Thank you for all your love and well wishes! One day when I have the energy I'll go back and reply to all the comments but I see them all and appreciate them sooo much 🥺🩷 You have no idea 🥰

Enjoy this chapter! There is TW for suicide, please be cautious ⚠️

He didn't say a word. He just listened to what the other person said and then he hung up.

Somehow, the thick tension in the car grew even more. He didn't even say a word for the rest of the ride, but the tension became unbearable.

I knew what was coming the moment I walked into the penthouse and he didn't disappoint.

As soon as I stepped inside, Costa pushed me up against the wall, pinning me there. The impact wasn't nearly enough to hurt me, but it definitely got his point across.

He was livid.

"What the fuck did you do?" He seethed, his green eyes darker than I'd ever seen.

"Let me go." I glared at him, trying to push him away. Costa's grip tightened for a moment before he released me, stepping back. His face was a mask of fury and disbelief.

A strained silence fell around us. While Costa and I were glaring at each other, Rocco and the twins were watching from the side.

"What happened?" Giovanni finally asked, his eyes flitting between Costa and I.

"Millie attacked Alina in the bathroom." Costa answered, his eyes never leaving mine.

Is that what people are saying? I didn't attack the bitch, it was self defence. Sort of.

"She threatened me." I spat, my rage burning away. "She touched me first. She crossed a line. I couldn't let her do that and get away with it."

"Couldn't let her?" Costa's voice was dangerously low. "You think attacking her was the solution? Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

Before I could respond, Rocco stormed over to us, his eyes blazing with anger. "Millie, what the fuck were you thinking?"

"You've put us all in danger." Costa continued, his voice shaking with rage. "The Bratva will come after us for this. You've jeopardised yourself, my family, the alliance, everything!"

"She said she's already going to break the alliance. She put her hands on me first! I didn't provoke her!" I felt like I had to keep repeating myself because they just weren't getting it.

I didn't start this. She did.

"You should have been smarter than that." Rocco stepped closer, his eyes narrowing accusingly. "You acted out of jealousy, didn't you? Because of what she said about their past?"

I knew my hesitation to reply gave away the answer. It was enough for them.

Costa's face twisted with fury - his eyes burning with fire. His anger was threatening to overwhelm him and I was sure I was going to be the target.

"You did this because you were jealous?" He spat, stepping closer to me. "Because of something from the past? I told you before I've never loved anyone else. I told you she was a pathological liar, Millie. A manipulative, dangerous liar. But you didn't listen to me."

"I did listen to you, Costa, but I'm not sorry for what I did. We're at war with Kozlov. She purposely followed me, she started threatening me. She touched me first. I warned her not to."

"Do you have any idea what you've caused?" Rocco's voice was colder than he's ever used with me, completely disregarding what I said. "Whatever comes next is on you. If someone gets hurt, their blood is on your fucking hands."

That vivid reminder of our reality was what broke me out of my angry haze. But that anger gave way to a whole new set of emotions - emotions I don't think I'd ever experienced before.

The twins approached cautiously, their expressions a mix of concern and fear. "We need to get Millie out of here before they lose it." Aidan whispered to Gio.

"I can't believe you let jealousy drive you to this." Costa continued, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and disappointment. "Are you that fucking insecure?"

"Or are you just a psychotic jealous bitch?" Rocco added the second part earning a deadly glare from me.

"Don't speak to me like that." I suddenly stepped forward, my desperation getting the best of me. "You've done worse, you've killed for less. All of you have. Just because I'm a woman, it doesn't make me different."

"You're right, but I think about the consequences first. I do it with a level head." Costa also stepped closer to me, showing he wasn't going to back down. "You acted on impulse and now you're in even more danger. My family is in danger. If something happens to any of them, Millie, I will never forgive you."

"So it's okay for her to come to me in the bathroom? It's okay for her to put her hands on me first? It's okay for them to constantly threaten to kill me?"

My eyes became glassy with tears while I stared into his stormy green eyes.

"She said they were trying to trick me into marrying Kozlov so they could kill me. She said she was coming after me so she could have you. I turned away from her! I was warning her but she ignored it. She pulled my hair so I stabbed her in the shoulder."

That's fair, right? What did she expect? We're at war, she knew that. She even said it herself.

All's fair in love and war.

"You should have walked away." That was Costa's only response, his words hanging in the thick air around us. He didn't acknowledge any of what I said.

That was the moment I gave up.

I gave up fighting - with him and for us.

I gave up on caring about myself, my dreams and the life I always wanted but could never have.

I gave up on this stupid war and alliance I never even wanted in the first place.

I just gave up.

"Maybe I should." The words came out in a whisper as I stepped away from Costa, finally looking away from his eyes.

"What the fuck does that mean?" He snapped, although his tone softened slightly.

"It means I'm done. I'm done with you, I'm done with this marriage and I'm done with the mafia." I angrily wiped away my tears, taking another step back.

I was ready to throw it all away for one moment of peace. One moment that I could breathe peacefully away from all of this.

"You can't leave." Rocco laughed - his laughter dripping with venom. "There's no way out, Millie. There never will be."

"Of course I can leave. Just fucking watch me." I sneered, my heart rate picking up. I could feel myself losing control. I already knew I was. The pressure and chaos of the last 24 hours was becoming too much.

I'd never felt like this before - so out of control. And it was scaring the hell out of me.

I had to get away.

"This is exactly what they planned." Giovanni scoffed, still watching from the sidelines. "How stupid could you all be? Kozlov obviously sent Alina to screw your marriage up, like we already knew they would try to do. You're just falling into their trap on day fucking one."

Giovanni was right and he was the only one speaking sense that night. But it didn't matter, too much had happened and I wasn't in the right frame of mind anymore.

"Well, she did a good job." I murmured, my eyes drifting over to Costa's eyes again. "Because it's over. I can't do this anymore."

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to get out.

I needed to get out.

"The only way you leave this alliance is through death." Rocco's words were enough for something to snap.

I knew what she was going to do before she even knew it.

I could see it coming a mile away.

The second Rocco mentioned death, her entire body stilled. It's like she realised the only thing left to do. Her eyes locked onto a spot on the floor, her brows furrowed like she was thinking hard about something. Tears cascaded silently down her cheeks and her body trembled.

I was already inching towards her, my heart rate picking up in my chest. But she didn't notice the movement because she was fully out of it by then.

She suddenly reached for her knife but I was quick to grab her before it made contact with her throat. The force I used caused it to clatter loudly to the floor.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her to my chest when the first sob came. Her body collapsed into mine and I supported her weight as she cried.

Every sound broke my heart. For the first time in as long as I could remember, my eyes stung with unshed tears at the sound of her cries.

But I was filled with relief that I was fast enough to stop her.

She almost did it.

She would have done it.

I held Millie in a tight embrace, burying my face in her hair as her body shook with uncontrollable sobs.

The room felt heavy with tension, and I could sense the twins and Rocco watching us but they weren't my concern.

Looking back, I think that was the very moment my priorities shifted.

I always grew up being taught family is everything. It was ingrained into my fucking soul. La Famiglia comes first. Accardi blood comes first. Anything and everything comes later.

But as of that second, Millie became my priority. She took first place.

She will always take first place. Anything and everything will always come after her.

The strange thing is, I could never have had that change in priorities without a huge event like this happening. Sure, I could love her and she'd always be important. But to take first place over La Famiglia, it only happened because I was about to lose her.

I almost lost her. And it was my fucking fault.

Rocco stood to the side, his face a mixture of guilt and regret. He glanced at the twins, who looked pale. They were too young to be dealing with this kind of stuff.

Their traumatised expressions only got worse when Millie's sobs grew louder, her words coming out in broken gasps. "I can't...I can't do this anymore, Costa. I'm so tired - so tired of being a pawn in everyone else's games."

I tightened my grip around her, feeling the desperation in her words. I leaned down closer to her to whisper. "You're not a pawn - you're my everything. You're everything, principessa."

"But I feel like one." She cried, her voice raw with sorrow and pain. Then she pulled away from me, her eyes glazed over with a sudden anger.

She continued to sob, ranting away while we all stood around her like she was a ticking time bomb.

"My dad wanted me to get married for his own benefit. Kozlov was going to marry me for the alliance and then kill me with Alina to take everything. You played those games with me to stop me marrying him for your own personal gain. Then your father used a marriage with me to punish you. Now Julius is angry we're in love because he's worried about his own secrets. Alina was saying she was going to get rid of me to have you. All my life, I've been used and manipulated for other people's benefits."

With every word, the guilt inside me increased. I pushed her too hard and now she was breaking down right in front of me.

"I'm so sorry, Millie." It wasn't enough - saying sorry would never be enough. She didn't deserve the way Rocco and I spoke to her.

But all I could think about was the fact her actions were going to spur this war into a new phase now that she'd harmed Alina - the one person most precious to Kozlov.

He was already coming for Millie just to get to me. Now he's going to hunt her to the ends of the fucking earth because of what she did to Alina.

She was in more danger than ever all because she didn't come to me when Alina threatened her.

She should have just come to me.

Rocco took a hesitant step forward, his expression softening. "Millie, I...I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said those things. I didn't mean to..."

His sentence trailed off when her sobs continued at full force, as the weight of everything crashed down on her.

I had no clue what was going on in her head but I could only imagine it was chaos - a mix of pain and confusion.

I don't even know if she'd realised yet she almost killed herself. I didn't know how far along she was in processing what just happened.

Knowing it was useless to try and speak to her at that point, I just guided her over to the nearby wall. I slid down against the wall with her, pulling her into my arms while she cried.

She didn't resist, in fact she curled up against me as soon as we were seated. All I could do was stroke her hair, whispering anything I could to try and calm her down.

The twins exchanged worried glances but didn't move. They looked as if they were afraid that any sudden movement might send her over the edge.

"Just breathe, Millie." I whispered, my hand gently rubbing her back. "I'm here. We're all here, baby."

She buried her face in my chest, her tears soaking through my shirt. "I don't know how much more I can take, Costa. Every day, it's something new. I feel like I'm fighting just to survive."

"You're not alone." I reassured her, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm here."

"I've always been used." She continued, her voice muffled against me. "By my family, by yours, by others. And now, because of the alliance, it feels like I'm just a piece on a chessboard."

Rocco knelt down beside us to speak quietly to her. "Millie, I know I've been a dick, but we care about you. We all do. We need you with us."

"No." She shook her head, keeping her face buried in my chest. "You don't want me. None of you ever wanted me in your family. I was a punishment for Costa."

Rocco shot me a pleading look so I nodded, encouraging him to speak.

"We didn't, but we do now." He spoke softly, apparently soft enough to have her lifting her head up to look at him.

"You hate me."

My brother hesitated again, licking his lips nervously as he looked into her tearful eyes. "Maybe I don't hate you as much as you think."

I want to smack him.

"What?" She frowned, sniffling. He wasn't suppose to confuse her more than she already was.

"Last night when Julius said that shit to you at the restaurant, you followed me outside when I went to speak to him. Remember?" His soft voice had her frowning, her tears slowing for the moment. She nodded, so he continued.

"I went to warn him what would happen if he ever spoke to you like that again. He didn't like it, so we got into an...altercation."

"You really threatened him? For me?" She said it like if Rocco threatens someone for you then it's a declaration of love. She was so shocked.

"You're family." He reached out, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "And I'd do anything for my family."

Gio and Aidan nodded fervently in the background in agreement.

"We're a family, Millie." Gio added softly, ending the moment Rocco and Millie just shared. "And families stick together, no matter what."

She didn't say anything to them, but her tears began to calm down which was a good sign. Eventually, she turned away again, resting her head against my chest.

"Give us some space." I gave the three of them a pleading look, holding Millie's head to my chest.

Rocco seemed relieved to be able to step away but the twins didn't want to leave - I could tell. Especially with the look Aidan gave me. It was like he was trying tell if I was going to give her shit again for what she did to Alina.

"Vai e basta. Va bene." (Just go. It's okay) They reluctantly followed Rocco towards the stairs, leaving Millie and I alone in the dark of the open plan area of our penthouse.

We didn't even put the lights when we got home, but the glow from the city outside provided a calmer, secluded atmosphere.

"Perdonami, principessa." (Forgive me, princess) I whispered, stroking my hands through her hair. She wasn't crying anymore, but she was silent. She was completely void.

I don't know how long passed while we sat there. Millie was the one who eventually broke the silence. Her eyes were fixed on the windows across the open plan area and the glimmering city just outside.

"I think Zari wants you." Her voice was so hoarse and thick from all the crying and shouting. "She said there's something thrilling about sleeping with a married man - about stealing moments that aren't meant to be yours."

"And you think she was talking about me?" I frowned, watching her while she watched the city in the distance.

"Yeah. It just seemed that way from all our recent conversations. She's been staring at you way too much and asking too many questions."

She eventually cleared her throat, turning her face to look at me. Her eyes were swollen and her cheeks a little puffy from all the crying, but she still looked as beautiful as ever.

"After what happened with Julius, I needed a distraction. But then she said all this stuff about being attracted to powerful men and she gave me some kind of warning as she left. Then Alina happened and I just...I snapped, Costa. It's too much."

"I know, baby." I pulled her back into me and she wrapped an arm around my waist, resting her head on my chest.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Hey." I released my hold on her, prompting her to look up at me. "You have nothing to be sorry about."

"But I..." she started, her voice breaking.

"Millie, listen to me. I was wrong. I let my anger get the better of me, and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have done that. You didn't deserve it."

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine for the truth. I could see the exhaustion in her gaze, the emotional toll of everything we'd been through.

"What you did...whatever happens next, I promise I'll stand by you. I'm on your side, always." I murmured, brushing a kiss to her forehead.

She continued listening quietly when I addressed the other thing she told me about.

"I only want you." I reminded her again. I'd happily remind her every fucking day if it was what she wanted from me.

"If you ever doubt that, if you ever think someone else might come between us, just look at the ring on your finger." I lifted her hand, gently brushing my thumb over the ring I had given her. "You know this was my mother's ring. I gave it to you because you are the only one for me. You're my everything."

I held her stare, trying to convey every ounce of emotion into my expression.

"You're my best friend, Millie."

She was the one I wanted to come home to every night. She was the one I told things I never told anyone. When I was with her, I felt at ease - like all my other problems melted away. She dropped everything to take care of me when I was hurt, the same way I did when she was sick in Dubai. We were watching our show about the lying bitches and the psycho.

She was pretty much my other half.

So yes, she was my best friend.

Her eyes filled with tears again, but this time, for a different reason —hope, maybe, or relief. She smiled faintly, a small, shaky smile that tugged at my heart.

"You mean that?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"I do." I said, pulling her closer. "More than anything. You're my priority, Millie. I promise you, from now on, I'll put you first."

She buried her face in my chest again, her tears wetting my shirt. There was a sense of release, of letting go of the weight she had been carrying.

For a long while, we sat there in silence, just holding each other. I could feel her breathing steadying, her body relaxing against mine. The room seemed to grow warmer, the tension slowly melting away.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes were red and puffy, but there was a softness to her expression that hadn't been there before.

"Thank you - for everything." She whispered. "But I am sorry for the problems I've caused. At least let me say that."

I nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It's okay. We'll get through this, Millie. Together. I won't let anything happen to you or our families, I promise."

She gave me a tearful smile, tightening her arm around my waist.

"You know...I wish we met in a different way." She voiced her thoughts after a few moments of quiet. "If you weren't so angry or I wasn't so drunk. Maybe we would have liked each other the first time."

"You think?" I mused, trying to imagine a Millie and Costa meeting in another universe. "I think you'd be annoying as fuck either way."

My words had the desired effect of sparking her usual fire when she suddenly lifted her head to glare at me. "No I wouldn't. But you'd probably be moody and rude either way."

"Yeah?" I rose an eyebrow at her, my lips twitching into a smile.

"Yeah." She gave me one last glare before settling down against my shoulder now.

Would we really get along? If we met randomly in a restaurant or at a club? Maybe we would. Maybe we wouldn't.

Perhaps we might have met, but there's no guarantee we would have got married. Maybe the alliance was the only way. Maybe we wouldn't have got married otherwise.

Or, maybe, fate would have made us husband and wife in a million other ways if it wasn't for this.

"Let's start over." I randomly announced causing her to lift her head from my shoulder.

"Start over?" She sniffled from her earlier crying, her red nose scrunched in confusion.

"Hm." I smiled, holding my hand out to her. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Costa."

A soft giggle escaped her lips, her eyes twinkling in the dim light as she studied my hand. Then she took my hand giving it a slow shake.

"I'm Millie."

"So, you're Greek?" I leaned in, pressing light kisses to her jaw as I spoke.

"Yes. But, you know, you're not supposed to do this to someone you just met." She whispered, laughing as she tilted her neck to give me better access.

I pulled away from her just enough to see her beautiful smile. My heart swelled with pride that she somehow had the strength to smile after everything that had just happened.

She was so fucking strong. So damn beautiful. She's my everything.

"I love you." Those three words could never describe how I truly felt, but they were a good start.

"You're not supposed to-" I cut her sentence off by crashing my lips to hers, having had enough of the little charade. Another giggle escaped her lips as she kissed me back, coming in even closer than before.

"I think we should go away for a bit." I broke the kiss, pecking her lips one more time.

"Go away?" She frowned, pulling back from me a little.

"Sì. Anywhere you want. Let's just get away from here - lay low for a while." There's a million reasons why I wanted to take her away, but a big one was the threat of Kozlov coming after her.

There's no doubt he'll retaliate after the way she hurt Alina. Making sure she was safe was my priority.

"But what about your work? And what about my work? I can't just drop it all. What about-"

"Relax, Millie. We'll figure it all out. It's not important. I just want to take you away - give you some time to breathe and just relax while everything here cools down. You need it, principessa."

I was starting to get the feeling that living a high stress lifestyle wasn't good for her. Especially when it blended into Mafia life. She might love it, but it wasn't what was best for her.

Her eyes softened at my words, and she nodded slowly, seeming to consider the idea. "Maybe you're right. I could use a break from all this madness."

I pulled her back into my arms, feeling the tension in her body start to melt away. "Just think about where you want to go, and I'll make it happen."

"Anywhere, as long as it's with you." She whispered. She paused before adding. "But if you're taking suggestions, I've always wanted to go to Mauritius."

I cracked a smile, nodding my head. "Consider it done, baby. We'll go for as long as you need."

"Maybe...maybe we can just decide when we're ready to come back? Like a one way flight."

"Whatever you want." For a few moments, we just sat there, enjoying the peace that had finally settled between us. The city lights outside glowed softly, casting a gentle light into the room. It felt like the world had stopped spinning, just for a little while.

"I never thought I'd hear you say that." She said suddenly, clarifying what she meant when I gave her a questioning look. "That you'd put me first."

I tightened my hold on her, pressing a kiss to her temple. "It took me a while to realise it, but you mean everything to me, Millie. I don't want to lose you."

She looked up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't want to lose you either, Costa."

"Then we won't." I promised, my voice firm with honesty. "We'll fight for each other. No matter what happens. They're going to try again to destroy the alliance, but we don't let them."

"Okay." She nodded, pecking my lips with a soft kiss.

This chapter is a full rollercoaster 🥺 I know we're all angry at Costa, but I hope you can also see it from his perspective! That's what I tried to get across anyway, even if he was a dick 🫠

Thank you for reading! 🩷