Sabrina, the sweet, bubbly girl next door, never imagined being pulled into a world of danger. But meeting Julian, a captivating mafia member with a dark past, changes everything.
As she falls for him, she's torn between love and the dangerous secr...
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After dropping Val off, I finally made it home and went straight to the shower, letting the warm water wash away the long day.
My mind drifted to tonight, thinking about what I'd wear to the ball. I wanted something perfect—not too formal, but not casual, either.
Something Julian would notice.
I got out, wrapped myself in a towel, and looked through my closet, already feeling frustrated.
Nothing seemed right. Sighing, I leaned against my doorframe and called out, "Mama!"
A minute later, I heard her footsteps coming up the stairs. She peeked her head into my room. "What's wrong?"
"I have no idea what to wear tonight," I admitted, running a hand through my damp hair.
She laughed softly. "Well, what's tonight? Date with a certain someone?" She gave me a knowing smile.
"No, Mom, it's the ball. Aren't you and Papa going?"
"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "Your papa and I decided to stay in tonight. But I'd love to help you pick out something."
Relieved, I followed her to my closet. She started sifting through dresses, pulling out a sleek black one with a subtle shimmer.
"What about this?" she suggested, holding it up against me. "It's elegant, but not too much."
I looked at it, considering. "Maybe... but I want something a little more..." I trailed off, trying to find the right word.
She raised an eyebrow, smiling knowingly. "Something that'll turn heads?"
I laughed, nodding. "Exactly."
She smiled, holding up a vibrant emerald green dress with a fitted waist and a flowy skirt. "How about this? The color would be perfect on you."
I grinned, taking the dress from her. "This might be it. Thanks, Mama."
As she headed back downstairs, I slipped into the dress, excitement building as I imagined how the night would go.
Tonight, I wanted everything to feel like a fresh start.
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After a long day at work, I finally got home, showered, and threw on my suit for the ball. I adjusted my tie in the mirror, mentally preparing for the night.
I'd been looking forward to it since this morning—especially since I'd convinced Sabrina to come with me.
Once I was ready, I headed over to her house and parked outside, sending her a quick text.
- Hey, I'm here.
A minute later, her front door opened, and Sabrina stepped outside. For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
She looked absolutely stunning. Her hair was curled, cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, and that emerald dress hugged her perfectly, making her eyes look even more vibrant.
I'd never seen her look this beautiful.
She smiled as she approached, and I got out of the car to open the door for her. "Wow... you look good, Sab," I said, unable to hide the admiration in my voice.
She blushed slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Julian. You clean up pretty well yourself."
After Sabrina climbed in, I started the car and pulled away from her house, glancing over at her every now and then.
She was looking out the window, a soft smile playing on her lips, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her dress.
I couldn't help but watch the way her hair fell around her shoulders, each curl catching the light.
"So... how long did it take you to get ready?" I teased, breaking the comfortable silence.
She laughed, rolling her eyes. "You don't even want to know. I may have gone through half my closet before my mom finally picked out this dress for me."
"Well, I think she made the right call," I said, giving her a quick grin. "Green suits you."
She smiled, glancing over at me. "Thanks, J. And I'm impressed you even noticed the color."
"Hey, I have an eye for detail," I replied, tapping the steering wheel. "Especially when it comes to you."
I could see her blush as she looked away, which only made me grin. We fell into an easy rhythm, talking about anything that came to mind—the new restaurant that just opened downtown, a funny story about a mutual friend, and even the latest gossip from work.
She was relaxed, laughing more freely than she had in a while, and it made me feel like things were starting to get back to normal.
As we got closer to the venue, I noticed she was starting to fidget a little, twisting her rings and smoothing her dress.
I reached over, giving her hand a light squeeze. "You okay?"
She nodded, letting out a breath. "Yeah, just... a little nervous, I guess. It's been a while since we went to one of these together."
I nodded, keeping my hand on hers for a moment before letting go. "Then we'll make tonight a good one," I said confidently. "No stress, no drama—just you and me having a great time."
Her smile widened, and for a second, I thought I caught a glimmer of something more in her eyes.
The kind of look that reminded me why I'd missed her so much these past few weeks.
Finally, we pulled up to the venue. I parked and hopped out, heading around to her side to open the door.
Sabrina stepped out, looking up at the glowing lights of the ballroom entrance, her excitement mixed with a little bit of awe.
"Ready?" I asked, holding out my arm.
She looped her arm through mine, giving me a small, genuine smile. "Ready."
And with that, we walked up together, feeling like it was going to be a night we wouldn't forget.
