ELENA'S POV
Finally , after almost two hours of glam, makeup, and everything in between ,I was done.
I stared at myself in the vanity mirror. I looked... breathtaking. Gold eyeshadow blended with silver at the inner corners. Sharp eyeliner, wings cutting outward, making my eyes lethal. My hair was in a tight, elegant bun, held with golden pins, with a few loose strands framing my face.
And there it was: the eagle tattoo—the Grey bloodline—at the back of my neck, glistening under the light. Hidden for years under layers of foundation, now on full display. Tonight, it was time to announce the rise of my family.
The ball would be crawling with mafia elites—heirs, bosses, allies, enemies. I was walking into the lion's den. As much as it was a business ball, it was also a reunion of the underworld. It happens every year, Mariana told me.
The dress code: black and masks that covered the eyes. But my reflection stared back at me in a wine-red satin silk dress. The fabric clung to every curve. A high slit revealed a silver thigh strap, glinting with the letter R—a subtle message Rio would catch immediately. I smiled at how beautiful it looked on my thigh.
Silver heels clicked against marble as I descended the staircase. The room hushed.
And there he was ,Rio. One hand in his pocket, the other holding a whiskey glass, jaw tight, eyes sharp and piercing as they waited for me.
He turned slowly when he heard me approach and froze. His gaze swept over me.
The glint of the silver strap caught his eye. His nostrils flared. His lips parted ever so slightly.
I smiled.
He stepped closer, his whiskey glass now forgotten on the table as he stopped in front of me.
Rio's hand found the small of my back possessive and firm.
"Mine,you look like a fucking goddess" he murmured in my ear a promise, a warning.
He grinned, giving me another once-over. "Princess, how am I supposed to behave with you wearing my initial like a crown on your thigh?" His voice was low, rough on my ear, and it made my knees weak.
"Let's go, before I decide the ball is not that important" Rio whispered in my ear with a grin he couldn't take his eyes off me.
His gaze drifted back to my thigh where I wore his initial.
"God... you're literally killing me," he growled, pulling me closer until my chest pressed to his. His hand found the thigh strap, fingers tracing the silver chain as if the rest of the room didn't exist. "I can't wait to drag it off with my own teeth," he whispered and I almost lost my mind just from the thought of him doing that.
I smiled and pushed my palm against his chest, sliding my fingers under his undone tie to straighten it loose, not tight unbuttoning the first two buttons to let the silver chain and the serpent tattoo on his throat show. I adjusted the mask on his eyes too .He looked... dangerous and perfect.
"You look amazing too, baby," I whispered, smiling.
My eyes drifted to Mariana and my jaw dropped. I was used to her in dresses and skirts, but tonight? No. She'd gone full power: a navy blue-suit, sharp and effortless, hair in a no-nonsense bun. Dashing. Beautiful.
"Oh my God, you look so good, Mariana,!" I squealed, slipping away from Rio for a second to hug her.
"Think she'll like it?" Mariana asked, nerves peeking through her smile.
"She'll lose her mind," I teased, giving her the reassurance she needed.
Marco -Rio's right-hand man who could kill you with a smile ,stood near the door. He wasn't dressed for the event, which was somehow so Marco: sweatpants and an apple hanging out of his mouth.
"Marco, really?" I laughed.
"What? Sweatpants are classy," he defended, taking a bite.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night," I said.
Rio pinched his nose when he looked at Marco and shook his head, clearly done with his presence.
"Let's go. We have a ball to attend," he ordered.
We moved out. Rio's men flooded the other cars dark suits, earpieces, sunglasses like a well-oiled machine. Rio and I slid into his favorite SUV; Mariana and Marco split into separate vehicles.
The convoy , almost twenty cars strong , roared to life and melted into the night. City lights blurred by as we glided down the highway.
Rio's hand rested possessively on my thigh, his fingers tangled in the silver chains of the strap. My hand rested on his, my gaze drifting to the window, watching the city blur.
"You okay?" his voice snapped me back.
"Yeah," I whispered. "Just nervous. I hate crowds."
He pulled me closer until my side was pressed to his.
He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes catching the counterfeit key at my collarbone. He thumbed the pendant lightly.
"Because of that... and that?" he asked, his thumb moving from the pendant to the tattoo.
It was a lie—only a small one. The key was a counterfeit. The real one sat hidden where no one could get to it. I trusted Rio with my life, but this secret was mine. I wasn't going to parade literal bait into the lion's den. But at least he already knew about the tattoo and my real identity.
I nodded.
He cupped my cheek, thumb tracing my jaw. "Elena, you're mine. You remember that, right?" His voice went low and rough, threaded with something like worry.
"Yeah, I know," I said, leaning into his touch.
"Good." He tilted my chin up, making me meet his eyes. "Listen to me, and listen good. No one touches you. They can want that key, announce you're a Grey tonight, feel threatened but none of that matters. What matters is keeping what's mine safe. That's you, Elena. Mine. No one will touch you. Understand?" His voice was low, dangerous, and promising.
I nodded, shoulders unclenching as he wrapped his arms around me. The hold steadied the storm inside me.
The ride settled into quiet. As we neared the Mariano estate, the convoy shifted onto a private drive flanked by hedges and guards. I sat up straighter, adjusting my dress as Rio squeezed my hand.
He leaned in without hesitation and kissed my lips soft, certain leaving my gloss on his lips .
"I honestly can't believe you expect me to behave when you look like this,I can't wait to have you all to my self " he murmured against me, voice velvety.
"Like... what?" I asked, batting my lashes innocently.
"Like you want to ruin my entire existence and I'd let you," he whispered as the car slowed to a stop.
The driver opened the door and stepped out .
"Ready?" Rio asked.
"Yes," I breathed, grabbing my purse.
He stepped out, rounded the car, and opened the door for me. I smiled as I took his hand and slid out , heels clicking on the pavement, heart beating as the mansion came into full view.
And oh my God—the Mariano mansion was breathtaking. Stone and light, fountains catching the moon, the facade lit to theatrical perfection. Masks and silk flowed on the walkways, and the night smelled of perfume, danger, and something electric.
I took Rio's arm and let him lead me.