Everyone hit the dance-floor when the dance song started. Lena scoured the garden for Darian but didn't see him.
She requested a glass of alcohol from one of the waiters serving, she downed it and went to the dancefloor to dance alone since her husband wasn't showing up.
"Look who is dancing alone," Amy appeared close to her. She scoffed and sipped from the glass of wine in her hand. "Did your husband leave you alone? I guess he couldn't handle your clumsiness." She rolled her eyes at Lena and kissed her teeth.
Lena tried her best to ignore her. She gawked at Amy and a smile tugged at her lips. "You look so beautiful tonight." She said, pulling out her hands to shake her.
Amy stared disgustingly at her. "I don't do that. I don't exchange handshakes with people like you."
Lena wasn't sure what she meant by those words but they stung badly in her chest.
Amy walked out of her and made her way to the front of the dancefloor. She linked her arms with one of the men from the Dawson family and rolled her eyes at Lena who was glaring daggers at her.
Lena danced alone, her eyes darting to every part of the garden from time to time. She wished Darian would appear and come take her hands in his, but he didn't.
She felt hurt that he left her alone there. She knew whatever he was working on could wait. He could stay with her.
Every married couple stayed with their partners, dancing and moving to the music that played from the speaker in slow motion. Darian could do that too but he chose to leave her alone.
She was still reeling in the thoughts of Darian when a very tall man appeared in front of her.
His figure towered over her, he smelled like mint and cedarwood. She lifted her head to a very devilishly pretty face. He was clad in the same black suit that looked expensive. He smiled at her causing her heart to melt. His smile would make any girl's heart melt—it was warm and harmless.
"Hey beautiful," his deep baritone voice boomed, his lips stretching into a thin smile again.
Lena took in his features. He had a clean-shaven beard, and his hair was combed to the side with tendrils falling at a corner of his eyes. He gripped the glass of wine in between his long lean fingers and stared at Lena with those blue eyes that shone beautifully.
"I am Asher and you?" He extended his hand, and Lena took it and bumped it up and down. "I am from the Antonio family Mafia. I've been here every year for the party but this is the first time I'm seeing you around." He sipped from the glass of wine in his hand and smiled. "What's your name and what family do you belong to?" He asked.
"The Dawson family," she responded smartly. "I am Darian's wife. Darian, the boss of the Dawson family." She explained for him to have an idea of who she was.
"I see," he muttered. "So, why did he leave you to dance alone? That asshole." He muttered quietly but Lena heard him right. "Where is he?"
"He disappeared after giving the speech," she smiled.
She imagined dancing with this man in front of her, but she couldn't. She knew well that nothing would have held her back from asking for a dance from him if she wasn't married. He was the type of man she wanted. Darian had it all too but he was too cold for her, she liked a man who smiled so well like Asher.
"Do you want to dance?" As if on cue, he asked her to the dancefloor.
"I don't know how to do these dances," she waved her hands in declination. "And besides, Darian might not like to see me in the arms of some other man."
"Come on, it's a party for crying out loud. You can dance with anyone." Asher tried to urge her to dance with him.
She thought about his words carefully. There was no harm in trying. She peered over her shoulders to have a glance at Amy. She was still in the man's arms, moving to every beat with a small smile on her face.
Lena sighed. Shrugging her shoulders, he stared at Asher. "Let's dance then."
Asher smiled his signature smile again and Lena blushed. She took his hands and they were about to take a step to the dancefloor when Darian appeared in front of them.
"Stay away from my woman, Asher." He growled, staring ferociously into Asher's eyes.
Asher scoffed, "Your woman but you left her here alone all night. Do you even have a heart?"
Lena pulled away from Asher's grip, she moved back and stayed close to Darian.
"That isn't your business, Asher. Stay the hell out of my business." Darian warned through gritted teeth.
"He was just trying to dance with me, Darian. There isn't anything serious going on." Lena stepped between them. "You disappeared after giving the speech, I searched for you but didn't find you and I met him, and he asked me to dance with him. That's all, it's harmless, you don't have to fuss about it." She said, trying to calm him.
"Next time, don't leave your woman out here all by herself. I wonder how she copes with your cold ass." Asher sneered.
Darian fisted, and clenched his jaw. The only thing Asher had ever done whenever they saw each other was to annoy him.
He loathed having him around, but he was the son of the Antonio family's boss, the next to be Don. He was fearless, powerful, and dangerous. He didn't have a good history with women and Darian feared he had done something terrific to Lena.
"Did he hurt you?" Darian touched her shoulders, checking every part of her body.
"He was just being nice, Darian." Lena rolled her eyes at him.
"Stay away from me and my woman." Darian moved closer and gazed into Asher's eyes. He rolled his fist ready to punch his face if he said anything to get on his nerves. "Don't come near her anymore," he wagged his fingers at him.
"What will happen if I do? She's beautiful and maybe I can't take my eyes off her. So, tell me, what will happen if I come close to her again?" Asher folded his arms around his chest, patiently waiting for a response from Darian.
Darian opened his mouth to talk but he was cut short by the loud sound of gunshots.
Both men stayed alert, pulling out their guns and trailing the corner where the sound came from. Darian pushed Lena to his chest and covered her when they heard another gunshot.
The gunshots became sporadic. Darian shielded Lena with his body, and everyone went down, lying on their tummy.
Lena watched as fear gripped them. She held tighter onto Darian, never letting go. Asher walked away from them with his back.
"Stay still, stay here. I will protect you,” Darian said to her.
She nodded, believing his words. The gunshots got louder and Lena flinched in fear but she trusted Darian's words that he would protect her.