MILLIE
Exhaling heavily, Sebastian released his hold on my chin. His tone softened as he spoke. “I’ll track down the photographer who took those pictures, confront him. But it won’t be easy. Chicago isn’t accessible to us, and finding a substitute won’t be simple. Still, there might be a way.” He hesitated, the weight of the situation evident in his features. “But even if we prove your innocence, Gio’s wounds might not heal. He believed you cheated because you went behind his back.”
His frustration was palpable as he straightened up, his concern evident. “Are you certain you won’t see the Doc? You don’t look well.”
The mention of the Doc triggered panic. I couldn’t risk the revelation of my pregnancy; Gio had to learn about it from me. “I’m sure,” I affirmed quickly, suppressing the unease.
“Harper will be released now,” Sebastian’s statement caught me off guard.
“Released?” I echoed in a hushed tone.
“Locked her in the car,” his matter-of-fact response unveiled the severity of the situation.
As he walked away, his phone to his ear, I stared at the stained carpet, each mark a painful reminder of Gio’s suffering.
“Millie!” Harper’s scream shattered my thoughts. She stormed towards me, disheveled and distraught, enveloping me in a tight, desperate embrace. Her tears soaked into my skin, a testament to her fear.
I held her close, reassuring her through my own anguish. “I’m alright, Harper.”
Her grip loosened, and her eyes scanned my form, lingering on the chaos around us. “Did he hurt you?” Her concern was etched across her face.
Shaking my head, I fought back my own tears. My heartache resonated with every fiber of my being.
“I thought he’d kill you,” Harper’s voice trembled, revealing her anxiety. “I wanted to warn you, but Sebastian… that jerk, he wouldn’t let me.”
Though part of me felt broken, I held onto the unshakable belief that Gio would never take my life.
In a tense moment that hung heavy in the air, Sebastian’s voice cut through the room as he addressed Harper. His words carried a mixture of concern and caution, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. “You’ve got to understand, Harper,” he began, his tone serious, “Sebastian stepped in to shield you from danger. But whatever’s holding Gio back from harming Millie, I fear it won’t hold him back when it comes to you. You need to trust me on this.”
Harper’s response was sharp, her irritation evident. “I’m not engaging with you,” she retorted, her words devoid of the playful banter that had characterized their interactions before.
Feeling the weight of the tension, I gently placed my hand on Harper’s leg, a gesture meant to convey empathy and understanding. “Sebastian acted out of a genuine desire to keep you safe,” I explained softly, my voice carrying a touch of earnestness. “Please don’t direct your anger at him. My own marriage has already crumbled because of my actions; I can’t bear the thought of causing another one to falter.”
Despite my words, Harper’s confidence seemed shaken. She asserted, “Gio will eventually come to terms with all of this,” but her conviction wavered, her uncertainty betraying her hope.
A glimmer of hope surged within me at the sound of the front door opening and closing. The possibility of Gio’s arrival filled me with anticipation, only to be dashed when Sienna and Dario entered instead. Disappointment settled in as it became clear that Gio hadn’t returned. Sienna’s eyes were swollen and red from crying, and my heart sank as I realized the pain I had inadvertently caused.
Sienna crossed the room and enveloped me in a tight hug, her arms trembling against my back. Her words were a mixture of relief and concern. “We’ve been so worried about you,” she confessed, her voice laced with genuine emotion. Seeking reassurance, I glanced over at Dario, who stood beside Sebastian, engrossed in their conversation. His gaze met mine, and unexpectedly, his eyes held not anger as I had anticipated, but rather a sense of pity. Strangely, that expression of pity stung even more than anger, deepening the weight of guilt that I already felt.
SEBASTIAN
I dialed Gio’s second mobile number once again, hope mingling with frustration as the call rang on, unanswered. It was baffling. Where was Gio? My patience was fraying at the edges as I glanced around, my eyes settling on Millie, Harper, and Sienna a mixture of worry and irritation now bubbling within me.
Not more than fifteen minutes had passed since I’d stepped into the mansion, only to be met with a haunting sight: bloody handprints smeared on the door, and crimson stains marring the elegant marble floor. Dread had gripped me, convinced that I would discover Millie’s lifeless form within those walls, and perhaps even Gio’s, for surely her demise would spell his too. Yet, against all odds, Millie stood before me, miraculously untouched by the violence that had clearly unfolded here.
“Where the hell are you, Gio?” I muttered under my breath, my mind racing through the possibilities. There was no denying that he was on a vengeful rampage, driven by an unquenchable thirst for retribution. Could he be en route to Chicago, seeking to personally put an end to Mathias’s life? The thought sent a chill through my veins.
I cursed under my breath, my agitation growing more palpable. My fingers swiftly retrieved my second mobile, and I dialed Romeo’s number. The line connected briefly before I hung up, leaving him to understand the urgency of my unspoken message call me back when it’s safe to talk openly. Within five minutes, Romeo’s call broke the silence, and by then, I was already seated in my car, engines humming as I sped towards New York. Gio was out there, a loose cannon, and I had to find him before he either met his demise or wound up in police custody, leaving a trail of bodies behind.
“Sebastian, what’s going on?” Romeo’s voice held a note of concern, a sentiment I was grateful for. Romeo had proven his loyalty as our informant within the Outfit over the course of two years a connection we couldn’t afford to lose.
The relief was audible in my voice as I replied, “Romeo, I need you now more than ever. If Gio ends up in Chicago, ensure he never reaches Mathias. Knock him out if you must.”
A perplexed silence followed, and then Romeo’s voice carried a tinge of bewilderment. “What are you talking about? Knock out Gio?”
“Never mind,” I snapped impatiently, my mind too preoccupied for further explanations.
Romeo, a man of few words, remained silent, likely grappling with the enigma of my command.
“I have a task for you,” I continued, my tone intense. “A photographer. Check your email for the details. Find him immediately and extract the truth who paid him to capture those damning photos of Mathias and Millie.”
“Wait, photos? What photos?” Romeo’s confusion was palpable, his voice a mixture of intrigue and concern.
I clenched my jaw, frustration mounting. “Read the damn email. And once you’ve finished with the photographer, bring him to New York.”
Another pause, then Romeo’s voice held a note of disbelief. “You want me to come to New York?”
“Not for long,” I retorted, my urgency veiled as a demand. “Once you’ve handed over the photographer, you can return to Chicago.”
“Understood,” Romeo replied, a hint of reluctance lingering in his words.
I didn’t let it slide. “Remember, you’ve been working with us for two years. Loyalty comes with its own rewards. But if Mathias catches a whiff of your betrayal, not even your sister’s connection to him will save you.”
Romeo grasped the unspoken threat, and with a swift, “I’ll take care of it,” he hung up. I knew he would retrieve the photographer, but the aftermath the confrontation that would be a conversation loaded with tension, revelations, and consequences.