We were outside the venue of the ball; both of us standing just outside my car. I turned to look at her. Azalea looks so beautiful. The dress that I picked out fit her perfectly.

It showed all of her curves and the long slit made her look even more attractive. Her long wavy hair cascades over her shoulders and down to her waist.

I could tell that she put a little makeup, but not much. I knew so, because I could still see the tiny freckles on her nose. Her ocean blue eyes met mine.

"Stop staring, butthead." Azalea's voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"I wasn't starting at you. I was looking there." I said pointing at a car behind us.

"The thing is, I never said anything about you staring at me. You said it yourself." She said with a smirk.

Well, this is embarrassing....

"Are you ready to start our mission ?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Yes, I am. Let's go !" Azalea said, excitedly said.

We walked in together, with her arm around mine. Everyone looked in our direction. I could hear whispering all around me.

"Is that his girlfriend ?"

"Are they dating ?"

"I've never seen Dante come with a girl."

Man, these people can't even whisper properly. It's like they want me to hear them.

Looking at Azalea's 'Are you crazy ?' face at them, I realized that she had heard the whispers too.

We walked into the crowd of people. After looking around for a while, Azalea's face lit up. I followed my gaze to where she was staring.

The table filled with food....

"Come, we'll go there." I said, pointing to the table. She didn't say anything but only nodded a yes, vigorously.

Walking to the table, I said to her in a soft voice, "Just ignore them. You're the first girl that I have brought to this ball."

"Mmmhmm......" She hummed, stuffing a tiny cupcake in her mouth.

I chuckled. She looks so adorable. I think I'm melting....

After she finished having it, she turned to me. Aaannd, she has frosting on her nose.....how ?

Reaching my hand out to her nose, I wiped the frosting with my thumb. Almost instantly, she blushed.

"Oops..." Azalea mumbled.

"Well, I have to go and meet Julian." I said, referring to the Don of the Mexican mafia. Since it was him who hosted the ball, I had to at least speak to him.

"Alright. Where's Alex, Noah and Dom ?" She asked, worriedly.

"They left a few minutes we did, so they should be here somewhere." I explained. Just as I had finished my sentence, Alex jumped in front of me.

"Booooo....." Alex shouted in my face, tried scaring me.

"Oh...I'm so scared." I said, clearly acting.

Azalea didn't seem to be fazed by Alex's 'scare'. She only smiled at him, Noah and Dom. In the last few weeks, she has grown closer to all of them. By all of them, I mean the entire mafia too. She speaks to them like she has known them for years.

"Yaay ! Ya'll are here." Azalea shouted, throwing her arms in the air.

"I'm going to speak to Julian. Take care of her." I told them before leaving. All three of them nodded their heads in response.

"Have you guys tried the cupcakes ? They're sooooo good...." Was the last thing I heard Azalea say before I walked further away from them towards Julian's room.

Since the dance takes place in this very ball room every year, Julian bought this hotel. He even has his own office in here !

I walked towards his office and in no time, I was just outside the door. Knocking on it, I waited for his response.

"Come in." Julian's voice commanded.

When I opened the door, I was met with the sight of him at his desk; his legs in the table and a cigar in his mouth. When he saw me from across the room, Julian smiled.

"Nice to see you here, Mijo ." Julian greeted me, using the nickname he gave me ever since was young. When my parents died, I had only Alex's and Julian's family by my side.

Julian is like a father-figure to me and his son, Alejandro like a brother to me.

"Nice to see you too." I said, going closer to him for a hug. Julian hugged me back and then I sat down on the chair across him.

"How have you been ?" He asked, fixing his almost gray pompadour hair. Even though he was in his early 50's, Julian was still fit and lean.

"I'm good." I replied.

Julian and I spoke for a while and then I thought of Azalea.....and the mission. I discreetly checked my phone and saw a message from Noah.

Saying goodbye to Julian, I left the room and walked back to the ballroom.

I scanned the entire room with my eyes in search of Azalea. When I did, I saw that she was safe and sighed in relief.

Don't get me wrong, I trust Alex, Noah and Dom with Azalea's safety. I do. I just that seeing her with my own eyes makes me happier.

I walked closer to her and realized that she was dancing with....Dom ? He was one of the serious people that worked for me; unlike Alex and Noah.

Although this was a ball, which meant a slow dance, they were dancing like lunatics. As in, disco dancing. Oh Azalea, what have you done to Dom ?

I walked towards them. Since I stood behind Azalea, she couldn't see me; although Dom saw me. Not wanting to sound rude or jealous, I said, "I'm back."

She turned towards me and smiled. "Finally ! I thought you died in there."

Dom looked at us and spoke up, "I have to go. See you later, Azalea." He waved. "Boss." He nodded and walked away.

"May I have the pleasure of having this dance with you, Ms. Martinez ?" I asked her, holding my hand out for hers.

"Yes, you may." Azalea giggled, putting her hand in mine. I placed my arms around Azalea's waist and she did the same to the back of my neck.

When she did so, I felt a tingly sensation there. I could tell that my touch did the same to her because she shivered a little.

We slowly swung our bodies to the slow melody of the song. Our eyes bore into each other. Her blue ones into my olive green ones. I feel like having her in my arms forever.

I promised myself that I wouldn't fall in love again after what happened in my last relationship but I don't think Azalea is going to let me keep that promise.

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