The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 50

~ Violet -

Violet walked towards the dining room with heavy steps. She could hear the sound of people talking and laughing. Mostly she was hearing Dylan, Ivy, and Talia's voices, talking about babies. She stopped before entering the room and took a deep breath. It wasn't that she was dreading having dinner with her family and friends, but she was dreading having to hear from them about Damon not being there. They'll probably ask questions that she has no answer to. "Oh, Violet! There you are!" Ivy exclaimed as she noticed Violet standing behind the half open door. "Come in, we've been waiting,"

Violet had no option but to step inside now. Inside the dining room, Barbara, Dylan, Ivy, Talia, and Luke were all seated. The maids were on standby and the food was wonderfully displayed.

"Girl, I don't know about you, but I have two mouths to feed and I'm starving," Talia said with a giggle, gesturing for Violet to sit down next to her.

Violet forced out a smile and went to her seat. Honestly, she was happy to see Talia feeling better. Talia had been talking a lot more lately, which was a good sign. But on the other hand, Violet couldn't shake her thoughts about Damon. Talia understood the life and wouldn't judge, but everyone else in the room wouldn't think so.

"Sorry, I'm late. But let's eat," Violet said to everyone, avoiding eye contact as she reached for her spoon.

Talia followed nonchalantly and started eating. Meanwhile, everyone else was looking at each other, waiting. Normally, they'd have Damon, Liam, Beau, and some other guys joining them for dinner. The long table felt somewhat empty with only six of them there. "Hey, where's Damon?" Dylan asked. "Where're all the guys?"

Violet fell silent and focused her eyes on her soup. Barbara also didn't say a word and just drank her water.

"Oh, you know," Talia was the one who responded. "They've got business to attend to,"

Talia said it meaningfully, but she had no ill intentions behind it. For Talia, watching the men go out on business was a normal thing. They did this kind of thing every other week. But for Dylan and Luke, they knew this wasn't normal. "Ha. Right," Luke scoffed. "Business,"

"What does that mean?" Ivy chimed in. Looking very confused. "Like they have a meeting or something?"

"Honey, just eat your food," Dylan told her, gesturing to her plate.

"What? Why does everyone look so worried?" Ivy pressed, looking at everyone's expression, especially Violet's.

Silence hushed over the room. People were expecting Violet to speak up and explain everything, but she could only keep quiet, lowering her head down.

"Look... guys, it's not even a big deal," Talia spoke finally, breaking the silence. "They do this all the time. And this one's not even a big threat, they'll be done with them in two days tops. Or at least, that's what Liam told me,"

Everyone was looking at Talia now, but she just kept eating like it was nothing. Violet could imagine what everyone else must be imagining. They'd probably picture Damon and his men, holding guns and killing people.

"What do you mean they'll be done with them in two days tops?" Luke spoke up, drawing the tension further.

"Well..." Talia glanced at Violet, looking for help, but Violet was no help.

Violet didn't look up, but she could feel all eyes were on her. They were waiting for her to confirm it. Yes, Damon and his friends were killers. That's what they do for a living. And even though he's changing, things couldn't change that easily and that fast. "Excuse me, I'm finished with dinner," Violet said as she stood up abruptly and left the room,

"Violet?" Dylan gaped.

"Honey?" Barbara asked.

No one could stop her. Violet exited the room in a flash. Everyone stared at each other for a moment and no one knew what to do. Until suddenly, Luke stood and chased after her.

"Violet!"

Luke raced down the hall and caught up with Violet as she was climbing up the stairs. He called her name several times, but she wouldn't stop running. Finally, Luke grabbed her arm and stopped her from running to her bedroom door. "Violet, wait-"

"Please, Luke!" she hissed. "I just wanna be alone right now,"

"But-"

"I don't need to hear you say I told you so, okay?"

Violet glared daggers at him. Luke didn't know why she was so mad at him. If anything, he was the one who was supposed to be mad. Luke staggered back as Violet pulled her hand roughly.

"You're right, okay?" she said again, huffing back her tears. "Are you happy now?"

Luke stayed with that question as Violet turned to her heels. She went to her room and closed the door shut, locking it so no one could enter. Meanwhile, Luke just stood there. Completely dumbfounded.

Later that night, Violet couldn't get a wink of sleep. Though she was lying in bed for hours and hours forcing her eyes closed, she just couldn't do it. Yes, she was worried about Damon, but she was also worried about the people out there who were going to judge Damon when he comes back. There was just no winning there.

Violet turned to her side and saw the white envelope sitting on her bedside table. That envelope contains the gender of the baby. Damon and Violet decided they weren't going to find out and just let the universe decide. But now, Violet was having second thoughts. It would be nice to know things that are certain in this obscure life of hers. In the midst of all the instability, it wouldn't hurt to know one thing for certain.

So before she could change her mind, Violet sat up and grabbed the envelope in her hand. She held it for the longest time before pressing the envelope to her chest, sending a prayer out to God.

Dear Father in Heaven...

Slowly, Violet ripped open the seal of the envelope. She did it carefully because she didn't want to mess up the content.

Please God... I hope my baby's a girl... I just don't want a little boy that grows up in this kind of world...

Once the seal was completely broken, she pulled out the ultrasound photo and a single tear trickled down her cheek. Violet couldn't help but smile looking at the ultrasound image of her baby. Things were so messy right now, but this baby symbolizes hope for her. There was still time to clean up the mess. At least before the baby's born.

If I have a girl, I'll let her play with dolls and play dress up. I'll take her to church and to school and she'll never have to know this kind of life ever existed...

With her hands trembling, Violet turned the photograph around and read Dr. Lee's scribbling on the back. Her eyes jolted open and her mouth fell in shock. In bold black letters, it read:

It's a boy.

-----TWO DAYS LATER ---

~ Damon -

The job in New York took longer than Damon anticipated, but it was over, finally. It took time for him and his men to track down Hugo's illegitimate sons because some DeSantis sympathizers were hiding them. But once they figured out those people were also Maranzano sympathizers, they just had to follow the thread and find those people. After interrogating people in bars and knocking down several houses, Damon and his men found their targets and successfully eliminated them. Everything was a success, except there was one small problem. While Damon and his men were out on this ghost hunt, other DeSantis sympathizers took the opportunity to free Celina from Damon's hiding place in Italy.

Obviously, this wasn't good news. Liam suggested that they fly out to Italy and try to track down Celina, but Damon said no. He couldn't stand being away from Violet a second longer. Besides, Celina and those DeSantis sympathizers were no threat to him. She had no more power or resources and they were too far away to even reach him. Damon would rather focus his energy on liquidating his assets and turning over a new leaf. Once he was finished with all that, he'd start over anew and Celina wouldn't even know where to find him.

That being said, Damon was still going to keep security on high alert for him and Violet. He hired more men to come back with him to the estate and protect the compound. When he left, he left with forty something guys, but when he came back, there were almost one hundred of them. It looked like a parade show, some ten to fifteen black SUVS rolling up to the estate that afternoon. Barbara, Dylan, Ivy, and Luke all saw what was happening through the second floor balcony. It was an impressive sight, but Luke wasn't impressed. If anything, he was just more scared for Violet.

Damon walked into the house with confident steps, nodding as the maids and guards bowed their heads to him. He stopped his tracks in front of Elena, the head maid, and asked the question that mattered most, "Where's Violet?" "In the bedroom, Mr. Van Zandt," Elena replied.

Damon threw his gaze to the second floor and smiled. He quickened his steps as he climbed the stairs, his heart beating faster and faster as he got closer to the door.

When he finally got there, he took a moment and drew in a deep breath. Then he pushed the door open and saw Violet standing by the window. She was probably watching the hundred men that were coming in with him too. "Hey, you," he said, a smile curving up his lips.

Violet turned around and a smile crept up her face as well. It was like her face glowed when she saw him.

"Damon..." she breathed.

Damon strode across the room and grabbed her with both hands. His chest exploded into bits when he held her in his arms and kissed her lips. He had been wanting to do this for a while now. It was the most amazing feeling, kissing the person you love and miss so dearly. "I missed you, sweet girl," he murmured through the kiss, still holding her tightly.

Violet kissed him back just as hungrily and passionately. Clearly, she was missing him too. And Damon could see the relief in her eyes as she stood in front of him again. "Please tell me it's over," she said.

"It's over," he said reassuringly. "We got those guys and we're good,"

"Really?"

"It's really over," he nodded again.

Violet let out a long sigh. Her hands went to his neck as she pressed her body tightly against his.

"Thank God. Because I don't know if I can do this anymore," she said, burying her face into his chest.

"Do what?" he asked.

"Not knowing what to expect for our future,"

"What are you talking about?"

Damon tilted her chin so he could see her face. Her words sounded heavy. Did something happen when he was gone?

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that," Violet said with a sigh. "I've just been so anxious with you not being around,"

"I know, but that's done-"

"Damon, listen, I have to tell you something," she cut him off suddenly, making him feel worried. "I ended up looking at the envelope,"

Violet's eyes glanced to the bedside table and Damon followed it. She was talking about the baby's ultrasound photo.

"You did?" he asked, narrowing his eyes back to her.

"Yeah," she admitted. "I know the baby's gender. But I'm not gonna tell you if you don't wanna know,"

"But if you already know, that kinda defeats the point, doesn't it?" he sighed, sounding a little frustrated. "What happened? I thought we agreed we don't wanna know?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "I just can't take the not knowing anymore,"

Damon studied her face deeply. Violet's eyes had bags underneath them. She probably hadn't been sleeping well. On top of the hormones and the fatigue from being pregnant, she also had to deal with him and his mafia businesses. That must've taken a toll on her. Especially that her family was here to witness it all.

"Hey, it's okay," he said as he caressed her cheek gently. "I understand all of this must be hard on you,"

"I'm just glad it's over," she said to him. "I don't wanna deal with this anymore. I just wanna move on so we can focus on our future from now on,"

Damon let out a smile. It was a little forced, but that was the best he could give her.

"Absolutely," he said. And then he kissed her lips and hugged her again. He rested his chin on her shoulder and held her for as long as he could.

I guess this isn't the right time to tell her about Celina's escape...

"From now on, it's all about you, me, and our baby boy, okay?" Violet said with her face pressed to his chest. Damon's heart almost stopped working when he heard it.

"A boy?" he gaped, pulling away to see her face.

"A boy," she nodded her head.

Damon couldn't say anything for the longest time. Violet's eyes softened and his eyes became blurry. The thought hit him like a bullet to the head and he was hit with so many emotions all at once. Great emotions. The best emotions "We're having a boy..." he croaked, pausing for a beat before pulling Violet's entire body up in a hug. "We're having a boy!"