The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 22

- Damon -

"What the hell is going on here?"

Damon was absolutely furious. He wasn't in a good mood to begin with. He just flew all the way from France after a failed meeting with Hugo DeSantis. Not only that, he was angry and upset at Violet for breaking the rule. He didn't think he could be angrier, but when he got back to the estate and saw Violet hugging some other guy, he went berserk.

"Damon..." Violet quickly pulled away, but the other guy wasn't letting her go too far, acting as if he was shielding her from Damon.

Damon narrowed his eyes at the guy and recognized his face from the photos. It was Lucas. Her friend from Texas.

"Let her go," Damon said in a commanding tone. He took a step forward to Lucas and Violet. Luke kept his hands firm on her as Violet tried to squirm.

"No," he replied challengingly. "She's not your property. You can't keep her here-"

* SMACK! *

Damon couldn't hold himself back any longer. His fist swung hard and he hit Lucas across the face. Luke staggered back and fell to the floor. Damon took this opportunity to stand above him and threw even more punches. *SMACK!* SMACK! * SMACK! *

"NO!" Violet cried and tried pulling Damon back, but it was no use. Damon simply pushed her away and she fell back a few steps. Talia was quick to catch her before she fell down completely. *SMACK!* SMACK! * SMACK!*

Blood was gushing out of Lucas's nose and the sound of his skin ripping filled the air. He tried to fight back, throwing punches back at Damon, but it didn't land as hard as he hoped. Damon had full control. With eyes blazing in anger, he rained his frustration down on Lucas.

"Damon, stop it!" Violet shrieked in terror. "You're killing him!"

"Vi, do something!" Dylan yelled to his sister. His hands were still tied to his back and he couldn't move as the guards were holding him.

"Violet, don't!" Talia warned. She tried holding Violet back, but she wasn't strong enough. Violet shoved past Talia and Beau and her hand went straight for Damon's face.

* SMACK! *

Violet had slapped Damon across the face. Damon's entire body froze instantly. His fist hung in the air as he stopped punching down at Lucas. Slowly, he turned his face to Violet and she swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of her action.

-Violet -

Violet didn't know what came over her. Everything was happening so fast. She was seeing blood splattering out of Lucas's nose and he was choking to his death. If she didn't do anything, Damon would really kill him. She couldn't let that happen, so she lunged herself as hard as she could and let her hand slap Damon across his face, pulling his attention.

*SMACK! *

The sound hung in the air as the room fell completely silent. Violet's got Damon's attention alright. He turned to her with fire burning in his eyes and his jaw was clenched shut. A red mark was forming on his face, and Violet's own hand was stinging in pain. "I-I'm sorry..." she managed to mutter out.

Damon left Lucas on the floor and strode over to her. Violet took a step back instinctively. She kept moving back until she hit the wall and had nowhere else to go. Damon stood tall hovering above her. The tension in the air was suffocating and no one dared to say anything.

"I-I didn't mean to do that... I'm sorry... but you were hurting him..." Violet tried arguing her way out, her eyes were pleading with him.

"They've breached the compound. He had his hands on you. You know why I had to do this!" he hissed angrily. "They need to learn their lesson!"

Damon was about to turn around for Lucas again, but Violet quickly pulled his hand.

"I know what they did was wrong, but please Damon. I'm begging you. Just let them go-"

"I'm not leaving here without you!" Lucas spoke up suddenly, coughing up blood and staggering to get up. Violet shot him a look and shook her head, but he wasn't relenting. Even at this state, he was still unbothered about his own well-being. He just wanted to bring her home.

"She's not leaving here!" Damon turned back to Lucas with a deadly glare.

Violet was afraid Damon would do more damage, so she tightened her grip on his arm and pulled him back.

"Let me go too," she said.

"You wanna leave with them?" Damon was taken aback.

"My mom... she needs me. And I need to be with my family,"

Violet knew there was no win-win solution here. If she stayed at the estate, she wouldn't lose Damon, but she'd surely lose her family. And not to mention poor Lucas who got dragged into this mess. If she doesn't leave with him, who knows what Damon will do to him? "You know that we're under a strict lockdown. If you go with them, you can't come back here!" Damon said through gritted teeth. "Things aren't safe out there, I can't protect you if you're not here!"

Violet paused for a beat to rethink her decision. Damon's enemies were still out there. She would be a target if they knew where she was. If she wanted to keep the peace and her family, her best option would be to leave, take her family, and move again somewhere new where they can't reach her. Where Damon can't reach her too.

"Okay... that's fine..." she breathed. "I'll take my chances,"

Damon looked lost. He didn't understand why she was so adamant about leaving when they were doing absolutely fine weeks ago. She told her she was going to stay. She told her that she loves him. So why?

"You know I can't do that," Damon said as he shook his head. If he were to let her go, this might be the last time he'll see her again.

"You said I can leave here whenever I want," she argued. "I'm leaving, Damon, I'm making my choice. I want go home,"

Violet's voice was firm even though her hands were shaking. Damon saw the look in her eyes and he knew. She had made up her mind.

"You really wanna go?" he asked, his tone dropped an octave lower. "Whatever happened to the promises we made? The dreams we have?"

"I thought I could do this, but I can't..." Violet's voice cracked as she was holding back tears.

She'd stay if she could, but she glanced at her brother and at Lucas's bloody face and she knew she had to go. She had to keep them safe. Away from Damon and all this chaos.

"We made some great promises, but... I don't know if both of us can live up to that..."

Maybe it was too good to be true, she thought. Damon's never gonna change who he is. Just like I'll never change what I want and what I believe in.

"Do you not love me anymore?" his voice was laced with bitterness as he stepped closer to her. Violet stepped back instinctively.

"I do love you, but... I'm scared of you,"

Violet knew what Damon was capable of. His battered up hands said it all. If Violet hadn't done anything, he'd have killed Lucas on that floor. And no one would say anything to him. They'd just clean the mess up like Lucas was some kind of trash. As much as she loves him, she couldn't stand by and watch him destroy everything precious in her life.

Maybe it's not worth it anymore, she said to herself. I thought I could handle this complicated man, but I'm way over my head. He can't be tamed and I... I can't keep loving the devil expecting a different outcome.

"Please, just... let us all go..." she said again, this time a single tear was falling down her cheek.

Damon stood in silence for the longest time. His face remained serious as he watched her. After everything that happened and all the promises they made to each other, he found it hard to believe that she was choosing to leave again.

"Do you love him?" he asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Is that what this is about? Are you in love with him?"

The only explanation that made sense in Damon's mind was that Violet is in love with Lucas and that's why she wants to leave. That was why she was protecting him, and that explained why he was willing to die for her too.

"Yes..." Violet said after a beat of silence. "I love him,"

Damon's eyes dimmed instantly. These were the words he never wanted to hear. His chest ached in pain and a lump was stuck in his throat.

"So it's true. You really love this guy?" he pressed, blinking a few times, and swallowing hard.

No, she said internally. I only love him as a friend. But if I say that I really love him, I know you'd let us go....

"We started off as friends, but..." Violet trailed and glanced back at Lucas. "I see him now and I... I can't watch you hurt him. I love Lucas. And I wanna go home with him,"

Damon stood unmoving. It was like he was being hit in the chest all over again. Violet took a brave step forward and walked past him. He only watched in silence as she went over to Lucas. She bent down in front of him and slowly wiped the blood on his face with her hand. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm okay," he stifled a dry laugh. "It's nothing,"

It wasn't nothing. Violet studied the wounds on his head and it seemed like he was going to need stitches. They had to get him to a hospital. Fast.

"You're free to go. All of you," Damon said suddenly, causing Violet to turn her head back. "You know the risk. Whatever happens to you after you leave this estate is out of my control,"

Violet looked up at Damon's piercing eyes and shuddered. He wasn't making empty threats. Once she chose to leave, she would really lose him.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of ourselves," Dylan piped up from behind Violet, glaring daggers at Damon.

Damon saw the look on Dylan, Lucas, and Violet's faces. They were looking at him like he was some kind of monster. And maybe he was. Despite his promises that he would change, maybe some things about him just can't be modified. And Violet as well. Despite her tries to accept him and move forward, maybe she just can't. They were far too different. She was an angel and he was the devil. Try as they may, they could never be what each other needs.

Damon couldn't stay here and watch any more of this. With an aching heart, he turned away and walked to the door. Talia, Beau, and everyone else couldn't do anything but watch. Violet chose to leave, so Damon chose to turn his back on her. "Damon..." Violet tried calling after him, she didn't know why, but she did it. Her voice came out low like a whisper.

Damon probably didn't hear her because he only kept walking. Or maybe he did, but he chose not to turn around. He pushed the door open and disappeared into the light, never looking back.