The other way around

Eighteen

Dean P.O.V.

It's been three fucking weeks, three weeks of hell, the training is the worst, I'm good at guns and knives, so good that I already carry my gun. But there is hand-in-hand combat I can't say I'm the best at it, but I can take two people at the same time. That's not bad, right?

I learned the code, and now that I know how to read it the papers in Athena's office make a lot more sense. The Rossi's have been amazing with us, they are very kind. I try my best not to show my sadness in my face, I'm better at hiding my emotions but not as good as her.

Everything comes back to her, she was the one bringing me to this life. Everything I do makes me think of her. Tonight is the ball and she was supposed to link her arm with mine and we would walk together.

I didn't talk more about the possibility of her being alive. If she was, she would've made contact with us right? She would've shown up already. I think. But there's this tiny bit of hope inside of me that I can't let go of.

I tried to clear my head and finished getting ready. I've gotten bigger since I started training almost three hours a day, I feel like I doubled two sizes just in shirts, probably did because I had to ask for clothes, mine were too tight. That's when Lorenzo gave me my first suit, well at home I have half of the closet full of them but never actually tried them. But now I guess they are my thing.

For the ball, I chose black on black, actually, that's what I've been wearing lately, just black. Like my soul. Clichè, right? But that's how I feel. Maybe this will pass soon, I mean how could she leave such a hole in my heart? We only met a few months back, right?

Will it get better with time? As everyone says? I guess I just have to try to keep going to see.

We all met at the front of the house, everyone decided to wear black on black, even Isabella dress was black.

"When we get there, each family will have to leave the guns in a locker. Please no one can forget, guns, knives, everything that can be used as a weapon has to be left in the locker or else we will be punished and that's not a good thing, alright?" Dante asked and we all nodded in agreement.

We got in three cars, Dante and Isabella, Lorenzo and his wife Sofia, and me and Fred, we were waiting for the clock to hit eight pm so we could drive to the ball. Once it did, Dante was the first to drive away. It took us 35 minutes to get there, that shit looked like the Oscars, photographers everywhere, red carpet, and limos.

We got out of the car and as Dante told us, each mafia had their own locker for the guns, me and Fred went forward and locked ours. After a few security checks and two metal detectors, we finally went to a big ballroom filled with the most dangerous people in the world.

"Whiskey, neat." I said once we got to the bar.

"Make it two." Fred said.

"Five." Isabella said, joining us with her husband and son.

To say we were tense would be an understatement, even though our faces were emotionless, we were on high alert. We got our drinks, we practically drank it all in one go, and then it was time to mingle. Honestly, I didn't want to, but Fred had to be introduced as the new Don, that's one of the new words I learn and I would be introduced as his second or capo.

We spend three hours just meeting people, talking with our allies. We had three potential new ones, but we would have to schedule a meeting and go through a contract, so both mafias could benefit from the alliance. Yes, this shit can be complicated as fuck.

Someone went to the stage and asked for our attention.

"Good night ladies and gentlemen, welcome and use this time wisely to make new friends and avoid enemies. Let's all have in mind Athena Jones, leader of the American Mafia, who lost her life protecting her own people. It's a tragedy. Anyway, you all know how this life works. Make friends, make enemies, don't forget you are all untouchable until 8 am. Have a good night!" The man said and got out of the stage. The way he talked about Athena made my blood boil. He just talked that because he had to, it wasn't meant.

We were all together again near the bar when two guys approached us.

"Ah look at this, my favorite people altogether, the American and the Italian." The man said with a sinister smile on his face.

"Darragh, Oran." Dante said, through gritted teeth. Just hearing their names I knew who they were.

The Irish.

"Such a shame what happened to Athena." The second guy, Oran said.

"Sea[yes in irish] really a shame I wanted to be the one to kill her." He said, my grip on the glass tightened.

"What do you want Darragh? Why now?" Lorenzo asked.

"We waited for too long. It's our time now. Watch your back friends, we'll be seeing each other soon." He said, turned his back, and walked away.

"That was interesting." I said and took a sip of my glass.

Everyone heads turned to the door when it opened with a big bang. Suddenly the room fell quiet and everyone's eyes were on the person standing near them as the place was theirs.