Damon had been a stone cold alcoholic for many years but he still managed to behave as a functioning member of society. Perhaps the only downside was the way alcohol exacerbated his already volatile temperament. Damon was what some people would call an 'angry drunk'. However, the people the mobster allowed into his inner circle knew that to be a falsehood. Damon was always angry, but alcohol loosened his meticulous control. When Damon was inebriated, all the rage he usually suppressed came rushing to the surface. He was more likely to lose control if he found himself engulfed in stressful situations. He could think of few situations more stressful than his father's memorial and repast.

He wisely decided to abstain from drinking today. Damon did not want to find out what sort of irreparable damage he could cause to his marriage and family during this highly emotional time. Seeing Bonnie faint yesterday had shaken him to his core. He would do anything to avoid starting another fight with his pregnant wife. Damon was especially worried about the business meeting scheduled for tonight. He did not know how to balance his business and personal relationships with Bonnie. However, he figured finding that balance had to start with his temporary sobriety. It took an enormous amount of willpower but Damon managed to remain sober for the entire day.

Damon had been annoyed as everyone around him enjoyed the impressive selection of hard liquors and expensive wines. His mood was made worse as he listened to genuinely interesting stories starring Giuseppe. Damon was shocked to realize that jealousy was at the root of his anger. He was envious that so many people had such charming anecdotes about his father. Meanwhile, Damon had to fabricate a heartwarming story when it was time to memorialize Giuseppe. He chose one of his favorite childhood memories of a former family friend, Frankie. The older man had served as a surrogate father, until Giuseppe ordered Damon to slit his throat. Inserting his father into such a precious memory felt like he was slitting Frankie's throat for a second time. Unfortunately, this time he was not a scared fourteen-year-old boy acting on his psychotic father's orders.

He felt physically ill after recounting the fabricated memory for their family. The need for a drink became almost unbearable for him. Damon's eyes kept straying to the wet bar across the room. Frankly, he was craving something much stronger than a simple drink. He knew that it was as simple as finding Enzo. His best friend always had cocaine on hand for situations like these. Damon resisted the urge to cross that line because he knew the night would spiral out of control. If he was volatile while drunk, then he was completely off the rails while he was high. Above all else, he did not want to see the look of disappointment on Bonnie's face if she realized that he was using again.

He waited until another of Ric's stories about Giuseppe enthralled the entire room. It was an off color story about the time he took teenage Ric to a brothel in Nevada. He had heard the story about a dozen times over the years. Ric seemed to embellish the facts a little more each time. Damon locked eyes with his uncle for a split second and then beat a quick retreat. He felt like a coward for running away from memories of Giuseppe. Damon had never run from the man when he was flesh and blood. He would be glad when this loathsome day ended.

Damon wanted to seek out Bonnie again. The time they spent together earlier had been calming. He knew that it was selfish to demand comfort from a woman that he had caused so much pain. However, he did not have anyone else that he could trust. Everyone else needed him to be the boss. He could never show weakness with any of them. It was different with Bonnie because she had always been able to see through his bullshit. Best of all, she no longer felt the need to hold her tongue around him. Damon found her biting honesty to be refreshing even if it did occasionally ding his pride.

Damon spotted Caroline in the sitting room. She was sitting alone with a glass of merlot. He asked, "Have you seen Bonnie?"

Caroline's cheeks were rosy from having one too many drinks. She blinked at her brother-in-law as if trying to make sense of his question. "What?"

Damon's eyes rolled skyward in exasperation. "Maybe you should have some coffee, Blondie."

She covered her mouth to stifle a hiccup as she stood up. Caroline frowned and then conceded, "Maybe you're right, Damon."

He wrapped an arm around Caroline's waist to keep her from teetering over. Then he steered her to the kitchen and away from prying eyes. It was late in the evening and only family members remained. Friends and business associates had already left the Manor. However, he knew that Caroline would be embarrassed in the morning if anyone saw her this way. Despite, her purple hair rebellion as a teenager, she had mastered the role of a high society wife.

Damon motioned for the kitchen staff to get lost.

The staff quickly left the kitchen as ordered.

He was glad to see that there was still hot coffee. Damon had no idea how to use the complicated coffee machine. He pulled a couple mugs from the cabinet.

Caroline sat down at the island and watched as Damon poured a cup of coffee for her. She nervously twisted her horribly expensive wedding and engagement rings around her finger. Caroline was dead on her feet. The day had been physically and mentally exhausting. Tomorrow would not be much better. Most of the Salvatore family members planned to stay in town until after the New Year. She would have to play host to them without much assistance. Bonnie would be returning to Abby's house tonight. Meanwhile, Meredith would be returning to work in the morning.

Damon placed the cup of black coffee in front of her. He leaned against the counter and studied her for a moment. "Are you feeling okay, Blondie?"

She nodded. "Sure."

He could tell that something was bothering Caroline. She had always worn her heart on her sleeve. However, Damon was not the person that she would normally come to with problems. Their relationship was built around him teasing her good-naturedly. Caroline acted as if she was always annoyed but she was really fond of him.

Caroline blew on the coffee to cool the steaming hot brew. She asked, "Can I tell you a secret, Damon?"

He lifted an eyebrow but nodded, "What's on your mind, kid?"

She picked up the cup of coffee and made a face when she realized it was black. She contemplated finding some milk or cream but did not want to risk falling on her face. She took a sip of the bitter beverage and said, "I'm glad that he is dead."

Caroline's revelation did not surprise the mobster. He was certain that many people that attended the funeral and repast shared the same opinion. However, he was surprised that she chose to express that opinion to him.

"He was…I had nightmares about him. I was always waiting on the day when he would turn on me. I wondered what I would do. Would I have the courage to tell Stefan? Would I just pack up my kids and run for the hills? I would hear stories of what he was doing to other unlucky women and I felt so grateful that it wasn't me. You must think that I am horrible," Caroline whispered as she stared down at the cup.

Damon swallowed thickly and shook his head. He hated that all the women in their family had been living in terror because of Giuseppe. Damon felt worse that none of them had felt safe enough to turn to their husbands for protection. "No, I don't think that you are horrible, Caroline. I am sorry that you had to live like that for so long."

She took another sip of coffee and said, "I was making a plan to leave after what Giuseppe did to Bonnie. I didn't want to hurt Stefan but I couldn't stay in this house if Giuseppe was going to be here, too."

He did not need to ask if Stefan knew about her plan. His little brother would not have kept something this seismic from him.

Caroline lifted her eyes from the counter and lowered her voice to a whisper, "Thank you."

"What?" he asked cautiously.

She elaborated, "Thank you for making me feel safe in this house for the first time since I married Stefan."

He did not know what to say in response to that. There was no way that he could admit that he had killed Giuseppe. He was not thrilled that Bonnie knew the truth but at least she was the acting boss of an allied family.

Caroline took off her heels and stood up with her cup of coffee. She said, "I am going to head upstairs to bed for the night. I think I have performed my duty as the grieving daughter-in-law admirably. Good night, Damon."

Damon stared after her and said, "You never said if you knew where Bonnie was."

She stalled near the door and replied, "The last time I saw her, she was about to put Sarah to bed."

"Thanks," he said.

"I miss her," she said quietly.

"Me, too," he replied.

Caroline nodded stoically and then left the kitchen.

He leaned against the marble countertop and tried to wrap his mind around the conversation he just had with Caroline. He was certain that she would regret being so forthcoming when she sobered up in the morning. Damon wondered what part, if any, he should share with his younger brother. Stefan could not change the past. Moreover, he did not want to cause strife in their marriage. Stefan had enough problems with Lilly suddenly showing interest in his life.

Damon surveyed the dessert options and picked out a few classic Sicilian pastries. He often overindulged in sweets when he was trying to avoid using cocaine. Revisiting that practice seemed like the sensible thing to do now. Damon only planned to abstain from alcohol today. He could not give up drinking wholesale and he knew it. However, he would no longer use cocaine. The high did not last long enough and the toll it took on his personal life was too high. He also knew that it was better to stop now before be developed an addiction again.

He took out his phone and sent a text to Bonnie while snacking.

Damon: Is Sarah asleep yet?

Bonnie: The good news is that she is asleep. The bad news is that you don't have anywhere to sleep tonight. Victor, Sarah, and Nadia are all sleeping in your bed.

He snorted because Bonnie had warned him not to put Victor to sleep in his bedroom. However, he had not been able to pass up the opportunity to be alone with her in the room they once shared. Bonnie had been instrumental in helping put the cranky toddler to sleep.

Damon: It is a worthy cause. I am in the kitchen. Want to get a bite to eat with me?

Bonnie: Sorry. I have to meet with my uncle.

Damon tried not to feel disappointed. He did not know when they would have the opportunity to be alone again. The meeting between the two families was looming. He had spent most of last night receiving counsel from Bruno, Giacomo, and Zacharias. He had a clear idea of what concessions could be made without weakening the organization. Much of what was happening between the two families was about posturing and reputation. Bonnie had to appease the people that worked for her. They had to know that she could be ruthless. Damon had the same situation on his hand. Everyone in his organization would be watching his first moves as boss. Yet Damon did not know if he could bring himself to reject any request made by his wife.

Sophie poked her head into the kitchen. "Mrs. Salvatore wanted the leftover food packed up and taken to the shelter. Is it okay if we get back to work, sir?"

Damon's lips twitched into a small smile. Of course, his wife would want to find a better use for the leftovers that would otherwise be thrown into the garbage. He wondered if Bonnie always did this after the Manor hosted a catered function. Damon had never paid much attention to her philanthropy. The Salvatores had a storied history for their charitable donations. However, Damon never did much more than sign the paperwork that floated past his desk.

He beckoned Sophie into the kitchen. He picked up a container of almond cookies and his cup of coffee. He said, "The kitchen is yours again, Sophie."

"Thank you, sir."

Damon made his way outside where he would not be disturbed. He would have preferred to be spending this time with Bonnie but being alone was the next best thing. He had suffered through enough familial togetherness to last him for quite some time. Fortunately, business matters would occupy him for the next few days. No one would expect him to be as available as he had been today.

He sat down on the chaise lounge and made himself comfortable. Afterwards, he took out his phone and started his favorite playlist.

Zacharias found him in exactly the same position an hour later. He stood off to the side and just watched his nephew for a few minutes.

Damon opened one eye and then closed it. "Why are you staring at me, Zio? It is weird."

"Yes, I am the weird one in this family," he said with a chuckle.

"I don't know…you went all Deathwish on Mommy Dearest last night. I think you might be suppressing your inner psychopath."

Zacharias sat down on a nearby chaise and put up his feet. "Well, I have violent tendencies but I also know how to show restraint. That is the only reason I didn't snap Lilly's neck for showing up at the church today."

Damon opened both eyes this time. He asked, "You knew that she was at the church? I told her to stay out of sight."

"You should know that there is very little that escapes my notice, nephew. I was tipped off a few minutes after you left the sanctuary to handle her," he replied.

"Fingers on the pulse of the family," he muttered.

"I try."

Damon said, "You know that I have to ask you not to kill her. I offered Lilly a certain level of protection. However, I made it clear that the house is off limits to her. If she wants to meet with Stefan, it will have to be at her hotel."

Zacharias rolled his eyes skyward. He said, "Do not allow that woman to paint herself as a victim. It is no secret that my brother was an absolute beast, but she is…."

"She won't get any runway from me. Lilly told me some things that opened my eyes. But nothing is going to change the fact that she abandoned Stefan and me. Her weak apologies won't take back one second of my fucked up childhood."

The older man's expression grew pinched. He asked, "Do we need to talk?"

"About?" Damon asked.

"Ric told me what you said last night about our negligence," he explained.

Damon closed his eyes again. "That is not a conversation that I want to have. It was said in the heat of the moment. It is water under bridge."

"I think we both know that isn't true. Salvatores are many things, but we aren't known for being forgiving. I am not suggesting that we hash things out tonight but sometime soon."

"One problem at a time, Zio," he said.

"Fair enough." Zacharias reached over and seized a cookie. He said, "I looked all over the house for you. What are you doing out here?"

Damon did not feel like discussing his emotional state but he trusted his uncle. He said, "I went looking for Bonnie but she didn't have time for me. She had to meet with her uncle. I guess Bonnie and Big John need to discuss how much they are going to fleece me."

"Is everything okay with the two of you? Stefan mentioned that you spent some time with Bonnie earlier," he said in a hopeful voice.

He snorted. "She slapped me…hard."

"What the fuck did you do?" he asked with a frown.

Damon rolled his eyes. "Did it ever occur to you that the slap could have been undeserved?"

Zacharias gave his nephew a deadpan look. "No."

He said, "I tried to kiss Bonnie."

He looked genuinely exasperated. However, Zacharias was not surprised. Damon had always believed himself to be irresistible to the fairer sex. Unfortunately, Bonnie was made of tougher stuff than most. "How did you think that was going to go over?"

"I didn't really think it through before doing it. Don't get your panties in a bunch. We made up after Bonnie slapped me. She established some boundaries that were probably necessary," he explained.

"Well, that is good to hear. Maybe there is hope for tonight's negotiations."

Damon chuckled and said, "I would not count on that. We did not talk business earlier but Bonnie made it clear that she is going to get her pound of flesh from us."

Zach frowned but had to admit that his suggestion had been wishful thinking. He had been just as blindsided as Damon was by Bonnie's machinations. He would have to become acquainted with the new boss of the Benedetto family. "The meeting will start soon. Are you ready?"

"I have no idea what to expect from Bonnie…so no would be the answer to that question. I got the distinct feeling from our conversation earlier that she plans to pull the rug out from under me. I just don't know how yet," he explained.

Zacharias said, "We just have to stand pat. We can't cede more than we agreed to last night amongst ourselves. Giving into all of Bonnie's demands will not bring her home any sooner."

Damon muttered, "I am well aware of that. This is business for her. She is making moves that I would like to know more about. Her old man is sticking around because she needs his connections."

He nodded. "His connections? Do you think that Bonnie is trying to move weight?"

"I don't know. The Benedetto family has never been involved with drugs. But it is a new day…"

"I'll have our guys put their ears to the streets. If Bonnie is making big moves, someone knows about it."

"Thank you."

"I did find out that Bonnie is expanding her business. Lucy wasn't in Australia on vacation."

Damon looked doubtful. "She is going to sell arms in the land down under?"

"It is actually a sound business move. There are dozens of motorcycle and streets gangs in Australia and New Zealand looking to get their hands on heavy artillery that her family can provide. Bonnie will be printing money if she can get a foothold down there."

He chuckled wryly. "My sweet little bunny…"

"Sheila raised her right," Zacharias said.

Damon glanced at his watch and frowned. He said, "I guess there is no point in delaying the inevitable."

Zacharias nodded in agreement and stood up. "How are you feeling about this?"

Damon shook his head as he got to his feet. "My mind is clear and I am ready to listen."

"I don't think that anyone could reasonably ask you for anything more in this situation," he replied while walking into the house.

The younger man snorted. "Big John does not seem to be in a reasonable mood. We can only hope that Bonnie is running things. She isn't fond of me right now, but she likes me more than John does."

Zacharias shook his head. "The best of a bad situation…"

"There is a lot of that going on lately," Damon muttered.

Zach opened the door to the study and walked inside. The staff had reorganized the room to accommodate a large walnut conference table and twelve leather chairs.

Alaric, Bruno, Giacomo, and Robert Donovan Sr. were waiting for everyone else to arrive.

Damon walked over to Senior and shook the man's hand. "Thank you for staying. I know that it is getting late."

The older man smiled warmly. "No thanks are necessary. When the boss calls, you answer."

He said, "Well, it is more than that. We are family…no matter how far removed that relation might be."

Senior nodded in agreement. "Il sangue e sempre sangue."

Zacharias smiled and repeated, "Blood is always blood."

Damon said, "Things are going to be changing in the next few weeks and I want you to be a big part of those changes. Several positions in the organization have been vacated suddenly. I want to fill those vacancies with our blood…people whose loyalty is unwavering."

Senior could scarcely believe his luck. Bonnie would be incredibly pleased by this development. He feigned surprise, "I know that Giuseppe killed several good men. Has something else happened?"

Damon sat down at the head of the table. He said, "The Loiacono family has betrayed us. This betrayal goes back a couple decades. They have been working for the Benedetto family because of some beef between my grandfather and Alonzo Lockwood."

Senior nodded solemnly. "I was surprised when Alonzo returned to the family after serving his prison sentence. I did not understand how he could forgive Domenico. I suppose he didn't forgive him at all. How can I help?"

"Put together a list of our family members that you trust."

"I'll have that list ready for you tomorrow afternoon," he replied.

"Thank you," Damon said.

Senior sat down at the table and said, "It is my pleasure."

Ric walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. He said, "It is what we should have done all along."

"Second guessing the past gets us nowhere," Giacomo argued.

Zacharias nodded. "Zio is right. We cannot change the past. All we can do now is move forward. I think we have a solid strategy for that."

Ric scowled. He was mad at the world for a variety of reasons. At the top of the list was the truce Jo and Abby had seemingly struck today. He had spotted his wife and mistress chatting amiably this evening. Unfortunately, their truce did not seem to include him. "I should have been part of that strategy conversation last night."

Damon lifted an eyebrow at his uncle's complaint. "Then maybe you should have been here last night instead of whatever the fuck you were doing with Lilly."

Ric's grip on his glass tightened. "I was just trying to calm her down. My psychotic little brother had Lilly on the verge of a break down."

"I don't get involved in your personal affairs because they are none of my business. But I warning you to stay away from my mother. I don't need whatever drama will come from the two of you fooling around," Damon snapped.

"Nothing is happening between us," he argued.

Damon said, "You will have to excuse me if I don't just take your word for it, Zio."

Ric glared at Damon and walked over to the bar again.

Damon rolled his eyes at Alaric as the older man poured his third drink in as many minutes. He was suddenly grateful that he had taken an hour to decompress or he would be in a similar state. He lightly drummed his fingers against the conference table.

Zacharias sat in the chair next to Damon. He would need to be the voice in his nephew's ear since Ric was three sheets to the wind. Giacomo and Bruno were there to help appease Big John. Their uncles had a good relationship with him.

Stefan walked into the study and said, "Bonnie will be here in a few minutes."

Damon nodded. He motioned to the couch and said, "You can stay."

Stefan was surprised that his brother was going to allow him in the room. However, he was not going to question Damon's generosity. He merely sat down on the couch and waited for their guests to arrive.

A few minutes later, Bonnie walked into the room. She was still wearing the same dress from Giuseppe's funeral. However, her goddess locs now spilled down her back. She was also wearing a pair of black rimmed reading glasses.

Mason walked ahead of Bonnie and pulled out the chair at the end of the table.

Bonnie laid a hand on Mason's arm as a silent thank you as she took her seat.

Damon had hoped that Bonnie would sit beside him. However, she obviously chose the seat at the opposite end of the table symbolically. It was a stark reminder that they were not on the same side in this negotiation. Moreover, Bonnie was letting him know that she had as much right to sit at the head of the table as he did.

Big John exchanged pleasantries with Giacomo and Bruno before taking the seat beside his niece.

Gianni, Richard, Lucy, Cesare, and Mason filled in the other available seats. Meanwhile, Lexi and Cristian sat on the couch with Stefan.

Damon cleared his throat and said, "I just want to start the proceedings by thanking everyone for making time for this meeting. I know that today has been very long for most of us. I also understand many of the people in this room had a difficult relationship with my father and grandfather. Those difficulties helped breed discontent and ultimately disloyalty. I believe that it is imperative that we begin our partnership on a positive note. It is with this in mind that I offer my deepest apologies. I am also releasing the Loiacono family, both here and abroad, from their duty to my family. I will not seek any sort of retribution for their betrayal."

Big John sneered, "How very generous of you, Damon."

Ric said, "It is generous because we should be executing all of them."

Bonnie smiled pleasantly at her husband. "You might want to put a muzzle on your uncle."

Ric balked at the young woman's blatant disrespect. "You might try doing the same for your uncle."

"Enough!" Damon snapped at Alaric.

"Let's get one thing straight, you are releasing the Loiacono family because it is what we demanded from you. We would not be sitting at this table if I had not already received that assurance. Their freedom is what you owe me for allowing Giuseppe to use me as a punching bag while you were off fucking your whore. It is what you owe me for dragging your feet on finding and executing that perverted pig. It was this or war," Bonnie stated calmly.

Damon was torn between feeling supremely disrespected and guilty. He ground his teeth. "While no one wants a war, it was not a simple decision to make. Allowing this sort of betrayal to stand sends a bad message to the rest of my men."

"How you manage your house is not my concern, Damon. But you will not behave as if you are doing me any favors. If you maintain that attitude, it is going to be a very long and unpleasant night," she replied.

Big John smiled and relaxed against the leather chair. He was now certain that his niece would not roll over for her husband. The young woman had talked a good game before they entered the room. However, he would not have faulted Bonnie if she had developed cold feet once she was facing Damon. As much as he despised their union, he was not obtuse. Bonnie still loved her husband, even if she also hated him.

Damon scowled at Bonnie but pressed forward. "The Loiacono family is free to go but the territory they have managed here and in Milazzo stays with my family."

Mason visibly tensed but he remained quiet. He trusted Bonnie.

Bonnie had expected this from Damon and she was ready. "The territory here in the United States belongs to the Salvatore family. I have no interest in keeping it. However, the territory in Milazzo will stay in the hands of the Loiacono family and that is non-negotiable."

"On what grounds?" Zacharias asked incredulously.

"The Loiacono family's claim to that territory predates your family's foray into organized crime."

Ric yelled, "They were fishmongers until my family brought them over!"

Damon looked like he was ready to punch Alaric in the face. "What is…"

Cesare interrupted Damon, "Raise your voice to my cousin again and I'll rip out your fucking larynx. Stronzo…"

Ric said, "We can do this however you want to do it."

Bonnie laughed lightly. "I wouldn't mind seeing Cesare beat you into a bloody pulp but I don't think that would be conducive to peaceful negotiation."

Damon looked at his uncle. "If you yell at Bonnie again, you won't have to worry about Cesare kicking your ass. I would like to remind you that she is still my wife."

Ric glared at Damon but wisely shut his mouth. They would talk about this later and quite possibly come to blows. However, they had to appear united for now. He flashed a fake smile at Bonnie. "I am sorry, darling. Please, continue your explanation."

Bonnie said, "The Loiacono family were fishermen for a time, the same as my family. However, Giovanni brought Giacobbe over from the old country because he was also a damn good bootlegger. Your family's success has made you all forget how you got here. And you wonder how my great-grandmother so easily turned them to our side."

Mason was glad to hear Bonnie defending his family.

Zacharias said, "I am sorry for my brother's outburst. However, you have to understand why we would be hesitant about making this concession, Bonnie. While that territory might have started with the Loiacono family, it was absorbed into our organization long ago."

"I do not believe that I am being unreasonable here. I am relinquishing their territory here in the United States. That is a great loss to their family and mine. The territory here has proven to be far more profitable than what they hold in Milazzo. I am sure you will bestow the territory upon people not as high up the ladder as they were. You can demand a larger cut from the new crews."

Bruno said, "You are right but it does create a power imbalance in Milazzo."

"Does it?" Bonnie asked. "My family has held Milazzo by the short and curlies since Alonzo agreed to work for us. Nothing moves in Milazzo without my family knowing about it. The only difference is now your family knows that we wield that power. I would also like to point out that we are allies. The balance of power is inconsequential as long as we are allies. And if we someday stop being allies…"

"We would wipe you off the fucking map whether you control the Loiaconos territory or not," Cesare finished.

Bonnie nodded in his direction. "I could not have said it better myself, cugine. Prego. Now I do not want you to take that as a threat. It is merely a statement of fact. My family has worked very hard to infiltrate all of Milazzo's nooks and crannies."

Damon clenched his fists beneath the table because Bonnie had out maneuvered him. His mind raced as he considered his options. "We will still be losing a great deal of money once we lose that source of income. However, I am willing to agree to your request if there is a way for my family to recoup the money."

"Did you have something in mind?" she asked.

He said, "I hear that you are working on a lucrative opportunity in Australia and New Zealand. Cut us into that deal and the territory in Milazzo is yours."

Bonnie maintained her poker face but she was not happy. She wanted to know how Damon had learned about her deal. "There is no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to be cut into the profits, then you need to bring something to the table."

Lucy was infuriated by this turn of events. They were stepping all over the deal that she had spent months putting together. Lucy added, "It has to be something that we can't do on our own."

Damon said, "That is fair. How about military grade explosives?"

Bonnie was definitely interested. She lifted an eyebrow. "Can you really get your hands on enough to make it worth my time?"

"I can get enough to keep your shelves stocked for the next six months, Bunny," he replied.

Bonnie said, "I would need a sample of the product before I agree to anything. I would also need to know where it is coming from."

Ric said, "The first stipulation is no problem at all. The second one is out of the question."

Lucy chuckled darkly. "Then there is no way we can agree to this. We are the ones that are taking all the risk by selling explosives without knowing the provenance."

Damon tapped his fingers on the table and said, "I can get you a meeting with the source. But he is a squirrely fuck…for good reason. He isn't going to want a meeting this large."

Bonnie said, "Then it will just be Cesare and Uncle Richie."

"Uncle Richie?" Damon asked. He looked at Richard with new eyes. The Loiaconos were not just loyal soldiers. They were an extension of Bonnie's family

She smiled. "Do we have a deal?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Good."

Damon said, "Now there is something I want to ask."

"Okay," she replied.

"I am sure that the Loiacono family are not the only moles your family has placed in my organization. This is a one-time only deal. Identify them and I will let them live. If I discover them at a later date, I will handle them the way I would any other traitor," Damon said.

Bonnie nodded. "Well, John Gilbert was one of ours but I had to kill him. He was assisting Giuseppe. In fact, everyone that has died or gone missing since Thanksgiving served my family once upon a time with the exception of that travesty in France. The ones I had killed all sided with Giuseppe because they didn't think much of my leadership or yours."

Damon blinked in shock. He stared at his wife for several tense seconds. "John died because he took too much of a tainted party drug."

Lucy nodded and said, "And it was my tits that convinced him to take those party drugs."

Ric's gaze lowered to her cleavage. He could see why John would have been so distracted.

"What about the rest of the Gilberts?" Damon asked.

"John was the only one. My Grams went after him because he was such an opportunist. She repaid his defection by convincing Giuseppe to make him his consigliere," Bonnie lied smoothly.

Zacharias said, "You said that your family was responsible for all the recent stateside deaths. Does that include Freddie?"

Lucy chuckled, "Man, that was a good morning."

"The cops just found his fucking head in a dumpster in Modesto," Damon sputtered.

Bonnie nodded. "He was a traitor. His little brother was, too. However, I promised to give Raphael a chance to redeem himself. He is a good kid that was probably just following his older brother's lead."

Damon asked, "Is there anyone else?"

She smiled and motioned for Richard. "Uncle Richie has a list prepared. We expect our people to remain unharmed."

Richard opened a leather folder and pulled out a typed sheet of paper. He slid it across the table to Zacharias. Of course, it was not a comprehensive list. However, Bonnie had wisely decided to throw Damon a bone. The young woman hoped it would throw him off the scent of the more important assets embedded in his organization.

Her eyes briefly flitted to Senior.

Zacharias placed the piece of paper where he and Damon could read over it simultaneously. There were ten names on the list.

Damon asked, "Is this everyone?"

Bonnie nodded. "Absolutely."

Damon wanted to believe Bonnie, but he knew how well she could lie. "Thank you."

"You are welcome. I thought that it was best if we start this new phase of our partnership with a clean slate," Bonnie said cheerfully.

Damon, "Well, I think we have addressed all the major issues. If there isn't anything else we can all call it a night."

All the Salvatores began moving in their seats. However, the Benedetto family did not stir.

Bonnie said, "Well, I am afraid there is one more pesky little matter that we have to address."

Damon got a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. He was certain that he wasn't going to like whatever Bonnie would say next. "You have the floor, Bunny."

"Thank you, but what I really want is for you to step down as CEO of Velocita," Bonnie said.

The look on Damon's face was priceless. "What?"

Zacharias cleared his throat. "Have you been dissatisfied with the company's leadership?"

She smiled. "Well, I just know that assuming the reins of the family business can be time consuming. I do not know if Damon will have time to act as steward to the Salvatore organization and Velocita. Both of our organizations depend on the legitimate income the company produces."

Damon stared at his wife for a long moment. Then he said, "I call bullshit."

She chuckled softly. "What gave me away?"

"This isn't the first time you mentioned ousting me from the company. It came up in therapy…" Damon growled.

Bonnie's eyes widened. "Oh, I remember. It was around the time that I promised to shred Katherine and Enzo into confetti if you harmed a hair on Tyler's head. Whoops! I got a little worked up and tipped my hand that day. Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that I want you to step down. I would like to do this peacefully. However, I am completely prepared to take the company from you."

Zacharias said, "A change of power like that is not a simple task, Bonnie. It would require approval from the board. You would also need a viable replacement for Damon."

"I have both of those things," she replied.

Richard said, "We have been quietly talking to members of the board for weeks now. It was all hypothetical in the beginning but we have the votes."

"When did it stopped being hypothetical?" Damon asked through gritted teeth.

Bonnie leaned forward. "The takeover stopped being hypothetical the night you lost your fucking mind at Klaus' club."

Giacomo and Bruno looked at their great-nephew for some sort of clarification.

John looked as if he wanted to strangle Damon with his bare hands. His grandsons had made him aware of Damon's ugly outburst against his niece.

"I apologized for my behavior," Damon insisted.

"Did you really think that would be the end of it? You called me a whore in front of my family and friends. You humiliated me. You put your fucking hands on me! An apology just isn't going to cut it."

Damon had to remind himself to stay calm. He really wanted to act a fool. However, he swore to himself that he would not start a fight with his wife. "I am not stepping down."

Bonnie shrugged. "Don't step down. I will relish ousting you. Maybe then you will feel an ounce of the humiliation I have suffered while married to you."

"Sounds like you are talking about more than the fight at Klaus' club," he commented.

"Perhaps. I have been known to be petty and vindictive."

Lucy nodded. "It is a family trait."

Zacharias said, "Let's all calm down. I understand that you and Damon have some issues that you need to settle. However, I don't think that you should be using Velocita as a tool to punish him."

Bonnie said, "I like you, Zach. You have always treated me with kindness and respect. Therefore, I am going to address you in the same way. Deposing Damon is petty and vindictive but there is also a practical reason for doing so. I have a CEO waiting in the wings that is better equipped to move Velocita into the future. Damon has done a fine job with managing the company. However, the company is not his top priority. My mother's cousin, Ayana, is just what Velocita needs. She was the CEO of BTS before the merger. She has the business acumen and technical knowhow to improve what we are already doing. Damon would retain his position on the board. He would still have a great deal of input but with far fewer responsibilities. You can focus on the organization and being a father. There is no shame in that, Damon."

Ric threw his glass at the wall and screamed, "You scheming little bitch…"

Damon's head whipped in the direction of his uncle. He was out of his seat and on the older man in seconds. He slammed his fist into Ric's face repeatedly.

Ric threw Damon backwards onto the table. "You little asshole!"

Zacharias and Stefan sprang into action. They tried separating the two warring men but it was next to impossible.

Giacomo had seen enough. He took his cane and slammed it into the back of Alaric's knee.

The fight quickly ended because Alaric hit the floor like a brick.

Bonnie glanced in Damon's direction to make sure he was okay. She had not planned for this evening to turn violent. She certainly did not want him hurt. Damon's lip was bloody but Alaric had taken most of the damage. It wasn't surprising considering the disparity in age, health, and sobriety. She said, "Well, I do believe that is our cue to leave."

Big John stood up and pulled out Bonnie's chair for her. He wrapped an arm around her waist. "We need to get you home so that you can rest."

"Yes, I am ready to get out of these shoes. They are killing my feet and I could really go for a snack. I wonder if I can convince Mama to cook something," Bonnie pondered aloud.

"I would not mind getting my hands dirty in the kitchen. How does spaghetti aglio e olio sound?" he asked.

"It sounds delicious." Bonnie looked over her shoulder and caught Damon's eyes.

He stared back at Bonnie. Anger twisted his handsome features into something fearsome.

Bonnie bit her lip and continued out of the study with her family. She was unsure of how Damon would choose to proceed but that really was not her concern. She had exacted revenge against her husband in a way he would not soon forget. Damon now understood that Bonnie did not need to use physical violence to assert herself. Her grandmother had taught her that revenge was not one size fits all. She had taken great pleasure in having Niklaus' hand mutilated in retribution. However, she could not bring herself to hurt Damon in the same way. Besides, physical violence was not as effective with Damon. He had suffered too much abuse from his father. Damon used physical pain as fuel but what she did tonight had wounded his pride. She had cut him deeper than any knife ever could.

She looked at Lucy and said, "In light of recent events, I think it is best if Sarah comes home with us tonight."

The older woman nodded. "I'll go get her and meet you at the car."

"Thank you," Bonnie replied.