Bonnie felt alive as her body undulated to a song's hypnotic beat. She could almost feel the strong bass line reverberating under her skin. Everyone around her was intoxicated. She could practically taste the alcohol seeping from their pores as they worked up a sweat on the dance floor. However, Bonnie being sober didn't feel like some great hardship. She was riding a wave of adrenaline that came from being in the middle of this sea of humanity. The members of her family/organization stuck close to ensure that no one tried anything. Bonnie's face was well known and she was wearing jewelry worth a couple hundred thousand dollars. However, the only interruptions thus far were a few girls asking to take a selfie with her and several men asking to dance with her.

Bonnie had politely declined all the requests for a dance and had refused about a dozen drinks. She was still a married woman after all. She had zero interest in embarrassing Damon publicly. Moreover, there was only one man that she wanted to dance with tonight. Unfortunately, she couldn't dance with him either because the news would certainly reach Damon's ears. She knew his threat of slitting the throat of any potential suitor had not been idle. Therefore, Bonnie danced by herself and with groups of girls. She had even danced couple of songs with her cousins Cesare, Cristian, and Remy. Not even Damon could object to her dancing with her male cousins.

The girl's sharp green eyes scanned the crowded dance floor until she found Tyler. He was dancing with Vicki a few feet away, but his gaze was firmly on Bonnie. Most people would assume that he was fastidiously performing his duty as her bodyguard. However, Bonnie saw the hunger burning brightly in his dark brown eyes. Her heart began to beat faster in response. Feeling desirable emboldened the young woman as she locked gazes with her best friend. Her dance moves became more seductive because in that moment she was putting on a show for him. Bonnie wanted Tyler to know that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. She knew that he had some lingering doubts even if he refused to voice them.

Tyler was the first man to make her feel desirable. Bonnie knew that she was beautiful. Her self-esteem hadn't been eroded so far that she was unable to acknowledge that she was aesthetically pleasing but that wasn't the same thing as being desired. Damon always made her feel as if she were his most prized possession. He enjoyed 'owning' Bonnie and knowing that no one else would ever have the right to enjoy her body as he had. Her interactions with Niklaus had fallen along the same lines. He had delighted in teaching Bonnie about the pleasure a man could give a woman and vice versa. However, he had defiled the girl for his own sick enjoyment. He had said as much when he cornered her at Elijah's house and asked if Damon knew that she had tasted another man's semen. The seventeen year old girl had feared her future husband learning the truth so much that she performed kegel exercises daily leading up to their wedding. She had been worried that Klaus' fingers had altered her in some discernible way.

Tyler licked his lips while he stared at Bonnie unabashedly. He cocked his head in the direction of the bathrooms.

Bonnie bit into her bottom lip as she considered his silent invitation. She slowly nodded.

Lucy walked up behind Bonnie and asked, "Are you going to eye bang him all night?"

She tore her eyes away from Tyler and glared at her older cousin. "Why don't you say it louder? I don't think the people in the back heard you, Lucy."

The older woman gave a melodic laugh. She was buzzed and in a very good mood tonight. She said, "Calm down. No one is paying attention to us right now. Do you want something to drink? I am thirsty."

Bonnie realized that she had worked up a thirst, too. "Sure."

"Let's go up to the VIP section. I want to say hi to John. I mean it is his birthday. It would be rude not to wish him many more," Lucy replied with a sassy smile.

She had lost track of time but it was obviously nearing 1 o'clock if Lucy was preparing to move forward with their plan. Bonnie nodded and said, "I am going to run to the bathroom. I will meet you upstairs in a few minutes. Order a drink for me, please."

Lucy furrowed her eyebrows in concern. She said, "I'll come with you."

Bonnie shook her head. "Oh, that's not necessary. We haven't seen Klaus all night. He isn't here. I think he is going to keep his word about giving me space until I want to talk. I know him, Luce. He's playing the good guy right now."

Lucy looked doubtful because she didn't trust Klaus at all. However, she would readily admit that Bonnie probably knew him better than she did. "Do you have your blade?"

She discreetly patted her clutch purse. "I never leave home without it now."

The older woman scowled but finally nodded. "You've got ten minutes then I am going to come find you. I made Abby a promise. She's not about to kick my ass because I let something happen to you."

Bonnie huffed out a laugh. "I'll just be a few minutes. I promise."

Lucy glanced over at Vicki and realized that Tyler had disappeared from sight. She suddenly understood why Bonnie wanted a few minutes alone. Her little cousin was playing with fire but Lucy wouldn't be a hypocrite and chastise her for it. Bonnie was old enough to make her own decisions. Lucy would be there to protect her if it all went wrong.

She took a deep breath and then began walking across the crowded room to the bar. Earlier, she had ordered a magnum bottle of Dom Perignon to be delivered to John's table at 2 o'clock. She needed to make sure that the delivery would be on time. The brunette temptress had a date with John Gilbert and she really couldn't show up without a birthday gift.

Bonnie's eyes lit up when she rounded the corner to find Tyler hanging out near the fire exit. She felt butterflies in her stomach when he grinned at her. It was the same boyish grin that he'd given her long before Bonnie understood what it meant. She asked, "Going out for a smoke?"

He nodded. "Wanna come with me? I promise to blow the smoke away from you…"

She smiled and said, "Okay." She frowned. "Won't the alarm go off or something?"

He shook his head. "Nah. I scouted the club in advance to get the lay of the land. Matt and I mapped out prearranged exit routes to get you out of here just in case things went sideways tonight. Davina was able to provide us with the inside information. She told us that the emergency exits aren't hooked up to the central system. Members of the staff come out here for smoke breaks all the time."

Bonnie hummed. "You're always looking after me."

He pushed the door open. "It's my job…and my pleasure."

She walked out of the club and into the brisk night air. It was a nice reprieve from the muggy nightclub. She looked around but found the area deserted.

Tyler nudged part of a broken cinder block in the door to keep it from closing. He took out a cigarette and asked, "Are you having fun tonight?"

She nodded. "What about you?"

He paused as he lit the cigarette and then looked into Bonnie's eyes. "I am having fun watching you."

"Yeah?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"I haven't been able to keep my eyes off you all night," he confessed.

"It's been the same way for me. Lucy accused me of eye banging you," she replied with a slight flush to her cheeks.

He flashed a wolfish grin. "I noticed. You really like these pants. Don't you?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes playfully but the answer was a resounding yes. Tyler looked good in leather. She tried to appear nonchalant when she said, "You fill them out well."

"I think that's supposed to be my line," he joked. He turned his head and blew smoke rings into the air.

She shrugged. "I'm new to this whole flirting thing. I'll get the hang of it eventually."

"You don't really need to know how to flirt when you look like this good," Tyler said and then pointedly dropped his gaze to her cleavage.

Bonnie laughed softly. "Asshole…"

He grinned and said, "I compliment you and you insult me. I feel like we are little kids all over again. Should I be expecting a boney knee to the balls soon?"

She laughed and pushed his shoulder. "I only did that once and you have never let me live it down."

"Of course I can't let you live it down. You kneed me in the balls on purpose!" he exclaimed.

Bonnie bit back a laugh and shrugged. "You tried to kiss me without asking permission first."

Tyler licked his lips and asked, "Do I still have to ask permission?"

Her eyes were drawn to his lips. She smirked and said, "No."

"Good to know because I have to pay you back for what you've been doing to me all night."

"What exactly have I been doing?" Bonnie asked innocently.

Tyler glanced around and then stepped closer to her. He took Bonnie's hand and rested it against his crotch.

She gasped when she felt Tyler's erection. Bonnie's eyes shot up to his as she slowly removed her hand. "Pervert," she whispered playfully.

"You like it," he replied with a grin.

"I do." Bonnie grabbed Tyler's arm so that she could look at his watch. "Shit. I should head inside. Lucy is waiting for me upstairs."

He smirked. "It is about that time. I'll see you later."

Bonnie quietly slipped back into the building and made her way to the VIP section. When she approached John's booth all of the college coeds had been dismissed because Lucy was practically sitting on the man's lap. Bonnie adored her cousin for the things she was willing to do for their family.

John was whispering something filthy in Lucy's ear with his hand firmly on her thigh.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," she said.

The blond mobster's head snapped up when he heard another voice. He slowly removed his hand from Lucy's thigh when he realized it was Bonnie. "No, you're not interrupting anything. You are welcome to have a seat."

Bonnie smiled at him as she sat at the other end of the couch. "Thanks, John. I just wanted to drop in to say Happy Birthday."

"Oh. Thank you. I didn't realize that you were going to be here tonight."

Lucy motioned to a glass on the table. "That's for you."

She nodded a little and picked up the glass of San Pellegrino. "This isn't normally my thing but some of my cousins are in town and they insisted that I join them."

"Does Damon know that you are here?" he asked. John picked up his glass of champagne as he eyed Bonnie suspiciously.

Bonnie shook her head and feigned nervousness as she took a sip of her drink. "I hope that we can keep this between the two of us. You know how overprotective he can be. I just wanted to have a little fun."

John didn't buy Bonnie's timid act for a moment. He wasn't as gullible as the Salvatore men were. He had learned the ropes of the business at Sheila's feet. The woman had tolerated Giuseppe's abuse for decades in order to undermine him. Deceit and treachery were practically in Bonnie's blood. Moreover, he had begun to believe that she suspected him of switching sides. It was no coincidence that two of his top guys had disappeared in recent weeks. Another died in a freak car accident and of course Atticus Shane had been killed during a prison fight. John just wasn't sure if Damon or Bonnie were the responsible party. There was also the possibility that Giuseppe had turned on him. The old man had become enraged when he realized that John was only out for himself.

"Your secret is safe with me, Bonnie. I don't know how Damon ever believed that he could keep you locked away in that fortress forever. Even I know that is not a possibility with my own girls."

The green-eyed girl's mask remained firmly in place. However, she felt a small pang of guilt at the mention of John's daughters. Most of his business associates merely tolerated him. His superior attitude turned off most people but his girls loved him. They would be orphans after tonight. April was in her second year at Columbia. While Violet was in her last year at an English boarding school.

She said, "Thanks, John."

"Don't mention it."

Lucy took out the baggie of tainted drugs from her purse. She glanced at Bonnie and said, "Avert your eyes. Your grams would skin me alive if she knew I was doing drugs in front of you."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "It's not like it is the first time I've seen you use drugs, Luce."

John asked, "You don't mind?"

"I've been around drugs and alcohol all evening and I have not partaken in any of it," she said and rested a hand on her stomach for emphasis.

He blinked and then nodded. "Congratulations. Damon told me that the two of you are expecting."

"Twins," Bonnie added.

"Double the blessing then," John said.

Lucy dropped three tablets in the palm of John's hand. "This is going to blow your mind. My guy says that there is more ephedrine in these than normal."

The mobster quickly popped the three tablets in his mouth. His earlier high was starting to wear off and John didn't plan to sober up until Monday or Tuesday. He washed down the tablets with a gulp of champagne.

Bonnie watched her cousin pull a sleight of hand trick that would make some illusionists jealous as she pretended to take the tainted drugs with him.

Lucy toyed with the hair at the base of John's skull. "John was just trying to convince me to join him in Vegas for a few days. I am thinking of taking him up on that offer."

John looked smug at that.

"What about the funerals?" Bonnie asked in an almost scandalized voice.

John had the good sense to look somber despite his disinterest in the funerals. He said, "We would be back before Marco's funeral on Tuesday."

"Oh," she replied.

Lucy glanced at her younger cousin and then looked back at John. "Maybe swanning off for the weekend isn't really a good idea."

Bonnie quickly shook her head. "No, don't let me rain on your parade. If we all waited on the perfect time to enjoy life…we might never enjoy it at all. By those standards, I shouldn't even be here tonight. I should be at home sitting shiva."

John kissed Lucy's neck. "She has a point. Life is for the living, after all."

"Look…I've interrupted enough. I should let you two get back to enjoying your night," Bonnie said as she stood up.

Lucy said, "I'll come find you in a bit to say goodbye. Okay?"

"Sure. I hope you enjoy your birthday celebration, John. You deserve it," Bonnie said with a smile.

"Thank you…"

Her smile shifted into something more sinister as she walked down the stairs. John would be dead in less than an hour. When she met with her people in the morning, she would use his death to remind them of the penalty for betraying her family. Since Thanksgiving, she had eliminated four people that were traitors. It was drastic but necessary. She would kill them all if they didn't fall into line.

Cesare snagged Bonnie's arm as she walked onto the dance floor. "What about another dance with me?"

She giggled softly and said, "My feet are killing me but sure."

The olive skin mobster looked down at Bonnie's feet and laughed. "That's what you get for wearing those…instruments of torture."

She rolled her eyes. "They aren't that bad."

He chuckled. "I have given Lexi enough foot rubs to know better."

"They make my butt look amazing," she confessed.

Cesare barked out a laugh as he pulled her closer. "I will take your word for it, coniglietto."

She pushed his shoulder. "I am glad that you are here."

"And I will continue being here for at least the next year. I am proud of you."

"You don't think that I am being a horrible bitch?" she asked seriously.

Cesare laughed and gently lifted up her chin. "You are being a Benedetto which means you are probably being a horrible bitch but it is in your nature."

Bonnie's green eyes lit up as she laughed with him.

He twirled his younger cousin around the floor playfully before pulling her back to him.

The pair danced together for several songs before Lucy walked up to them.

Cesare grinned. "Ah! There is my other beautiful cousin that doesn't come home to visit me nearly enough. Nonno thinks he is going to have to come stateside if he wants to see you both before he dies."

Lucy's eyes went wide. The girls simultaneously said, "Bite your tongue!"

He chuckled at their reaction. He looked up when Hasta el Amanecer began playing. Cesare grabbed Lucy and said, "Come on! It's your turn to dance with me."

She laughed and said, "I love this song."

Bonnie grinned as she watched her cousins dancing together. Everything about her night had gone to plan thus far. She probably should have known that the bottom would fall out eventually. However, on the other side of the club a storm was brewing unbeknownst to her.

Damon walked into club with Enzo and Stefan. Earlier in the night, he had spent an unseemly amount of money at his favorite strip club. He had been looking to blow off a little steam. He didn't understand how Alaric had managed the two family situation for so long without cracking under the pressure. Damon had only been doing this for a few days but he was already exhausted. Spending time with his daughters was simple enough. Nadia was starting to warm up to him and he had spent the better part of the day with Sarah. He planned to wait until after Christmas to introduce his daughters to each other. However, dealing with Bonnie and Katherine was stressful. They both had expectations of him and he was certainly disappointing both of them. Moreover, it was difficult for him to accept how happy Bonnie and Sarah seemed to be without his presence.

Damon usually refused to spend his money at Klaus' establishments. However, tonight was John's birthday and he would look like an asshole if he didn't make an appearance. The man was still the organization's consigliere. He would remain in that position until Giuseppe was dead. They were closer than ever to finding his father's location. Giuseppe had reached out to Zach earlier in the evening. He was interested in brokering a truce with little Victor as a bargaining chip. He rightly assumed that no one was interested in him maintaining custody of the little boy. They would work out a meeting place in the coming days. Giuseppe claimed that he was in Nova Scotia for the time being. Damon didn't believe that but they didn't have any leads on his actual location.

The group found a table and Enzo flagged down a waitress. He flirted with the girl as he opened a tab in Damon's name. He knew that his best friend was looking to get drunk enough to black out tonight. Damon needed a way to forget his problems for a handful of hours. Enzo intended to help him out with that. He pulled a vial of white powder out of his pocket once he finished placing their drink orders. He asked, "Do you want some?"

Damon shook his head. He had already indulged at the strip club against his better judgment. Stefan had given his older brother one of his patented disappointed looks but didn't lecture him. Damon was certain that was only because Stefan had lost his shit the previous day and tried to kill their uncle. Damon probably had a few days before Stefan's moral superiority returned.

"Are you sure, mate?" Enzo asked.

He said, "No. I need a clear head. I am going over to Abby's house in the morning to see Bonnie before she goes to Mass. She doesn't like when I use coke. It is like she has a sixth sense about these things."

Stefan smiled. He was glad that Damon hadn't accepted Enzo's offer. Sometimes he questioned his brother's choice of friends. Everyone knew how hard it had been for Damon to kick his coke habit. Stefan didn't think a true friend would tempt him with going down that road again. However, he knew better than to criticize Enzo. The older men's friendship had been forged in fire and wouldn't be severed easily. When Damon first married Bonnie, Stefan had hoped that Enzo's obvious dislike of her would have been the final nail in the coffin. Eventually, Enzo learned to keep his opinions about their marriage to himself to avoid Damon's temper.

Enzo nodded in understanding and tucked the vial away for later. He didn't envy Damon's situation but he was glad that Katherine and Nadia were safe now. His friend was many things but he wasn't a deadbeat father. Damon would make sure that Nadia, and by extension Katherine, didn't want for anything. He was still shocked that Bonnie had pulled that move on Damon. The girl wasn't quite as clueless as he had believed her to be.

He asked, "Are you going to see Andie tonight?"

"No, I called things off with her a few days ago. I can't tell if Bonnie was serious about divorcing me but I don't want to take those kinds of chances," he confessed.

The waitress returned with their drinks.

Damon handed her a wad of cash and said, "Keep em coming, sweetheart."

She giggled. "Of course, Mr. Salvatore."

Enzo asked, "How the hell would she even know about Andie?"

Damon gulped down three shots back to back. He countered, "How the hell did she know that Katherine was in Tenerife?"

"Do you think that she is having you followed by a private investigator?" Enzo asked.

He shook his head. "No, she wouldn't do that because of what a private investigator might uncover. Bonnie doesn't want me in prison."

Enzo asked, "Someone in the organization then? Maybe the Lockwood kid is running his mouth to her. You said that they were friends."

Stefan tensed at the mention of Tyler. He wanted to keep his brother off Tyler's scent for as long as possible. Damon said that he wouldn't do something reckless like beat Tyler to death. However, he knew his older brother better than Damon thought. He wouldn't take finding out about Bonnie and Tyler with any sort of grace. Stefan didn't know exactly what was happening between the two but he knew that it was something. He hadn't asked his friend or sister-in-law any questions because it was better that he didn't know the details. Stefan didn't enjoy lying to his brother.

"I don't think so. He only just started being her bodyguard a few weeks ago. Besides, some of the things that Bonnie knows he wouldn't have reason to know," Damon replied.

Enzo nodded in agreement because Tyler wasn't exactly in Damon's inner circle. Katherine being his mistress was common knowledge. However, only a few people knew about Andie because of her career. She didn't want to be dubbed as a homewrecker because it would make people discredit her work as an anchor. She had worked her way up from the weather girl to sitting at the news desk.

Stefan offered, "Maybe it is someone that works at the hotel. It would be a quick payday to pass information to Bonnie on your comings and goings. You are a creature of habit, brother."

Damon nodded as he tossed back a couple more shots. Stefan had a point because Damon frequented two hotels the Claiborne and the Rischard. He had started using the Claiborne once his affair with Katherine grew more serious. Damon hadn't wanted her to find out about the other women he was seeing behind her back. He tried to be a courteous adulterer when possible.

"Do you want me to look into it?" Enzo asked.

He shook his head. "It's all water under the bridge. Bonnie knows the truth…I can't put the genie back in the lamp now. I do want you to keep an eye on Cesare."

Enzo nodded. "You got it."

Stefan nearly choked on his drink when Bonnie came into view. He nudged his brother. "Did you know that Bonnie was going to be here tonight?"

Damon was putting back yet another drink but stopped when his brother mentioned Bonnie. He turned to look at Stefan and asked, "What are you talking about? Bonnie and Sarah are staying at Abby's house."

The younger Salvatore pointed to Bonnie dancing with Lucy and Vicki. She seemed lost in the music as she swayed her hips to the beat. "Maybe that's the plan after she leaves the club."

Damon felt his blood pressure skyrocket as his gaze fell onto his wife. He drank in her appearance and clenched his fists in anger. He couldn't believe she was dressed like that. Damon stood up and marched across the room. He shoved people out of his way as he made his way to Bonnie.

Bonnie and Lucy were practically screaming the lyrics to the song Black Beatles, "She's a good teaser. And we blowing reefer. Ya body like a work of art, baby. Don't fuck with me I'll break ya heart, baby."

Damon barked, "Bonnie!"

Vicki and Davina looked nervous at Damon's sudden appearance. They quickly took a step away from the livid mob boss.

The green-eyed beauty glared at her husband. She mimicked his tone of voice, "Damon! What do you want?"

He got in her face. Bonnie's attitude was pushing his buttons and Damon was already close enough to the edge. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Lucy frowned. "Back the fuck off my cousin, Damon."

He glared. "Mind your fucking business, Lucy. She's my wife."

Stefan walked up because he saw Cesare, Cristian, and Remy making their way through the crowd. He had no doubt that the three Benedetto cousins would jump Damon in a heartbeat. "Calm down, brother. You don't want to make a scene here."

Bonnie held her hand up because she could tell that Lucy was ready to pop off on Damon. She said, "First, don't talk to my cousin like that. Second, I am a grown ass woman, Damon. I can go clubbing if I want. Don't you dare walk in here trying to check me about my life when we aren't even together because of what you have been doing in yours. I am not one of your employees, your little brother, or one of your whores. You don't run me, Damon Salvatore. And don't you ever fucking forget it."

Lucy grinned like a Cheshire cat. "That's right, Bon. Let this motherfucker know that you ain't having his double standard chauvinistic bullshit!"

The three male Benedetto cousins came to a stop behind Lucy and Bonnie. Stefan's assumption had been right because all three men looked as if they were ready to throw Damon a beating that he wouldn't soon forget.

Enzo moved closer to Damon to let them know that he wasn't alone. If they started something with his best friend/boss, it wouldn't be three on one.

Damon was oblivious to the danger because all he could see was the plunging neckline and incredibly short hemline of Bonnie's dress. He practically growled, "Where is my daughter while you are out here shaking your ass in a dress that barely covers you? You look like a fucking slut."

Cesare roared, "What the fuck did you just call my cousin?"

Cristian struggled to hold his older brother back.

Damon said, "I'm not talking to you, Cesare! I am trying to figure out why my wife thinks it is appropriate to leave the house looking like a whore."

Stefan hurriedly took out his phone and texted his uncles. Damon was either going to get himself killed or wreck their relationship with the Benedetto family.

Her eyes darkened dangerously and she cut off her enraged family's complaints. "Our daughter is asleep at my mother's house. I put her to bed and made sure that she was asleep before I left. Don't make it seem like I am not a good parent. I think we both know out of the two of us that I am the one that spends more time with Sarah. Speaking of playing daddy…I thought you were supposed to be spending time with Katherine and Nadia this weekend." She craned her neck around as if looking for someone. "Or maybe you're here tonight with Rayna. No, I think the new one is named Natalie. Wait! No, I remember now. Her name is Andie Starr…the weather girl."

"He's fucking the weather girl, too? Shit…I'm surprised he hasn't given you some sort of STD," Lucy quipped with disdain.

Bonnie laughed coldly. "I get tested every six months just to be on the safe side. The girls I named are just this year's whores. I don't have time to name all the chicks he has fucked. Damon is quite the little slut."

Damon's anger cooled to a simmer when he realized that Bonnie had named his last three mistresses in order of appearance. However, the dangerous look in her eyes concerned him the most. He took her hand. "Let's get out of here... away from our family and friends. We need to talk, bunny."

Bonnie leaned closer and whispered into his ear. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Damon. Walk away from me or I will make a big fucking scene that will land us on TMZ. I am sure the shareholders will love that or maybe I will just let my cousins whoop your ass."

He pulled back and stared into her poisonous green eyes. It was probably the closest he had ever come to seeing hatred in Bonnie's eyes. "You know that I didn't mean it when I called you a slut. I am drunk. I was drunk even before I got here."

"You think that somehow excuses you treating me like this? I will not be your verbal punching bag. We are done, Damon. I want a divorce," Bonnie said before she could even think it through.

Lucy blinked in shock because she hadn't been expecting that.

Damon moved closer to Bonnie. "You don't mean that…"

Suddenly, screams could be heard from the second floor. "Oh my God! I think he's dead. Someone call an ambulance"

The music stopped as people started paying attention to the screams.

Bonnie tried valiantly to keep the smirk off her face. She couldn't have planned John's death more perfectly if she tried. Bonnie made her eyes widen in horror as she looked toward the VIP section. "What's happening?" she asked innocently.

Damon looked at his younger brother and shoved the car keys into his hands. "Get Bonnie out of here. Now!"

Stefan grabbed Bonnie's arm and said, "Come on, Bunny."

Bonnie let her concerned brother-in-law escort her from the club. He led her down the block where their car was parked.

Lucy was right behind them with her phone in hand. She said, "I am texting Tyler to let him know where to find us."

Stefan unlocked the car and asked, "Are you okay, Bonnie?"

She sat in the car but didn't bother closing the door. She wasn't leaving with Stefan or Damon.

Lucy asked, "Because your brother is a hypocritical asshole? You know he almost got his ass beat tonight. Hell, I can't say that it won't still happen now that Bonnie isn't there to stop our cousins."

His eyebrows furrowed in concern. "I'm sorry for how Damon acted. He was telling you the truth when he said that we were drinking before we came here. He didn't mean the things he was saying, bunny."

Bonnie laughed sadly. "They say that liquor is like a truth serum, Stef. I think Damon was being honest. He can screw half of Los Angeles but I'm a slut because I decided to go out to a club. He really has no respect for me."

Lucy sighed, "Fucking Salvatores." She paused and amended, "Not you, Stefan. You are a good one. You behave with common sense and compassion."

He winced but nodded in understanding. "He loves you."

"Damon doesn't need you defending him and his bullshit, Stefan," Lucy said.

Stefan took off his jacket and handed it to Bonnie since it had turned cold. He sighed, "Yes, he does. I know my brother probably better than anyone else does. He loves you, Bonnie. He is a screw up but he loves you and he would be lost without you. I get that you need to assert yourself in your relationship…but don't divorce him. I don't know how Damon would cope if he lost you for good."

She sighed softly and draped the jacket over her exposed legs. "I don't know if I can keep doing this, Stefan. Being married to Damon eats at my soul. If I stay with him, I am going to lose myself."

Lucy huffed. "He ain't worth all that."

Stefan looked down at his phone. "This is Damon. I need to take the call. I'll be right back…"

Lucy looked at her cousin once they were alone. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

She lifted an eyebrow at Bonnie. She asked, "Seriously?"

Bonnie nodded.

Stefan returned a few minutes later. "Someone died in the club…it was John Gilbert. We don't know what happened to him."

"Oh my God. I saw him earlier in the VIP section," Bonnie exclaimed.

"Damon wants me to pick up Sarah and take the two of you home until we know what caused John's death," Stefan said.

Bonnie shook her head. "That's not necessary Tyler will be here in a minute. He should be getting the car now. He will take me back to my mom's house. Besides, if Damon is as drunk as you say that he is, he will need your help."

Stefan had been thinking the same thing but he didn't really want to argue with his older brother. He knew that this situation with Bonnie had Damon in a bad headspace. Damon could be reckless when his heart was on the line.

On cue, Tyler pulled up beside the car. He climbed out and opened the door for Bonnie.

She returned Stefan's jacket before climbing into the SUV.

Stefan said, "Make sure that you get her to Abby's place safely. Damon is already on edge tonight, Ty."

He nodded. "I'll make sure she gets there safely, Stef."

The two men hugged briefly and then Stefan jogged back to the club.

Bonnie looked at Lucy. "You need to stay behind. I need you to be my eyes and ears."

"Yeah. Brady and Mason are probably going to get drafted by Damon to figure out what happened to John. I'll call you when I know anything." Lucy squeezed her hand.

Tyler closed Bonnie's door and then walked around to his side of the car. He climbed inside and sped out of the parking lot. "Where are we headed, Bon?"

Bonnie thought about it for a moment. Going back to Abby's house wasn't ideal. Her head was all messed up and she needed time to collect herself. "The beach house for now…"

He nodded. Tyler gripped the steering wheel tight. He had seen Damon yelling at Bonnie in the club. He had to resist the urge to shoot the bastard right there. She didn't deserve to be treated like that by him. However, he knew better than to ask Bonnie if she was okay. He knew that she wasn't but she would let him know if she wanted to talk about it. Instead, he asked, "Can you believe the fucking luck of Damon being there when John kicks it?"

Bonnie huffed out a laugh. She knew what Tyler was doing and she appreciated it. "That is the very definition of serendipitous. I really owe you and Matt for coming through with the drugs."

Tyler said, "You know that isn't necessary."

"But it is. I wouldn't be able to pull any of this off without all of you helping me. You are the only ones that I know have my back."

"We'll always have your back, Bon. You are family," he swore.