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Damian was completely unaware of the tension that suddenly rose up between myself and his cousin.

She was staring at me wide eyed, her movements with the handkerchief coming to a stop.

Her eyes darted across my face as she took me in. Despite the fact she was drunk as hell that day, recognition passed through her features almost instantly.

Her plump lips parted in shock, almost as if she expected never to see me again.

Despite the fact she was all wet and her mascara was running thanks to the champagne, she still looked as beautiful as she did that night six weeks ago.

I don't think beautiful is even enough to describe her.

But her beauty wasn't enough to make me like her. In fact all it did was make me hate her even more.

"You..." The word left her mouth barely in a whisper. "You're Costa Ac-..."

I always love when people realise who I am.

Especially when it's someone who I hate.

She continued to stare at me in shock, putting the pieces together in her stupid little head. Then, as she cleared her throat, something unexpectedly changed in her behaviour.

It was like a guard or a wall suddenly went up.

"What do you want?" She was still dripping wet and yet she was intimidating as hell.

Well, intimidating to anyone who wasn't me. I could snap her neck in seconds and walk away without a shred of remorse.

Instead of replying, I shifted my attention to her cousin.

"You good?" I rose an eyebrow at him, ignoring his confusion. His eyes darted between his cousin and I before settling on me.

"Yeah...I didn't know you were coming tonight." I could tell he wanted to ask what the issue was between myself and his damp cousin, but he chose not to.

Although, I'm sure I'll be hearing about it soon.

"It was a last minute thing." I shrugged, looking down the hallway for any signs of Gio or Aidan.

I'm going to kill those idiots for completely ripping the plan to shreds.

"Ah. Well, did you know Viktor Kozlov is married?" He said it like a gossiping Italian aunt.

Damian always loved to gossip whenever we met for work purposes.

"That stronzo is married? Really?" (Asshole) I frowned, feigning shock.

"Yep and he has a son. Millie found out the hard way." He chuckled, glancing over at his moist cousin. The heat of her glare was now on him instead of me.

Damian laughed, spinning her knife between his fingers - the one she'd used to try and kill Kozlov's fake wife. She continued to glare at his clear attempt at taunting her.

"Well, that explains all the..." I gestured towards the champagne that had wet her hair and her dress. "I've seen worse happen to home wreckers. You should be glad."

I was trying to infuriate her all over again and it definitely worked.

"I'm not a home wrecker, you son of a b-"

"Millie!" Her lovely insult was cut off by that irksome Russian accent.

We all turned to see Viktor Kozlov approaching the three of us from down the hallway. Julius was following closely behind, anger radiating from him.

"Stay away from me, Viktor."

Her voice was much softer when she was drunk. She seemed so innocent when she tried to offer me 100 dollars.

Turns out she's a spoilt, cunning little Mafia princess.

"Just listen-"

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say. Your wife was right, you are a liar. Did you really think I wouldn't find out you have a family?"

"She's not my wife and I don't have a son. I-"

"Save it, Kozlov." Damian stepped towards him, coming up next to Millie. Julius also decided to join her. Since we were just conversing, I was now standing way too close to the three of them. So, I took a few steps away.

I hated Kozlov more than anyone, but I also hated that little Greek Princess. I'd never stand close enough to her to let anyone think I was on her side.

"Don't do this, Millicent." He warned her. His previous desperation was slowly morphing into frustration. I knew him well enough to know he was about to go from frustrated to angry to fucking furious.

The dilemma was - do I stick around for the show, or do I make my great escape with the twins before this shit blows up?

I need to find those little shits first and fast.

"Don't do what? Call you out for what you are? Cut off all the ties we have with you? End whatever business you hoped to get out of this marriage?"

Millie glared at him, taking a step in his direction as she continued.

"Because I can and I am. You're sick, Viktor, and you're the last person I would ever marry. Unfortunately for you, you won't be able to use us to get whatever you wanted out of this marriage."

There was a lot he could have got out of this marriage and a lot of it had to do with us.

An alliance with the Greeks would certainly strengthen his presence in the Mediterranean. If he did that, he'd be muscling in on the territory we've held for centuries.

As soon as we start losing that, it's a sure bet our hold in other areas of Europe, Asia and America would loosen and eventually break.

It was a smart move, one we couldn't afford to let happen.

"And you're lucky all we're doing is cutting business ties with you, Kozlov. After what you've done to my sister, you deserve so much worse." Julius added.

The poor guy never actually did anything.

Well, as Gio would say over text, LMAO.

"You're really threatening me when you know who I am? I guess you really are that stupid. You ublyudki know someone else was behind this, right?" (Bastards) He laughed sardonically, almost as if he was mocking them.

Of course. It's kind of obvious someone else was behind it.

"My guys are getting a name out of that bitch right now and when I find out who it is...I'm taking them down and you." His threat was aimed at the members of the Greek Mafia as he smirked.

This stronzo just waged a war on the Greek Mafia and unknowingly, the Sicilian Mafia. He might have been the boss of the Bratva, but it wasn't the smartest move.

I wanted to laugh, so I did.

My chuckle caught their attention and soon the four of them were looking at me. Kozlov glared at me, all our history and years of animosity fuelling his anger even more.

"Sorry, sorry. Carry on. I was just leaving." I laughed with a false sense of remorse, gesturing for Kozlov to continue.

I took a step backwards, nodding towards Julius and Damian. I also spared the soggy Greek princess a glare personalised just for her.

I knew in the next few minutes it would come out that the Accardi family was behind this.

That part was inevitable after Gio stupidly let an actress get involved. All she had to say was the man who paid her had an Italian accent and Viktor would know exactly who it was.

But, it seemed like the damage between the Russians and the Greeks was done. They wouldn't be forming an alliance even when they all found out who was truly behind the gifts and the fake wife.

So I just had to find the twins and get the hell out before we had Kozlov and that Darmos brat on our asses.

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<<

Two days.

All it took was two days for word to get back to my father.

And two days later we were touching back down in Palermo on his orders.

I'm sure it went a little something  like this:

The actress told Kozlov's men Giovanni was the one who hired her.

Kozlov's men told Kozlov who then had the actress killed in a fit of anger - he was never one to control his emotions.

Kozlov told the Greek woman.

The Greek woman then ran to her daddy to cry about losing her chance to marry a rich man.

Nicholas Darmos told my father.

My father lost his shit and then calmly called me to ask me to return back to Sicily.

Now I'm sitting in the car outside McDonald's.

"Here." Aidan handed me a milkshake, getting back in the drivers seat next to me. Giovanni got in the back bringing the scent of salty, greasy food with him.

This is what happens when I stupidly let Aidan drive.

"I told you I didn't want anything." I muttered, holding the McDonald's cup back towards him.

"Stop being in a pissy mood. It's going to be fine." Aidan muttered, shoving the cup back towards me.

"You-..." I cut myself off before I could say that one thing that's been on the tip of my tongue since my father called us back home.

You don't know what he's like when he's angry.

Instead, I sipped on the milkshake, averting my gaze back to the email on my phone regarding a weapons shipment to Hong Kong.

Giovanni shoved a brown McDonald's bag through the gap between the seats. "I got you the Caesar salad you like."

"I told you I-"

"-didn't want anything, sì sì. Mangia e basta." (yes, yes. Just eat.) I turned in my seat to glare at Giovanni who smirked, slurping so hard on that fucking milkshake I wanted to smack him when the sound echoed in the car.

"I also got you a McFlurry Baci Perugina." Otherwise known as the best McFlurry in Italy.

"Just give it to me, you little shit." Gio laughed as I snatched the McFlurry from him, putting it in the cupholder while I opened my salad.

"Why do you get salad from McDonald's?" Aidan asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

Everyone knows my usual order is the Caesar salad and water. But these idiots decided to bring me a milkshake and a McFlurry, as if I had the willpower to turn them down.

"You're young now so that shit you're eating is appealing. Wait a couple of years and you'll be more concerned with taking care of yourself."

"Bitch, you say that like I don't go to the gym." Aidan frowned, shoving a whole chicken nugget into his mouth.

They weren't as muscular as myself or my brothers, but both the twins were lean and fit. They had potential, but only if they laid off the junk food.

"You go to the gym to impress girls, not to take care of your health." I pointed out, taking a bite of my Caesar salad.

"Fine, when I'm 40 years old like you then I'll start eating salad."

It would have been funny if I wasn't sexy as hell and only 28.

But still, the two of them laughed as if I wasn't only ten years older than them and in my prime.

"With your diet, you'll be dead by the time you're 40." I muttered, sipping on my milkshake.

"Hey!" Gio shouted from the back, shoving his face between the seats to glare at me. "Don't joke about that shit. He's not dying. He's my twin bitch for life."

"You just told me you'd kill me like five minutes ago." Aidan turned in his seat to smirk at his younger brother.

"Shut up. I can kill you, but nothing or no one else can." He said it so ferociously, like a little puppy growling at the world.

"I love you too, man." Aidan grinned, handing Gio a chicken nugget. In return, Gio handed him a tomato and mozzarella panzerotti.

I don't care what anyone says, the best McDonald's menu is the Italian menu.

I rolled my eyes at their display of affection which of course would revolve around junk food.

Junk food was their love language.

"You're just jealous no one loves you enough to be your ride or die." Gio quipped, apparently noticing my eye roll.

"I could never imagine Costa with a ride or die. He doesn't let anyone get that close." Aidan muttered, ignoring the way I was now glaring at the two of them.

"I have Lula. Lula is my ride or die."  I was referring to my cat who hates everyone except me.

Costa and Lula against the world.

They ignored my very valid point and Giovanni suddenly grinned. "Imagine what life would be like if Costa was in love."

In love?

What the fuck?

"He'd be so much nicer, I think. He wouldn't be so moody or angry. Maybe he'd even smile."

Bitch, I smile.

I smile when I stab people.

"And he wouldn't be so touchy. Like, I could take his shit and he wouldn't cry about it." Giovanni muttered, clearly having not moved on from the last argument we had.

He takes all my shit. My drinks, my food, my cologne, my hoodies.

I even found him trying to steal my shoes in New York, but I'm a size bigger than him so he couldn't.

"Can we go now? I think I'd rather face my father than listen to you two-"

"Shut up, I'm the driver. I get to to decide when we leave." Suddenly Aidan thought he had the right to tell me what to do.

"I was being nice by letting you drive, you little shit. Don't push me."

"So? I've got the power now, bitch. Don't push me."

Then they wonder why I'm so moody when I'm around them.

<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>> <<<<<<<

One hour later we finally pulled up to the gates of the main compound where the Sicilian Mafia worked from.

We should have been here two hours ago after our flight landed in Palermo. But, in their true fashion, the twins screwed the plans up.

First they made us go to McDonald's, then Aidan drove us home instead. It was the villa where myself, my father and my siblings lived in Palermo. Since the death of their father two months ago, the twins have been living with us too.

Gio insisted he wanted to go home and take a shower first after the idiota spilled his cola all over himself in the car.

Then we got sidetracked playing fetch with Lula after I fed her. I threw her little ball at the twins and she'd attack them when she went to fetch it.

It was my favourite game.

She attacked them even when her ball landed a few feet away from them. She knew her mission and she completed it every single time.

So, we were two hours late. Truth be told, I was also looking for any excuse not to face my father.

"Let me do the talking." I murmured as I parked the car outside.

This time I insisted on driving.

"Don't worry, Costa. We've got your back." Aidan clapped me on the back with a grin.

They were too young, they'd never seen what my father can be like when he's angry. I'd been on the receiving end ever since I was a young child. As the heir, my training started much earlier but my brothers also faced harsher treatment. The twins didn't need such strict training for their future roles. They also had their own father to protect them until their current age of 18.

They'd been protected from the harshest sides of this life and I wanted to keep it like that for as long as possible.

They could learn what they needed to learn without being beaten black and blue when things go wrong.

"Listen to me." I turned in my seat to face them both, my expression giving away how serious I was.

"He's going to be pissed. I'm used to it, it's nothing I haven't dealt with before. But you've never seen it. Devi stare zitto e lasciare che me ne occupi io. Qualunque cosa accada, stai zitto." (You need to stay quiet and let me handle it. No matter what happens, just stay quiet.)

"It won't be that bad though, will it?" Giovanni frowned, swallowing nervously. "He'll understand that the Russians allying with the Greeks could never have happened."

"He'll understand that part, sí. But he won't be happy that we took matters into our own hands. It blew up and now Kozlov and Nicholas Darmos know we were behind it."

I was trying to keep my calm for the twins, but inside I knew this was bad. My whole aim was to keep our names out of it. But it just...it got away from us.

Now they all know what we did and my father was going to go ballistic.

After all, we made him look bad in front of the Russians, the Greeks and whoever else found out about it.

"Come on. We need to go, we're already late. Just remember what I said, sì? Keep your mouths shut." I gave them one last look before the three of us got out of the car.

I walked behind them with the intention of going to my father's office. But we were stopped by a maid who rushed towards us as soon as we set foot inside the building.

"Signore, suo padre le ha chiesto di incontrarlo fuori. È seduto con i suoi ospiti." (Sir, your father asked for you to meet him outside. He's sitting with his guests.)

And just like that I knew he'd be double pissed. He wanted us here two hours ago, now his guests have arrived - whoever the fuck they are.

But he was never one to keep his punishments private. He didn't mind putting any of us back in our place in front of prying eyes.

"Grazie." (Thank you.)

I could feel the nervous energy radiating from the twins as we walked. The two of them were quiet which was rare, and they were extremely tense.

We headed outside under the warmth of the Sicilian sun. It wasn't a long path until we reached the outdoor seating area where my father was sitting with six other people.

"Andrà tutto bene, non preoccuparti." (It'll be okay, don't worry.) I patted Gio on the arm as I stepped past him, approaching the group first.

The chatter seized as soon as we came close enough to catch the group's attention.

My father sat on one side wearing a cordial smile. Of course, I knew him well enough to see the undertones of anger visible in his body language.

Tristano was sitting next to him and to my surprise, so was Rocco.

I guess he decided to come back from Shanghai. Or, he was summoned, which was more likely.

Across from my father sat none other than Nicholas Darmos. Along side him was his son, Julius and his daughter, Millicent.

In the short second I looked at her, I noticed the way she kept her eyes trained on the floor. She refused to look up, her hand clenched into a tight fist on her lap.

Her body was rigid like she was holding onto her composure for dear life.

"Costantino." My father's passive aggressive tone was the final tell.

He was fucking livid.

"Papà, sorry we're late." I didn't bother to give an excuse since he wouldn't have cared for one.

He didn't stand up when we approached, but my brothers did. They came and stood by me, stopping protectively in front of the twins.

It was a subtle move, but only the three of us knew how bad this could get.

Rocco was the one to pull me in for a short hug, clapping me on the back.

"Sei fottuto, fratello." (You're fucked, brother). I detected sympathy in my youngest brother's tone but I kept my expression neutral as he stepped away from me.

We shared a look and I knew there was something he knew that I didn't.

I stepped past my brothers, heading over to Nicholas Darmos to shake his hand out of respect. His handshake was firm, but considering I screwed up an important alliance for him, he didn't seem as angry as my father.

The same couldn't be said for Julius. His stare was fixed on me the moment I got there and it still hadn't left.

I didn't dare look at his sister, but I'm sure her expression would have been the same.

If she needed anymore reason to hate me, I think my family sending her all those gifts and sending an actress to throw champagne on her would do the trick.

I don't think I've ever hated anyone more in my entire life.

And I've hated a lot of people.

So it turns out the man who almost ruined my Boss Bitch Era birthday party was Costantino Accardi. And the one who shoved me hard enough to break my neck was his youngest brother, Rocco Accardi.

Now imagine if I'd decided to approach him for marriage when Damian mentioned him at the ice cream parlour.

That first meeting would have been awkward as hell.

I don't think he would have said yes anyway. From our two encounters, I kind of deduced that he wasn't a nice person. Damian also warned me he was a man whore. My request to meet would have only inflated his ego, but he wouldn't have agreed.

But he seemed happy to destroy other people's lives.

At the gala, that Sicilian son of a bitch scurried away just before Kozlov's second in command revealed who paid that bitch to throw champagne on me.

It was none other than the Accardi family.

I thought men in the Mafia were meant to be mature, but apparently they're more like highschoolers than I thought.

A grown ass man paid a bitch to throw champagne on me.

I never thought I'd see the day.

He got exactly the reaction he was looking for, too. I almost diced that woman to pieces.

I have a temper problem.

On the way home I was grilled by my brother and my cousin. They wanted to know every single detail of what happened. That meant I had to tell them about what happened with Costantino on my birthday.

Then they gave me shit for venturing so far away from the club that I accidentally ran into three notoriously violent men. It had been six weeks since my birthday and they still felt the need to comment as if we hadn't moved on already.

After we got home from the gala, we went straight to my father who proceeded to lose his shit at the way I almost killed a woman in public.

He said 'It's not something we do'.

I think my punishment was being dragged to Sicily when Edoardo Accardi invited us the very next day.

He denied having any involvement in the breakdown of my potential marriage alliance with Viktor Kozlov. He made it sound like sending offensive gifts and hiring a fake wife for Viktor was below him.

So that's how we ended up sitting across from him and his two sons in the backyard of their main base of operations.

Since I already knew who they were,  I was expecting to see those Accardi brothers. But the shock on their faces when they realised I was the drunk girl they almost killed was kind of funny.

However, any amusement quickly disappeared as the conversation progressed.

First, Edoardo Accardi apologised profusely for the actions of his children. He wasn't happy, but I don't think he knew exactly which of his dickish children were to blame yet.

He had been waiting for Costa to arrive hours before we got there so he could get to the bottom of it first. But, Costa being the maláka that he is, turned up two hours late. (Asshole)

So he missed everything.

"I believe you. You and I have always had a good relationship, Edoardo." My father spoke, sipping on his whiskey while Edoardo nodded.

"But there's still a problem. Not only did the actions of your family cost us a business alliance and my daughter a husband, but the Russians are now allying with the Serbs."

Yep, turns out Kozlov is an impulsive little bitch when it comes to revenge. Not even two days later and he's already set in motion his plan of bringing down the Greek Mafia and the Sicilian Mafia.

He meant every word he said.

"Kozlov is allying with the Serbs?" Edoardo sat up from his relaxed position, his posture becoming rigid.

The Russians allying with the Serbian Mafia was dangerous for both of us. While we have our own issues with the Serbs, Kozlov has always wanted to bring down the Sicilian Mafia. They have some history that I don't care to find out about.

With the added strength of this new alliance with the Serbs, he could do it. Historically, the Russians and the Serbs never really got along. But I guess it was a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

They knew coming together would be dangerous for the Accardi family and the Darmos family.

What they didn't predict was the outrageous suggestion Edoardo Accardi came up with.

Marriage.

I almost died. But the look my father gave me screamed 'Don't you dare die right now and cost me another alliance'.

So unfortunately, I was still alive when Costa finally arrived with two familiar teenagers trailing behind him.

They were the same twins I saw at the gala when they knocked into me. And judging by the sheepish expressions on their faces, I'm sure they also had a part to play in the whole 'Ruin Millie's Life Plan'.

Costa apologised for being late and then hugged his youngest brother who whispered something to him. Perhaps it was something like - 'Prepare to spend the rest of your life with a psychotic bitch who is going to make every single one of your days a day from hell'.

Or maybe it was a simple 'Good luck'.

Then Costantino shook my father's hand, choosing not to acknowledge myself or my brother.

It was probably a good thing since I still had my knife from the gala and I'd be honoured to use it on him.

"So, would you like to explain what happened?" Edoardo Accardi was one scary man.

But somehow Costa didn't seem fazed. He looked as cool as possible for someone who was about to admit to ruining my life.

"We couldn't let Kozlov form an alliance in the Mediterranean. I found a way to fix the problem so I did."

But surely, there must have been a way that didn't involve my three thousand dollar dress getting drenched in champagne?

"And you didn't think to ask me before you embarrassed the entire family?"

"You always say I need to take more initiative. I was just following your orders." He's definitely going to get his ass whooped if he continues like this.

But then he's built as hell. I doubt anyone would have the guts to start a fight with him. He could probably kill someone even without all the weapons I'm absolutely sure he's carrying.

The conversation continued with Costa's father grilling him over what he did.

He asked about the gifts I received and about everything that happened at the gala. Costantino explained it all from his point of view, saying he did what he had to do for La Famiglia - the family.

Mr Accardi still hadn't dropped the bomb on Costa yet as he stood up, making his way towards his sons.

Despite the difference in age, height and muscular build - all in Costantino's favour - Edoardo held more power as he stood across from his son.

Costa stood with his two brothers flanking him and the twins just off to the side. Just from their positioning I could tell they were all extremely close. His brothers knew the big secret that Costa was yet to find out and they showed their support by standing by his side.

It would have been admirable if they weren't the three men that treated me so disgracefully on my birthday. I don't think I could ever see them as anything else. I'd never forget the looks of disgust they gave me.

"I'm going to ask you only once, Costantino. Was it you who decided to do something so stupid?"

"It was my plan." He didn't even hesitate to nod his head, taking full responsibility for ruining our potential marriage alliance with Viktor Kozlov.

A deadly silence fell around us while Costa held eye contact with his father. One of the twins was about to step forward to speak, but he was stopped by Rocco who subtly held out an arm.

Then out of nowhere, Edoardo raised his hand to slap Costantino across the face.

My mouth dropped open at the horrific sound that reverberated around us. It made me feel sick, especially when I saw Costa's quickly reddening cheek.

The force of his own slap was enough to make Edoardo stumble, his slicked back hair now falling over his forehead. He was wearing some rings which would no doubt leave a bruise on Costa's cheek.

But somehow, Costa remained fixed in his position.

His face turned with the impact of his father's hand, but he didn't stumble or lose his footing. He stayed firm in his place, staring at his father through cold eyes.

The only other movement was from the twins who both lurched forward after the slap, but Rocco and Tristano stopped them from interfering. I'm not even sure Edoardo noticed, he was too busy smoothing back his hair and then straightening his suit after he stumbled.

Then he finally delivered the killing blow to my future husband.

"Your punishment will be to marry the Darmos girl. You ruined it, now you're going to fix it."

It finally seemed to do the trick and crack his cool facade. Costa's head snapped in my direction and we locked eyes for the first time that day.

His lips parted in shock, his murky green eyes holding so many emotions - dread, outrage, hatred, disgust.

Every single one of those emotions passed through his eyes, but he didn't dare say a word.

He held my stare and in those few moments, the prospect of what our lives would be like together flashed before my eyes.

Empty vows on our wedding day. Lonely nights in separate bedrooms and I would spend my days alone with no one to talk to or no work to do. He'd probably travel the world, be with his friends and family here in Sicily and, most likely, even cheat on me too.

But I'd be all alone, married to a man who's hated me for very little reason since the moment we met.

We'd probably have a child or two at some point, although I have no idea how that process would ever happen. Costantino looked at me as if I was the last person he'd choose to save from a burning building - let alone become the mother of his children.

And if that wasn't enough, the glares I was receiving from his brothers and his twin cousins told me exactly how I'd be welcomed into the family.

Costa was the one to break our stare down, averting his gaze to the floor. He clenched his jaw, frowning hard at whatever thoughts were running through his head.

His father came back over to the seating area without a shred of remorse on his face. It was clear this marriage wasn't going to work between us. Neither of us wanted it - my father and his father knew it.

"So, since we're all in agreement, let's discuss some arrangements. Perhaps if we set a date for the engagement party we can get started on the formalities. We need to get our lawyers together to get the terms sorted." Edoardo Accardi poured himself another glass of whiskey, completely ignoring the tension.

Julius was furious, but he wasn't the type to argue with our father in public. He kept his expression neutral to avoid giving away how he felt.

The Accardi family, however, were much different.

Costantino decided he'd had enough of the conversation and turned around to leave. As soon as he did, his brothers and the twins immediately followed him.

They made their feelings clear about this marriage by walking away. It was a show of solidarity against their father, one that he barely even acknowledged.

"Don't you think we should run this by Mama first?" I questioned my father, my voice coming out surprisingly strong for how I felt inside.

I felt defeated already.

"We'll fix a date and your mother can help with the preparations." He placed a comforting hand on my arm but I quickly shrugged it off.

The remaining conversation was mostly between my father and Edoardo. They agreed that the engagement party would take place in three weeks in Palermo, Sicily. After this announcement to the criminal underworld, the wedding would quickly take place a short six weeks later.

Apparently the weather in Sicily in June was ideal for an outdoor wedding.

"Hold on. Why can't we have the wedding in Athens? Our family is there and-" Although I aimed my question at my father, I was cut off my none other than my future father in-law.

"The wedding will take place here in Sicily."

Damian's warnings came back to me about the Sicilian Mafia being more traditional in their views towards women. He didn't think my smart mouth and I would fit in with them.

But I wasn't about to let him talk down to me before I was even married. If I ever wanted to cement a strong position for myself in the family, I had to show them I wouldn't take their shit lying down right from the onset.

"With all due respect, Mr Accardi, this alliance is a partnership. I don't appreciate being dictated to."

The look I received from the leader of the Sicilian Mafia was deadly.

Do I want to die? Quite possibly.

"Millicent." My father's warning tone forced me to break my stare with Edoardo Accardi.

He didn't back me up. He didn't agree that the decisions should be made together since our families were joining together for mutual benefit.

He let Edoardo win.

Holding back a scoff that so desperately wanted to escape, I shook my head as I stood to my feet. "I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me." I murmured, walking away from the outdoor seating area.

My maxi dress blew in the light breeze as I walked back down same path towards the building. My thoughts were so different to the ones I had an hour ago when we arrived.

Instead of wondering what Edoardo Accardi had invited us here for, I was now imagining my life living in this country.

I'd be part of a family that had little to no respect for me, in a country I was completely unfamiliar with. I couldn't even speak the language.

I'd be an outsider with no allies - not even my own husband.

I'd be stuck in a loveless marriage.

I didn't actually need to use the bathroom, but I found one anyway. I leaned against the counter in the luxuriously decorated bathroom, pulling out my phone from my Prada purse.

I tapped on the first number on my favourites list, bringing the phone to my ear.

"Maleficent, now isn't really a good time. I'm about to get some blonde head in five minutes."

"Blonde head? That doesn't even make sense, Damian." I murmured, biting my pink acrylic nail.

"Of course it does - she's blonde and she's going to give me head. So, what do you need from me, my little Mildred?"

"I just...I needed to talk to you." I was absolutely on the verge of tears.

"What's the matter? Did something happen?" His tone suddenly became more alert and I could just imagine that concerned frown on his face.

"I'm getting married." Saying it out loud, albeit in a strained whisper, made it feel so much more real.

"Married? Who the hell are you-..." Realisation quickly set in for my cousin.

Damian stayed behind in New York to keep an eye on things during our impromptu visit to Sicily. It was only meant to last two days and then I thought I would be back home planning my next marriage disaster.

"Costantino?" Damian hated him more than ever after everything he'd done.

I think just the way he treated me the night of my 25th birthday would have been enough. But then Accardi decided to go and ruin my marriage to Viktor Kozlov and he suddenly moved to first place on Damian's hit list.

"Yeah. His father suggested the idea to my dad and now the engagement party is in three weeks. After that I have six weeks before the wedding."

"Shit." He paused to digest the news. "Where are you now, Millie?"

"Crying in the bathroom like a weak bitch." I mumbled, cringing at the thought of tear stains ruining my make up.

"No." He laughed softly. "I meant are you still with them at their house?"

"Oh. Yes, but we're not at their house. We're at their base where they work from." It was a huge guarded building just outside of Palermo. Every criminal organisation has a base of operations and this was where the Sicilian Mafia worked out of.

Every inch of it was crawling with security, lower ranked soldiers in the Mafia, the Inner Circle, the main Accardi family and the staff.

"Okay, listen to me. Keep yourself calm until you get back to the hotel. Don't say or do anything stupid."

"Um...well..." I sniffled and Damian sighed.

"What did you do?"

He knows me too well.

"I might have told Edoardo Accardi I don't like being dictated to and reminded him that this marriage alliance is a partnership."

"Millie-"

"He's trying to force me to get married in Sicily. I don't want to get married in Sicily." The desperation made my voice crack as more tears fell from my eyes.

"I know, Mildred. But, these aren't people you can be a boss bitch with and stand up to. You're not magically going to change them into people who listen to women's opinions. They don't do that, they never have."

"I don't want to marry him, Damian."

"I know." He murmured, his soft tone providing me at least some level of comfort. "You're flying back home tomorrow, right?"

"I think so, hopefully. I left them still talking so they might have changed the plan. But Mama is still in New York and I want her here when they make the decisions."

She's the only one who would take my side so openly against my father. He loved her too much to ever put her in her place, like the Sicilians do.

"Just stay calm for me, Millie. Don't react to anything, wait until you get home. Then we'll talk, now isn't the time."

"I..." I wasn't sure if I could do that, but Damian was right. I couldn't talk to my father in Sicily, not with the Accardi family hanging around.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Damy."

This is how they end up getting married!

Did you see it coming like this? I tried to make it a bit unique compared to other arranged marriage stories on here 🥹

Thank you for reading!! 🤍