The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 6

- Violet - "...Damon..."

Violet's voice came out in a whisper. She saw him standing in front of her, but she still couldn't believe it. For a second, she thought this must be a dream. She dreamt about moments like this before, when Damon would show up unannounced before her eyes. Usually, if she jerked her head hard enough, she'd wake up from her sleep. But this time, no matter how many times she blinked or forced herself to wake up, nothing could erase the image of him standing in front of her. "Is it... really you?"

That was a rhetorical question. She knew it was him. Those were his eyes, his lips, and his sharp jawline. His hair was a little longer and light stubble formed on his jaw. He was wearing his signature three-piece suit and he stood in that cool and mysterious way that he always does.

Damon also didn't answer her right away. He just stared at her with a stoic look on his face. Violet narrowed her eyes, but she couldn't read his expression. Was he mad? Was he upset? What was he thinking about?

"Who else would it be?" he spoke up finally. Tilting his head to the side, he drew one last drag of his cigarette before throwing it to the ground.

"I... I thought..." Violet was stammering.

"You thought I was dead?" he interjected.

Violet fell silent. Damon let out another smirk and took a step closer to her. She thought about taking a step back, but it was too late. He was already standing at arm's length away. Violet looked up to see his dark piercing eyes boring into her. His gaze was sharp and intense, it made her shudder and her knees weak.

Damon noticed the effect his presence had on her and he seemed to be amused. He eyed her up and down with a look she couldn't decipher. Her mind went into overdrive trying to figure out what he was doing there.

Maybe he's here for revenge...

Violet swallowed hard at the thought. She knew that was a big possibility. A person like Damon, or any mafia man in general, none of them would stay quiet about someone shooting them in the heart.

Damon kept his gaze glued to her and he noticed the hint of fear in her eyes. She was afraid of him and that only put a smile on his face. Slowly, he reached up to touch her face. Violet flinched a little, but his grip was firm on her chin.

"How have you been, sweet girl?" Damon's voice was low and husky, sending shocks all over her body.

Violet couldn't answer him right away. There was something in the way he said that nickname, it was like he was taunting her. Damon stifled a laugh and walked a circle around her. His steps were slow but firm, and she felt like a little lamb being preyed on by a lion. No! Don't let him affect you. You've grown so much over the years, don't let this bring you down.

"Are you here to kill me?" Violet spoke up finally. She mustered up all the courage she had, looking at him like she wasn't afraid.

"You didn't answer my question," he replied, standing tall hovering over her.

"I'm... I'm okay," she stammered, moving back a little.

"And aren't you gonna ask me how I've been doing?" he demanded, taking a step closer again.

"How've you been doing?" she asked, trying her best to hold her ground.

Damon stopped his tracks and let out a small smile.

"Just peachy," he said.

Violet could taste the sarcasm from a mile away. She knew he wasn't here for pleasantries. He was here for something and she had to figure it out before he causes a scene. Not now. Not here. Not anymore.

"Damon, what are you doing here?" she shot point-blankly. Her heart was racing and her eyes were glued to his expression, hanging on his response.

Damon just shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I came for the wedding, of course," he stated.

"What?"

"My invitation probably got lost in the mail," he said, pausing for a beat before adding, "I mean, you're not gonna have a wedding and not invite your ex-fiancé, would you?" Violet's eyes were furrowed at him. She didn't understand what he meant by that.

"Actually, the last time I recall, I'm still your fiancé," Damon continued and his hand went to rub his chin. "You never really called off the wedding,"

Violet scoffed in response.

"Isn't me shooting you enough proof that I'm calling off the wedding?"

"Hmm," he stifled a dry laugh. "Touché,"

Damon was amused by their little interaction, but Violet was just confused. She kept trying to read his expression, but he wasn't giving away anything.

What does he want?! Why is he playing games with me?

"It's a lovely place you got here," he said suddenly, his eyes went to the door of the barn that led to the garden. "You finally got the small and intimate dream wedding you've been wanting," Violet swallowed hard. There was clearly some bitterness in his words and she didn't know how to respond.

"So, how did the lucky bastard got you?" he asked.

"What?" she was caught off guard.

"Lucas... what was it... Hayes?" Damon cocked his head to the side and watched her with those eagle eyes. "That's the guy you're marrying, right?"

Violet's mouth formed an 'o' as she realized what he was talking about.

"Do you think... this is my wedding?" she asked cautiously.

For the first time that day, Damon was caught off guard. He didn't expect that response to come from her.

"Lucas and I are just friends," she said again. "And this isn't my wedding. It's Dylan's,"

Damon's eyes went wide open as if a light bulb flashed inside his brain. He took his hands out of his pocket and stood straighter.

"So you're not getting married today?" he deduced.

"No," she shook her head. "I'm just the maid of honor,"

"Oh, that motherfucker," Damon let out a chuckle and shook his head in disbelief.

"What?" she asked.

"Adrian told me you're getting married today. That's why I came over here,"

"Adrian...?"

"He's got someone who's been keeping an eye out for you,"

"F-for how long?"

"About a month after you left,"

"So you've been following me all this time?"

Damon didn't answer her, but the smile on his face gave it away. Violet was shocked beyond reason. She had a feeling someone had been following her, but she thought she was just being paranoid. Now it all made sense. He's been keeping track of me... for all this time!

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" she demanded. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

"Well, first of all, I had to make sure you don't have a gun," he retorted, smirking a smug smile. "Second of all, I don't think you'd be too happy to see me. Clearly, you hate me enough to shoot me,"

"I... I don't hate you," she interjected.

"Really? Then what was the bullet for?"

"I didn't mean to do that... I just... wanted you to let me go,"

Violet put her gaze down as it was too uncomfortable to look at him, but Damon didn't let her off easy. He tilted her face up to her and demanded, "Why?"

Violet couldn't give him an answer right away. She was thinking of the right words to say.

Because I'm scared of you, Damon. I'm scared of what I'll be if I go on with that toxic life...

"We were happy. Everything was going great. We were gonna get married and live happily ever after. So why?" he demanded again.

"Everything wasn't going great," she said finally. "Maybe it was for you, but every day I was riddled with anxiety and doubts. I was living in a fantasy world, Damon. It wasn't my reality,"

Violet's words seemed to affect Damon a certain way. He clenched his jaw and furrowed his eyes in response.

"Why didn't you tell me you were feeling that way?"

"You said if I have doubts about marrying you, then we shouldn't even bother..." Violet didn't want her voice to crack, but it did. Her eyes also went glassy and she was trying her best not to cry. "So you do want to marry me then?" he asked.

"I did," she corrected him. "Yes,"

But not anymore...

Violet bravely pushed his hand away and took a step back. Damon stayed quiet for a moment and he let his hand fell to his side.

"Who got into your head?" he asked finally. "Was it your brother?"

"It's not just him," she answered. "It's everything and everyone that's around us. And I... I can't marry someone I don't trust,"

There it was. Those were words that she couldn't tell him before, but she was saying them now.

"Even after everything we've been through, you still can't trust me?" he asked.

Violet could see the hurt behind his cold, dark eyes. It was there. Even though he pretended like it didn't exist, it was there.

"I..."

"Not even a little?"

Violet fell silent again. She recalled the times they spent together and he was right, they had been through a lot. Damon showed his dark sides, but he also showed his courage and his heart. There were clear moments where she believed that he was the one. "Did my love for you not mean anything?" Damon reached for her face again, and this time, she let him.

But then again, what kind of love was it if it was built through a lie? He only loved her because she reminded him of Isabella. He made promises he couldn't keep and in the end, they were only gonna hurt each other.

Letting out a sad smile, Violet shook her head and said, "I don't think you know what love is, Damon,"

Damon looked offended by her response. His hand fell down and his eyes turned dark.

"And you do?" he asked.

Before Violet could answer, his hand went to slap his chest and he grimaced, "Was this done out of love too?"

Violet turned her head away like it was painful to look at him. But even though she wasn't looking at his face, her chest was still twisting in pain.

"I'm sorry I did that to you," she said. "I know you're mad, but-"

"I'm not mad," he cut her off. "I'm just... disappointed,"

Violet's eyes went up to him instinctively. It suddenly became clear to her that he wasn't here to kill her. No, it was far from that. Because the next thing she knew, Damon reached for her face with both his hands and he pulled her close. "W-what are you doing...?"

Their faces were only an inch away from each other. Violet could feel his breaths hitting her cheeks and her whole body went stiff.

"I thought I was just gonna come over here and see the wedding. I wasn't gonna say hi or anything. I'd just watch you from afar as you marry some guy and leave," Damon paused for a beat as his eyes darted to her lips. "But now that I'm here... I don't think I can just leave,"

Violet was caught in a daze. His eyes were glued to her lips and Violet found herself quivering.

"What are you saying...?" she asked cautiously.

"I'm saying I want my girl back,"

Violet's eyes jolted open in shock. She tried to move away, but his grip was too strong.

"Damon," her tone was more like a warning.

"You're supposed to be my wife," he stated matter-of-factly. "Your place isn't here. It should be with me,"

Violet's eyes went glassy again. Though she didn't agree with that statement, a part of her secretly wanted it.

"I can't be your wife, Damon..." she croaked.

"Why not?"

"Because you're... you," she said as a single tear fell off her cheek. "And the kind of life that we're gonna have... that's not the life I want..."

"Whatever kind of life you want, I promise I can give that to you," he said reassuringly.

"No, it's not that simple-"

"But it is!" he cut her off again. "I can give you the world, I can give you anything-"

"I don't want the world!" she cut him off this time. "I just want..."

"What do you want?" he pressed.

I just want... a life where you love me for me, and the world that you live in don't exist.

"I just want you to leave me alone..." she said instead.

Her words clearly affected him, but Damon kept his eyes straight at her as he asked, "Is that really what you want?"

"I..." Violet knew what to say, but she could say it. Her throat was closed up.

"You don't even know what you want," Damon let out a mocking scoff.

He stared at her for another second before tilting his head to the side and said, "Well, maybe I can help you with that,"

Suddenly and without warning, Damon pulled out his tie and roughly tied them around her wrists. Violet watched in horror as her hands were rendered unmoving by him. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm gonna need you to come with me,"

"What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'm making you an offer you can't refuse,"

Violet opened her mouth like she was about to scream, but Damon suddenly pulled out a gun from behind his back. Violet's mouth gaped open, but there was no sound coming out.

"So, what will it be?" he taunted her. "Your brains scattered on the floor or you're going with me out the back door?"

"You... You're not gonna shoot me," she said.

"You think?"

* CLICK *

Damon clicked off the gun's safety and Violet's body shook in fear. The barrel of the gun was pointed straight to her head.

"I'm a desperate man, Violet. A desperate man with a gun is not someone you wanna mess with,"

Violet swallowed hard. She could see the seriousness in his eyes, he wasn't joking about this. This was a personal matter. This was his vendetta.

"Okay, now I really hate you," she spat.

Damon only let out a chuckle and a smug winning smile.

"Good girl," he said. "I know you'd make the right decision,"

Violet was glaring daggers at him as he pulled her towards the back door of the barn. She tried to look brave, but her heart was racing in her chest and her hands were shaking. Slowly, she took one last glance at the party behind her as the people got smaller and smaller until she couldn't see them anymore. No one was gonna save her now. Not Lucas, Not Dylan-not anybody.

I had made my bed. Now I have to lie in it...

Violet was walking too slowly and Damon didn't like it. Impatiently, he picked her up and roughly threw her over his shoulder.

"Don't scream," he ordered her.

Violet went radio silent. A part of her wanted to fight back, but the other part of her knew that maybe this was her fate. Once she sold her soul to the devil, there was no going back. No matter how far she ran or how long it took, he would always find her. One way or another.

*

To Be Continued ---