The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 8

-----THREE YEARS AGO --- ~ Damon -

groceries in her hand.

Damon took a moment to study the picture in his hand. His eyes turned glassy instinctively. This was the first time he saw Violet's face in a month. It was hitting him like a brick wall. The picture showed that she was walking through some street with a bag of She seems good, happy, and healthy...

"What do you want us to do, boss?" Liam asked. "We can fly out there right now. The jet's already waiting at the tarmac,"

Damon took one last look at Violet's picture. His thumb slowly grazed over her beautiful face. But suddenly, he closed the file shut and shoved it back to Liam.

Liam looked at Damon in confusion as he held onto the file. Meanwhile, Damon turned around and went for the nearby mirror. His shirt and signature black suit were hanging next to it. It was always prepared there for him just in case he wanted to wear them today. "Boss?" Liam asked again.

Damon didn't say a word as he stood in front of the mirror. He wasn't wearing anything but slacks and a bandage over his wound. Slowly, he peeled the bandage away and it revealed a scar over his tattoo. It was hauntingly ironic how she shot him right at the tattoo of her name. The tattoo was somewhat ruined now, but he could still make out the letters... V RC.

Violet Rose Carvey. The girl who stole my heart and shot it to pieces.

The scar the surgery left behind had dried, but Damon remembered that morning like it was yesterday. He woke up early that day, put on his best suit, and got some flowers for Isabella's grave. He only wanted to pay respect because he still honored her. After all, she was his first love.

But when he got into the church, Violet was already there. She was wearing her wedding dress, looking like an absolute angel. For a moment, Damon actually thought she was an angel.

Damon didn't think much about seeing Violet there. But now, looking back, he should've suspected something was wrong. She wouldn't be inside that church if she wasn't thinking about something.

"I'm not your good, sweet girl anymore, Damon,"

* BANG! *

The loud thundering sound pierced through the air and Damon felt a sharp pang in his chest. Damon shook his head to get the image out of his head, but his heart could still feel the pain.

The most painful part about that day wasn't that she shot him in the chest, but it was that she shot him and left. Watching her leave in that bloodstained dress and not being able to do anything was the thing that hurt him the most. That image of her disappearing was what haunted him every night and day.

"Boss?" Liam asked again, pulling Damon out of his thoughts. He was waiting expectantly, his feet were eager to move.

Finally, Damon turned back around and told him, "We're not gonna do anything,"

"What?" Liam gaped.

"We're not going anywhere," Damon repeated himself. "She wants to be left alone,"

"But, she shot-"

"I know what she did," he cut Liam off sternly.

Liam was staring at Damon like he had three heads. This was totally unprecedented. There was no way in the world that someone could shoot a mafia man and get away scot-free.

"Boss, we can't let anyone think that they can just shoot Damon Van Zandt and get away with it. Not even if she's... your fiancée," Liam argued.

"Ex fiancée," Adrian interjected.

"No one will know about this!" Damon barked an order, rolling his eyes at Adrian. "At least, the part where I survive,"

Liam and Adrian exchanged a quick look. Liam was confused, but Adrian knew Damon was up to something.

"You want to let everyone think you're dead?" Adrian deduced.

A smile curved up Damon's lips as an answer.

"Why?" the consigliere asked.

"To finish what we started," Damon answered. "Remember, the enemies who are unseen are far more dangerous than those who are seen,"

Liam was still confused, but Adrian let out a knowing smile.

"You mean like her?" he taunted.

Damon let out a scoff in response.

That's right. I didn't see you coming at all. You took the life out of me. Literally.

"No one's gonna suspect that we're onto something, this is the perfect time to strike," Damon said as he went to grab his suit. In one swift move, he put the shirt over his toned boy, followed by the jacket.

"Spread the news that I didn't make it," he said to Liam. "We're gonna hold a funeral in a week. Invite everyone back to the estate. We're gonna end this once and for all,"

A big smile crept up Liam's face. He finally understood what his boss was trying to do.

"You got it, boss," Liam nodded his head and exited the room in a flash, leaving Damon alone with Adrian.

Damon straightened his suit and pulled out a crisp tie. He was in the middle of tying his tie when Adrian popped up behind him, his face was reflected in the mirror behind Damon.

"What about her?" the consigliere asked.

"Huh?"

"What happens when she hears the news about your funeral?" Adrian paused for a beat before adding, "She might come back,"

Ah. Wouldn't that be a sight to see?

Damon entertained the thought of Violet coming back for his funeral. It would be a dream come true to see her again. But if she does come back, it wouldn't be good for her. This funeral was not for the dead. It was for the living. "Austin's a faraway place. Make sure she doesn't hear about this," Damon said finally. Then he turned around and said, "And make sure no one gets to her,"

Adrian nodded his head in agreement. "Okay,"

"I need you to get your best man out there," Damon said as he reached for his cufflinks.

"Beau's already there," Adrian replied. "Since last night,"

Damon let out a sigh of relief. It was good to know that someone was keeping an eye on her. Only God knows what these other mafia families would do if they knew where she was. His loyalists might try to kill her to get on his good side, and his enemies might offer her deals to get to him. "Good," Damon said. "Keep him there,"

Looking satisfied at his reflection in the mirror, Damon turned for the door. But before he exited the room, Adrian called out to him.

"So what's your plan with the funeral?"

Damon let out a knowing smile.

"I'm planning to get our business in order," he said. "And I'm saving the best for last,"

***

---ONE WEEEK LATER -----

The funeral for Damon Van Zandt was nothing short of an extravagant event. White roses adorned every inch of the estate as black SUVs and limousines lined up at the front door. Every head of the mafia family from all over the world came to pay their respect. Most of the people who came that day weren't his loyalists, but they came anyway out of honor-and because Adrian had promised an auction for Damon's business holdings.

In the middle of the grand room, Damon's body lay in a casket surrounded by candles and flowers. Behind him were the choir and orchestra singing heavenly songs. All the seats before him were filled with people in black suits and dark sunglasses. And standing in front of the podium was Adrian, getting ready to start his eulogy.

"Thank you to everyone who's gathered here today," Adrian said as his eyes scanned the sea of people before him. "It's an honor and a privilege to have you all in this room. All of you who are here today are not here by accident. We've specifically picked all of you by name and invited your presence to be here. Because the thing is... You haven't been loyal to the Van Zandt family. So it's time for you to pay,"

A hush fell over the room as people's expressions began to change. They weren't expecting anything, but now they realized something was about to go down. Some guys reached into their pockets to get their guns, but it was too late.

*BANG!* BANG!* BANG! *

Damon rose from the casket and opened fire on everyone. His men also appeared from the second floor and from behind the walls, raining bullets on all the guests. The choir and the orchestra continued to sing "Hallelujah" as Damon and his men slaughtered the hundreds of people in attendance.

It was a gruesome sight. At the end of it all, about two hundred men had died. Words spread about Damon's actions and people called him Il Diavolo for what he did. Not one person who wasn't loyal to him remained standing. It was a funeral to end all funerals, and Damon stood as the victor above it all. The king over ash and blood.

--

-- ONE MONTH LATER -----

Life went by a lot easier without having any enemies. Damon's businesses were thriving and no one dared to even go near him. But even after all the successes he had, he wasn't satisfied. Sure, he was a king, but he was a lonely king. Every night he sat alone on his throne, drinking whiskey and thinking about a girl that he used to know.

Every now and then, Damon would call up Beau and ask for updates. Tonight was one of those nights. Putting his glass of whiskey down, Damon pulled out his phone and dialed the number.

"What do you have?" he said as soon as Beau picked up.

"She uh... she starts working in this coffee shop now," Beau replied. "She spends every day in here,"

Uh-huh. Of course.

"She's become quite close with the shop's owner and his son. They had dinner together last night," Beau continued.

"I see," Damon let out a sigh. "Alright then,"

Damon was about to hang up the phone, but Beau quickly interjected.

"Uh, Boss... I heard that the funeral was a success," he said. "Since everyone was wiped out and she's safe here, isn't it time that I should head back?"

"No," Damon responded quickly. "I still need you there,"

"But boss-"

"I'm not done yet with her," he said sternly. "Still far from it,"

---THREE YEARS LATER

Damon had no plans when it came to Violet. He knew that he wasn't done with her and someday soon he'd have to meet her face to face, but he didn't know when or how to do that. Actually, he knew what he needed to do to go see her, but he kept avoiding doing it. He was afraid of what would happen when they meet and finally have the talk. She might tell him that everything is over and that would hurt a hell lot more than a shot to the chest.

"It's been three years, Damon," Adrian said as he sat in front of him in the study. "I think it's time we bring Beau home,"

"No," Damon shook his head and took a long drag of his cigarette. Yes, he started smoking again as it was the only thing that kept him sane lately.

"You know, if you wanna go see her, just go see her already," Adrian said meaningfully. "What is it that you're waiting for? A sign from heaven?"

Damon chose not to answer him. Adrian had been pestering Damon to bring Beau back for a while now since their business was booming and Adrian needed all hands on deck. But still, Damon insisted on keeping Beau around Violet just in case something happens. "Well, alright. I'll give you one," Adrian said suddenly. "She's getting married,"

Damon's eyes shot up in an instant.

"What?" he gaped.

"This weekend. She's getting hitched to that... cowboy kid,"

Damon was calm a minute ago, but now his blood was boiling and his heart was racing. He scrunched away the cigarette and shot daggers at Adrian.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" he demanded.

"Ask Beau," Adrian said simply.

Adrian and Damon held a staring contest. Damon was trying to see if Adrian was bluffing, but his face remained serious. Damon clenched his jaw and his fist went to bang the table. "Liam!" he yelled.

"Yes, boss?" Liam entered the study seconds later.

Still glaring at Adrian, Damon straightened his suit and stood up to his feet.

"Get the jet ready,"

PRESENT DAY

"Damon..."

Violet's voice came out like a moan. Hearing her say his name like this was everything he ever wanted. Even though she was denying wanting him, her body and her moans couldn't lie. I got you, sweet girl,"

“|

Damon's tongue rolled down her neck and he planted kisses all over her sweet spot. Violet's cheeks were turning red and her breathing was ragged. Slowly, his hands trailed to her knee and up her thigh, and he could feel her shuddering at his touch. "Let me show you just how much I love you,"

Damon paused for a moment to take one more look at her. She was looking up at him, and he was looking down at her. No one said anything. Damon didn't even breathe. Suddenly and without warning, he closed the distance between their lips. I've waited three years for this.

Damon kissed her hard and wantonly. She was struggling to breathe, but he wasn't relenting. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and kissed her deeper, pulling her tight into his body.

Fúck it. I'll wait three, thirty, or three hundred more.

*

*

- To Be Continued -----