelenting. And then, his voice unfurled like tendrils of smoke in the air, lacing the room with a sense of observation that bordered on detachment.
“Making him bleed. You are quite good at it for a woman.”
My gaze lifted, meeting his unflinchingly. Eyes that burned with unshed tears held his in an unwavering stare, a defiance birthed from a well of turmoil. The tears had flowed for hours, an unending river of emotion, leaving me bereft of the capacity to weep any longer. With shaky legs, I rose from the chair, each movement an act of sheer will. My trembling hand found its way to Sebastian’s arm, and he allowed the touch, though his demeanor remained a mask of emotional neutrality.
“Sebastian, I didn’t do anything,” the words spilled forth, each syllable pregnant with desperation. “I swear on my life. I swear on my…” I trailed off, the unsaid word hanging heavy in the air, a testament to secrets yet unrevealed. “Please, help me. Help me make Gio see the truth.”
His response was a pregnant pause, an interval of contemplation before his voice pierced the quiet once more. “The photos.”
My gaze held firm, unyielding beneath the weight of his scrutiny. “The photos show me with Mathias in a restaurant and a car. We talked. He considered using me against the Famiglia as leverage. That’s all.”
The question loomed, unspoken yet tangible. Why had Mathias released me? The answer, still shrouded in layers of complexity, eluded easy explanation. It was a question Sebastian voiced, his words cautious as they sliced through the air.
“Then why did he let you go, Millie? Why?”
My eyes locked onto his, an unspoken confession echoing within their depths. But the truth, a secret too precious to be revealed in this fragile moment, remained veiled. “Because he has an ounce of decency in his body.”
A shadow of a smile touched Sebastian’s lips, dark and mysterious. “Is that so?”
My resolve didn’t waver, though the pain etched into my expression was undeniable. “Call Mathias, call Kayla. They will tell you what I told you.”
A tense pause enveloped us, a space in which the battle between doubt and belief waged silently. “As if their word means anything. They are the enemy. You remember that, don’t you?”
The words struck a chord of truth, a reminder of the tangled loyalties and shifting alliances that defined our world. And yet, a seed of hope was sown, the possibility that reason could prevail over suspicion. “Then look for the person who took the photos,” I implored. “They probably shot more photos that prove my innocence. Isn’t it strange that Gio gets only the photos that make it look like I cheated? Perhaps someone wants to weaken Gio by destroying our marriage. Perhaps it’s the Outfit’s doing, or someone within the Famiglia.”
Sebastian’s contemplative silence spoke volumes, the idea taking root within his mind. “And you really think Gio needs you to be strong? You think they could weaken the Famiglia if they destroyed your marriage to my brother?”
My answer wavered, uncertainty threading through my thoughts like a tangle of vines. The fragments of my shattered world left me adrift in a sea of confusion.
“I would gladly die for Gio,” the words escaped, a fervent declaration that carried the weight of truth. “I love him more than anything else.”
Except for the child that remained an unspoken secret, a life growing in the shadows. A life that was a testament to the love between Gio and me, a love that now stood threatened.
“Then perhaps you should take that knife and put your life down.”
Shock coursed through me, a lightning bolt of disbelief at the suggestion that had just been made. “Do you think he’s better off without me? Gio loves me.”
Or did he? The uncertainty gnawed at me, a question that had yet to be answered. The ache in my chest intensified, a painful reminder of a love that might be slipping away.
“He would return to being what he was before you,” Sebastian’s voice was measured, carrying a weight of conviction. “He’d be worse than that. He would be the monster he needs to be to reign over New York. Whatever small part of him was capable of love, maybe you killed it.”
With a mechanical nod, I struggled to keep my composure as my insides churned violently. Sebastian’s anger bore down on me, a weight I couldn’t escape, because deep down, I understood the validity of his rage. Gio wasn’t an ordinary man; he was the Capo. His entire life was intertwined with this ruthless world. And for me, he had risked it all. But now, in his eyes, I had betrayed that trust.
The weight of Sebastian’s words hung heavy in the air as I turned away, unable to meet his accusing gaze. Gio’s anger was justified; his suspicion, warranted. He wasn’t just a man; he was the head of this mafia empire, raised and groomed to command. And for my sake, he had ventured into unknown territories. Yet, the haunting accusation of infidelity tainted everything.
In the recesses of my mind, I recognized the truth of Sebastian’s words. Gio’s position was unrelenting, subjected to horrors that no ordinary person could fathom. The image of him enduring unspeakable agony without flinching painted a vivid picture of his resilience. But the anguish etched on his face when he had seen me with Mathias cut me deeper than any physical wound.
Overwhelmed by emotion, I brought my hand to my mouth, stifling sobs that threatened to consume me. The thought of causing Gio such pain was unbearable. Struggling to find my voice through the tears, I denied the accusation that had torn us apart. “I didn’t cheat,” the words choked out, a desperate plea for understanding. “If you doubt me, test me. Remember, you once said that if you used your methods on me, I wouldn’t be able to keep a secret.”
Sebastian’s footsteps circled around, and as he faced me, his expression was a blend of frustration and compassion. “What I believe matters little. It’s Gio’s trust that’s at stake.”
Desperation drove me to touch his forearm, my heartache palpable. “Please, Sebastian, help me prove my innocence. It’s not just for me.”
“Even if you didn’t betray him physically, you betrayed his trust,” Sebastian’s words were a somber reminder of the magnitude of my actions. “You ventured into enemy territory, risking not only your life but Gio’s too. He would’ve given his life to protect you, without hesitation. Did you consider that when you set foot in Chicago?”
Tears blurred my vision, my strength waning. Was it the weight of the revelation, the strain of the pregnancy, or the shattering of my heart that made me feel faint? I swayed unsteadily, my legs giving way.
“Frustration laced Sebastian’s voice as he cursed, his grip steadying me. He guided me to the sofa, concern replacing his anger. Kneeling before me, he held my chin firmly, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Swear to me, Millie, that you didn’t cheat on Gio.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, my voice trembling but resolute. “I swear, Sebastian. Gio is the only one I love. There never has been, nor will there ever be, another man.”