The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 48

~ Violet -

Despite the tension in the air, dinner went by without a hitch. There was just mostly small talk, conversations about food, babies, or the weather, and nothing else. Everyone was pretty much walking on eggshells, not wanting to stir any drama.

After dinner was over, Violet helped Barbara back to her room as everyone else also retreated back to their places. The big house felt empty now as the lights went down. Violet passed the dining room on her way back and noticed how everything was already cleaned up by the maids. It felt like such a stark difference after having more than ten people in one room to having none. It felt kind of lonely. Standing in this huge place all alone.

Violet stopped for a moment and stood by the large glass window overlooking the garden. Once her family leaves and Damon's let go of most of his hired men, there wouldn't be too many people around here anymore. It was just gonna be Damon, Talia, Liam, and Beau... and maybe her too. But that was it. Just a group of lonely souls living in a 12-bedroom mansion.

"It's a great place he got here,"

A voice startled Violet and she whipped her head around. Luke was standing a couple of feet behind her. His arms were crossed and he was leaning against the doorway.

"I couldn't sleep, so I was just walking around," he continued, chuckling a little as he said, "His house is bigger than my high school," "Yeah..." Violet smiled and nodded knowingly.

Luke uncrossed his arms and walked closer to her, standing at an arm's length away. Violet stood in her place and glanced up at him. He still looked the same. Those warm blue eyes, that gentle smile. Maybe it was selfish, but she really missed him. She missed her best friend.

"So, how are you?" Luke asked, breaking the deadly silence.

"I'm good," Violet replied, holding back her emotions.

"You're showing a little more," he commented.

"Yup. Eighteen weeks," she nodded, putting a hand on her belly. "Dr. Lee said we can determine the baby's gender for certain on our next visit,"

"That's cool. You must be excited,"

Violet couldn't help but smile, thinking how exciting it was to find out the baby's gender. But then she saw the look on Luke's face. He was smiling too, but a forced one. Somewhat bitterly.

For the past few months, Luke was by her side throughout all the doctor's appointments. There was a time in their lives when they believed they would raise this baby together. They were a team. Luke loves this baby too. And now things were just... awkward. "Luke..." Violet said with a heavy sigh, her hand reaching for his arm.

"It's alright, you don't have to say it," Luke said as he shook his head. "I should've known from the start. I can't have what's not mine,"

Ouch.

"Hey, I know you don't wanna hear this, but... I feel like I owe you an explanation. And an apology," Violet said, pausing for a beat before continuing, "You were there for me when I had nobody. You picked me up when I was lost and confused, and you helped me and gave me a sense of purpose. I'll always be grateful for that... And..."

Violet's voice began to tremble and she gripped his arm tighter. Luke's hand reached up and gripped her hand right back.

"And...?"

"And if I can return the love you have for me the way you deserve to be loved, I would've done it. But the truth is... I only love Damon. Always have and always will,"

Violet's eyes turned glassy, filled with apology and gratitude all at the same time. Luke's eyes turned glassy too, but mostly from hurt and disappointment.

"What about all that stuff you say about his life?" he argued. "About you not wanting to raise your baby in that kind of environment?"

"Things are different now. He's changing. He's leaving this world behind,"

"Like it's that easy?" he scoffed. "You told me he's been saying that for years. What's different now?"

A lot of things are different now. They're not just words anymore. They're real.

"He killed Hugo DeSantis," Violet stated firmly. "He's severed ties with the other mafia bosses. He's letting other families take over his empire. He's leaving everything, and he's only taking the few legitimate businesses he has left-"

"So, that's it?" Luke interjected. "Damon's a changed man. He's leaving everything behind and suddenly he'll be a good family man?"

Violet fell silent, but she was glaring daggers at Luke. Luke's words were harsh, but he had a point. If Damon wasn't a mafia king anymore, what would he be?

"You can take the man out of the darkness, Violet, but you can never take the darkness out of the man,"

Violet's gaze narrowed sharper. She then pulled her hand away and crossed her arm. Luke let out a sigh and put his hands in his pocket.

"What if it doesn't work out?" Luke said lowly, almost like a whisper.

"But what if it does?" she replied challengingly.

Luke and Violet just stared at each other for the longest time. None of them would break. They didn't say anything either. Dead silence filled the air.

~ Damon -

Damon was waiting in the bedroom for Violet to return. He waited for a while, and he started getting impatient. He couldn't sleep if she wasn't next to him. Ever since Italy happened, Damon's nightmares were back again. Without Violet next to him, he was restless. Hearing the sound of her breaths was the only thing that calmed him down enough to get him to sleep.

Feeling like he couldn't wait around anymore, Damon got up from the bed and walked out of the room. He figured Violet would be in her mom's room. He just wanted to make sure everything was okay. But as he walked past the dining room, he noticed two figures standing by the large window. Damon stopped his tracks and narrowed his eyes. From their silhouettes, Damon could see that it was Violet standing in front of Luke.

"...I guess we just have to agree to disagree," Luke said.

"I guess so," Violet replied.

Damon was trying to read the room. There was definitely tension there, but he didn't know what.

"This is crazy," Luke said.

"What is?" she asked.

"I thought when I come here to see you, I'll hate you and I'll find the closure I need. But I don't. I still don't hate you,"

Damon swallowed hard. Luke's hand reached out to her arm, holding her there.

"I really do care for you, Violet. I want you to be happy," he said.

"I care about you too, Luke. Which is why I'm doing this. You deserve so much better..." Violet replied.

That sounded like a goodbye, which was what Damon wanted to hear. But still, he didn't like the way Luke was looking at her. If this was the old Damon, he'd get out there and punch the hell out of that guy. But the new Damon restrained himself. "It's getting late. You should get some sleep," Luke said finally.

"You too, you must be tired from all the traveling," Violet said, pausing for a beat before adding, "Am I gonna see you tomorrow?"

"Do you want to see me tomorrow?"

Violet nodded her head.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow,"

Violet smiled and turned away. Damon quickly ducked back so she wouldn't see him. He also took a couple of steps back and acted all surprised when he saw her walking out.

"Hey," he said. "I was looking for you,"

"Well, you found me," Violet replied, smiling brightly.

At this time, Luke also walked out and he glared at Damon as he passed them by. Damon waited until he was completely out of sight before talking again.

"I assumed you guys talked," he said. "How was it?"

"It went... alright. I think,"

"He's still staying?"

"I want him to. I want him to see how happy I am here. And that you make me very happy," Violet said as she linked her arms around Damon's neck. "And then maybe he'll get the closure he needs," Damon let out a sigh and hugged her back.

"It's not your job to hand out closures to everyone you meet," he murmured to her ear.

"I know, but Luke is a special friend to me. Please understand,"

Damon rolled his eyes, but Violet couldn't see it. Letting out another sigh, he then pulled her towards the stairs.

"Fine. But can we go to bed now?" he asked.

"Of course,"

Damon and Violet climbed up the stairs and went into the bedroom. Damon dimmed the lights down low as Violet cozied herself on the bed. Damon let out a satisfied smile seeing her in there. This was all he wanted. To have her on his side, night to morning and morning to night.

"Good night, Damon. Sweet dreams," Violet kissed his cheek as he snuggled next to her.

"You too, my sweet girl,"

Damon closed his eyes and listened to the sound of her soft breaths. They lulled him to sleep almost instantly. Damon felt like he was floating on the clouds. He was weightless. Everything felt nice and warm, until suddenly- *BANG!* BANG!* BANG! *

"Get down!" Liam yelled and pulled Violet down, hiding behind a tree.

After being frozen for a moment, Violet finally gathered herself and found cover. She and Liam were hiding behind a tree and Beau and Adrian were hiding behind another tree across from them. Gunshots were raining down on them while Gianni and Benigni rained shots down at Hugo and his men.

Damon was in a tough spot. He was caught in the middle of the crossfire. Knowing he couldn't take all of Hugo's men by himself, he quickly stepped back and closed the metal door while he was being shot at. Luckily, none of the bullets got him and the metal door protected him. The door was strong, but it wouldn't be for too long. The bullets kept denting and clanging against it. One of the bullets even broke through the glass window. Damon ducked down for cover, thinking of ways to get back out there and attack. "We need to get to Damon!" Violet said to Liam. "We have to cover him!"

Liam glanced at the metal door and nodded his head. Then he turned to Beau, gave him a hand signal, and Beau nodded back.

"Stay here, I'll go get him," Liam told Violet.

"I'll come with you," she interjected.

"No," Liam said firmly. "If anything happens to you, Damon's gonna kill me,"

"Go, now!" Beau yelled to Liam. "We'll cover you!"

Not wasting another second, with bullets flying in the air, Liam did a brave move and raced across the room. Adrian and Beau were firing their guns like crazy, covering for Liam. Hugo and his men were forced to move back, finding cover behind some pillars. Meanwhile, Violet was watching the whole thing like it was in slow motion. Liam reached the metal door and banged it before yelling, "Boss, we got you!"

Damon pulled the door back instantly and came out firing alongside Liam. Liam and Damon shared a quick look before slowly walking up. Beau, Adrian, and the rest of the guys moved towards them and they became a unit. They were attacking Hugo and his men from one side, while Gianni and Benigni attacked from the other side.

Hugo and his men didn't stand a chance against this army. Knowing that their victory was near, Damon turned his head to the side, finding Violet hiding behind a tree. Damon nodded to Adrian and he nodded back. Quickly and stealthily, he left his unit and went towards Violet. Violet saw him running over to her and her heart leaped in joy. Everything in the world seemed to have stopped moving. It didn't matter that a firefight was happening behind them, Violet and Damon only had their eyes for each other. Smiling as they came closer.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the garden, Hugo was cornered and desperate. His men were falling one by one and he could see his defeat coming. Hugo glared daggers at Damon in anger. One minute ago, he had the world in the palm of his hand, but all of a sudden, everything was taken away. All because of Damon.

"If we can't win this fight, just make sure we get him!" Hugo yelled angrily, pointing his gun at Damon.

In the corner of her eye, Violet saw Hugo and his men pointing their guns at Damon. Damon didn't see them because he was too busy running towards her.

*BANG! *

"No!" Violet screamed and her body jumped instinctively.

She ran as fast as she could, crashing into Damon, causing the both of them to fall to the ground. Violet's body landed on top of his, covering him. It took Damon a second before he realized what happened. He quickly turned their bodies around, pulled her to the side so they were covered by the tree, and he held her pale face in his arms.

"Violet?" Damon's voice sounded worried. "Sweet girl?"

Damon was rocking her back forth, yelling and screaming, but Violet couldn't hear anything. Slowly, she glanced down to find blood seeping out of her shirt, right around her stomach. Violet's eyes went blurry after that. Damon called and yelled for her, but there was no response. He saw the light escape her eyes and just like that, they went blank.

"No!!!"

Damon's body jerked up instantly. He was sweating from head to toe, and his chest was heaving up and down.

"Damon...?" Violet croaked as she stirred in bed. "What time is it?"

Damon looked around and realized he was in his room. The nightmares were getting stronger. They were so vivid, it took him a moment to realize it was only a dream.

"It's nothing, sweet girl," he said as he lay back down and wrapped his arm around her stomach. "Go back to sleep,"

"... Is everything okay...?" she murmured, her eyes still closed.

Damon's breathing slowed down as he focused himself on the sound of her breaths.

"Yes, sweet girl," he whispered. "Everything's okay now,"