The Mafia's Good Girl
The Mafia’s Good Girl – Chapter 44

~ Damon ~

When Damon opened his eyes the next day, the first thing he saw was Violet’s face. Their faces lay only a few inches away and her eyes were closed as she was still sleeping. Damon noted her beautiful features and the way she breathes. She looked so peaceful, yet so fragile. He wanted to touch her but he was afraid he’d wake her up, so he just stayed still and continued watching her.

Damon’s mind then wandered to last night and the things Violet said to him. He was so excited to see her after a long day, but she looked like she was holding back. And then she said, “I think… it’s not always obvious what you want,”

Damon thought hard about that sentence. It wasn’t obvious what he wanted because he didn’t know what he wanted himself. Getting into a relationship or falling in love was out of the question. He swore off those things, never again, he said.

So this thing with Violet… what is it?

Bringing her to Italy for a week was not the answer, it was only prolonging the question. At the end of the trip, he’d still have to decide if he wanted her around for good, and what that would look like.

Would I date her? Then marry her? But she’s only eighteen and she still has so much to live for. Am I gonna end all that to bring her into this dark and dangerous world?

While Damon was lost in thoughts, Violet was slowly waking up from her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw was his face. Those bright violet eyes shone like never before. Damon took one look into her eyes and all the stresses in his mind faltered away.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile creeping up her lips.

“Good morning,” he replied, and her smile was making him smile too.

Damon leaned forward and pressed his lips on her nose and cheek. Violet let out a giggle and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever heard.

“Why are you smiling like that?” he asked, noticing how bright her smile was.

Violet’s cheeks blushed rosy pink as she said, “You stayed the whole night,”

“Is that such a big deal?”

“You never stayed until I woke up before,” she said, and her hand reached up to touch his face. “I like that you stayed,”

This simple gesture was enough to get his heart racing. Damon propped his head up on his elbow and asked, “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Well, maybe I’ll stay again tonight,” he said in that playful tone.

Violet couldn’t stop her smile from growing bigger. She must really like that idea.

“Maybe even cuddle,” he added, smirking triumphantly.

Violet faked a gasp in response. With a concerned look, she said to him, “Who are you and what have you done to Damon?”

Damon let out a laugh. He never usually woke up like this, laughing in bed. Sleeping with her made him feel calm and well-rested, but waking up with her was even better. He was happy.

Cupping her cheek with his hand, he pulled her face to him and said, “I’m glad you came,”

Violet rested her face into his hand and smiled. “Me too,”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Getting out of bed this morning turned out to be a difficult task for Damon. What used to take him three minutes now took thirty. He had a big day and a packed schedule, but he couldn’t be bothered to get ready. He was too concerned with kissing and laughing with his girl.

When he was finally ready, Damon and Violet went down to the shared living room where his men gathered. They were all eating breakfast from room service and Talia was amongst them.

“Morning, everyone,” he greeted them.

“Good morning, boss,” they replied.

Violet and Damon sat down at the long dining table and joined everyone for breakfast. Damon was being such a gentleman, pulling a chair out for Violet and it caught everyone’s attention. Everyone’s eyes were on them and Talia kept giving them playful looks. The men also looked a little awkward as this was a new sight for them.

Are they gonna think I’m weak because I’m simping?

“Coffee?” Violet asked him, pulling his train of thought.

“Yes, thank you,” he said.

Damon watched as Violet poured him a cup of coffee and everyone else was watching them. She smiled as she gave the cup to him and he took it gladly.

“Is it good?” she asked. Her eyes were glimmering and her lips were rosy pink.

Ah, screw what they think.

Damon responded by leaning into her and capturing her lips, kissing her in front of the whole table. He could almost hear everyone holding their breaths, and Talia was probably getting a heart attack.

“It’s very good,” Damon said as he pulled away. Meanwhile, Violet was caught off guard by the k**s and her cheeks blushed bright red.

How cute.

Throughout the rest of breakfast, Damon really took Violet’s words to heart. He was now more forward than ever when showing his affection for her. He couldn’t stop touching or kissing her. At one point, he even cut off the crusts on her toast.

Is this ain’t enough, I don’t know what is.

Once breakfast was over, it was time for him and his guys to do some business. They had a meeting with one of the most powerful Italian families today, one who Damon had deep ties with. And while he would do that, Talia and Violet were going sightseeing. They were going to all the touristy areas, which should be safe, but he instructed two of his men to follow them anyway.

“Is that really necessary?” Violet asked, referring to the two bodyguards who were fully armed and waiting at her hands at feet.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “You need to stick with them at all times,”

“But—“

“No buts,” he cut her off. “Be a good girl and listen to me,”

Violet let out a defeated sigh and nodded her head. She didn’t understand this, but the Van Zandt family was getting more and more powerful lately, which meant that their enemies were everywhere. Rome should be a safe place, but one could never be too safe.

“I’ll see you tonight,” Damon said as he kissed her lips one last time.

“See you tonight,” she replied.

They exchanged another smile before he pulled away and headed to the door. Everyone was waiting and he was already an hour late for the meeting, but he didn’t care. Damon had to make sure his first priority was taken care of before he could go out and conquer the world. Now if it wasn’t clear what he wanted before, he knew exactly what he wanted now.

Her. I just want her.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Another long day had passed and Damon was eager to get home. While he was walking out of an office building for his last meeting, he passed by a flower stall and something caught his eye. It was a bouquet of beautiful purple roses and he instantly thought of her when he saw it.

Damon stopped his tracks and his entourage stopped with him. Adrian looked at him in confusion as he neared the flower stall and talked to the guy about buying the flowers. Adrian watched Damon in silence, and he had a concerned look on his face. Maybe even disapproval. But before he could say anything, the next thing he knew, he was riding in a car with Damon and the bouquet of roses was sitting in between them.

“Bringing a liability out to Italy,” Adrian said after a while of silence. “Things must be going well for you two,”

“Shut up, I don’t need to hear the lecture,” Damon replied rather curtly. He knew what Adrian must be thinking. Their Italian trip was a top-secret mission and bringing an outsider like Violet was dangerous.

“No, I’m not lecturing you, Damon,” Adrian shook his head. “To be honest, I find this kind of nice. It’s refreshing. And Talia seems to like her a lot,”

Damon shot Adrian a look. Was he being sarcastic or serious?

“Well, good,” Damon said. “You better get used to it then. She might be coming on more trips,”

“Oh?” Adrian said in that disapproving tone.

“What?” Damon asked.

Adrian didn’t answer right away, but he had an uncertain look on his face.

“You got that look on your face. Just say it,” Damon pressed again.

“Damon, are you serious about this girl?”

“What if I am?”

“Does she feel the same way about you?”

Damon paused before answering. It was one thing to know what he wanted, but he never really knew what she wanted either.

But she has to feel something for me… otherwise…

“What? You don’t think so?” Damon clapped back, sounding rather defensive.

“She’s only eighteen, Damon. She’s barely an adult,”

“So?”

Damon was getting more and more irritated with this conversation. Adrian noticed it and he let out a sigh. He knew that when Damon felt provoked like this, it was better to remain cool and calm.

“Look, I’m not telling you how to live your life. I’m happy if you’re happy. But think about it, this girl is innocent. She doesn’t know anything. Is she ready for the kind of life we live?” Adrian paused for a beat before continuing, “And more than that, how do you know if what she feels is real and not just some Stockholm syndrome bullshit?”

At that moment, something snapped inside Damon and he lunged at Adrian. He grabbed Adrian by his collar, almost choking him. Adrian’s face turned blue, but he didn’t freak out, he remained absolutely calm. When Damon realized what he was doing, he instinctively loosened his grip and backed away.

“That’s not it,” he said through ragged breaths. “She’s not like that,”

Adrian didn’t say another word, he was only gasping for air. Not long after that, the car pulled up at the hotel and Damon got out that very second. With the bouquet of flowers in his hand, he went straight to the penthouse suite. His chest was still heaving up and down as he stood in the elevator. As much as he didn’t like to admit it, he knew Adrian had a point. A point he didn’t want to know.

Damon’s mind was a mess. The elevator door opened and he saw Violet lounging on the couch. She turned around when she heard him coming and her face lit up in excitement.

“Hey,” she beamed, getting off the couch to get near him.

“Hey,” he replied. One look at her face and all of a sudden, those messy thoughts he had in his mind slipped away.

“How was your day?” she asked, linking her arms around his neck.

“It was good. And I got you something, they reminded me of you,” he said as he showed her the bouquet of flowers.

Violet let out a gasp. She took the flowers and the smile on her face grew wider.

“Thank you, I love it!” she squealed.

“You do?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she laughed. “And I love it the first time around too,”

Violet was referring to the first time they met and how he sent her a box of violet roses after she helped him escape the cops. It was a nice gift, but it was just something he ordered his men to bring to her. It wasn’t anything… special.

“You loved those?” he asked.

“Of course,”

“But you didn’t know me then,”

“I loved it anyway,” she shrugged. “They were the first flowers I ever got. They’re special,”

Damon was taken aback. She had such energy about her that he couldn’t help but feel happier when he was with her.

You’re special.

Damon put his hands on her cheeks and brought her face up to him. He kissed her light and tenderly, savoring her sweet taste. And when they were done kissing, he pulled away but not completely. He rested his forehead on top of hers and stared at those beautiful violet eyes.

“Hey, Damon,” she said suddenly.

“Yeah?”

Violet didn’t say what she wanted to say right away. It almost looked like it was difficult to say. Damon waited patiently and she was looking up at him with glimmering eyes. It was a look he hadn’t seen before, a look that he couldn’t decipher.

“I think I’m in love with you…”