The Vows We Made

chapter 1

"May I have this dance?"

I just stared at the man in front of me; the words caught in my throat. Those words shouldn't sound the way they did; they were too calm, and given what happened prior.

My husband stands before me, in his tailored navy suit, one hand already extended towards me. His face was almost expressionless, enough to fool those around us.

"Seriously?" I murmured, glancing around the ballroom. "Right now? In this situation?"

His eyes softened a little. Something he never did, until that night.

"Especially now," he says.

The orchestra played faintly in the background, the song familiar. Guests are still in shock, laughing way too loudly, as their glasses click with shaking hands.

Like most Mafia-hosted galas, they never end peacefully. Especially when the leader of the most powerful Mafia is in attendance.

I take his hand.

There was a faint smear of blood on his cuffs-someone else's, I hope- and the sight of it makes me sick.

He draws me closer, his other hand settled on my waist, familiar. We begin to move slowly, the world disappearing around us.

"We shouldn't be out here," I murmur.

"You should know I like to do what I want," he replies, "Tesoro"

Up close, I could smell the smoke on him. The way his jaw tightened as his eyes kept sweeping the room- every exit, balcony, even the shot-down bar.

"They're watching us," I whisper.

"They are always going to," He answers, "Now more than ever"

Underneath the dangling chandelier, we twirled around in our own world. This-us, together- is the message we want to send back.

"Are you hurt?" he asks.

I shake my head, "No."

"You're shaking, Tesoro"

"I'm allowed," I chuckled softly "there were bullets."

His mouth lifts into a humourless smile, "You should've seen the other guy"

I sighed deeply before pressing my forehead briefly on his chest to catch myself. I couldn't lose my composure. Especially now.

The music swells as he pulls me closer, flush to him. His hand tightened a little on my waist.

There was a time-at the beginning of our marriage-when a moment this intimate was performative. A role we were forced to play.

But somewhere along the way-in between the nights we spent talking instead of arguing, the after midnight apologies, the day when he genuinely asked me if we could start all over again, just him and me.

It became real.

"I thought I had lost you," I admit

His head dips, his hazel green eyes stared deeply into mine, "I'm not going anywhere"

"But...you were bleeding."

"I've had worse days"

"That's not comforting...at all"

He laughs softly, "Yet you stayed."

I look at him. "Of course, I did"

Around us, the room hums with chaos. Our security teams linger in the corner, whispering into their sleeves. The Dons that stayed watched us with curious eyes.

"You handled everything well," I say. "You know...after"

"So did you"

His gaze lingered on me, "You always do"

The song comes to an end, its final notes stretching thin. His hand palms my cheek, his thumb slowly caresses my fear to bay.

"Whatever comes next," he says, his voice soft, reserved for me, "we face it together.''

I nod because I love him.

Because I choose to believe him.

The room soon bellows into applause as the music ends. He releases me slowly, his arms on my waist, reminding me that I'm not alone.

But as always, secrets will come to light. And love will soon be weighed against legacy.

And when that time comes, it won't be gunfire or the bloodshed that decides our fate.-

But the vows we made.