My Consigliere, I Will Not Stand Behind You Anymore
It took me ten years to become the right hand to Damian Costello, the Consigliere of the Costello crime family.
From a nobody to the woman wearing his engagement ring.
But two weeks before the wedding, I decided to throw that ring away.
Everyone in the family knew how hard I had fought all these years just to stand by Damian's side.
I gave up the chance to become a top trader on Wall Street, willingly becoming Damian's assistant, his shadow.
This man was infamous for his coldness and exacting nature, keeping everyone at arm's length.
So I hid my sharp edges, spending a decade wearing down his icy exterior with gentleness.
I cleansed the blood from every dollar he made. I became a necessity to him, as essential as the air he breathed.
I thought that after ten years, I had finally made my presence indispensable.
And finally earned what looked, to outsiders, like a glimmer of his affection.
The family's notoriously aloof genius actually remembered my birthday. He even made an exception, letting me spend the night in his private study when I was unwell.
He didn't even push me away when, emboldened by wine, I pressed a kiss to the side of his neck.
If the Don's daughter, Isabella, hadn't returned from Italy, I might have kept playing my part, clinging to that false dream forever.
But sadly, there are no ‘ifs’. I am going to give up everything here and leave you.