The Mafia's Good Girl
The Mafia’s Good Girl – Chapter 76

~ Violet ~

– – – – – Two Weeks Later – – – – –

Violet was swamped for the next few weeks, finalizing the details of their wedding and honeymoon. They had been working on the wedding prep for months now, but there was always more to do.

For instance, today was the day the invitations got sent out. Violet was especially nervous because that meant her mother and brother would get her letter. She hoped they’d see how happy she was and come around to support the wedding. But since the invitations only got sent out this morning, it was too early to tell what their responses would be.

Violet was walking on eggshells all day long, flinching hard whenever she heard the phone rang. But when the nighttime came and she still hadn’t heard anything from her mom or brother, Violet knew her plan had hit a brick wall. Her family wasn’t coming around to support her marriage to Damon. Her letter didn’t work. And now, she would have to do something drastic – like write her family another letter.

I can’t believe they’re really cutting me off, just like that!

Feeling angry, hurt, and rejected, Violet stomped into the library. She grabbed several pieces of paper and a pen, and she sat down on the desk, ready to get started. Violet started the previous letter with warm greetings and ‘I miss you’, but not this time. This time, she was defensive and demanding.

Why can’t they be happy for me? Why won’t they put their egos aside and be there for me on the happiest day of my life?

Violet wrote a rant of her feelings in the letter. She was done apologizing for her actions. If her family couldn’t accept the wedding, at least she just wanted them to acknowledge it. But as she was writing her closing statements, the pen got stuck and the ink won’t come out.

“Ugh!” Violet g*****d and shook the pen around, but it still wasn’t working.

Quickly, she got up to her feet and looked for another pen, but she couldn’t find any. It was already late, so she thought it would be rude to ring the maids just for a pen. After thinking for a second, she remembered that there must be loads of pens on Damon’s desk.

Not wasting any more time, Violet left the library and headed to Damon’s office. She knocked on the door several times, but she soon realized the room was empty. Damon wasn’t in there.

“Damon?” she asked, pushing the door open.

There was no one in the room but Damon’s coat was on the chair and his things were scattered on the desk.

He must’ve stepped out for a second.

Violet then saw a stack of pens on Damon’s desk and she stepped inside. She just wanted to borrow a pen, but when she got to the desk, something else caught her attention.

It was a big white envelope with floral patterns on the front. Violet knew this envelope very well. It was their wedding invitation. She picked out the designs and everything.

Why is this here? I thought we’ve sent everything out this morning?

Feeling curious, Violet took the envelope from under Damon’s other documents. She studied it carefully before turning it over, and she gasped loudly when she saw who the invitation was directed for.

DEAR MR. HUGO DESANTIS AND FAMILY,

WITH JOYFUL HEARTS, WE REQUEST THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE AT THE WEDDING OF DAMON VAN ZANDT TO VIOLET ROSE CARVEY ON AUGUST 8TH 2018 AT 7 IN THE EVENING, LOCATED AT THE VAN ZANDT ESTATE, ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NEW JERSEY.

SINCERELY,

DAMON VAN ZANDT AND VIOLET ROSE CARVEY.

Violet’s eyes jolted wide open as she didn’t recognize ever writing this invitation. And right on cue, Damon suddenly appeared at the doorway. He saw the shocked expression on her face and noted the invitation she held in her hand. His face slowly turned from confusion to guilt, and Violet could only stare at him.

Wait, what?

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

~ Damon ~

“Violet,” he spoke, slowly and cautiously while gauging her expression.

“Damon,” she replied, her tone was firm and demanding. “What is this?”

Violet held up the invitation in her hand and Damon swallowed hard. She wasn’t supposed to see that. She wasn’t supposed to know that Hugo would be at the wedding. He knew that him being there would ruin the day, so he didn’t want to tell her. But he also had to get Hugo to come to the estate somehow, so that was why he forged the invitation. His plan was to get Hugo to come to the estate, but not to the wedding. He was going to deal with Hugo without Violet knowing about it – but now that plan had hit a brick wall.

s**t.

“When were you gonna tell me that you’re inviting Hugo DeSantis to our wedding?” she asked again, raising her tone of voice slightly.

“Violet, listen, that’s…”

“What?” she pressed.

“I can explain everything, please, just calm down—”

“You don’t think I’m being calm right now considering you’re inviting the man who killed my father to our wedding?” Violet glared daggers at him, ignoring his pleas for her to stay calm. “I thought you said we’re done with him? What the hell, Damon? What gives?”

“Sweet girl—” Damon took a step closer to reach for her, but she flinched back.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed. “I need answers, Damon. What does this mean?”

Damon let out an exasperated sigh and raked his hair with his hand. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to know about this deadly and dangerous mission. He couldn’t possibly tell her that he planned on assassinating Hugo DeSantis and his entire family during their wedding. This wasn’t the kind of information she should have in her head. No matter what, he had to shield her from this bloody madness.

“This is… part of the plan,” he said, carefully picking his words like he was giving her an answer, but he hoped she wouldn’t suspect anything more.

“Which is what exactly?” she pressed.

Damon g*****d internally and his whole body stiffened. He didn’t want to tell her about any of this, but she was demanding to know. If he told her, she would be scarred for life. But if he didn’t tell her, she’d be angry and resentful to him.

Goddamn it. What’s a guy to do?!

“Look, taking down Hugo DeSantis isn’t easy…” Damon tried his best to reason with her without giving too much away. “He’s a very careful and calculative man. It just so happens that our wedding day is the perfect time to strike—”

“So, you’re gonna turn our wedding into a battlefield? Please tell me you’re kidding!” she cut him off sharply.

“Violet—“

“Do you even care about this wedding, Damon?” she pressed again, narrowing her eyes at him. “Did you leave me in charge to handle all the details because you want me to have my dream wedding or is it because you’re unbothered, you’re preoccupied with another event that you plan to happen on the same day?”

“Violet, please, listen to me—”

“This is our wedding, Damon! It’s supposed to be sacred and beautiful and perfect. But yet, you’re turning it into some bloodbath—“

“There’s not gonna be a bloodbath!” Damon shouted over her, unable to hold back his desperation.

Violet was taken aback and she fell silent for a moment. Damon realized he was scaring her a little, so he calmed down and spoke softer, “There’s no bloodbath. I promise you,”

Violet kept her eyes narrowed at him while Damon turned his gaze down to the floor.

“Then, what’s gonna happen?” she asked after a while of silence.

Well, that’s the part that I can’t tell you about.

Damon looked up and thought for a moment before answering, “Nothing’s going to interfere with the wedding. That’s all I can tell you. We will handle everything discreetly,”

“We?” she scoffed, still unsatisfied with his answer. “What does that even mean?”

Damon let out another sigh and reached for her again. This time, she didn’t flinch or reject him. She just stayed completely still as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Look, I can’t tell you all the details—“

“You can’t or you don’t want to?” she pouted.

“A bit of both,” he said with a sad smile. “I mean, some things are just better left unsaid,”

I’m only trying to protect you, love. Let me.

Violet still wasn’t happy with his answers, but when Damon planted a long k**s on her forehead, she couldn’t help but melt. Letting out a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder and Damon pulled her closer.

“So, what now? I’m just supposed to pretend like I don’t know anything and go on with my day?” she whined softly as she pressed her face into his chest. “I thought we’re a team? We’re in this together,”

“Sweet girl, we are a team,” he stifled a laugh, pulling her chin up so she was facing him. “We are in this together, so you have to trust me,”

“But how can I trust you if you’re not open with me?” she argued.

Fúck. That’s a good point.

Damon’s eyes softened as he leaned his forehead against her. He couldn’t argue with her, she was right. But still, he just had to shield her from the truth. At least just one more time.

“Please, you have to understand. Everything I do, I do it for us. When I don’t tell you things it’s only because I don’t want you to worry,” he said, holding her gaze with his piercing eyes. “Trust me, the wedding will go on smoothly, I’ll take care of Hugo, and we’ll set off to… Rio de Janeiro and have the best time of our lives,”

A small smile crept up her lips and Damon knew he was winning her back. He was smiling too and he pressed his lips to hers, coaxing her with a warm and tender k**s.

“Okay, sweet girl?” he asked as he pulled away, leaving her wanting for more.

“That sounds… almost too good to be true,” she sighed.

“But it is the truth,” he said reassuringly. “Trust in me, okay? Everything will be perfect,”

Violet stared at him for a second longer as his eyes were pleading with her. He couldn’t tell her everything she wanted to hear, but he hoped his actions spoke louder than words.

“Okay…” she said finally, and Damon let out a breath of relief. “But you have to promise me, no more secrets! This is the last time you’ll be hiding anything from me ever again. I mean, I’m gonna be your wife, Damon. I wanna know everything. I wanna be someone you can rely on, someone who’ll hold your secrets, I wanna be your partner in crime,”

Damon couldn’t stop the smile forming on his face. He found it absolutely adorable that she wanted to be his partner in all his crimes.

“You already are, sweet girl. You’re the best partner anyone could ever ask for,” he said to her, pinching her nose a little because she was just too cute.

“And I promise, no more secrets,” he said again.

“Really?” she asked.

“Cross my heart and hope to die,”

Damon locked his gaze on her as he leaned closer and kissed her lips again. He kissed her harder and deeper this time, and only letting her go when they were both out of breath.

“I love you, my sweet girl,” he said.

“I love you, my Damon,” she replied.

Damon’s heart was racing in his chest, ready to burst at any moment. He held her face in his palm and stroked her cheek gently, wondering to himself how did he ever get so lucky?

“I can’t wait to be married to you,” he whispered to her ear.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he murmured, planting a soft, wet k**s on the sweet spot on her neck.

Because when that day comes, I’ll bring an end to all this hell. Nothing will ever tear us apart. It’s just you and me for all eternity.