Sophia

"Eat up, beautiful. Anything bothering you?" I heard Enzo's voice at the dinner table.

We are all here having dinner. Enzo stayed too. They are following some lead to find Russo. I wish they find him soon before he kill my brother. I know where he is and I know the information I am withholding will shatter Damon's trust in me. But Chuck, how can I risk his life. "You have to dig whole United States to find the body parts of your brother" I remember his words. "I will kill Enzo" the only thing I can see right now is Enzo.

"Sophia??" I heard Enzo's voice again. "Yeah" I said acknowledging him and trying to remember what he asked. All I could see is the smile that I am supposed to kill. "What happened, you aren't eating? He asked again. "I-I am not hungry." I said with half a smile. I got up and turned to leave when I heard a sound and I screamed loudly with my hands on my ears trying to hide myself from the gunshots.

"Doll?" I felt Don shaking me out if my fear. I looked around and it wasn't a gunshot it was a plate that fell from Alysia's hand while serving food to Ric. All eyes were on me. "You okay sister in law?" Next we will get rid of junior Caprio. No I can't let anything happen to Ric. I felt Don's hand on my shoulders turning me to him "Doll, what happened? You look like you saw a murder or something." I irritated jerked his hands "Why would you say that?" I asked almost screaming. Why would he say a murder. "No one will die. No one will die" I turned mumbling to leave.

He held my hand. The look in his eyes made me gulp in fear. Fear of being called up on my lie. "Sit" he said and I sat back slowly. He touched my face "You know you can talk to me. I can see something is bothering you. Tell me. Maybe I can help you" he asked softly. Of course you can help me. You are the king Don you can save me. I am so scared please help me Damon. Save my brother and save me. "Doll? Tell me. If you aren't comfortable, you and I can talk alone" he said as I was staring at him without uttering the words I want to say. I smiled at him "I am fine Don. I really am. I just had a nightmare yesterday and that sudden sound reminded me of that. That's it. I am fine really" . I said smiling and got up to leave.

"Wait" he said and I halted in my steps. Why is he not believing me? Why is he asking so many questions? I turned towards him "Have you spoken to Charles lately?" He asked and my eyes widen at his question. Why is he asking about Chuck? "Um--um yeah" I said with a stutter. I can feel sweat on my forehead and shiver in my hands. "Really, when?" I gulped "um-uh we talked uh-last-last night." I said in a breaking voice. "hmmm" he hummed in response looking at Enzo. "W-why you uh-asked? I asked him looking anywhere but him. "My men who are supposed to keep a watch on him for his security, you know. They aren't getting any action from him. He hasn't left his flat. Are you sure he is okay?". He said. No he is not okay. He is in danger. Please save him Damon. Please. "Ye-yes he is o-okay. Just under the weather that's why he wanted to stay at home only." I told him another lie. "Really, you don't want to go see him? If you want I can ask Zack to have a look?" "No! I-I mean I have spoken to-to him. He is f-fine. He wants to rest and I guess he will be fine in a day or two." Zack cannot go see him. No one can. They will know he is not there. "Okay" he said that I didn't hear. I was engrossed in my own thoughts. No. Don will know I am lying. But maybe if he knows he is not there, he can save him. I could act like I didn't know. He can save him. "Doll?" He shook me. "Y-yeah" I said coming out of my thoughts. "I said okay. You were leaving, right?" He said. "Yeah, yeah" I said and turned to go to our room. I halted at the staircase. I got my breath back as I held the railing. My hand reached my chest witnessing my heavy breathing.

"Doll" "Ahh!" I screamed in shocked as he hold my shoulder. "Hey you okay? I nodded in affirmation. "Look at me Doll" and I did "Its just you and I. You can tell me whatever is bothering." "I am okay why are you asking me again and again. I said I am ok. Then why are you pushing it." I said to him rudely brushing his hand away and climbed the stairs without waiting for his answer.

I went into the shower trying to ignore my twisting insides. I was crying hard thinking that the sound of water can drown the sound of my crying. "I am sorry Damon. I am so sorry. I lied to you. I am sorry, I was so rude to you. I shouldn't have spoken to you in this manner." I said crying in the shower. What to do? How will I save both Enzo and Chuck? Don can save them but Russo will kill Chuck if I told Don. This is wrong. This is so wrong. I know what finding Russo means to Damon and I am withholding that from him. Laeila's screams came to my mind. I sat on the floor with hands on my ears as her screams were piercing through me. How can I say that I love him and I will never betray him when I am lying to him regarding something he is after for so many years. I saw Laeila's killer. I know where he is and yet I am letting him get away with it.

I got out and changed into his shirt. I wanted him close. I wanted him to pull me in his embrace and tell me that everything will be fine, that he will save me. I laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. When the light on my phone caught my attention. I sat up and grabbed the phone. It was a video. I played it. It was Chuck. All bruised and bleeding. He was still tied up to that chair and he was surrounded by three men two at his sides and the one sitting in front of him with his leg in his lap with a plier. He was about to cut his toe. "No!" I screamed and my phone began to ring. "What are you doing? Don't hurt him please. Please " I was sobbing hard and begging that derogatory monster. "What can I do, you seem to have forgotten the deal. You are supposed to do something for me. But I don't see a progress. I guess you need motivation." He said in his evil tone. "No, No I will do it. I will bring Enzo there. Just please don't hurt my brother." I said ashamed of myself. "Good. Now we are talking. Now listen I have given you enough time. I want Enzo tomorrow by midnight" he said maliciously. "Either you will ring my bell with your husband's best friend or I will ring your doorbell with your brother's toes." I could feel his evil grin. "No please. I will bring Enzo. I will bring him." I said. "Good girl." He said and disconnected.

I sat there crying with phone in my hand. I can't do this to Enzo. I can't let them kill him. He is my friend he trusts me. I can't do this. But Chuck. I saw that video and it felt like someone cut off my windpipe. God I am feeling so helpless. I need you Damon. I need you so much. I mumbled wrapping myself tightly with his shirt. "Don't lie to me Sophia" I remembered what he said on the first night I was here. I was sweating. I was scared. Scared of Russo what he will do to Chuck. Sacred for Enzo. Scared of Don what he will do to me when he will know the truth.

I heard the door knob turn and I laid down quickly pretending to sleep. I can't lie to him. He will ask me questions. He knows I am not okay. He look right through my soul of course he knows I am not alright. He will ask what is hurting me, I can't lie to him. I tried to calm my breathing as I felt his weight on the bed.

I felt him kiss my forehead but I didn't move. "I love you Doll. I hope you are not lying to me." He said softly as he kissed my cheek and laid on his side. I don't know if he knows that I am awake and wanted me to hear that or he is think that I am asleep that's why he said that. I am lying to him and he knows it too.

I turned to the opposite side and opened my eyes. My eyes were filled with tears of fear and regret. I was guilty of putting my brother in danger, for what I am going to do with my friend. For what I am doing to my husband. I am betraying him. Will he understand why I did what I did or will he hate me or punish me. I wish he punishes me. I would prefer him killing me than hating me.

My mind drifted to when I first met Enzo. How easily he became my friend. I trust him and never once he betrayed me. I remembered Damon saying that he trust him with my life. Guess he couldn't trust me with his best friend's life. But Enzo is a brave man and quiet efficient maybe he will kill Russo before he could kill him. Maybe he will win. Stop persuading yourself like there is a bright side or a reason to forgive for what you are going to do. My inner conscious barked at me and it was right. Just because Enzo is brave do not nullify the fact that I am putting his life in danger.

I remember how Enzo always made me laugh and that brought more silent tears. I touched the mark that Don gave me getting all angry when I touched Enzo. Still he stood by us. He did not leave me or Don. He stood by Chuck too always. I brought my hand to my mouth to muffle my sobs as I cried myself to sleep.

I was staring at the glass doors when the sun rose telling me I am running out of time. I need to think, how will I ask Enzo to come with me. What will I say to Damon to allow me to go out with Enzo. How will I look into his eyes and lie to him. You are lying to him. I turned to see Don already gone. I got up and went to bathroom. I did my business, took a shower and got dressed.

I was sitting on my bed facing towards the balcony brushing my hair. Looking at the woods beyond the glass doors I remembered Russo and his threats. I brushed my hair staring in the woods thinking of Chuck. Our childhood. Why he even came back? It would be better if he wouldn't have found me. He would have been safe. Now he is dragged in this mess.

Enzo, I thought about Enzo. How can I risk his life? He was always there for us. I thought about Ric. Russo will not let Chuck go even after Enzo. He will use him as leverage to kill Ric. Ric is my brother too, how can I kill one brother to save another.

I imagined Damon's eyes full of disgust when he will know about me hiding Russo's whereabouts. I can't take that. I remembered the day when he jumped in front of me and saved my life from Russo's bullet. Its like a movie of our memories was playing in front of my eyes. I remember how I forgot myself in his embrace in our cabin. I looked at the wedding band and I remembered the promise that our love will be eternal. I remembered he poured his heart out. I felt his pain when I listened Laeila's tape. That degraded soul who torn a 16year old girl. Who can be worse than a vulture who feed on rotten flesh. I am protecting him. I was raped by Marc and Damon gave me justice. The justice that I never have imagined that I will get. He took my stand. He kept his promise to protect me and I am letting his sister's rapist and murderer to get away with it. I am here planning how to take his best friend to get him kill. Today I am going to break the promise to never leave him. To never betray him. Never cheat on him. Today I will betray my love.

I looked at the clock it says 10am. I know Enzo will come today too and they are going to work from here. How will I ask Enzo to take me anywhere and not Damon. Maybe if I say I want to buy something for Damon. A surprise.

How pathetic I am to even think of doing something like this? What are you doing Sophia? This is your family. These people gave you everything when you were nothing. They love you, trust you they accepted you. They taught you that there is much more to living than existing. Think about what will they go through when Enzo will be dead because of you. Think about Alysia will she ever be able to look at you? What will happen to the cheerful smile of Caprice when she will see Ric dead? Will she be ever able to forgive you? Can you ever forgive yourself? Today how will you come back home when you will leave with Enzo and won't come back with him? Will you ever be able to look at Damon? Would Chuck will want a life that is a reward of you slitting off Enzo's throat? Can you stab Damon in the back? The man who almost died for you. The man whose child was in you.

I love you Sophia. I could hear his voice and turned to see where is he. You betrayed me Doll. I hear the voice and looked around in the room. And I saw him on his knees with the bullets in his chest. His blood oozing out of these holes. "Damon!" I screamed and reached to him but I couldn't touch him. There is a mirror in between. He is on the other side. He is bleeding and he fell. "Somebody help him!" I shouted. I saw Enzo behind him. "Enzo why are you not saving him?" I asked as I looked at him "How can I help him Love. You already killed me". My eyes widen as I see so many knifes stabbed in him. "You killed me Sophia. I was your friend. You killed me." Enzo said with pitiful loathing. He was looking at me with me awful disappointment making me hate myself. He said with sheer hatred nodding towards my back "And you killed him" "You killed my Ric.!!" I heard Caprice's scream from behind me. "I hate you Sophia. I thought you were my friend. I gave you everything and you killed the love of life. You will never stay happy Sophia. You do not deserved to be loved" I turned to see Caprice behind me sitting beside the lifeless body of Ric. "Ric!" I screamed and reached him "Don't touch him Donna." I saw Alysia came between me and Caprice. "You are a monster. You killed my family. My brothers. You took everything from us. I hate you. I will never let you come near us anymore not even your shadow." Said Alysia with detestation I can never imagine. "Don't say this Alysia. I love you all" I pleaded her. "You killed my brothers" I heard another voice and I turned towards it. I saw a girl beside Damon. A girl in the torn lime green dress which was covered in dried blood. "Laeila??" I said startled. "You killed my brothers. You let Russo win. You killed me again" she was saying staring at me. "No no Laeila" "You are a killer Sophie." "Chuck? " "I hate you Sophie. I hate you. My sister can't be a killer. I hate you." I heard their loathing in every word

"You killed my Damon" I heard a girl sitting with Damon's head in her lap. It is me. "You killed my Damon." The Sophia behind the mirror looked at me with abhorrence. "You took my reason to live. You burned me. You took my life. You killed my Damon. He is gone!! He is gone!!!"

"No! No! No! I didn't kill anyone. My Damon is not gone." "You killed him" the voices were overlapping and coming closer to me. "No!" I was screaming but its like no one could hear me. I could see their hostility and contempt. "No!!" I said crying, sobbing. I tried to run but they have surrounded me.

Then I hear him laughing. I saw Russo laughing at me from the mirror. "I told you I will win and you will help me finish him partner. Now time to please your new owner." He said coming near me. All I could hear is his laughter. "No! No! No!!!" I screamed and I picked up a bottle from the mantelpiece and threw it at the mirror.

The mirror shattered into pieces. The voices are gone. It was just me on the floor sitting and crying with my head in my hands. I cried. I cried so hard. I can't do this. I can kill them. I can't betray Damon. Even if he will win from Russo, I will loose him forever. He will never see my face again. Being detested by him will worse than death. No I can't do this to him. My teary eyes went to his photograph on the wall behind the bed. Help me Damon. I don't know what to do. I need you. I need you. I need you.

My phone light up and I wiped my tears to reach it. I saw another video. Chuck was there tied up on that chair a bruised and bleeding. Someone splashed water on him. And he woke up with a jerk. One of them pulled his hair "say it kid" he said to him as he slit his arm with a knife. My hand flew to my mouth. "S-Sophie" I heard him for the first time in these days. "S-sop-Sophie I-I do-dont know wh-what they asked you to do. B-but I can't t-ta-take it anymore." He said with broken voice. I can see his pain. He fainted as he completed his words. "Chuck" I said as my tears started to flow again. How can they hurt him so much? The shrieking voice of the phone made it fall from my hand. But thankfully its not broken. I picked it up hastily. "H-hello." I said between my sobs. "Are you crying sweetheart. C'mon. Don't cry Princess. You don't have time to grieve. Get to work. I thought listening from your brother could bring more energy into you." Came Russo's spiteful voice. "Why? Why are you hurting him so much?" I despise him extremely. "Give me what I want and I will stop hurting him. Now chop-chop." He said viciously and disconnected.

I wiped my tears and got up. I have to do this. I have to save my brother. I can't let him stay there more. I made up my mind and left my room.

"Where is Enzo?" I asked Alysia. "Donna? Are you ok? You didn't come for breakfast. Come eat something first." She said with her loving smile like always. No I can't be weak. I need to save Chuck. Enzo, Ric, Don can fight for themselves but Chuck can't. He can't fight and win Russo. Pull yourself together Sophia. You can't be weak. You need to this. This is the only way to save Chuck. "I asked you where is Enzo? Just tell me what I am asking" I said to Alysia. I was never more rude to her. Not even when I didn't know her. "Um-yes of course. I am sorry Donna. He-he is in the study" she said lowering her face. I could see the hurt on her face. She is my friend and I broke her heart. I wanted to hug her and tell her that I love her so much but instead I just nodded. Right now my only focus is Chuck.

I am standing in the hallway. In front of me there is the door to the study. I have to go inside but my feet refused to move. At every step I remembered the time I spend here. I remembered the day Ric and Don were chasing each other and Ric dragged me in between.

I heard him call me "Cinderella "

I remembered Caprice's chirpy voice "Soph, let's go shoppinggg."

Alysia's voice came to me "you are my friend. I love you Donna and I too do not want to loose you."

"I want to know what it takes to be your favorite" I remembered our first date. The first time Damon took me out on dinner. "You are mine Sophia , don't ever forget that".

The next step I heard Enzo "always at your service My Lady."

"Your wish is my command beautiful." "You and I should have met before." "What's up Angel miss me?"

"Miss me?" I hear his voice.

I hear myself and the promise I made to Damon in our cabin "I love you Damon Caprio."

Both our voices together echoed in my ears as my hand reached the door knob "Till death do us apart "