The Mafiaso And The AD 1024

Distracted

Donte's PoV

The designers had outdone themselves. As I watched Amara descend the stairs, I had to remind myself to keep my composure.

The black silk dress hugged her figure perfectly, the gold snake heels adding a touch of danger that matched her mysterious aura.

For a moment, I was distracted, forgetting the entire purpose of the evening. I was captivated, and it seemed Marcel noticed.

As Amara reached the bottom of the stairs, I extended my arm to her. "Shall we?" I asked, hoping to mask any hint of the effect she had on me.

She placed her hand on my arm, her touch light but grounding. "Um, you look gorgeous, by the way," I added quietly enough that only she could hear.

She smiled softly, the kind of smile that hinted at secrets and power, and it took everything in me to keep focused. "Thank you," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

We walked outside where the rest of the mafia members were gathered, all in their sharp suits, prepared for the evening ahead.

I led Amara to the passenger side of my car, ensuring her dress didn't catch as she settled into the seat.

"Thank you," she said again, and I gave a slight nod before closing the door.

Just as I was about to walk around to the driver's side, Marcel appeared, his usual grin plastered on his face.

"She cleans up nice, huh?" Marcel's tone was playful, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his eyes.

"But I've got to say, boss, you seemed a bit... distracted. That dress, right? Must've been something to knock even you off balance."

I narrowed my eyes at him, though his comment had hit closer to the truth than I would admit. "Focus, Marcel.

Tonight's important," I said, keeping my voice low, though I couldn't help the brief smirk that crossed my face.

"Hey, just saying," he chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You've got a lot riding on tonight. But don't forget to enjoy it a little.

It's not every day you get to see someone like her... all dolled up."

I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside, but Marcel's comment lingered.

He was right about one thing: Amara had a presence that was hard to ignore, and tonight, she would be the focus of many eyes.

That alone could work to our advantage or be a potential complication.

After a brief pause, Marcel nodded and stepped back, letting me get to the driver's side.

I climbed into the car, and as I started the engine, I caught a glimpse of Amara out of the corner of my eye. She was looking out the window, her expression unreadable.

The ride was silent, but not in an uncomfortable way. It was the quiet before the storm, both of us mentally preparing for the evening ahead.

As we pulled away from the mansion and into the night, Marcel's words echoed in my mind. I couldn't afford to be distracted, not now.

But Amara's presence was undeniable, and the effect she had-on me, on the others-was something I couldn't ignore.

Tonight would be a test for both of us. And I needed to be sure that no matter what happened, I would keep my focus where it needed to be: on the future of this operation, and on how Amara fit into that future.