After such a difficult day, all Bonnie really wanted to do was crawl into her bed and sleep. However, she had promised to take Sarah to her first ballet class. The little girl was so excited and had been talking about it non-stop since Sunday night. Yesterday, she had even taken the tiny dancer shopping for all the dancing essentials. Sarah now had several leotards, tights, leggings, tracksuits, tutus, and ballet slippers. There was no way that Bonnie could disappoint her sweet angel by rescheduling for another day. Therefore, she took a three-hour nap at the beach house before going home to pick up Sarah.
Madame Clarice's studio featured four massive rooms where the classes took place. Each room boasted ceiling to floor tinted windows so that parents could watch the classes without distracting the students. The waiting area was equipped with comfortable seating and a smoothie/juice bar. Everything about the studio was meant to appeal to an insanely wealthy clientele. Caroline stood close to the glass so that she could record part of the class for Stefan. Bella, Sarah, and Nico all seemed to be having a great time. Nico was probably the best dancer out of the three thus far. However, the twins and their cousin were competitive so it was amusing to see them try to outdo each other.
Bonnie watched with a bright smile on her face as Sarah practiced with the other children in the beginners' class. The girl's raven eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as she tried to replicate what the instructor was doing. Bonnie thought that Sarah looked so much like Stefan with such a serious expression on her young face. She was such a bubbly little girl that her moments of seriousness were a striking contrast. However, Bonnie could tell how important this was to her daughter. She couldn't help but feel a little pride that Sarah was following in her footsteps by taking ballet. She hoped that it was something that they would be able to share for years to come.
A mutual love of dance was one of the few things that Bonnie had in common with her own mother. As a child, Bonnie would show Abby videos of her dance recitals whenever she visited. Her mother would offer praise and correction that the little girl soaked up like a sponge. She even had a collection of programs for the ballets performed by Abby's former ballet company. There was a time when Bonnie had dreamed of becoming a professional dancer as her mother had. However, Sheila's cancer diagnosis had ground those dreams into dust. Sheila allowed her granddaughter to perform in Swan Lake before she married Damon. Abby had actually showed up to watch her oldest child perform the role of Odette in the ballet. It was perhaps the happiest night of her life.
Abby sat beside her daughter while they watched the children dance. "She looks like a little doll out there. I can't wait until Savannah is old enough to start taking ballet lessons. I have thought about signing her up for tumbling classes. I did that with you when you were Savannah's age."
She smiled wistfully. "I know. Grams saved some of the videos for me. She would dig them out every once in awhile when I really needed it. You should do those tumbling classes with Savannah. You have the time with the boys being in school now."
The older woman didn't miss the tinge of bitterness in her daughter's voice. Their relationship was improving but there was still two decades of trauma that would probably never heal. "I just might."
"Any leads on work?" Bonnie asked.
Abby struggled to be a mother but she was a top-notch dancer and choreographer. For years, she had traveled the world as part of a renowned ballet company. She left the ballet company about nine years ago and focused on being a choreographer. She began touring with various recording artists and quickly made a name for herself in the industry. Abby's last pregnancy forced her to put her career on the backburner for awhile. She experienced a number of complications while carrying Savannah due to being in her late 30's at the time. Alaric wanted Abby's 'break' to be permanent. However, she was concerned that her life would turn into a type of prison without work as an outlet.
"Actually, I had a working lunch this afternoon with Ignacio and a pretty big name recording artist. I thought it was just an informal meeting. But he ended up offering me the job on the spot. He is going to be shooting a pair of videos in Southern California in late January. He wants me to do the choreography for both videos. The artist is giving me a week to get back to him with an answer."
Bonnie smiled. "That is great news. Why don't you look happier about it?"
"I just don't know if Alaric will be okay with me taking the job. He has made it clear that he would prefer for me to do this."
"Do what?" she asked in confusion.
Abby explained, "He wants me to open my own dance studio. However, it isn't as if he is particularly interested in my happiness. He just wants something to tether me to Southern California. It was easier when I didn't need to consult another person about my job prospects. I am trying to make it work this time around for the sake of your siblings. I am trying to be a better mother but it doesn't come naturally to me. If you can believe it, I am much better at being a mother than I am at being a wife or girlfriend," she said honestly.
The girl looked at her mother with genuine sympathy. She knew from personal experience how difficult it was pretending to be something you weren't on a daily basis. It was a tiresome farce but the alternative was showing your true self and risking rejection. She knew with certainty that Damon would never accept her true self. He wanted a naïve doe-eyed girl that swooned under his gaze. Damon would never be able to handle the fact that he had married a killer and that she was a better strategist than he was.
"For what it's worth, I think you are doing a good job with them. You are there every day. I would have given anything for that when I was a kid."
"I'm sorry," she said earnestly.
Bonnie shook her head. "I wasn't trying to make you feel bad, Mom. I was just saying that you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. Your constant presence in their lives means more than you know."
It was hard for Abby to look at the emotional scars that she had left behind on her daughter. She couldn't help but think that Bonnie's obsession with Damon stemmed from her abandonment as a child. She had latched onto the raven-haired boy at a young age and never let go. Sheila certainly had not dissuaded the infatuation because she had planned for this merging of the families.
"What about you? You are going to be graduating from college in May. Are you going to join the workforce?"
"I hope so. I have been thinking that I might take a position at Velocita. On the other hand, I have been thinking about getting my MBA, too. I might actually be able to attend school on campus like a traditional student would."
Abby understood that Bonnie meant that it wouldn't be a fight once Giuseppe was dead. She was proud of how determined her daughter was to carve out a life for herself despite the hand she had been dealt.
"Both are great options. Have you thought about taking a part-time position while working on your MBA? Maybe you could work under Zacharias. He is very good at his job. You know he helped smooth all the wrinkles when BTS and Velocita merged."
She smiled, "Well, I will be working under his direction during my internship. I want to see what sort of boss he is before thinking about a more permanent position under his purview. In the meantime, I managed to submit all of my applications to the MBA programs before their respective deadlines."
"To how many programs did you apply?" she asked curiously as she took a sip of her smoothie.
She said, "Three. I decided to keep my options open. All three programs admit very few candidates each year. There's a chance that I might get waitlisted because they value business experience."
Abby lifted an eyebrow. "I doubt that will happen. Your grades and GMAT score are impeccable. You will have completed an internship at a Fortune 500 company. And let's be honest, your last name will edge out some of the competition."
"You have a point. I guess that I just wanted to be admitted to the MBA program on my own merits. You know?"
The older woman squeezed her hand. "It doesn't matter how you get in, it only matters what you do once you are there. I have no doubt that you will prove yourself worthy of admission once you are through the door. You are so driven. Do you know how many people in your position would be content to rest on their laurels? Your grams would be proud of you….for many reasons. You are the very best this family has to offer and don't you ever forget it."
Bonnie was taken aback by her mother's strong defense of her capabilities. She smiled. "Thank you for saying that, Mom."
"It's the truth," she replied.
Bonnie went back to watching the ballet class. However, a few minutes later a wave of nausea washed over her. She stood and said, "I'll be right back."
She swiftly walked to the restroom without drawing too much attention. She made it into a stall just as the floodgates opened. Bonnie was seriously regretting the decision to eat half of Tyler's turkey club after waking up from her nap. However, she had been so hungry at the time and the bacon on the sandwich had smelled delicious.
She silently cursed morning sickness as she finished emptying the contents of her stomach. Bonnie flushed the toilet and then walked over to the sink. She washed her hands and then retrieved a travel-sized bottle of mouthwash from her purse. The young mother was glad that she came prepared. She rinsed her mouth and then gargled with mouthwash. She could only hope that the anti-nausea medication would work once she started taking it.
Bonnie took a deep breath and prepared to leave the restroom when her phone vibrated inside her purse. She pulled out the phone and realized that it was her burner. She looked at the coded text message from Brady and smiled. He had found a way to end John Gilbert quietly. The better news was that he could accomplish it before Christmas. They needed to meet up tomorrow for him to relay the details.
She tapped out a quick reply and then walked out of the restroom. Bonnie's steps slowed to a stop when she saw Niklaus approaching her. She could hear Dr. Huerta's voice warning her about unnecessary stress in her life. The last thing she needed was to get into a fight with Klaus right now. He seemed reasonable when they last spoke but Bonnie knew well his unpredictable mood swings. The green-eyed girl quickly turned around and walked back toward the bathroom. She would just wait him out for a few minutes. If necessary, she could call her mother to run interference for her.
Klaus quickened his steps to catch up with Bonnie before she entered the bathroom. He said, "I promise that I am not stalking you, love. This is just a happy coincidence."
She spun around and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Then why are you here? You are a little old for a children's ballet class, Niklaus. Or has your preference in victims skewed younger?"
Niklaus despised the hateful glare directed at him. He wanted nothing more than to kiss the ugly sneer from her beautiful face. Despite his actions, he truly loved Bonnie. He still didn't understand how he could have misread their relationship so egregiously. Had he truly been so blind to her fear of him? Perhaps he had been too impaired to notice or care about her feelings. That fateful summer he had spent the majority of his time using alcohol, prescription pills, and cocaine to numb his pain. Now Niklaus had learned that he had only heaped his pain onto another.
"I assure you that I have not suddenly turned into a pedophile. My rather demanding niece is in Madame Clarice's next class. Hope insisted that I watch her rehearse for the Nutcracker. I could hardly argue when she reminded me that I have missed several years of birthday and Christmas celebrations. I even missed her confirmation earlier this year."
Bonnie felt foolish for accusing Klaus of stalking her. She knew that Hope and Helena were both Madame Clarice's students. Hayley was the one that recommended this dance studio to Bonnie.
She nodded and said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed. It is good that you are spending time with Hope."
"There is no need to apologize. I understand why you would be wary of my sudden appearance after all that has transpired between us." He paused for a beat and then asked, "You are here for your little girl. Sarah?"
This civil version of Niklaus knocked Bonnie off-kilter. She felt uneasy not knowing what to expect from this man. She knew from experience how quickly Klaus could vacillate between conciliatory and violent. However, she was willing to feign civility in order to avoid antagonizing him. She had her switchblade close at hand but slicing Niklaus open in a dance studio was hardly a favorable solution.
She smiled a little. "Yes, she has been asking me about ballet for awhile. I thought I might bring her to the beginner's class to see if she truly likes it."
Niklaus was pleased that Bonnie seemed willing to continue the conversation. "She wants to be a ballerina like her mother?" he asked.
Bonnie shook her head. "I was hardly a ballerina."
"Oh, that's not true at all. I remember Giuseppe speaking highly of your prowess. He is not a man known to be careless with praise," he replied.
"It feels like a lifetime ago now," she said with a wistful tone of voice.
He asked, "Do you miss it?"
Bonnie's green eyes bored into him for a moment. At first, she thought that he was taunting her. However, she realized that his question was an honest inquiry. She evaded, "I miss many things, but life means embracing change."
"Perhaps that is true, but relinquishing one's passion is not so easy. I might have gone mad in prison if I were not afforded the opportunity to continue drawing."
"I am glad that you were able to keep drawing. I have always liked your work."
He was mildly surprised by Bonnie's compliment. "Thank you."
"I should get back out there. My mother will come looking for me if I am gone for much longer," she said.
His voice dropped an octave as he said, "Before you go, there is something that I wanted to give you, petal."
She tensed when Niklaus called her 'petal'. She hated that stupid pet name with a burning passion. Bonnie cleared her throat. "You said that this meeting was merely a happy coincidence."
"That might not have been exactly true. Hope did insist that I watch her rehearse. I find myself unable to deny her anything," he replied. He showed her his painted blue fingernails.
Bonnie eyed his fingernails. "Nice color."
"I overheard Hayley telling Rebekah that you would be here today with your daughter." He held up a leather portfolio and said, "I brought this along on the off chance that I would see you."
"I don't want anything from you, Niklaus. I just want you to leave me alone," she said.
Klaus didn't know how to begin making amends for what he did to Bonnie. He wasn't even sure if that was possible. However, he had to start somewhere. He couldn't allow Bonnie to continue thinking that he had been playing some sort of sick game with her. The sad truth was that Bonnie's sadness had drawn him in like a moth to a flame. She used to don a mask around her family and friends but he saw through it. Klaus had realized that Bonnie was just as lonely and forgotten as he was. After watching her Saturday, Klaus knew that not much had changed for the girl. She was still as miserable as she was five years ago. Perhaps the only difference was that she was even more alone now that Sheila had died.
Klaus stepped forward to stop Bonnie from walking away but rocked back onto his heels when she shied away from his touch. He said, "I have been trying to work my way up to apologizing to you…for everything. I know that I am doing a poor job of it. I don't even know where to begin."
The young woman felt rooted to that spot despite wanting to get as far away from Niklaus as possible. She didn't want another of his half-assed apologies. However, he seemed to be genuinely contrite. Bonnie didn't know what to do with this unexpected turn of events.
"I know that you asked me to leave you alone and I will after this. You will never have to see my face again if that is what you truly want. I never meant to hurt you, Bonnie. I thought…" He ran a hand over his curly hair. He said, "It doesn't matter what I thought. What matters is that I hurt you more than once and in ways that are unforgivable. I am sorry. I would do anything to make it up to you, but only if you decide to give me a chance. I want you to have this," he said. He handed Bonnie the leather portfolio.
Bonnie looked down at the portfolio and then looked up into Klaus's blue eyes. She noted that he looked so sincere. It was so unlike the crazed individual that cornered her Saturday night. Bonnie knew that she didn't owe him anything. However, she would take the portfolio if Niklaus truly meant to leave her alone. It seemed a simple price to pay. She opened the leather cover and smiled involuntarily at a hand drawn portrait of herself. Bonnie realized that there were perhaps a dozen drawings tucked into the portfolio along with several pages of a handwritten letter.
"This is beautiful, Niklaus. I think that you captured me perfectly, it looks as if I modeled for you."
"In a way you did…you were constantly on my mind while I was in prison," he confessed.
Bonnie said, "Nik…"
He shook his head and stepped out of the way so that she could pass. "I am not asking you for anything, Bonnie. I know that I do not have that right. I just…can't bear the thought of you believing that I am a monster. I never meant to hurt you. I am sorry that I did."
Bonnie quickly walked around him and nearly froze when she saw Lucy at the end of the corridor. She shook off the surprise and continued walking forward. "Has class ended?"
"It just ended." Lucy turned to walk with Bonnie. She whispered, "What were you and Klaus talking about, Bonnie? It looked serious."
"I don't know what you are talking about, Lucy. I was just talking to Niklaus about his niece's upcoming performance. Hope is going to be a sugarplum fairy in this year's production of the Nutcracker," she lied easily.
Lucy stared after her cousin in disbelief. She said, "Don't lie to me, girl. You know damn well that isn't what I just saw."
Bonnie turned and glared at Lucy. "Lower your voice and mind your own damn business, Lucy Marie. See I can put bass in my voice, too."
She stopped walking as her jaw dropped. Bonnie had never spoken to her that way. However, she was more worried about her cousin than she was offended by what she said. Lucy was hoping that Niklaus hadn't set his sights on her little cousin. Nothing good could come from an entanglement with a Mikaelson.
Bonnie walked to where Sarah was animatedly chatting with Abby. She smiled and said, "You were great, bambolina. Did you have fun?"
Sarah whirled around and hugged Bonnie's waist. "I had so much fun, Mama. Can we come back tomorrow?"
Bonnie's smiled brightened when she heard Sarah's enthusiasm. "Well, the class for your age doesn't meet again until next week. But we can come here next week if that's what you want."
She nodded excitedly and said, "I want Papa to come with us next time."
"Oh, I'm sorry, bambolina. I don't know if Papa will be back from his trip yet. We should send him the video that I recorded of you today. I bet that he will like it so much that he'll call us when he has time."
Sarah's excitement dimmed a little but she nodded. "Okay."
Bonnie hated seeing the sad expression on her daughter's face. She decided to distract Sarah from thinking about her father. She asked, "Do you know what we're doing tonight after dinner?"
She shook her head. "What?"
"We're decorating the Christmas tree."
Sarah's eyes grew as big as saucers. "Really?"
Bonnie nodded. "We are going to decorate the Christmas tree while drinking hot cocoa and eating double chocolate chip cookies. Doesn't that sound fun?"
"I'm gonna go tell Bella and Nico," she exclaimed and took off across the room. The twins were near Caroline who happened to be talking to Hayley and Rebekah.
Abby smiled at Bonnie. "You really made her day by bringing her here, Bonnie. You know I wouldn't mind working with her tomorrow if she really wants to learn more."
Bonnie was taken aback by her mother's offer. "Really?"
"Well, it would be a shame not to share my years of expertise with my granddaughter."
Bonnie thought her heart might burst from happiness. It was a small gesture for some but it was monumental when considering her relationship with Abby. "I'd like that, Mama. I bet Sarah would, too."
Abby looked up and noticed Niklaus staring in their direction. She glared at him until he had the good sense to look away. "We should go. I promised Seline that I wouldn't be late getting home. She has a date later tonight."
Bonnie said, "Okay. I am going to get Sarah and then we'll drop you off at home."
"I will meet you outside, sweetheart." Abby walked out to the parking lot.
The non-verbal exchange between Abby and Klaus didn't go unnoticed by Lucy. She silently cursed in her head and vowed to get to the bottom of this before it became a problem. Lucy followed Abby outside.
She asked, "Do you mind if I come back to your place, Abby? I was hoping to raid your closet. I am going to dinner with Brady tonight. He's taking me somewhere swanky and I didn't exactly pack anything that fits the bill."
"You know that you are always welcome at my place, Lucy. You can have at whatever you find in my closet. I am sure you will find something to wear. I see that you and Brady haven't killed each other yet."
Lucy laughed and said, "Not yet..."
Abby said, "Not bad. You should have seen Dickie when he was younger. The man was solid muscle and loved walking around shirtless. He had a temper on him but all the Lockwood boys are that way. You and Brady…how did that happen?"
She smiled and said, "I mentioned in passing to Tyler that I was interested and that he could give his uncle my number. He called me that night."
"Of course he did," Abby said with a smirk.
Bonnie walked out of the studio while holding Sarah's hand. "Ty is about the bring the car around, Mom."
Lucy said, "I was thinking that I could just drive Abby home. I am going over there anyway to find something to wear for the night. You can get the munchkin home and ready for tree decorating."
Sarah looked up at Lucy with big blue eyes. "Are you gonna come help us?"
"I wouldn't miss it," she promised.
Bonnie said, "Oh, okay." She hugged her mother. "Thank you for hanging out with us today. I'll call you tonight to see when you are free tomorrow."
Abby returned the hug. "It was my pleasure, baby girl. I'll talk to you later." She hugged Sarah and said, "Be good for your Mama."
"I will, Nonna." Sarah nodded and waved goodbye.
Tyler pulled up in front of the women and got out to open the back door.
Bonnie helped Sarah into the car and climbed in beside her. "Thanks, Ty. It's just us. Lucy is going to take my mom home."
He closed the door and nodded at the two older women.
"I'm parked just over here." Lucy dug her car keys from her purse and walked over to the rental car.
Abby followed Lucy over to her car while sending Seline a text message. She climbed into the passenger side and put on her seatbelt. "Did Brady tell you where he's taking you tonight? I might be able to help you narrow down your search in my closet."
The younger woman started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. "I don't really need to raid your closet. I am just going to buy something. I wanted to talk to you privately."
Abby put away her phone and gave Lucy a confused look. "Why did you need to lie about something so unimportant?"
"What the hell is going on with Bonnie and Klaus?" Lucy asked bluntly.
Abby asked, "Niklaus Mikaelson? I doubt Bonnie even knows him other than in passing. Why do you ask?"
Lucy rolled her eyes. "Cut the shit, cugine. I saw Bonnie and him talking outside the restrooms. Tyler has already hit Brady up for information about Klaus. It wasn't hard to put one and two together."
"I don't know what you are getting at, Lucy. If you have questions then you need to pose them to Bonnie."
She huffed. "I tried and the little heifer told me to mind my own damn business."
"Well, then I would suggest that you heed her warning and stay out of it."
"I know that you are enjoying playing Mommy to Bonnie but you are out of your depth here, Abby. You don't understand everything that is happening behind the scenes. I am doing everything I can to protect her but I can't do that if I am flying blind. Is Klaus threatening her or blackmailing her? Is the alliance in trouble?"
Abby sat up straight in her seat and narrowed her hazel eyes at her younger cousin. "First, don't talk to me like a child or some clueless bitch off the street. Because I am neither. Second, just because I chose not to be involved in the shadier side of the family's business doesn't mean that I don't know it better than you do any day of the week. I had my first kill while you were still in elementary school and I have spent more time in Milazzo than you ever have. Lastly, and this is most important so listen up, child. I knew exactly what was going on once Bonnie summoned me to the beach house. She's decided to utilize the assets my mother and our grandmother planted in Giuseppe's organization. My ability to be a good mother notwithstanding, I know what the hell I am doing. I know how to keep my daughter safe without your help, Lucy. So stay in your lane."
The younger woman just blinked in shock. She stared at the road and said, "Well, I guess you told me."
"You're damn right that I did. I'll take care of Klaus Mikaelson. You just worry about doing what my daughter needs you to do," Abby ordered
The drive out to Huntington Beach was decidedly quiet after that. Abby was practically fuming and Lucy was worried. She would have to try talking to Bonnie again. She didn't like having a blind spot.
When they arrived, Abby climbed out of the car. "Thanks for the ride."
Lucy climbed out of the car and walked up to Abby. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come at you sideways like that."
She nodded. "I know. I also know that you are just worried about Bonnie. But after everything I've done to my little girl…I'm not about to break my promise to her. When she is ready to tell you the truth, she will. You need to trust Bonnie to be smart enough to know when she needs your help."
"You're right." She hugged Abby. "I am going to get out of your hair. I do actually need to hit up a couple of stores to find something for tonight."
Abby smiled. "Have fun tonight."
Lucy climbed into her car and gave a wave as she drove away.
The older woman sighed deeply as she went into the house. Lucy was right to be concerned for Bonnie. It looked as if Abby would have to speed up her plans.
Seline walked into the living room carrying Savannah. "She has been looking for you."
Abby took the toddler from the nanny's arms with a broad smile. "Come here, pretty girl. Did you miss Mama?"
Savannah rested her head on Abby's shoulder.
Seline said, "Awww, look at her."
"How were the boys this evening?" Abby asked as she rubbed Savannah's back.
She said, "They were good. Cooper needed a little extra help with his homework but we finished it. He's watching television in the family room now. And Jamie is upstairs in his room playing video games. He finished his homework, too."
"Thank you for all the help. Do you need to leave right away?"
Seline shook her head. "No, I'm on the clock for another 30 minutes. Is something wrong?"
"No, there's nothing wrong. I just have a business call that I need to make. But it shouldn't take me very long."
Seline nodded. "Okay. Well, take your time. I will finish getting Savannah ready for bed."
She handed her daughter back to the nanny. "Thank you, Seline. You are a lifesaver."
Abby took a deep breath and headed into Ric's office. He had made sure that the room was soundproof just in case he needed to conduct business from home. She sat behind the desk and stared at the phone for a minute. She wasn't looking forward to this conversation but it was time that she stepped up for Bonnie.
She had failed her daughter in so many ways. However, she had always been comforted by the knowledge that Sheila had given Bonnie a good life. She had believed in her heart that her daughter had been safe and loved. Now she wondered how many more invisible scars her daughter was hiding. Abby would never be able to make up for neglecting Bonnie. She couldn't undo the horrors that Niklaus had committed against her daughter. However, she could help keep her safe now. Giuseppe would be dead eventually. His death would come either by Damon's hands or by a bullet from a Benedetto sniper's rifle. Unfortunately, Niklaus was a more delicate situation.
The idea of watching Niklaus bleed out in a dirty alley had a certain appeal. However, Abby understood the importance of the alliance. Moreover, death would be too easy for Niklaus. Abby wanted him to suffer for what he did to Bonnie. Sending Niklaus to prison would leave him vulnerable. There was only so much protection his family could provide while he was on the inside. It wouldn't take much effort from Abby to ensure that some very big men schooled Klaus on what it meant to be violated repeatedly. When she was done with him, Niklaus would never lay a finger on another helpless girl.
Abby hummed Guantanamera quietly as she dialed a telephone number.
"Hello?" a man greeted in a sleep roughened voice after three rings.
"Hiya, sweets," Abby replied in a melodic tone.
"Abigail?"
"I am flattered that you still recognize my voice. Do you have time to talk?"
"How did you even get this number?" he complained. The sheets rustled as he sat up in the bed.
She smirked. "Oh, I have my ways. I like to keep tabs on the people I've tried to kill in the past. You know, just in case I ever get the urge to finish the job."
"It's been 18 years. I stopped waiting for a bullet to the head ten years ago."
She tsked and then playfully admonished him, "You were expecting a bullet to the head? That would be terribly impersonal after everything we have shared. We were married for three long years. No, when I take your life I want to feel the warmth of your blood on my hands, sweets. Only something up close and personal will do."
Rudy chuckled deeply. "Are you trying to seduce me into having phone sex with you? If you are, you should start by sending me a picture of you topless."
Abby gently drummed her nails against the desk. "Phone sex could be interesting. However, I'm certain you have a barely legal one-night stand sprawled out in your bed right now."
"Well, you aren't calling to threaten my life or to have phone sex. What other reason could you have for calling me at this God forsaken hour, Abigail?"
Rudy had moved to London after their divorce. Sheila had paid off Rudy and then told him to leave the country if he wanted to live. The Bennett matriarch didn't have a good relationship with her only child. However, she was livid after learning that Rudy had been physically abusing Abby for well over a year.
"Friday morning you are going to get on a plane and fly out here to Los Angeles. I will book a flight for you, sweets. I will even be generous enough to make it first class."
He huffed out a laugh. "Why in God's name would I do a thing like that? There's a reason why I still live in London."
"Yes, I am well aware of your disdain for the state of California. Unfortunately, this isn't really a request. This is more of a do what your ex-wife says or there will be consequences."
"It sounds like we're back to you killing me," he quipped. "What do you want, Abigail?"
"What I want is for you to get on the plane in three days and fly your ass across the Atlantic Ocean. I don't care what mental math you need to do to make that happen. You can fly out here because our pregnant daughter is in danger or because your vindictive ex-wife can torpedo your business with one anonymous tip to the Interpol."
The line went silent for a moment. "Is Bonnie okay?"
Abby took a deep breath and said, "No, she's not. She is recovering from some very serious injuries. Her face...you should have seen her face a week ago."
"Is it her husband? Did that son of a bitch put his hands on my daughter?" he asked in a dangerous tone.
She huffed out a humorless laugh. "That's the first thing I asked when I saw her face. But no. Damon hasn't started abusing her. I'll tell you everything that you need to know when you get here."
"What makes you think that I will agree to your demands?"
"Because you know that I really would report you to Interpol without a second thought. Also, because I know that you do love our daughter. She needs us, Rudy. I wouldn't be calling you if it wasn't important."
Rudy asked, "If Bonnie needs my help then why isn't she the one calling me?"
"Because she got her stubbornness from you," she replied. "Our daughter has the weight of the world on her shoulders, sweets. She is so strong and so brave but at the end of the day she's still 21-years-old. She needs her parents."
"What exactly do you need from me?" he asked.
"Do you still have your connections in NorCal?"
Rudy said, "Yes. Although, now I am curious as to why you aren't reaching out to someone in your own family. Am I really flying across an ocean to help you score?"
"I need major weight. Enough to get someone sent up for life. My name opens a lot doors but this can't be traced back to me."
"Last I heard you were playing happy families with Alaric Salvatore. Why not ask him for help since you hate me so much?"
Abby realized that she wasn't the only one keeping an eye on her ex. It seemed that Rudy was keeping tabs on her as well.
"Because he isn't her father. You are, Rudolph. We owe her and you know it. We both abandoned our daughter. She was just a little girl and she needed us, Rudy. She needed us more than you will ever know. We can't change the past but we can try to be here for her now. Bonnie doesn't call you because she thinks that you don't love her. You are the one that gave her that impression. Do something to change that."
Rudy said, "I'll be there but this better not be some sort of game.
"It's not."
"You said that Bonnie's pregnant?" he asked.
Abby smiled as she thought of her unborn grandchildren. "Yes, she is. Bonnie is pregnant with twins."
"Twins…" he repeated.
"Be sure to bring a gift for our granddaughter when you come. Sarah likes dolls, books, and remote control cars."
Rudy huffed at his ex's presumptuousness. "I will bring a nice gift. Don't worry."
"Well, I will let you go. Men of your age need their sleep."
"Wait…"
"What?" she asked.
"What are you wearing?" he asked.
Abby rolled her eyes in exasperation. She said, "Good night, Rudy."