71

NOAH :

"You, come here immediately!" I hiss angrily, draw my gun and aim at him. I'm getting fed up with everyone here.

"Boss, I'm really sorry. I did not know.."

"I DON'T CARE! IF I TELL YOU I WILL BE THERE IN A FEW MINUTES, I WILL DO IT. DON'T FUCK INTERFERE WITH ME FUCKING, UNDERSTAND?" I yell angrily across the hall, lowering my gun again.

Sometimes I could put a bullet in everyone's head here.

"It was my fault. I didn't know you had visitors. Please don't blame him." Shadow intervenes and takes a step towards me.

I sigh and throw the gun down on the table, then reach for my fags. "Who wants to see me?" I ask, sitting down at the table. I don't have the damn time.

"So... The Rodriguez family is here. To be precise, Fernando is here. He said he'd like to talk to you alone before the ball. He's waiting in front of the door. I told him you weren't done with your assignment."

Fernando ?

"Send him in." I pass on to the guard at the front door and light my cigarette. What does he want here? He'll see me at the ball anyway. Can't he wait until then?

I am anxiously waiting for my old mentor and look at the door that opens.

"Faster..." I say annoyed. Why do they always open so slowly? I'm not a damn king that it has to be so dramatic. Well, I'm kind of their king set up alone I'm a fucking king

When Fernando enters the hall, I immediately point my finger at him. "You're a bloody idiot Rodriguez." I shout with a smile. He comes towards me with a smile and stops a few meters in front of me.

"Why?" he asks amused and looks at me.

“You, my old friend, disturbed me while I was fucking. Normally I would have to bury you alive now, but I'll make an exception for you." I joke around and point to the chair at the other end of the table. "Have a seat." I ask him and follow him with my eyes.

"You've gotten old." The last time I saw him he didn't have a single gray hair, but now there are a few.

"And you a grown man who looks more confident than ever," he replies, leaning back.

"Do you want something to drink?" I ask him and see him nod slightly. Grinning, I snap once and call out "Two whiskeys." through the hall. Some housekeeper will bring us something.

"Why?" he asks straight out and looks at me seriously. What does he mean?

I furrow my brows in confusion and stare at him. What does he want ?

"Why are you inviting us over after years? That doesn't make any sense." He replies to my confused expression.

"There you are, boss." A housekeeper murmurs, putting my glass next to me while a second one hands Fernando his.

"Oh, you know... A lot has happened, old friend." I start to talk.

"I fell in love. Realized I never loved your wife. I raved, nothing more, but my little one.... She's an angel." I breathe, grinning, and drag on my cigarette.

Yes that is her. She is an angel.

"That explains a lot. You're over Catarina and you can look her in the eyes again. It's good. Because she missed you a lot. She talks about you every day... She prays often."

She prays ?

"She's praying that you'll finally find someone and not lose yourself and apparently her prayers have worked. You've found someone who makes you happy." he says with a smile and raises his glass.

"To you and your little one, my friend." He calls over to me. I smile and raise my glass as well. "To our friendship, Rodriguez." I return and drink.

He will be a good business partner. I've wanted to contact him for a long time, but couldn't. I couldn't see her and now... now I can see her. I have nothing left for Catarina. Everything is purely friendly and that's a good thing.

"Babe, where did you get my perfume..." Mirella stops talking mid-sentence and looks apologetically at the group.

"It's okay baby, come here." I soothe her and stretch out my hand to her. She looks around uncertainly, then starts to move and comes to me.

"I didn't mean to disturb."

She doesn't even do that. "You're not disturbing." I reply, pulling her onto my lap and looking at Fernando. "Fernando, this is my girl, Mirella. Mirella.... this is Fernando Rodriguez. My mentor at the time." I introduce both to each other.

He gives her a slight nod and then looks at me. "You have taste."

I know.

“Now you know why I invited Catarina and you. Are you coming to the ball?" I ask hopefully, placing a hand on Mirella's thigh. I love seeing her in my clothes. I've only had time to change into a pair of boxers and pants, but I like it this way. She's wearing nothing else than my shirt and I'm wearing nothing but pants.It fits.Theoretically I could take them right here but that would be rude.

"We'll be there."

Very good.

MIRELLA :

"How am I supposed to go to a ball if I don't even have a dress. Noah said he would take care of it, now ? Now he's stuck in some meeting and I can see how I can cope. I want him to get his ass over here right now and get me a frigging dress..."

"Stop complaining. I've had your dress for weeks. I just didn't want to show you because it was supposed to be a surprise," he interrupts. Bewildered, I look in the mirror and see him with a male member holding something in his hand. Something that could have my dress in it and me want it!

I slightly turn my face away from the housekeeper who is doing my makeup. She stops immediately and lets me get up.

"Why the hell do you have to work even on days like this? What have you had to do now?" I ask him snippy and get up.

"Listen. In this hall there will be more than fifty different mafias. I need the right weapons and so do my people. I had to dress everyone, including me," he replies, showing me the inside of his jacket where there are more than enough guns.

"That's enough to kill all of Florida, Noah."

"Which I would do for you if I had to."

Oh really ? Would he do that for me ?

"I want my dress." I distract and look to his right.

He starts laughing softly, then turns to his member and unzips the garment bag.

“I chose a red. The cut will suit your figure, but I don't know if you'll like it." he says, taking out the dress.

I look at him with a smile, but when he pulls the dress out of the garment bag, my breath catches.

Wow...

"Your dress Miss, Siciliano."

My dress... Smiling, I stroke the fabric and then look up at him.

"Do you like it?" he asks smiling and takes a step towards me.

Do I like it? Is this question serious? It must have cost a fortune. This is the first dress that I received as a gift. The first dress... that isn't stolen.

"Yes..." I breathe, smiling, taking it. I like it. I love it.

"And I have the right jewelry and shoes, too."

NOAH :

"For real ? Can I put it on now?" she asks excitedly and jumps happily through the room.

Considering it's just a dress, she's pretty happy. I'm glad to see her like this.

“Of course you can. It's yours. You can wear it whenever you want."

And she will look beautiful in it. She will be... the most beautiful woman in the ballroom.

"I'll help you Miss." says one of my housekeepers, pulling Mirella with her.

I hope she likes it and is happy with it. I've been thinking about this dress for a really long time and I think it suits her perfectly. I actually wanted a black dress, but then I changed my mind. Women should wear beautiful colors and not black. It's a prom, not a funeral.A few minutes later I notice how the door opens and the housekeeper Mirella holds the bag open.

Smiling, she steps out of the other room and bites her lower lip.

she looks perfect It's a thousand times more beautiful than I imagined. she looks beautiful

"Wow..." I whisper softly and walk towards her.

"It's beautiful, Noah. Thanks !"

Yes that's it."Leave us alone." I say once and look at the housekeeper and then at my gang member.

"Naturally."

Seconds later, the two have left the room and leave us alone.

"You look pretty." Smiling, I hold out my hand to her, which she immediately accepts. I pull her towards me and hug her.

I want her to go to this ball tonight as my fiancee.

"So...you find the shoes in the room where you changed..."

"You mean those shoes?" she asks, pulling up the dress.

So she found them.

"You women also find everything that has to do with expensive clothes and shoes, don't you?" I ask with a smile and stroke a few strands of hair behind her ear.

She is so beautiful and by that I don't mean that she is only beautiful in this dress. She is so beautiful. I could look at and admire them all day. She's just perfect for me.

"Do you also have expensive jewelry for this woman?" she jokes and straightens my tie.

I have ! But maybe she doesn't really like this jewelry.

Clearing my throat, I take a step back and take the small box out of my jacket.

"I want... that you go to this ball today as my fiancé. That's why..." I say uncertainly and open it.

"... I bought you the ring to show that you belong to me." I finish my sentence and look into her face while she looks down at the small piece of jewellery.

She still hasn't answered me. It's probably too early for her, but it's worth a try. That way I can be sure she really doesn't want it, which I understand. We've only known each other for a few months, but we have to be realistic in this world.

My world just wasn't made for love. Despite this, many of us take risks and marry the woman or man we love anyway. Sometimes it goes haywire... that's the way it is. We all have to live with that... even though I know that I will protect Mirella with my life.

I look at her expectantly and hear a soft "Yes!"

Did she say yes?

"Yeah, what?" I say just as quietly. Will she marry me?

she nods.

"Yes, I'll marry you and yes, I'm going to this ball today as your fiancé." She replies and looks up at me again.

"It was expensive."

He was...

"Nothing I couldn't pay for." I say laughing and take it out of the box.

She carefully extends her hand and watches me put the ring on her left ring finger.

We are engaged.

"I'm yours now." She murmurs shyly and hugs me.

And I'm hers.