Liliana's PoV

"Why are you hosting the ball tonight?," I asked slightly panicked as I paced back and forth in front of Sebastian who was leaned back, relaxing in my bed.

He just announced that the ball is tonight for no fucking reason. He didn't even give me a heads up and I haven't even had time to unpack since we only came back two days ago.

He shrugged his shoulders and sat up. "It'll be fine," he assured me. "Just find a dress and show up at my house."

"That's not that easy to do," I told him. "The last mafia ball I went to, I was shot and your mom wanted to kill me."

He let out a sigh and stood up, pulling me closer to him. "I know. But I promise nothing will happen to you. You will be fine. You just need to show up."

"Oh you planned it, didn't you?," I asked. "You knew you were gonna do it tonight and you decided to tell me hours before."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I forgot to tell you about it and honestly, I got someone else to plan it."

I let out a sigh as I bit my lip. "Guess I'm gonna have to get ready then."

~

I was finally ready. Jordan was acting like some proud parent. "You look stunning," he announced as he pretended to wipe a tear from his face. I narrowed my eyes at him.

I looked down at the floor length gown. "It's not too much, is it?," I asked him and Valentina. She rolled her eyes at me.

"You've been to thousands of these before. You'll be fine and you look amazing," she said.

I let out a sigh and took one last look at myself in the mirror. A black shimmery but see-through gown covered me. The v-neck covered what needed to be covered but left a lot of skin exposed. My left leg was completely exposed from the high slit.

Valentina stood next to me reapplying her lipstick with a similar dress as mine on her.

"Lets' go," I breathed out before I grabbed my phone and put my heels on.

We all piled into the back of the car before we headed over to Sebastian's home. My leg bounced up and down as my nerves began eating away at me.

"Stop it!," Vin snapped at me. My movements instantly stopped. "Thank you!"

I didn't say a word as I stared out of the window.

Around 30 minutes later, we arrived. Security had let us in and the car stopped at the top of the drive in front of the stairs leading to the huge double doors.

We all got out of the car, being careful to not stand on each other's dresses and feet as we slowly walked up the stairs. The door was pulled open and we were ushered inside.

We were shown to the ballroom where the ball was taking place. Chatter was all I could hear. There must be hundreds of people here.

Valentina squeezed my arm just before we walked in and all eyes were on us before they resumed back to their conversations.

"Liliana!," my parents said confused as they saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"They found out and I couldn't just leave again," I told them. "I'm staying for good this time."

My mother smiled and hugged me making my dad do the same. "How's Ava?," I asked, wondering about my sister.

"She's good," my mom answered. "She's gone backpacking around the world." A smile grew on my face.

"At least you didn't force her into a marriage," I chuckled dryly before walking off. My parents are partly to blame for everything that's happened to me. If they never got me married to him, this wouldn't have happened.

But we wouldn't have met each other.

Suddenly, Sebastian's voice boomed out loudly through the whole room, making everyone fall silent. "Good evening!," he spoke confidently. My eyes landed on him. His hair was as neat as always. He was in a suit like normal. A glass of champagne rested in his hand as Isabella stood beside him looking small and fragile.

She does not look good.

"I hope everyone is having a good time!," he claimed. A few murmurs could be heard from the crowd. Abruptly, Dom appeared next to me.

Suddenly, I was taken back into time.

~Flashback~

"Do it," I told him. "You have to do it. I won't blame you."

"I can't," he breathed out shakily. "I fucking can't." I closed my eyes and nodded my head as a tear slipped out.

"You have to," I told him as I slid my hand over his hand that was holding the gun. "You have to."

~End Of Flashback~

"What's he doing?," Dom mumbled, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I've been in this house before since I returned but not this room. Being in this room brings back some memories that I've tried to bury.

"He's up to something," Vin said as he appeared beside me from out of nowhere.

"What?" I said trying to steady my breathing which was becoming ragged by the second.

"Are you okay?," Vin asked, suddenly concerned. I didn't answer him as my hand rested on my chest and I pushed through the crowd of people.

Finally, I was in the empty foyer. My vision became blurry as the only thing I could hear was my thumping heart, beating loudly in my ears.

~Flashback~

I nodded my head at him as he shakily held the gun at me. I glanced at his mother from the corner of my eye.

She wants me dead.

Suddenly, without a warning, he turned the gun on her. Her expression remained amused as she watched him. Words that I couldn't seem to hear left her moving mouth. My heart was beating wildly in my chest making it hard for me to concentrate on anything else.

Looking defeated, he aimed it at me. Slowly, he took the safety off. I gave him a small watery smile.

I won't blame him. I don't blame him.

He's doing what he has to.

He mouthed 'I love you' and before I could respond my body hit the floor as everything around me spun. I turned my head slightly to the side only to see my blood staining the polished floors.

It's too much blood. I've lost too much blood.

~End Of Flashback~

"Are you okay?," Jordan asked worriedly as he crouched down in front of me, clicking his fingers. Suddenly, that memory stopped playing out in front of me as I tried to focus on Jordan.

"No," I croaked out, finally confiding in someone. "I'm not."

He didn't say a word as he pulled me into his chest. My arms wrapped around him as I felt a form of comfort.

Suddenly, I could hear Doms voice. "What's happened to her?," he asked Jordan. Before Jordan could answer, I moved from him and looked at Dom. "Are you okay?," he asked me. I nodded my head as I plastered a small smile on my face, clearing my throat and pushing any thoughts of that day out of my head.

"I am now."