Strolling down the streets with Darian and the bodyguards, Lena felt safe between them. The long cemented poles illuminated the night thruway, giving everywhere a radiant view.
Lena smiled, it'd been months since she walked the streets on a night like this, and it felt so cool, and maybe cooler because she was with her man.
The night breeze slapped through her skin, leaving goosebumps on the veneer of her sleek skin. She shivered a little, and Darian noticed. He pulled out his jacket, wrapping it around her shoulders.
"Wearing this was a bad idea," Lena muttered, draping the jacket over her shoulders. Her eyes quickly scanned Darian's muscled arms, she smiled and fixed her eyes back on the road. "Where exactly are we going?" She asked, for the umpteenth time that night.
"Somewhere to get you out of the house. We are almost there." He said.
Lena nodded absentmindedly. Sometimes, she still imagined how much Darian had changed for her.
Though he was still the tough mafia boss everyone knew him to be. But with her, he was the opposite. He was the coolest, the best human being in the whole world.
"Do you know that Lisa is a writer?" The loud screeching of a vehicle overshadowed her voice. Darian strained his ears, urging her to say those words again. "Do you know that Lisa is a writer?" She repeated.
"Oh, that?" He shook his head, "Now, I know."
"And she's writing a book about us. I told her not to, but she said you gave her inspiration. Your physique, your title as a boss and your demeanour the first time she ever saw you at our wedding." Lena chuckled.
"I didn't notice her that day," Darian said with a bored expression. He halted his steps when they arrived in front of a local tavern. "We are here," he declared.
"Here?" Lena stared at him, her eyes twinkling. There was a tall billboard outside, indicating the name of the tavern. "Moonlight days," she read aloud.
She could make out the sound of boisterous laughter echoing in the tavern as they stood outside on the tiled floor.
"Come with me," he grabbed her hand firmly and they filed into the tavern together with Dickson and Harrison.
Dickson and Harrison found a spot in the tavern. Darian ordered them to be alert and make sure their attention was focused on Lena and him even though they were going to drink.
He warned them not to get inebriated, they were not allowed to, and they had to stay active to watch over the boss and his wife.
"Where is this?" Lena asked once they were settled on the low-back chair.
Her eyes glinted as she surveyed the room—it was large, so large it contained about fifty people from the quick census Lena did with her eyes.
Most of the men present were older men in their late or early fifties. Most of them had a young woman by their side, some had up to three women. They were chattering and laughing and the whole place reeked of local wine; the type her father used to drink back then.
"A tavern, have you ever been to one?" He asked, his lips twitching in a smile.
"Not really," she said. "Why did you bring me here and how is this place somewhere you used to visit?" She looked at him.
"I brought you here because it's around the house, and I visit here more often when I need to think. There is something else that I like about this place," he got off the chair, "Come with me," he said, dragging her out of the room.
Lena didn't hesitate. The noise was getting into her head and she felt an impending headache. She wanted to get out of the room already.
Darian led the way into a secluded area at the far end of the tavern, his hands linking with Lena's.
"Are you not bothered that the bodyguards are not with us?" She asked him.
"I have a gun with me, I can protect you here." He said, letting go of her hands and folding his arms against his chest.
"Why is everywhere so dark." Lena could hardly make out anything there.
"Hold on," Darian clapped his hands three times. The lights came on revealing a very beautiful garden with different breeds of flowers planted all around.
She gasped when she saw the daisies, roses, and lavender, wriggling with the waves the night breeze brought. Everything around her was beautiful.
"Is this a part of the tavern?" She asked, surprised and confused. "Did you bring me somewhere else?"
"We are still within the same compound," he told her, bending to pluck a stick of the hibiscus flower. He hauled her closer with one arm. "This will look beautiful on you," he said, gently dipping the flower into her hair.
Lena laughed, she plucked out one and dipped it in his hair too. "Oh come on, I am not a woman." He took it out.
"Oh, you look like a Cinderella with that flower on your head." She chuckled.
He wrapped his hand around her waist, sniffing her hair. "Can you dance?" He asked.
"What, w-h-a-t?" Stuttering, she felt embarrassed by his question. They've never attended a proper occasion where they danced, their wedding was rushed too. She just realized she'd never danced with her husband. Eight months in marriage and they've never danced. "Where is the music? I can try." She replied to him.
"I made arrangements for that too," he said gleefully.
Clapping his hands three times again, four men surrounded them within a twinkle of an eye. They were all dressed in the uniform of a blue T-shirt and white trousers.
One of them had the rope of his guitar dangling around his neck, another was a saxophonist. The other two were identical twins, they had no musical instruments with them. They were all about the same height, tall and good-looking.
"We are here," he said to the guys.
Lena looked at him, "Oh my God, Darian. I didn't know you called a crew to come to play for us. I thought we were dancing alone. I am sorry but tell them to go, I don't want to embarrass myself with my awkward dancing steps." She whispered into his ears.
Darian chuckled lightly, "Give me your hands and follow my lead." He told her.
"Okay, Darian. But I am still so shy that they will watch me dancing with you."
"You are my wife," he said in a soft voice that melted her heart.
She didn't push it further, her eyes locked with his eyes for some seconds, minutes, and finally, she sighed to give her consent.
"Shall we start?" One of the guys asked Darian.
"Yes, please start." His eyes were intently fixed on Lena. She was tiptoeing and stepping on his toes. He laughed. "Hey, wait for the music to start."
"Oh, right." She shook her head.
One of the guys started playing the guitar, the saxophonist joined in. After they'd produced a sound, the twins started to sing in a sonorous voice. Lena looked at them, she had no idea they could sing perfectly well.
Her palm was tightly clasped with Darian's, he swayed to the side, and she imitated his step. Then he moved to the front, and she did the same until she was right on the path. They danced slowly and beautifully to the love song the twins sang for them.
Lena was excited as Darian stared into her eyes while dancing. His lips were stretched in a smile. His gaze was too heavy on her, she missed a step and matched his foot.
"I thought you've learned," he said teasingly.
"Yes, I have." She spun around, steadying her movements. "I am learning."
"How come you don't know how to dance?" He spun her around again and caught her in his arms. He bent her over, staring into her eyes.
"No answer," she straightened up. "How come you know how to dance?" She asked him. "You don't look like someone who can dance, where and how did you learn, huh?"
"A woman taught me," he responded, smiling smugly.