Sophia

I reached my room as I was told. As I closed the door I let of a breath of relief. You did the right thing Sophia. I gave myself much needed reassurance. Yes only Damon can save them. I am sure he will save Chuck, Enzo and Ric everyone. He promised me and he never breaks his promises. He will keep me safe and I do not have to be Russo's plaything anymore. I let out a sigh and my eyes went the mess my room was. The broken pieces of glass was all over the floor. I shuddered remembering the panic attack I had just before I went to talk to them.

I took the bin from the closet and sat on the floor to clean the glass. I could see Damon's reflection in the broken glass. I smiled to myself thinking how few minutes ago I was crying, looking at his photograph here asking him for help desperately and now I feel relaxed like a weight is lifted off my chest. Hiding this from him was killing me but now that he knows and I know he will end this nightmare. He will save my brother.

I thought about everything that went in his study. I was so scared to tell him. I picked up a glass piece and looked at my reflection. My hand went to the bruise that was forming on my cheekbone. I smiled at myself thinking somethings can never change. Frankly I was surprised that I only earned one slap I was expecting him to shoot me at the mention of me meeting Russo. Looking at the bruise took me back to the events that happened in the study.

I was scared shitless when I went inside. I was worried how to say, even what to say. A part of me was shuffling my brain to frame the excuses to ask Enzo to come with me and another part was saying to confess. Either ways I was terrified. My brain was cooking up lines to talk, to start. Say anything Sophia but the only word came out of me was his name. And he came towards me. The moment he was near me, the moment my eyes met his I knew what I had to do. I knew that it is the right thing. In that moment his eyes were the only thing I could see and I found my peace that was lost. I wanted him to take me in his embrace and hide me from this world. I wanted to escape everything for a little while. Only he can give me that solace and he did. He hugged me and I lost myself engulfed in his fragrance. I wanted to speak but was unable to say anything. So I told him what I wanted to say "Damon I need you. I am so scared. Help me please." and I cried in his arms.

Enzo and Ric tried to give us privacy thinking maybe I need to talk to him alone but it would be better if they hear it out too. After all its Enzo's life on stake right now. So I stopped them. I was scared how they will react. Will I loose Ric again? But I was wrong. They stood by me. In fact I guess its because of Enzo that Don's anger was in check. I don't know what he would have done if he weren't there to stop him. The moment I confessed about meeting Russo I could see him burning with rage. He turned around leaving my arm in an attempt to control his anger. I know how much it takes him to control his temper but he was trying. The flex in his muscles as he bend over the desk were telling he is failing in his attempt. I could see his veins popping out as he fisted hard on the table. I put my hand on his shoulder to make him look at me. He did turn. And the moment he turned I felt a piercing pain on my cheek making me realize that he backhanded me. I did feel the pain but I didn't feel bad like usual. I guess deep down I wanted him to punish me. Somewhere I knew I was guilty.

But what hurt more than his slap was his eyes. His eyes changed. All the love was replaced with contempt. The concern became disdain. The admiration became disappointment. I hurt him way more than he ever hurt me. I partnered with his sister's killer and though I was expecting hatred, there wasn't any. There was pain. Pain of betrayal and that killed me inside so did his words. He pulled me closer to him holding me strongly. "How could you? "I trusted you. I let you in. I loved you and you Sophia, you betrayed me. You-" No I couldn't live with him hating me. He needs to understand that I will never betray him. The contempt that I am seeing in his eyes for me right now, I will prefer dying over it. So I stopped him mid sentence by putting my palm on his mouth and said with broken voice "I love you Damon. I will die before I will betray you." I slid down on the floor. I couldn't control my tears please believe me was the only thing I was mumbling to myself. I wanted him to trust me, to know I won't do anything to hurt him. He sat down with me and took my face in his hands and he asked me if I trust him. Blurting out a yes I hugged him. Hard. I was holding onto him like a child grab his mother when scared of the monster under the bed. It felt he is my ray of light in the darkness. Like somehow this devil will save me from other demons. All I wanted was him to keep me close.

He asked me to tell him everything and I did. The way he cursed when I told him that he met me here made me flinch but Enzo advised him to stay calm. I was thankful that he listened to him because he was scaring the hell out of me. But then he held my hand and sat with me on the couch. Holding his hand gave me the strength to continue and I told him everything that I was been through. I showed him the videos but unfortunately he couldn't get anything about his location from them. I was almost loosing hope. We are loosing on time.

Don sat with me on the couch and listened the whole story without loosing it again, however, my bruised arm is telling me how his temper was rising every time I mentioned Russo's intentions. That's why I stuttered telling him the most was his threat that he made of doing the same thing to me what he did to Laeila. I knew that would tick off the time bomb and it did. The way he blew the bookshelf made me worry if I will make out of that study alive. He scared me even more when the anger turned into laughter. He laughed like his is happy. In a way I guess he is. He is happy that finally he could take his vengeance, finally Russo is out in open. Finally he will get to fight. But what about Chuck. Will he forget him in his vengeance was the thought that was troubling me at his reaction.

But that trouble vanished the moment he turned and kissed me. I accept that the kiss took me off guard but that was the biggest assurance. When he said "Doll. What you have been through in the last 42hours you will never go through that again. I will never let you get trapped in such fear. I will keep you safe." I knew that I am safe. The moment he said "I love you Doll and I promise you I will save your brother. "I knew he will bring him back to me. Nothing worse will happen to my brother. And the moment he asked me "But I need you to promise me that you will never hide anything from me. No matter what the threat is you will come to me. No one and I mean no one will come before you and I. No one will come between you and I. Promise me Doll." "I promise" I gave him the promise he asked in a heartbeat because I trust him more than anyone. He might be the monster for the world but he is my savior. And today he saved me once again not only from Russo but from myself too.

The guilt of letting Laeila's killer get away would have eaten me up my whole life. I cannot even imagine forgiving myself for such an act. But I almost went through it. I was cooking up stories in my head to take Enzo out. How could I even think of it? Still Enzo was not angry at me. Rather he was angry on Don for being so arrogant with me. But I am not. I am used to his arrogance by now. And I know his temper rises on pettiest of things. Like it was happening whenever I spoke in between. They mentioned Lola and Chuck broke up. I wonder why? Why Chuck hasn't told me about this? I thought they had something special, I guess it wasn't. At least he is not doing drugs anymore. That's a relief.

Yes it felt a bit hurting the way Don shut me down in front of them but when I was quiet I listened more to him. I admire his intelligence on his deductions about Chuck's location. How he inferred that Chuck is kept captive in his own apartment was commendable for me. I would have searched the whole city but there. He asked Roscoe to save him. I don't know him, will he risk his life to save my brother? I don't know. But if Don is trusting him with Chuck's life I guess I had to do the same. I know he would not risk Chuck's life.

I hope everything goes well and smooth. We get Russo and the rat who gave our information to him. I have a hunch that Don might already know who he is? Either ways all I want is my family safe. Today I almost lost Ric and Enzo the moment I even thought of an excuse to take Enzo there. God I am so lucky that I still have them. The way they supported me when I was leaving made me feel like the luckiest girl on earth. They were ready to die for me and who am I to them. No one. A random whore their brother took from a random auction. They made me their family. Damon was right about what he said in the hospital I will never loose my family now. Finally I have what I longed for the most. My home.

Please don't let anything happen to them. I know Damon, you will protect us. You will not let anything happen to me, Chuck, Enzo or Ric. But please protect my Damon too. Don't take my home, my world, my life away from me while saving me. I said to his picture above the bed. I was so lost that I didn't hear the door open.

His voice startled me.