I stood up from my desk and thew my coat over my shoulders. I adjusted my cuffs and packed up my computer and a bunch of papers in a laptop bag. I put the bag over my shoulders and walked out of my study. I walked through the halls of my new mansion, making my way out, passing different paintings and decorations.

I quickly descended the set of stone steps on the outside and walked to my car, opening the doors with a press of a button. I slid in and placed the bag on the passenger seat before starting up the engine and pulling out of the driveway.

The guards opened the large iron gates for me and I peeled into the main road. I took the familiar routes and turns to the only place I willingly visited these days. The sky was dark as snow softly fell from the sky. It was Christmas Eve, a day of festivities for most. The shops besides the roads were all decorated perfectly with lights and of course there was the large Christmas tree in Las Pavita central square.

I passed it on my way and I couldn't help but be excited with today's plans. I parked at the hospital and got out, walking through the cold outside to the pain doors with my laptop bag in hand.

I found my way to Dalia's room and opened the door. She slept soundly on the bed on her side, the covers pulled up to her chin. She looked much healthier than ever and I couldn't be anymore happier.

I took my usual seat and pulled out my laptop and begun my work. Minutes turned into hours as I tried to catch up with everything. With Alexa gone, things had been rocky because she pulled her people out of my mafia and there had been Antonio's will. Since Dalia was his kin, she inherited everything of his and that went to our mafia and things were looking up.

"Are you just going to work the whole time you're here?"

I looked up at Dalia, her beautiful brown eyes were fixed on me and her eyebrow was raised. I smiled lightly at her and leaned forward to kiss her.

"Hello tesoro," I said softly and she beamed.

"Hello to you too Mr. big bad and scary. I see you are choosing your work over me," she mused and I closed my laptop, setting it aside.

"Nothing is more important than you," I said and pushed her hair back from her face. She'd decided to cut it shorter so now it was just a large mess of curls in a huge afro. Some strands fell to her face, making her soft features seem all that more innocent.

"Hmm. I sure hope so, today, I will be a free woman!" she cheered and sat up, stretching her arms over her head. She had slowly been gaining weight, something I was happy about. Seeing her like a skeleton when she'd first woken up was haunting me everyday.

"Last day in the hospital," I said leaning back in the chair I was in.

"Last day in the hospital, try last day in prison," she grumbled. "The past four months, one of which I was in some sort of fucking coma, have been awful. This place smells like hand sanitizer and it's so bad I can't even tell anymore. It destroyed my nostrils."

Dalia held her nose and sighed. "Not to mention the nurse is too fucking nice I swear I just want to punch her. Then the doctor. Damn idiot won't stop hitting on me- uh... on Melina, the nurse."

My body tensed and I leaned forward, my eyes glaring at Dalia.

"The doctor wants you?" I asked my tone deadly.

"No I said he wants Melina. I think the hand sanitizer smell got into your brain. You visit too much you know that," she tried to play off, slipping off the bed and standing in front of me in her patient gown.

"The nurse's name is Angel," I said and she smiled sweetly, sitting down in my lap and wrapping her hands around my neck.

"Whatever. No need to worry about the doctor. I'm yours and that's that."

"Damn right," I grumbled and pulled her closer, my arms around her waist.

"So... what do you say we lock the door and get a little comfortable," Dalia suggested, biting down on her lower lip.

"Tempting but I wanted to take you somewhere," I said and leaned forward, kissing her and lightly biting down on her lower lip.

"Where do you want to go?" she asked pulling back.

"I owe you a date right? Four months late but I promised."

"I'll let it slide as long as there's food," Dalia stated.

"They'll be more food than you can finish," I told her and she smiled, getting off my lap.

"Then what are we waiting for?" she excitedly went to the bag I'd brought her yesterday. It was filled with clothes in preparation for her leave. "Dress code?"

"Something fancy," I said and Dalia paused, turning to me.

"You're not taking me to like a restaurant with a name like la Crevette de Chocolat or some shit."

"No. Just get dressed," I encouraged and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Fine superman. I'll play your game but I swear if you make me eat some type of exotic clam and I throw up, I'm blaming you."

"Totally fair," I stated and she took her bag with her to the bathroom attached. I sighed and waited for her to get back. My phone buzzed and I took it out to check the messages from Peyton. She was now in charge of most of the drug trafficking and our recent one had gone well. I read through the sales, my finger scratching the stubble under my chin.

I heard something in the bathroom clatter to the floor and a loud curse from Dalia.

"You ok in there tesoro?" I called.

"Peachy!" she replied and there was angry huffing and then a shout of triumph. I shook my head and continued with my work.

The first month Dalia slept for had been hard for me, not knowing when she'd wake up or is she ever would really. This hospital room had become my office, my rest for the night and everything in between. I'd refused to leave her side unless the situation was dire.

The day she'd opened her eyes was the time I'd felt the most relief in my life. I didn't know what I could do without her.

The bathroom door opened and i raised my eyes to Dalia before looking back at my phone but then I blinked and did a double take.

Fuck me.

"Is this good?" Dalia asked, placing her hands on her hips and turning. I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out.

The top half of Dalia's dress was black with a wide and deep v neckline that went to the black waistband. Her large chest was on show, a small strip of black added to hold the two halves of the top together. Spaghetti straps led to an open back and the bottom half of the dress was two ruffles of black, white and orange African print. The dress stopped mid thigh and Dalia had on gold hoop earrings that showed from under her curly afro.

She had put on some dark eyeshadow and lipgloss. On her feet were gold heels with straps, the same ones she'd worn to the mafia convention and a few gold bracelets adored her wrists.

"Vittore? If you don't like it that's a damn shame because I'm not changing. I think I look-"

"Beautiful," I completed for her and she raised her eyes, smiling at me.

"Exactly so let's leave," she groaned and I frowned a little.

"Isn't it cold?" I asked now worried for her health.

"I'm going to wear a coat no worries," she said trying to ease my nerves.

"But-"

"But nothing amore. Accept it."

I smiled lightly and stood up to help Dalia slip on a floor length black coat, hoping it would keep her warm. Just incase, I forced her to wear a set of gloves.

We packed up everything of hers and made our way out of the hospital and I prayed we'd never have to enter this place ever again.

"Oh Mrs. Jones. Glad to see you're up and ready to leave," Dalia's nurse Angel called out as we walked away.

"Thank you so much for everything Angel," Dalia said with a forced smile.

"No problem Mrs. Jones. Have a good day and a Merry Christmas," she cheered and I nodded at her as Dalia and i walked out of the hospital and towards my car.

"Have a merry Christmas and na na na," Dalia mocked as I pressed a button to open the doors. "She's too nice. I don't like it."

I chuckled as I got into the car with Dalia and the doors closed, leaving me with her constant complaints.

"You'd think dying for seven minutes would make me a better person but everything just fucking irks me right now," she grumbled pulling on her seatbelt.

I pulled a silk trip of cloth from my pocket and reached out to blindfold her.

"Vittore, blindfolding is a little kinky you know," she teased holding onto my wrist as I fastened the knot behind her head.

"If you have no issue with it, I'll make sure to keep that in mind."

"Then I like it," she purred and reached out for my face and planted a quick kiss on my lips. "Now let's go! Food awaits!"

I turned the car on as Dalia shifted excitedly in her seat and drove off towards our first destination. I stopped in the parking lot and helped Dalia out. She held onto me as I guided her to the front of the building, her hand held out for balance.

"Vittore I swear if i crash into a pole or something..." she grumbled and I just chuckled.

"You won't," I reassured her.

I stopped her from walking and took of her blindfold.

Her excitement seemed to dull down.

"You brought me... to the mall..."

I couldn't help but chuckle at how clueless she seemed. I dragged her forward.

"Yes I brought you to the mall," I confirmed.

"But... but..."

Dalia looked around at the people who were walking around and the millions of Christmas decorations around.

"I don't get it."

"What's tomorrow?" I asked her.

"Christmas," she stated and I nodded, wrapping a hand around her waist as we went deeper into the mall and through the crowds of people.

"We haven't done any Christmas shopping whatsoever," I reminded her and her eyes widened as her mouth made an o.

"Ok but... why blindfold me?"

"Because i wanted to and because I thought you'd recognize this place."

Dalia looked confused, her brow frowning as she tried to figure out the significance of this mall in particular.

"Oh my God! This is the mall where you chased me and knocked me out!" she shouted with a snap of her fingers. People around us turned and looked at us worriedly but I ignored them.

"Yes it is and, I have something planned."

I turned to her and held her hands in mine, holding up one finger.

"One hour. You and I have one hour to go through this mall and buy anything we are going to need."

"Are we going to stay at the mansion you were telling me about or the penthouse?" she asked as I handed her one of my black credit cards.

"The mansion. I'd like to avoid the penthouse for sometime," I said quietly and she nodded in understanding. There were too many memories of my mother there. It physically hurt to be around the building since Dalia's incident.

"Ok so 1 hour," she confirmed and rubbed her gloved hands together. She looked around the shops like she was already planning what to get.

"Yes 1 hour and it starts now."

I jogged backwards and she gasped. "That's cheating!" she yelled but took off in the other direction.

I made my way to the shops on the lower levels since there was nothing much here. I was meeting someone who was giving me the gift I'd thought of for the last two months.

I checked my phone for a text and one came in.

-In front of the antique store-

I changed directions and went there. Up ahead an old man in a long brown coat waited for me, a black wrapped gift in hand.

"Mr. Hendrix?" I called and he turned to me, nodding his head.

"That's me. Here you go son," he said holding out the gift. I took it from him and pulled out a rolled bundle of hundreds from my pocket and gave it to him.

"Nice doing business with you," Mr. Hendrix said and smiled, a tooth missing from his front set as he walked back into his antique shop.

I pulled out my phone and dialed one of my men.

"Pick up at the mall," I said.

"On my way sir."

With that, I hung up and was about to go up and wait for Dalia but another store caught my attention. It was an animal's shelter.

I paused for a second before I decided to go in. The place smelt a lot like fur and plastic.

"Hello I'm Noelle. Welcome to Granny's animal shelter. How can help you?"

I looked to my side and down at a peppy red haired girl who'd come seemingly from nowhere.

"I'm just window shopping," I said and turned away from her, my demeanor dismissing.

I walked over to a bunch of baby kittens first and watched them laze around and play with a small piece of thread. I didn't think Dalia was a cat person though so I went to the dog's instead, placing the black wrapped gift under my arm.

I saw a bunch of puppies, probably two months old running around with each other. One male in particular had my attention.

It was a rottweiler, jumping and barking at the other dogs, not in the mood for playing with them. Any that came near were immediately bitten and scared off.

I reached forward and picked the little sucker up by the scruff of its neck and it continued to bark and fight in my grip, swinging its paws at me.

I carried it as it was to the counter where the redhead was sitting.

"Oh um... are you sure you don't want another? This one has always been a little aggressive."

"The aggressive ones are always the best," I told her and she bit her lip but nodded anyways.

"If you'd just sign these," she mumbled handing me a set of papers that I signed with a fake signature and of course with the name Derrik Jones.

"Would you like to buy anything else?"

"Have any collars?" I asked and she nodded.

"We have some with names too. Like uh... Rex, Cash, Snow, Chip, Claus, Milo, Jasper, Blaze-"

"Claus," I interrupted her. "I'll take the one with Claus."

She gave me the red collar with the puppy's name on a bone shaped piece of fake gold and I forced it around the sucker's neck as it bit me every time I tried to get close.

"Do you have Christmas packaging for this thing?" I asked and she nodded.

She came back with a box and a leash.

"The leash comes with the collar," she explained. I placed the puppy in the box and it barked up at me, trying to get out.

I shut the lid on the thing.

"It'll probably calm down in a few minutes," she told me as I placed two hundred dollar bills on the counter.

"It better. Keep the change."

With that I walked out of the shelter and to where I was going to wait for Dalia.

. . .

"I'm back!"

I looked up from my phone to see Dalia approaching, a broad smile on her face and a bag in hand.

"Four minutes to spare," I told her and she pumped her fist in the air.

"Victory."

Smiling she bent down to kiss me and I placed a hand on her cheek and wanted to go deeper but she pulled back.

"No one likes PDA amore," she teased and I rolled my eyes, standing up.

"You can give your bag to him," I said pointing at the guy who was standing to my right. "He'll take the stuff home. We have somewhere else to be."

Dalia handed over the bag over without question and the guy disappeared.

"More surprises, are you going to blindfold me again?" she asked wiggling her eyebrows and I kissed her forehead.

"Nope. I think that phase has passed for now."

"I like the sound of for now," she teased as we went back to my car.

Our next destination was the town square. I bought us some hotdogs from a cart and we sat down on a bench, watching people mill about the bright Christmas tree.

"Did you put up a tree at the mansion?" Dalia asked wiping her mouth with a napkin, wiping the mustard at the corner of her lip.

"No. I thought you'd love to do that," I explained, taking a bite out of my hotdog. "I do have decorations and a naked tree ready."

Dalia nodded. "Next year, we should go tree shopping."

That didn't sound the least bit fun but if she wanted to do it, I would go.

I turned to Dalia when her hand landed on my cheek. She wiped the corner of my mouth with her finger, removing a smudge of mustard before sucking it off.

"You just had a little something," she said with a smile and my heart softened.

"Grazie amore mio," I said quietly and she nodded, going back to looking at the tree.

She was taking a sip of her soda when her eyes widened slightly and she spat the drink out, coughing a little. I shifted to pat her back lightly as she chocked.

"You ok?" I asked and she shook her head.

"Look," Dalia said pointing to the far side of the tree.

There stood none other than Alexa, someone even I couldn't ignore in a crowd. Another woman, a taller one with light grey eyes and caramel hair had her arm around my old ally. They smiled as they talked and I was more than surprised when Alexa pulled the woman down for a kiss.

"That bitch," Dalia suddenly said. "Being all racist when the hypocrite is fucking gay!"

Dalia was angry, livid even.

"We should go there. I should confront her or something-"

I pulled Dalia down before she could march across the yard and make a scene.

"Just leave her be tesoro. You're forgetting we are on a date and you are letting her ruin it," I said softly, coaxing Dalia to calm down.

She grumbled things under her breath but I drew her closer to my side and kissed her cheek.

"Just enjoy the lights and the people and the third hotdog you're eating-"

"Are you hotdog shaming me? Hospital food was awful. And I still have Faye's diet to follow so excuse me for cheating once in a while."

"I'm not hotdog shaming you. I like to see you eat. At least then i know I've provided you with all you need?"

"Is that some kind of macho man kink?"

I chuckled at her use of words.

"Just enjoy this for a while. We have a tree to decorate at home."

With that, we both fell quiet and enjoyed each other's company until it was too cold to stay out anymore and we went back to my mansion.

. . .

"Do you think you can carry me on your shoulders so I can put this star up?"

I sighed from where I'd collapsed on the couch. How Dalia had the energy to decorate this much beats me. The living room was covered in glitter from the decorations and all kinds of plastic wrapping paper.

I pulled myself to my feet, stepping over everything to where Dalia stood in front of the tree. We both had on the same reindeer onesies. It was her idea and I just wanted to let her be happy so I put the shit on.

I lifted her by her waist and she gasped as I placed her to sit on my right shoulder.

"High enough?" I asked looking up at her.

"Yep," she said and placed the star at the top of the tree before rubbing my head.

I slowly placed her back on the ground and she squeezed my arm through the onesie.

"You're a strong one," she whispered like it was a secret. I kissed her then and wondered how in the world I lived without her.

"Its already 2 am and basically Christmas so Merry Christmas my love," Dalia whispered against my lips.

"Merry Christmas tesoro."

I pulled back and smiled at her.