Damon

Here we are sitting in my office examining the surveillance cameras around the old warehouses of Russo. Enzo had got some news regarding his movements. But these cameras have nothing. The footage may be playing in front of us but my mind is going back to Sophia again and again. She is lying to me. Why? What? But I know she is lying. She hasn't slept last night. I don't know what is bothering her so much. There is something she is hiding, she is stalling my questions, what's going on.

"Checked on Charles?" I asked Enzo. "No movements" what is up with him. It is not usual. "Check on his girl what's her name Lola?" I told Enzo. He instructed his men immediately.

"Why will Russo come to these places?" Ric said irritated since we are looking on the footage for 20mins and there is no action. Ric is not wrong. Nothing is coming out of these footage. But I could sense him moving. I know him. He is not silent. What is he planning? The only leverage he can have on me is Sophia and she is here. Then what? What is it? I was thinking revolving my gun and having bourbon when the door barged open.

There she was. Sophia. The door locked with a click behind her. She was standing at the door. Her hands on the knob at her back. She was staring at the floor.

I was waiting for her to finally say what she is hiding. She swallowed looking at me and her gaze went back to floor. C'mon Sophia. Tell me.

"Damon" she said as her eyes met mine. She is crying. I got up and went to her. She is again avoiding my eyes. I pulled her face up from her chin and made her look at me. Her big eyes were filled were tears. Her hair were falling on face. I brushed my fingers on her face and tucked them behind. I could hear her whimpers. Her tears were ready to leave her eyes. She swallowed her sobs and said "Damon I need you. I am so scared. Help me, please." I engulfed her in my arms. She cried into my embrace.

I broke the hug and kissed her tears. "Brother I think you both should talk. We will come later." Ric said while he and Enzo got up to leave. "Wait." She said stopping them. "Its better if you two stay too." We exchanged looks. I walked her inside the room.

I walked towards the desk. Enzo and Ric sat on either chairs and I stood leaning on the desk and motioned her to begin. She opened her mouth but didn't say. Her hands were shivering. I can see the emerging sweat beads on her forehead. What is it that she is so scared to tell me? What has she done?

"What is it Soph? You alright? Tell us." Enzo said trying to sooth her. She gave him half a smile. "You need water Cinderella" said Ric giving her a glass of water. She shook her head. Anyways her hands were shivering too much to hold the glass. She was not able to look at me.

"I-I lied to y-you" she finally said. This is not news. The question is lied about what? "I am listening" I said.

"I-I-I". She closed her eyes before saying like gathering courage. She let out a deep breath. She opened her eyes and looked at me but soon averted her gaze to floor. She said "I met him two days ago. I am speaking to him over the call since then. I lied to you about this. I-" "You met whom?" I asked cutting her in between. As much as I know she hasn't left the house. If she met anyone it has to be here. "I-" "Whom?" "R-Ru-Russo".

"Say again" I said as I grabbed her hand. That can't be true. She can't betray me. She can't know where Russo is. She know Russo is my biggest enemy, she can hide him from me. "Who?" I asked her again. My grip tightens around her arm and I knew it will leave a bruise. I wanted to listen that I heard wrong. She met the man who killed my sister. Who is the reason of my father's death. And after knowing everything, after when I poured my heart out to her. I made her a part of me by sharing my pain. My ache. I wanted her to tell me that I heard wrong. So I asked again "Who?" "Russo" she said. She looked me in the eye and said his name.

I left her hand. I was beyond shocked. I couldn't see her face. I turned towards the desk. Ric and Enzo were standing wide eyed. "Damon" she said and she touched shoulder to turn me towards her. And I did. I did turned towards her as I backhanded her. Her hand flew to her cheek and a lone tear traveled down her eye. Enzo came ahead to hold me but before that I grasped both her arms pulling her closer "How could you?" I said stepping towards her. "I trusted you. I let you in. I loved you and you Sophia, you betrayed me. You-" she put her palm on my mouth before I could complete what I was saying. "I love you Damon. I will die before I will betray you." She said and kneeled in front of me.

She was sitting there on the floor. Crying with her head in her palm. I crouched in front of her and took her face in my hands. Her eyes were, they have so much pain. It looked like she is...helpless? "Sophia" I said. "Do you trust me?" "Yes" she said and she hugged me tightly. Like when you are drowning and you hold on to the only straw to save you. She was holding me like she is in a nightmare and holding on to something, to that one moment when she will wake up and this fear will end. "I want you to tell me everything" she nodded in my chest. I broke the hug and stood with her.

"He met me in the woods a night before." She said. "You are saying that he came here. Here? He came here in my house and met my wife? "Yes". "Fuck" I cursed as I threw that glass of water Ric was offering her moments ago. How stupid can I be? He was right here and I am looking at the cameras to find him. "Fuck!" I cursed and she flinched. "You need to calm down. Look at her. She needs you to calm down to fess up." Enzo said holding me before I thrash something else. I jerked away his hand and reached Sophia. I took her and dragged her to the couch. I sat her down and I sat with her.

I took her hand in mine and said "Doll I am with you. But I need truth. Full truth. From the beginning." She nodded. "He has Chuck". Fuck this is what I was fearing. I knew something is wrong with Charles. "It was him who texted me from Chuck's phone that he can't make it because he had plans with his friends." She said "That day when he was suppose to come. After his birthday?" I asked and she nodded. "That night at around midnight I got a text from Chuck's number that he wanted to meet me in the backyard towards the woods. I went there to meet Chuck. But it was Russo there. He blackmailed me that I need to do what he wants if I want to save Chuck. And if I told you then he will kill Chuck and send me his body parts" she said crying hard. "I-I was so scared. He send me these videos, and he blackmailed me on the phone. I have time till midnight today to deliver what he wants. Damon I don't know what to do. He will kill my brother. I was scared that's why I didn't tell you. But I-I can't take it anymore. And I can't do what he wants me to do. Please save Chuck. Please Damon. Please." She begged crying. I hugged her again. "Shhh...relax Doll. Look at me. Look at me" I said pulling her face up. "Nothing will happen to Charles. I promise you." "What videos he sent you?" Enzo asked her. And she pulled out her phone.

I took her phone "Enzo track these number." I send him the number from which the videos and calls came. "They are all different numbers. Probably prepaid SIMs. He must have broken everyone. Check this one. He called her from this moments ago. Maybe we can get the location." I told him and he got on to his system. I played the videos. They were beating Chuck relentlessly. I gave it to Ric. "The purpose is just to scare her. Video is taken in such a way that none of the surroundings are visible to get any clue of the location" I told Ric and he nodded in affirmation.

"None of the numbers can be tracked now. We are late." Enzo said. "You said he wanted you to do something by today 12am. You are supposed to deliver something to him. You said you can't do it that's why you told us because you can't take it anymore. What he asked you to do in exchange of Charles' life?" Enzo asked her.

She looked at him but couldn't say. "Tell us Doll?" I asked her rubbing her hand. Trying to tell her that she need not to be scared. She got up and took the phone from Ric. She showed me a text. It was an address of an old tyre factory. I know this factory. It shut down 8years ago. I know it because I shut it down for Russo.

I looked at her asking what does this suppose to mean. "He asked me to bring Enzo here." She said. I looked at Enzo. "To kill him" she completed her sentence. My eyes went from Enzo to her. "What did you say?" I asked stepping towards her. "Yes. He said he wanted your strength. He said he will weaken you first and then will kill you. Enzo is your biggest strength so he wanted me to kill him. But the thought of me killing Enzo gave me a panic attack and he said that he won't ask me to kill him directly but I need to bring him there at this address and he will kill Enzo there." "Son of a bitch. That sick fuck." I said as I trailed my hands in my hair in a vague attempt to control my anger. "So you are saying that he will let go Charles if you take me there in his trap to die." Enzo asked her and she shook her head. "What do you mean No? What else does he said?" I asked her turning her towards me by her elbow. "He said he will start with Enzo. After killing Enzo I have to help him kill Ric." "He will kill my brother" I asked and unknowingly my grip tightens on her arm. It was Russo I was angry with but she is becoming the recipient right now. She nodded her head in a yes. "Then he will show you that I helped him. Knowing that I am his partner and I betrayed you, will shatter you and then he can kill you because you would be alone. He said he will let Chuck go after he will kill you and become the Don. And if I didn't do what he said or tell you about this he will kill Chuck and-" she stopped mid way. "And what?" I wanted her to complete what that fucker has said. She shook her head "N-nothing" " AND WHAT?" I asked sternly. She flinched as my hold tightens. "And he will do to me what he did to Laeila" she told me. I let go of her hand. I took a step back and turned.

"RUSSO!" I shouted and kicked a bookshelf and it shattered. I threw the coffee table upside down. I felt Enzo trying to stop me but I was beyond angry. "Fuck!" I screamed as I punched on my desk. I was bending on my desk and then a thought came after my outrage. That made me smile which turned into laughter.

"Finally. Finally that rat is out of his hole. Finally he is coming into my grip. I will crush him now. That revenge that was incomplete all these years will be completed. I will get my vengeance. I will fulfill my promise to Laeila. I will punish her killer."

I looked at Enzo. He understood my plan and smirked with me.

"This is your end Russo. You did a mistake. You touched the wrong string. You shouldn't have hurt my Doll. You will see the worst of me now. Worst of the Devil." I said.