The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 7

- Violet -

Violet slumped down into the white leather seat of the private jet. Her hands were still tied together and now Damon was pulling the seatbelt over her stomach. He fastened the seatbelt unnecessarily tight, and his face stood only inches away from her. As he finished clasping the seatbelt shut, Damon's eyes held a playful glint, but Violet wasn't amused. He took a step back and admired the view-how Violet was all tied up in that chair. Violet glared daggers at him. He had the audacity to take her away from her family and her idyllic life, forcing her into a black SUV and now a private jet. He didn't show any remorse on that stoic face, in fact, he looked almost satisfied to see her this way.

"Do you have to look at me like that?" He said with a scoff.

From the way he tied her up, Violet couldn't move an inch, so glaring was all that she could do.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.

"Home," he said simply.

"I was already home," she spat. "That was my brother's wedding and you took me away from my own family! Are you happy now?"

"Sure," he shrugged, smirking nonchalantly as he sat down in his chair.

Violet was fuming, but Damon remained cool. He tilted his head towards the pilot and gave him a wave. The pilot nodded his head and the plane's engine began roaring. Violet could feel the plane was about to take off and her heart sank deeper in her stomach. He's really going to take me away. Away from the safety and comfort of the life I've spent three years building...

Sitting across from her, Damon sat back comfortably while keeping a slight smirk on his lips. Violet could only seethe in silence as the plane accelerated and took off to the skies. She kept glancing at the door, but there was no way she could escape this now. "I told you to stop looking at me like that,"

Damon's voice caught her off guard. The plane had fully taken off and it was gliding through the air. With each mile that passed, Violet grew more weary and hopeless.

"What do you want with me?" she asked.

"I'm still thinking about it," he paused for a beat and said, "Might make you pay for what you did. Or..."

"Or?"

"Or I might thank you,"

Violet narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Thank me?"

"Yeah,"

"Why?"

The fastened seatbelt sign was off and Damon took off his seatbelt almost instantly. With a smirk playing on his face, he stood up and walked closer to her. Putting his hands down on the armrest around her, he leaned forward and whispered into her ear. "For shooting me in the heart and making people believe that I died,"

Violet's eyes jerked up with anxiety. She swallowed hard and pulled back, not knowing how to react to his statement.

"I'm not kidding, you did me a solid," he let out a chuckle and pulled away, studying her frightened expression. "Even though you don't actually mean that,"

"What... do you mean...?" she asked cautiously.

Damon's smirk grew wider and his arms were crossed in front of his chest.

"There's a rule known to the people in my line of business. The enemies who are unseen are far more dangerous than those who are seen,"

Violet stared at him meaningfully, waiting for more explanation. Damon started walking circles around her, and occasionally his arm would brush against her shoulder. He probably did that on purpose.

"You see, because of what you did, a lot of my enemies thought I was dead. People couldn't see me coming in. I was able to wipe them out without them even noticing. All of my enemies are gone now. I have all the power a man could only dream of, and it's all thanks to you,"

Damon stopped moving and stood in front of her. Violet didn't know what to say. Was he seriously thanking her for shooting him in the heart? Was she supposed to say 'you're welcome'?

"So... you got rid of all your enemies?" she said instead.

"Almost all of them," he replied.

"Hugo DeSantis?"

"I saved the best for last,"

Violet's chest burned at the thought of Hugo. She hadn't thought about that name for three years, but now the memories were coming back. Hugo was the reason why she and Damon broke up in the first place. She ran away from Damon and got kidnapped by the Maranzano family as a result. And sure, Damon saved her and they got back together afterward, but Hugo never left them alone. He was always around, lurking in the background. And that conversation he had with Damon was another big reason why Violet couldn't go through with the wedding. He was the elephant in the room, the thorn in her side that wouldn't leave her be. So as long as Damon was loyal to him, she could never see a future for them.

"You know what I think?" she said suddenly. "I think you don't wanna get rid of Hugo,"

"Is that so?" Damon narrowed his eyes.

"He's too big a part of your life. You just can't do it. He's your godfather," she stated.

"Is this another reason why you called off the wedding?" he deduced. "You think I'd pick him over you?"

Wouldn't you?

Violet didn't say the words out loud, but she didn't have to. He could see it written across her face.

"How many times do I have to tell you until you believe me?" he said through gritted teeth. "You're the only one I'm loyal to. I've picked you and I'll never pick anyone else,"

Violet was caught in a daze. Her throat closed up and her heart skipped a beat. Those were the words she wanted to hear three years ago. And maybe if she heard it then, she'd believe it. But not now. Not anymore. "Wow," she let out a dry laugh. "For a split second, you almost had me there,"

Damon looked irritated. He leaned down closer to her and cocked his head to the side.

"You think I'm bullshitting you?" he asked.

"I heard about your little plan with Hugo," she answered. "You were using me and the wedding as a ruse to get your enemies to come to one place where you can end them all,"

Damon looked taken aback this time. This piece of information was the nail on the coffin that helped Violet made her decision. This along with the mountain of doubts she was harboring.

"...And you said that Isabella was the only girl you ever loved," she continued. "Anyone else after her means nothing to you,"

"I told you, I was just bluffing!" he barked. "I didn't mean anything I said to him,"

"And you meant what you said to me?"

"Every word of it,"

Violet let out an involuntary scoff. She found that hard to believe. From the way he was acting, who could really know what was in his heart?

Or if he even has a heart?

"Why is that so hard to believe?" he pressed.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "You say one thing but your actions speak differently,"

"How?" he demanded. "Isn't it so obvious that I'm madly in love with you and I'd do anything for you?"

Love...

Violet's breath was caught in her throat again. Especially when he used the L-word. It made her knees tremble and her lips quiver.

Pulling her composure, she quickly shook her head and said, "Maybe you think that you love me, but you only ever love yourself. The only person you're loyal to is you, Damon," Damon flinched as if her words affected him.

"Is that really what you think?" he asked.

"Yeah," she breathed. "Truth be told, I'm just a shadow of an image of the girl you used to love. So, basically, I'm nothing,"

Damon's dark piercing eyes bore deep into her soul. He looked offended, mad, and maybe even hurt.

"You think so lowly of me," he said. "And of yourself,"

Violet's eyes shot up to look at him. She wasn't glaring at him now, but he was glaring at her.

"Do you know what I've been doing for the past three years?" he asked suddenly.

"You've said it," she replied. "You got rid of all your enemies. You're the most powerful man now,"

"That's right," he nodded. "I killed them all and I killed all their families. Anyone who stood in my way wouldn't see the light of day,"

Violet shuddered at his words. She knew he wasn't lying. He probably did all of those things. Killed every man, woman, and child who stood between him and his heart's desire.

"At first, I thought everyone was right about me," he continued. "They say I don't have a heart. I was a cold-blooded killing machine. I brought judgment day and rained hell on the lot of them. They even called me il Diavolo, or the devil,"

Damon let out a smile as if he was embracing that name. Violet swallowed hard and studied his eyes. Yes, his gaze was always sharp and cold-but it had some soul in it before. But now, all she could see there was the darkness.

"But you know something?" he asked. "When you shot me and you left... I realized that turns out, I still have a heart. Even though you destroyed it beyond fucking oblivion, it's still there. It's all in pieces like dust, but it's still there. Waiting. Wishing. Wanting for you to come back,"

Violet's mouth fell open but there are no words coming out. A part of her couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Tell me, isn't that something?" he said with a dry laugh.

Violet couldn't answer him. She just stared at him, confused and bewildered.

"For three years, I was a dead man walking. I walk around like I didn't need a heart to live. And some days I don't. I don't feel anything and I don't think I could ever feel again. But then I saw you today and..."

Damon paused as he leaned closer. Suddenly, his hand reached up to touch her face. Violet flinched back a little, but she couldn't move too far. His hand landed on her cheek and he palmed her face. Violet could feel the warmth of his skin and it sent shivers up and down her spine.

"If only you know how my heart burns for you,"

Damon's voice came out in a low whisper. His eyes remained locked on her, but his hand moved to take her hand up to him. He guided her hands to his chest and Violet felt the warmth of his skin there.

"You shot me right here, but do you feel this?" he asked. "Do you feel how fast it's beating because of you?"

Thump. Thump. Thump. Damon was right. His heart was beating fast and loud, and Violet could feel every movement and every tremor. It made her own heart beat faster and slower at the same time. "You can kill me with that bullet and I'll still be waiting at your hands and feet,"

Violet let out a gasp. His words shot through her harder than a bullet to the chest. She looked up at him and she couldn't breathe.

"I love you, sweet girl. Always have and always will,"

With his words, Damon killed her. Her whole body froze up and her heart exploded. She thought that after three years, she'd be strong enough to handle anything, but no. After hearing those three words coming from him, she was a goner all over again. "And you thought I brought you here to kill you," he said with a chuckle.

Slowly, Damon's hands reached for her face again. Her hands were still resting on his chest. She didn't push him back when he leaned closer. Damon inched his face towards her and his lips were so dangerously close. "Damon..." she breathed.

"I just wanna kiss you," he murmured to her skin. "So badly,"

Violet thought about pushing back, but her body wasn't complying. She went back deeper into her seat, but Damon only followed her there. "P-please," she stammered.

"Do you believe me now?" he asked.

Violet closed her eyes shut. She didn't know what to do. She cringed in anticipation as she knew what was going to happen next.

Violet waited for a moment, thinking that he was going to kiss her, but he didn't. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw him staring down at her. He was studying her expression and her body language, and it looked as if he disapproved. "Alright," he sighed. "Let me show you then,"

Without warning, Damon pressed a button and pushed her seat all the way back. Violet struggled in her seatbelt, but she couldn't break free. She was now lying flat on her back with her hands tied and Damon hovering above her. "Damon..." she begged.

"Sssh," he put a finger to her lips and kissed the skin of her jaw. "Just let me,"

To Be Continued - - - - -