Damon

I woke up during the night with an uncommon sound. It seems like a child is whimpering or shivering. I looked with half open eyes and realized I slept as she went in the shower. I laid down to rest a bit but I slept as my head hit the bed. I was sleeping diagonally over the bed covers but I am still under the duvet, how? Oh, its the extra one, probably she had pulled it up on me, that's why I am not wearing shoes. She must have taken them off as I remember sleeping in them. I turned onto my back and felt her hand in mine. A smile automatically came to me and I kissed it.

I heard that voice again and I got up. I was shocked when my eyes went up to her. That sound was coming from her She was the one shivering in cold. Why is she not under the duvet. because you were sleeping on it idiot I scolded myself. I sat up and touched her shoulder to wake her up. She was so cold. I got up from the bed and reached her side. She was shivering like a child exposed to cold water. She was just wearing my t-shirt and didn't even have a blanket of course she is cold. I picked her up and laid her under the covers. I increased the thermostat temperature and took off my shirt. I laid with her and pulled her into my arms giving my body heat. I rubbed her back "Doll , Doll wake up baby." I said slowly to check if she has not lost her consciousness or is coming down with fever or worse. She was so stiff except the shiver "Hey baby, wake up Doll." I said again and she moved a bit. Her eyes flutter open and she looked at me. "Hey Doll, wake up baby. Are you ok?" I asked whispering to her. "Hmmm" she just hummed in response but she was still shivering. I pulled her closer and kept rubbing her back. I got up and rubbed her feet too. Her feet were cold like ice. I kept rubbing her feet to give her some heat.

I moved to her once I was satisfied that her feet were warm enough. I laid with her and pulled her into my embrace. Slowly she warmed up a bit. Atleast she stopped shivering.

I kept on stroking her hair thinking about the recent events. Something is not correct and the thing that is frustrating me most is I am not able not able to put finger on it. Russo's allies are acting up. I know that. I lost a few important business and the people whom I lost them to are Russo's allies. Seems like Russo is coming out of shadows. But how, where? I have even captured Miguel but I am not getting anything out of it. Something doesn't feel right. Enzo and I are putting lot of nights as stake out to keep the vigilance but why I am not able to figure out Russo's leverage. I know he is planning something that's why when Antonio told me that Sophia left I got so paranoid.

I was interrogating Miguel when she called me. So I couldn't answer her. I saw her text that she wanted to go out but I cannot trust the surroundings right now to send her alone so I told her No. That's why I lost my shit when Antonio told that she left. How can she go when I said her not to? My blood was boiling at every unanswered call. I was damn angry at her and left the warehouse. I drank almost the whole bottle of bourbon in an attempt to calm my nerves down. I don't want to punish her too much. But she left. She defied me. How can she disobey my direct words? She knows me better than that.

The only thing I was not understanding that why the GPS tracker in her phone and in her necklace I gave is not moving and its still giving her location as home. If she has left why is it still showing home. Has she took it off? She never takes it off, though I never asked her. I never had to say her to wear it always, I knew she fears me too much to take it off and that's what always happened. She wore it anyways. Maybe today she took it off. I was confused and angry. "Fuck" I cursed banging the steering as another call she didn't answer.

"Antonio!" I blasted at him as I reached home. "Where the hell is she?" I asked grabbing his collar. "Don, I told her not to go but she said she will be back soon and left" he said. "No. No she is here only. Why is phone giving me the location of here?" I said in my confusion. "She didn't go, Don" we heard a voice from behind. "John?" I looked at one of my chauffeur. "Yes Sir I was the one she was about to go with. But then she received a text and canceled her plan. She told me to go to Enzo Sir with a packet. I just told her that I gave it to him." He told me. "What? Wait you said, you just informed her, where is she now?" I asked her. "In the backyard" he said. "Are you crazy??" I scolded Antonio to be such a delusional fuck. He made me so angry on her. I was so relieved that she is safe. Why was she going to meet Enzo? A part of me wondered but I drove that thought away and went to the backyard.

She was right there playing basket ball with kids. She put so much effort to jump high to score a basket it made me laugh a bit. But she was quick and quiet good. I have to give her that. Her team won and they cheered so loudly that I had to kind of shout to call her.

"Sophia" I called for her and she turned. I asked her to come inside. She came but Ric found me before her and gave me these tons of papers to sign. These are the logistics for my shipment going tonight. Though I handle arms completely but this was more of a drug shipment with the sample guns that's why Ric had the paperwork.

I saw a glass of water in front of me. She brought me water, that's new. "I can bring bourbon too" she said woah the attitude, sure as hell new. I didn't say anything on the tone yet. "So want to say anything about what happened today?" I asked her regarding her unnecessary tugg with Antonio and her ignoring my calls "What?" She shrugged and kept the glass on the table. Okay she very well know she is not going get away with this attitude. I held her wrist before she could have left. "Why were you not listening to Antonio when he asked you to not go out?" I asked her annoyed. That stunt literally pulled me out of something way important and I was worried sick not knowing her whereabouts. "Fine I will apologize to Antonio. Its everyone's job to order me around anyway". That's enough now. I am not taking her attitude. My anger got all riled up, she knows how much I get offended on disrespect. I pulled her from her elbow to face me and asked with gritted teeth "What the hell was that?" "Nothing" She said trying to loosen my grip. What is wrong with her. When did I say to fucking apologize to Antonio. "Have you lost your mind? I am not saying you to apologize to Antonio. And what's with the tone, huh?" My grip tightens around her. Her tone was just increasing my anger. "Leave my hand". Seriously "Say that again". What has gotten into her. I wanted to smack that tone out of her. I only know how I was controlling myself, had it been someone else he would had been on the floor by now. "Leave my hand" I was shocked. Is something bothering her? She never behaved like this with me.

"What is wrong with you?" I said holding her from her arms "Nothing is wrong with me." Her tone was really pissing me off now. "Watch your tone, Sophia" I said. "Or what?" Or what she asked me or what? God had it been her first day here, Zack would have been tending her by now. But God I love her way too much now, I do not want to hurt her. But she is really fucking with me now. She needs to control before I loose my control "Watch it Sophia" I said attempting to calm myself down.

"You want to know what is wrong with me" she said pushing me. "I am tired." She pulled me towards herself grabbing my collar. "I am fucking tired of being ordered around. Tired of being told by everyone what to do what not to do? I now even have to take orders from your bodyguards" she said getting angrier. "Who is ordering you around?" I said holding both her hands in my tight grip. Where is this coming from? She is the fucking Donna, who has the audacity to order around my wife. Antonio was just following my instructions "Antonio asked you to not go because I asked him to oversee it and it was for your own safety. I said No, not him. Why will he or anyone else will order you around? You are my fucking wife, their Donna. Nobody will ever do that. So stop over reacting. And as far as your going out is concerned I told No and I when I told you No that's means it No." I was so angry by now. I can sense my tone getting harsher with every word.

"And I didn't go, or did I? I am here right in your precious castle. All safe in one piece. So why the hell are you angry at me?" She screamed at me taking her hands back.

"Enough" my voice made her flinch. I held her elbow and pulled her to me. My anger was beyond my control now. It took a lot in me to not punish her then. "Drop the fucking attitude" I said sternly with gritted teeth and left her with a jerk. I knew it would make her fall, it was my intention also but as she was about to fall I held her to stop the fall. I so want to hurt her but still want to save her.

She has this expression on her face. She was angry, annoyed, irritated, mad at herself because she knew she is loosing the fight. She almost cried and for a minute I forgot my anger. She looked so cute I wanted to kiss her. She tried to maintain her anger and said with irritation lacing her voice but it sounded like a child getting annoyed when she is refused to get the toy she wanted. "I do not have attitude. You have attitude, bad attitude. You-you are arrogant and obnoxious and stubborn and I-I ugghh I don't like you" she said pushing me again and I burst into laughter. She couldn't find the right words and the way she said I don't like you, even Ric couldn't control anymore.

"Stop making fun of me" she shouted at both of us. But that shut us up only for a minute and then we started laughing again. "Ughh I hate you both" she said in irritation and threw a cushion at us and then ran to our room. "And you don't come after me now" she said shouting from the door as she banged shut it.

She fought with me for the first time. It was cute and seems so normal like a wife arguing with her husband. She was not a girl I took from the auction anymore. She is my girl.

I reached to my room because I knew she must be more irritated and she was. She was lying on the bed crying it out.

I touched her head and she said knowing its me "Why are you here? Leave me alone" she said crying and that I don't like, I don't like her crying like this. I turned her from her shoulders so that she laid on her back and face me but she turned to another side avoiding my gaze so I pulled her into a sitting position. I hugged her and she cried in my chest. "Shhh...relax Doll. Calm down." I said rubbing her back. "You always do that, you always scold me, you are always angry at me. And I didn't do anything I didn't go out still you scolded me. You were taking Antonio's side." She said crying while hugging me. God she thought I am taking Antonio's side. Silly girl. I smiled and pulled her up and wiped her tears and caressed her hair telling her "I am not taking Antonio's side Doll and I was not angry at you. But nobody knows where you were and that scared the hell out of me. I was calling you why you didn't answer your phone?" I asked and she told him that it was in her bag. She was playing and I can understand how she wouldn't have realized "And you didn't answer yours too when I called " she said pouting. "Yeah baby but I was in the middle of something, I couldn't". I tried to explain her why I couldn't answer her calls. "Yeah right. You say you worried about my safety but you don't take my calls what if I called you because someone was about to kill me." She said with a scoff. That spiked up my anger. How could she say this "Sophia! Are you crazy? Don't say that". My voice made her flinch "I-I am sorry" she said in a timid voice looking down. "Hey look at me" I said. I didn't wanted to scare her but she shouldn't have said that. "I didn't mean to shout at you but don't say such things I can't see you in danger" I said all worried as I touched her cheeks. "I know babe." She said and hugged me. "I didn't mean to. I just said that in a smug. I-" she tried to explain me that it was a taunt. "I know baby" I said and kissed my head. "I am sorry for the fight" she said to me. I however, was not sorry about the fight. I loved the way she fought with me. I understand something today, the fight does bring you even closer.

"Damon" her voice brought me to present. I realized its already morning

"Why you woke up?" She asked getting up. "Because you are silly" I said pinching her nose. She giggled "Why?" She said rubbing her nose "Nothing " I said laughing a bit and kissed her "Good morning gorgeous" I said as we end the kiss.

Enzo and I were checking the phone records of Miguel when Sophia brought our breakfast. "Eat something first, you two are working so much these days" she said. Enzo grabbed the plates from her. "Wow I am starving, what do we got?" He asked taking the plates. "Your favorite French toast and bacon" she said. "The only good thing you did is marrying this one" Enzo said to me and I rolled my eyes on his unnecessary flrit. She laughed and was about to leave when he said "By the way I loved your cake yesterday" he said with a wink. "What cake?" I asked all puzzled. Is it cake that she send with John to Enzo? "Hey that wasn't for you!" She exclaimed. "Relax Love it reached to whom it was meant too. Can't I share?" He said with a fake gesture by holding his heart. "Will anyone tell me or this is something new you both are cooking?" I said with my irritation growing. "Nothing Don I send him cake yesterday to give to Chuck, that's what he is saying. Anyways I will leave you guys to work" she said keeping our coffee on the table. "Don't you want to know how he is?" Enzo asked as she turned to leave. "Why is there a problem? He is fine, right?" She asked all worried about her brother. "Yeah he is fine. And he said he will come and meet you tomorrow to see if you are recovered you know from your headache" he said stressing the word headache. She got a slightly conscious but then covered it soon "Well then I will wait from him." She said smiling and left. "Don't get too drowned in your work that you forget someone's waiting for you" with a flying kiss to me. I smiled at her.

"Well?" I asked Enzo referring their conversation. "You are a dick." He said giving me a look. "Care to elaborate?" I said taking his curse. Trying to understand what's my part in this "Look I understand you are worried about her safety, so am I. But I could have taken her." He said. "Taken her where?" I asked still having no clue of where this is going. "Why you didn't allow her to go her brother's birthday. You know she baked cake and all. Guess she must be excited for this. Even Chuck was so depressed that she didn't come. After years they were about to celebrate it together. You should have heard her, she was so sad when she said she do not want to go and I should tell him she is not well. Just see that her cake reached him".

It was her brother's birthday. You are a dick I didn't even ask her where she is going. But why she didn't tell me herself, and why she didn't go when Enzo offered her. I know he wouldn't let any harm reach her. C'mon she knows you would have created a ruckus if she would have gone after you told her not to. You did anyway. I scolded myself.

"Now where are you going?" Enzo said as he followed me out of the study I came down and saw her eating and laughing with Alysia at something. I reached her and pulled her up from the chair. She gasped in surprise. "Doll why didn't you tell me it was Charles birthday you wanted to go to?" I asked her. "You didn't ask?" She said softly. Yes I didn't. "Fuck" I cursed as I left her arm and turned kind of kicked the table. I was cursing at myself. I am worried about her safety but I would have taken her myself. I didn't want her sad. The one thing I promised myself was never let disappointment enter her big eyes again. "Don" she said turning me to her with my shoulders. "Its okay, Chuck and I, we weren't together for many birthdays what's one more, huh." She said softly trying to calm me down. But this anger was on myself and I do not wanted to calm down. "Hey Don, its okay. I am not sad anymore. Yes I was angry yesterday but I am not anymore. I understand you must have said No for a reason and it's ok." she said cupping my cheeks. "But you both could have been together this time." I retorted. I was disappointed in myself. Why I couldn't understand? Why I didn't answer her call. Damn. "Big deal. I bet he doesn't even remember my birthday. He is coming over anyways. We will celebrate it then. Don't beat yourself up for it" she said rubbing my arm. "God, what have I done to get you?" I said amazed at my luck to be with someone like her. "I don't know what you did, but I know what you do. You love me too much. Just keep doing that " she said with a flirtatious smile with her arms around my neck and my anger vanished in a moment "Really, well that easy because that is something I am really good at." I said pulling her closer and kissed her.

"Ughh too much sugar" we parted laughing at Enzo's comment.

I reached back to the study with him and he said. "I said it earlier, I will say it again the only good thing you did is marrying this one" Enzo said repeating his cheesy line he said in front of Sophia. "Couldn't agree more" I said with a smile. I meant it with all my being.