SHE'S MADE.

DAMON'S POV:

I watched as one of the mafias walked up to the podium. I knew what the talk was going to be about. I noticed some mafias that I knew absolutely nothing about coming towards me to greet me of course.

"Ah. If it isn't The Damon Antonio. Everyone has been talking about you lately." Jacob mentioned. "For a moment I thought you weren't going to kill her. You would have lost your title of the most dangerous mafia." He said, sipping his champagne. His words angered me.

"It's not advisable to speak about my dead wife like that in front of me Jacob. So you better know the boundary to not overstep." I calmly stated. And of course, there was no one here that didn't fear me. I didn't give a fuck how I came across to anyone. I could kill them in a heartbeat without any regret.

He cleared his throat. "No I just mean well, women aren't that special when it comes to the mafia so I thought..."

"I'm not surprised that's coming from a man who cheated on his wife eleven times with different mistresses and still abuses her on top of it all. You're in no place to tell me how women are when it comes to the mafia Jacob. You're only stating your point of view. So watch your mouth around me." I raised a warning brow and that stopped him from saying anything further. I noticed Kassidy was staring at me like I was some kind of superhero. I only sighed and let go of her arm. I looked down at her and she looked at me with disbelief. I've received so many looks like that it didn't affect me anymore.

"Why do you always push me away."

"I explained from the start that we were nothing more than a fling. You seem to be forgetting that." Her eyes shone with tears at my statement. "You do two things Kassidy if you want to protect your emotions, and that's to never fall in love with me, and number two just leave and never return. You'll be happier that way."

"But I want you, Damon. Don't you understand? I can't get you out of my head. Please Damon just give us a try."

"There's no fucking us Kassidy, snap out of your fantasy. When the club is over, we'll be sending you to your house. Don't come back. Ever." I said and the tears dropped from her eyes. But I felt no remorse. I said want it was that I wanted. That was me stating my boundary and she had to respect that. If not it was better for her to leave. "Excuse me." I walked past her. I didn't want to be with anyone right now

. I looked at Leo and Jessie who stole kisses every time they had the chance to. He looked down at her protruding belly and I could see the fatherly love in his eyes and how proud he was of his girlfriend. If anyone had told me they would become this deeply in love with each other three years ago, I would have laughed at the joke. But now I was here, witnessing how their bond grew stronger day by day. He would kill to protect her. Leo became much more dangerous when he figured out he was going to become a father. His hesitance towards so many things ceased that day. I'd kill anyone who acted suspiciously around his girlfriend without a second thought, just like the day he tortured and killed the cook for poisoning her food. I guess that was a fatherly instinct. Sometimes I wondered if Elena ever thought of having a child with me. It bruised me that it would never be like that between the both of us, all because of my cowardice, my thirst for power and influence caused me to do something as ordeal as that to her. She would never forgive me.

"Mafias, I have to thank you all for being here today. We all know the reason we are here. We know what it is that we bring first before anything else even family and that is the mafia crew. Mr Antonio has proven that to all of us. It means he takes the mafia seriously, he brings it over love and every other thing that could make him weak and that's the reason he's known as the most dangerous mafia of all time." The announcer stated while the guests clapped as the spotlight landed on me.

I made no move, I just stayed where I was. I didn't even smile. I was disgusted with everything and everyone, including myself. I kept wondering if this was how I wanted to continue living my life. In a way I couldn't love anyone just because I wanted to follow the protocols of the mafia world. I didn't feel fulfilled in any way. I wanted something more, like a family, like Elena. Having someone to love and to love you could be so fulfilling. Quitting the mafia was quite risky, so I wouldn't but at this moment, I think I needed to be alone. The spotlight was turned off the moment the operator probably realized I wouldn't budge. I was numb to everything, even the claps. They spoke of nothing fulfilling at all. When the spotlight was off, I wasn't even ready for any form of congratulatory greetings, so I turned to leave. But then I caught a glimpse of someone familiar.

Of course, I knew my brother would be there, but then there was a woman beside him in a body-hugging black gown. I thought I wasn't seeing correctly because her figure was so fucking familiar. I blinked trying to know if I wasn't mistaken. I'd touched that body, I'd seen it, I'd fucked it. There was no way I wouldn't recognize it. Elena. Elena was fucking here, life. I couldn't believe it. I thought she was dead but she was with him...Derek all along. Nobody recognized her at the ball. They were like the anonymous couple in the ball. They remained quiet in one corner as they observed everything that was going on. So all this while that I had believed Elena was dead, she was actually with Derek all these while? I should have known. The woman I'd fallen in love with, stood, scanning the hall till her eyes met mine. Our gaze locked for what seemed like an eternity. In her masquerade mask, I could tell that I wasn't mistaken. But I didn't know whether to be glad or worried.