The Mafia's Good Girl
The Mafia’s Good Girl – Chapter 46

~ Violet ~

– – – – – Three Days Later – – – – –

“I can’t believe we’re leaving in two days,” Talia sighed and rested her head on the pool lounge. “Time flies so fast,”

“I know,” Violet nodded in agreement. “Like, I miss my family but I don’t mind staying here a few more days,”

“Amen to that,” Talia laughed and pulled her sunglasses down.

Today, two girls were sunbathing under the warm Italian sun by the poolside. They took a break from museum visits and clothes shopping and enjoyed a slow Sunday. Talia was wearing her fancy black one-piece and Violet wore a white bikini. Wearing a bikini was never her thing, but since it was Italy and there was a guy she’d like to impress, the bikini became her new best friend.

Speaking of the guy she’d like to impress, Damon went out early in the morning for a meeting with his men, but they were coming back later for lunch. Three days had passed since Violet and Damon confessed their love to each other and now the couple was as strong as ever. They even talked about plans after leaving Italy. Damon agreed to let Violet go back to her house as long as she’d keep a bodyguard with her at all times. She would then move her family someplace better with the money she had, maybe even get Dylan back to college and her mom to a better healthcare facility. And finally, she and Damon would continue to meet and date like normal people would.

Like normal people… yeah whatever that is.

The more Violet spent time with the mafia, the more she understood what a dangerous world she was living in. Damon never went into explicit details when he talked about the things he did, but Violet got the idea. It was no wonder that Damon was so ruthless and cunning in everything he did, he had to do it to survive.

Just yesterday, Violet learned from Talia more about Damon’s past. Damon was born an orphan, he never knew his mom and dad. When he was a baby, he was dropped off at the door of a Catholic church. He had nothing on him except a letter explaining his name and birthdate. He grew up in the church for some time before getting kicked out at the age of seven for troubling behavior. He was then moved from foster home to foster home, before he finally ran away at the age of thirteen. He was living in the streets for a year until he came across Joe Luciano. The mafia king took a liking to this young boy who was smart and cunning, and Damon was allowed to work in his home. That was how he first entered the family.

“He’s had such a hard life…” Violet cried when she heard the story. “No wonder it’s so hard for him to express his feelings,”

Violet knew about Damon being an orphan, but this was the first time she heard the full details. It was hard for her to imagine a young Damon, all alone and lost in the world. She couldn’t fathom the kinds of things that happened to him as a kid out in the streets and what he had to do to survive. Violet tried asking him about his past, but Damon never liked to talk about it, so she stopped asking.

It’s fine. The past doesn’t matter. What matters is right now and right now he’s got me.

Violet was feeling more and more for Damon as the days progressed. If she was reluctant to embrace her feelings for him before, she had no reason to do that now. She was absolutely and uncontrollably in love with the mafia king.

“Hey,” Damon’s voice pulled Violet from her daydream. She turned her head to find the handsome man in his signature black suit making his way over to her.

“Hey,” she beamed in response.

Damon’s eyes glazed over her glowing body under the sun and he licked his lips instinctively. Standing next to the lounger, he bent down and captured her lips with his. His k**s was so hot and heavy, it made Talia roll her eyes.

“Hello?” she waved her hand carelessly in front of the kissing couple. “I’m here too, I exist,”

Damon was ignoring her, but Violet couldn’t help it. She laughed and pulled away, breaking off the k**s. Damon g*****d in response but Violet planted a quick k**s on his cheek as if to say they’ll continue this later.

“So, how was your meeting?” Violet asked.

“It was good. But I gotta ask you, what are you doing later tonight?”

Before Violet could answer, Talia had blurted, “You,”

“Talia!” Violet hissed. Talia pretended like she didn’t hear it and Damon chuckled.

“Anyway, I was asking because we’re being invited to this party at the Palazzo Barberini,” he said, pausing for a beat before adding, “I know how much like you like that historical stuff, so maybe you’d wanna come?”

“The Palazzo Barberini?” Violet squeaked. “Of course, I wanna come!”

The Palazzo Barberini was a 17th century palace currently housing Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, the main national collection of older paintings in Rome. This place was on Violet’s bucket list, but they hadn’t got a chance to visit there because Talia wanted to spend the whole day shopping yesterday.

“Wait, how do you know I like historical stuff?” she asked him.

“I just do,” he shrugged.

“He’s got a file on you,” Talia blurted. “He knew you took AP World History and art in high school,”

“Talia!” Damon g*****d in protest.

“You’ve got a file on me?” Violet gaped.

Damon was glaring daggers at Talia and she just shrugged, smiling sheepishly. Seeing that she was in deep trouble, Talia slowly got up from her chair and mumbled an excuse, “I’m gonna go find Adrian,”

Damon was still glaring at Talia as she walked away. Meanwhile, Violet kept her eyes on him. She knew this was no accidental blurb. Talia was doing this on purpose. She probably wanted Damon to be more communicative with Violet and keep no secrets.

“Well?” Violet pressed again. “Care to explain?”

Damon let out a sigh and raked his hair with his hand.

“I do have a file on you, but that was from before. It was only for safety measures. I had to know if you were clean,” he explained.

“Clean?”

“Not involved with any other… families,”

“Oh, like I’m not a spy or something?” she scoffed.

“Exactly,” he said.

Violet wanted to laugh, but Damon’s face remained serious. He really was worried that she was some kind of a mole.

“What else did the file say?” she asked.

“Nothing much. Just things about you and your family,” he shrugged. “I can show it to you when we get back,”

“So you know about my family?”

“Just the short summary,”

Violet fell silent as she thought about what that meant. Damon probably knew about her father’s death, her mother’s illness, her brother’s dealings, and everything about her past. He knew all of that before he even met her.

He probably offered me that much money because he knew I needed it.

“Hey,” Damon said as he pulled her face up to him, demanding her attention. “Are you mad because I have a file on you?”

Violet let out a sigh and shook her head.

“No. I’m just upset that you have a file on me and you never told me about it,” she said. “And I’m especially upset because you know a lot about me and I don’t know anything about you,”

“What?” Damon narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “Violet, you know a lot about me and what I do,”

“Yeah, but that’s not really you,” she argued. “I want you to tell me things. I want to know your story, what you like and what you don’t like. I want to know the real Damon, not just the mafia leader,”

Damon was caught off guard by her sudden admission. He fell silent like he was thinking hard. Finally, he closed his eyes for a second, let out a sigh, and opened them again. His eyes had softened and he leaned closer to her face.

“Sweet girl, you know me,” he said, resting his forehead on top of hers. “You know my heart, and you don’t need a file for that,”

Oh, that was so smooth!

Violet couldn’t help but smile. Her heart was doing the backflips and the butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. A smile also crept up Damon’s lips as he slowly inched for her face again, claiming her heart with a k**s.

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

“Wow, this is some party!” Violet exclaimed. Her eyes were filled with excitement and awe as they stepped into the palace’s grand entrance.

Damon, Adrian, Violet, and Talia were all dressed to the nines as they made their way into the castle. Violet was wearing a gorgeous red satin dress and matching red bottoms. Damon was wearing a cool three-piece suit and he was always at an arm’s length away from her. In a rather protective manner, his hand was resting on her back at all times. And right behind them, Damon’s other men were following closely in their signature sleek black suits.

“Make sure you stick with us at all times,” Damon whispered into her ear. He also pulled her back when she got distracted and wanting to venture out on her own.

Violet was completely mesmerized, she never saw a party this fancy before. Everyone looked beautiful and wearing amazing dresses and suits, and in their hands were glasses of champagne. There was also a live jazz ensemble playing music and the atmosphere was at an all-time high.

This looks like a party from the Great Gatsby!

“What kind of party is this?” she whispered back to Damon.

“It’s a special art auction,” he said. “My business partner and I are working to acquire some art pieces,”

“Your business partner?”

Damon nodded in response. “He leads one of the most powerful families in Sicily,”

“You mean like…?”

One of the most powerful mafias in Sicily?

Violet didn’t say the last words out loud, but Damon knew what she meant. He nodded again and she piped down.

“I see,”

“Don’t worry, tonight we’re only here for the arts,” Damon said reassuringly. “You’ll be safe,”

Violet forced out a smile. It just dawned on her that this party was a mafia event. The mafias were meeting here and she was right in the middle of it. No wonder Damon was extra protective of her today.

“Come on, let’s dance,” Damon said as he pulled her to the dance floor. He probably noticed the worried look on her face and he wanted to make her feel calm.

Violet followed meekly as Damon put her hands on his shoulders. He then put his hands on the small of her back and started moving to the music. Violet wasn’t much of a dancer, but Damon was a great leader. His body was moving so gracefully and effortlessly, she had to keep up. Before she knew it, the two of them were gliding on the marbled floor like they were a natural.

“I didn’t know you’re such a good dancer,” she giggled.

“See, now you know more things about me,” he smirked.

Violet was smiling from ear to ear. Damon was now twirling her body and catching her back. She couldn’t stop laughing and giggling.

“Damon, mio figlio!” suddenly a voice thundered from behind them. “You made it,”

Damon and Violet stopped moving instantly. They turned around and saw a middle-aged man with full white hair approaching them. The man was of normal built, he had a cane in his hand, and he was wearing a dark crimson velvet suit and scarf.

‘Mio figlio’ meant ‘my son’… Wait, who is this guy?

Violet narrowed her eyes at the man as he stretched his hand up to Damon. He was wearing a ring with a big dark stone. Damon took his hand and kissed the ring.

“Hugo,” Damon greeted him.

“Ah, I see you brought some friends along,” the man said as he looked around Damon. Adrian, Talia, and the other guys were now standing all around them. “Adrian, so nice to see you again,”

Adrian also took the man’s hand and kissed the ring. “The pleasure is ours,” he said.

“Oh, this must be your wife. She’s as beautiful as you said,” the man said to Talia.

“Thank you,” she replied politely.

Hugo then asked for Talia’s hand and she gave it to him. He kissed her hand and she smiled. After he greeted her, his dark green eyes then traveled to Violet. He narrowed his eyes at her and stepped closer.

“And this must be Violet Rose,” he said as he gave his hand out. “Pleased to finally meet you,”

Violet was reluctant to move, but everyone was expecting her to, so she forced out a smile and gave out her hand. Hugo kissed the top of her hand and held it for a second longer before letting her go.

“Now, Damon. Let’s talk business, shall we?” Hugo said to Damon.

Damon nodded his head firmly. He then gestured for his men to split up. Half of them would follow him, Hugo, and Adrian into a private room, and the rest would stay with Talia and Violet outside.

“I’ll be right back, stay with the guys,” Damon whispered into her ear before he left.

Violet watched in silence as Damon, Hugo, Adrian, and a few other men turned the corner and disappeared. It didn’t take a genius to know that he must such a powerful guy, otherwise Damon and Adrian wouldn’t be kissing his ring.

“Hey, Tal, who was that?” Violet asked when they were completely gone.

“That was Hugo DeSantis, head of the DeSantis family. The biggest mafia organization in Southern Italy,”

“What?” Violet gaped.

“Yeah, I’m not supposed to tell anyone this, but Adrian told me that the DeSantis and the Van Zandt’s are forming an alliance,” Talia whispered lowly so that only Violet could hear it. “If everything goes according to plan, the DeSantis will take over Italy and we’re going to be the biggest mafia family in the East Coast,”

Violet felt like she had been struck by lighting as Talia was talking. Her face turned pale, her heart was racing, and she felt like throwing up.

“…That’s Hugo DeSantis…” she croaked.

Talia noticed that something was wrong. Violet’s body was frozen stiff. Her eyes were wide as saucers and her lips were quivering.

“Violet, are you okay?” she asked.

“I… I can’t stay here,” Violet’s knees were shaking as she took a couple of steps back.

“Wait, what?”

“I have to go!”

Violet turned to her heels, but Talia quickly caught up with her. She pulled Violet aside and stopped her from leaving.

“Violet, what’s going on?” she asked.

“That man is a monster!” Violet spat, unable to hold back the tears.

“Who? Hugo?”

“Hugo DeSantis,” she nodded her head. “He was the guy that got my father killed!”