Damon rubbed his temples as he sat in the living room. He had a splitting headache but his loving family did not seem to care. The children were being particularly rambunctious this morning. They had even worked the puppies into a barking frenzy. The constant noise convinced him to add a little whiskey to his morning cup of coffee. Starting the day sober just wasn't in the cards for the mob boss. He winced when his niece let out a particularly shrill scream. He might have been concerned if the scream wasn't immediately followed by equally loud peals of laughter. Damon wanted to be angry with the little terrors but they were merely behaving as children did. Besides, it was his fault that he had a hangover. Damon had overindulged last night after his encounter with Bonnie.
He loved Bonnie more than she would ever believe but she had a way of getting under his skin. Everything about the encounter last night left him simmering with rage. Perhaps the only highlight of the night was Bonnie's expression when she saw Elena. Damon was pleased to know that targeting Tyler's ex-fiance was the right button to push. He was still learning what ways he could agitate Bonnie without arguing with her. However, his win had been short lived because his wife left the club with her boyfriend. To make matters worse, she returned to the club hours later and secured a major money laundering deal with Klaus. The money her organization would be pulling down was almost incidental when compared to the new business relationship with the Mikaelson organization.
Damon picked up the thick stack of papers that Rose had dropped on his lap not thirty minutes ago. She had diligently assembled the information he requested the morning after his father's funeral. Today was a national holiday and a Sunday, but Rose had accepted that holidays and weekends did not apply to her. If she wanted some time off, she would have to take a vacation. Damon tried to respect Rose's privacy on the rare occasions that she decided to go on vacation. He always managed to survive without her but he was just better with his Girl Friday at his side. He certainly needed her help now. Damon had come to the realization that he had to step down as Velocita's CEO.
Damon had been blindsided by Bonnie's demand for his resignation. In the beginning, he considered forcing his wife to bring the matter before the board. Fortunately, after a good night's sleep he had thought better of playing a game of chicken with an asset that was vitally important to both families. Damon knew that resigning was the best thing for the company, even if Bonnie was acting partly out of spite. He certainly couldn't blame her for trying to get her pound of flesh from him. Watching Bonnie with Tyler was driving him mad and it had only been happening for a few weeks. He couldn't imagine how she felt after suffering through four years of his infidelity.
Damon was now building a strategy to name Zach as the new CEO. His uncle was the obvious choice to replace him. However, Bonnie had been several steps ahead of him from the outset. He had to find some way to regain the advantage. Preventing Bonnie's aunt from becoming CEO of Velocita was the first rung on the ladder. Damon trusted that the board of directors would make the right decision. However, there was a clause in the company's bylaws that allowed shareholders with voting shares to weigh-in if the board could not choose a successor by absolute majority. He needed to formulate a backup plan on the likely chance that the shareholders had an opportunity to vote. Unfortunately, he had not paid attention to the ways in which voting shares had changed hands since the merger. Voting shares were distributed to members of the Bennett and Salvatore families after the merger. The terms of the merger prevented voting shares from being sold or transferred to people outside their families. It was the only way to ensure Velocita could never suffer a hostile takeover from outside forces. Damon had a sneaking suspicion that Bonnie and her family had been snapping up voting shares whenever they became available. The information Rose had just provided him bore that out. Now he had to find a way to ensure the vote never made it to the shareholders.
Stefan walked into the room with a cup of coffee. He had a seat on the couch with his older brother. Stefan said, "I didn't expect to see you awake so early this morning."
Damon chuckled and said, "My wife is making my life very difficult. I can't just lie around in bed all day long."
The younger man frowned. He asked, "Did something happen last night?"
"No, we didn't get into a fight if that is what you are asking. Bonnie and I were perfectly civil considering the bullshit Ric pulled yesterday. Have you seen him this morning?"
Stefan shook his head at the mention of Ric. He couldn't believe that their uncle had been so out of control yesterday. He said, "Yeah. I checked on him not long ago. His face has seen better days but he seems mostly sober. Aunt Meredith is going to take a look at him later. He thinks that you broke his nose."
Damon shrugged and said, "Ric is lucky that all I did was smack him around a little. He scared the shit out of my wife and kid...not to mention his own children."
"Any word on how they are doing?"
"Sarah was still pretty shaken when I went to see her last night. She had a lot of questions about why Ric was screaming at Abby. As if my kid hasn't been through enough after witnessing Giuseppe attack her mother. Now she has to deal with this shit, too?"
Stefan nodded. He was worried about his niece. She had experienced a great deal of trauma and upheaval in such a short time period. He asked, "What about Jamie?"
"I tried to talk to Jamie but he wouldn't open his bedroom door. I don't blame him. A month ago, he accidentally learns that Ric is his father. Now he knows that his old man is a son of a bitch with a nasty temper. I don't know which part I would hate him for more," he confessed.
Stefan shook his head and sighed. "I am going to call Abby later. I want to see if I can take the twins over to play with Cooper. I want to make sure her kids know that they are part of this family. They are Salvatores, too."
He snorted, "Their lives would probably be better if they weren't."
"True but in life you have to play the cards you are dealt," Stefan replied.
Damon glanced at his younger brother for a moment. "There's something that I want to ask you. I'm not angry...just curious."
"About what?" he asked suspiciously.
"When did you first suspect that something was going on between Bonnie and Tyler?" he asked.
Stefan rolled his eyes in exasperation. He said, "We are not going down this road again. To my knowledge, Bonnie waited until she moved out of the manor to pursue Tyler."
"That isn't what I asked you, Stef."
He shrugged. "I don't know what you want me to say, Damon. I only know as much as Bonnie and Tyler have told me. I'm not exactly the person they would confide in for obvious reasons. All I know is that it is serious."
"What do you mean serious?" he asked.
Stefan said, "Again, they haven't told me anything but I see the signs. Everytime I see Bonnie, she is wearing Tyler's Saint Christopher medal. Tyler never took it off from the moment Richard put it on him the day his grandfather died. The old man was wearing it when he was killed, it has real meaning to their family."
Damon felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. He had noticed the Saint Christopher's medal around his wife's neck but didn't understand the meaning until now. He could remember her grasping the medal when she was upset or overwhelmed. Damon struggled to remember when the medal had first made its appearance. Since Sheila's death, Bonnie had worn her grandmother's crucifix necklace every day. She only took it off if they were going to a fancy event. Damon was enraged but more determined than ever. Tyler's reverence for his grandfather's memory was exactly why his plot with Elena would succeed. Tyler had been raised in the old ways and would never abandon his responsibilities.
"Damon?" Stefan asked cautiously.
Damon snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Thanks for being honest with me. I was just wondering after seeing them together. It hardly looks like a new relationship."
"Well, they have been friends for a long time. And now we know that their families have been intertwined for years. It would be weird if they weren't really close," Stefan reasoned.
Damon nodded. "You know Bonnie better than I do…"
Stefan winced, "I know it costs you to admit that."
"Do you think Bonnie could forgive me?"
Stefan looked thoughtful. "I think she could forgive you in time. Bonnie loves you."
Damon was glad to hear someone else echo his beliefs. "Put in a good word for me?"
"Absolutely not," Stefan replied with a small smile. "I don't want to land myself on Bonnie's shit list. You fucked up for four years and now you have to take your lumps."
He snorted, "Thanks for the support, you little asshole."
Stefan shrugged and grinned. "You're welcome."
He glanced at the stack of papers and groaned. His head was hurting too bad to start reading again.
The younger man cleared his throat. "Mom invited me to dinner tonight. She wanted me to let you know that you are invited, too."
Damon shook his head. "I'll pass. I have no interest in spending time with that woman and she knows that."
"I figured that would be your answer but I had to ask," he replied.
"It's not fair of her to put you in the middle of this. Lilly knows how to get in contact with me."
Stefan shrugged. "She thought you might be more inclined to agree if the invitation came from me. I am not trying to pressure you, Damon. I understand why you don't want a relationship with Mom. I won't ask again."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Damon looked at his watch and sighed. The aspirin he had taken wasn't doing anything to relieve his hangover. He said, "I need to get Victor ready to go. Bonnie and Sarah are going to meet us for lunch after Mass."
"That's gotta be a good sign, right?" he asked.
He smiled, "She's willing to make an effort for Sarah. I suppose it is better than being in the middle of a custody battle."
"Do you want me to get Victor ready for you?" he asked.
Damon shook his head and picked up the briefcase sitting beside his feet. Damon tucked the documents into the briefcase and then locked it. He didn't feel like dealing with the fallout if that information fell into the wrong hands. "No, I can handle wrangling one toddler."
Stefan quipped, "Famous last words."
He smirked at his younger brother as he sent a text to his driver. Then Damon followed the squeals and laughter to the playroom on the main floor.
He found the children chasing each other in a lively game of tag. The puppies were nipping at their heels and yapping happily.
Damon spotted his baby brother and easily scooped him up while in mid-stride.
Victor looked up at Damon with a big grin.
"Hey, little guy. You and me are going to blow this popsicle stand for awhile," Damon explained.
Victor seemed confused but merely hooked an arm around his brother's neck and waited to be carried to a new destination.
Damon kissed the top of the boy's head and walked upstairs to the bedroom that Victor and Nico were sharing. He playfully dropped the toddler on his bed and smiled at the giggles that followed.
Victor got onto his feet and started jumping up and down on the bed.
Damon put his briefcase on the floor and said, "No jumping on the bed, kiddo. You could fall."
Victor stopped jumping and plopped down on the bed. "K."
Damon opened the dresser and pulled out clothes that would be appropriate for the restaurant where they would be eating lunch. He sat on the bed and helped Victor dress in a pair of khaki pants, a light blue button up shirt, and a dark blue v-neck sweater. Then he helped Victor put on his shoes.
He stood up and grabbed a bag from the closet. He said, "I want you to grab some toys. We will be out of the house for awhile and I want you to have some cool stuff to play with. Okay?"
Victor nodded. He hopped off the bed and ran over to his toy chest. He had received tons of new toys for Christmas. He choose a bucket of blocks, a Thomas the Tank Engine, a mini drum, a bag of dinosaurs, and a Cabbage Patch doll.
Damon watched his brother carry each item over to the bed and deposit it into his bag. He couldn't help but smile. Slowly Victor was coming of his shell. Part of Damon wondered if the boy was just naturally shy or if it was something more. He didn't know what Victor had witnessed or experienced in the time he was with Giuseppe. However, Rose had scheduled a battery of tests to determine Victor's overall health and development. The appointment was on Friday. It would answer many of the questions that no one else could.
Damon asked, "C'est tout?"
Victor nodded. "Yea."
Damon decided to grab a couple books, Victor's favorite bear, and a clean change of clothes. He knew from experience that kids were disasters waiting to happen. He tossed everything into the bag.
"Allons-y, petit frere," Damon said as he picked up the bag and his briefcase.
Victor reached up and took Damon's hand.
He smiled at his younger brother and walked out to the waiting SUV with him. He handed his briefcase and Victor's bag to the driver. Then he focused on getting the toddler buckled into his car seat.
Afterwards, Damon climbed into the car and closed the door. The plan was to spend an hour at lunch with Bonnie and Sarah. Then he would meet with Elena to discuss the pregnancy ruse. He needed to be sure that the girl was truly on board with the idea. Elena agreed last night but she had been drinking. This wasn't something that she could choose to abandon once the ball was truly rolling. Damon was also worried about Angelo's ability to find an OB/GYN willing to help. Tyler might be skeptical if Elena suddenly turned up pregnant. They would need fake test results and ultrasound pictures to really sell this.
Damon said, "Put something on that he will enjoy, please."
The driver nodded, "Yes, sir."
A few moments later, the screen in the backseat came to life. An episode of Paw Patrol began playing.
Victor popped his thumb into his mouth and immediately began watching the episode.
Damon ruffled the boy's hair and then took out his phone. He had a couple dozen messages to return. Rose wasn't the only one that didn't get days off from work. Damon was loathed to admit that Bonnie was right. There weren't enough hours in the day for him to manage his many responsibilities. His life would be simpler once he got his uncle into the CEO seat at Velocita. Part of him wondered if Bonnie would be willing to compromise. However, offering a compromise would mean showing his hand. Damon wasn't willing to give up his advantage just yet.
Ten minutes later, Victor said, "Dame!"
Damon tore his eyes away from the phone to look at his little brother. The boy rarely spoke his name and never at that volume. "What's wrong?"
"Yook!" Victor insisted. He pointed at a massive Santa Claus in front of a business.
Damon smiled and said, "Yeah, that's Santa Claus."
"Tres grand!"
He chuckled and said, "He is a very big Santa Claus."
Damon decided to put away his phone and focus his attention on Victor. If his baby brother wanted to talk, then he would talk to him. They spent the rest of the car ride talking about the different things Victor saw out the window. They moved seamlessly between English and French and it put a smile on Damon's face.
The car pulled up in front of the restaurant some time later. Damon helped Victor out of his car seat and they walked into the restaurant.
Damon walked up to the hostess. "I believe there should be a reservation under the name Bennett."
The woman smiled. "Yes, Mr. Salvatore. The rest of your party has already arrived. Please, follow me."
Damon followed the hostess to a table in a more secluded area of the restaurant. There was only one other occupied table in the area. Damon immediately recognized the other patrons as members of Bonnie's organization. He was glad that she was taking security seriously.
Sarah beamed when her father came into view. "Papa!"
Damon swept his little girl into a tight hug the moment she raced over to him. He placed her back on the ground and said, "Hi, bambolina."
She turned her attention to little Victor and immediately hugged him.
Bonnie smiled as she watched the two children greet each other. She waved at Victor. She was glad to see that Damon was taking an active role in his brother's life. She could tell that he truly cared about the little boy.
Damon took a moment to appreciate Bonnie's more demure attire. She was wearing an olive green sweater dress and leather boots. He said, "Thank you for agreeing to lunch."
She shrugged. "I rarely pass up a chance to eat these days."
"Well, you are eating for three," he said. Damon helped Victor get settled at the table as Sarah climbed into her chair.
She chuckled softly, "I guess that is as good an excuse as any. However, I might just be a bit greedy. I think my body is making up for lost time."
Damon didn't know how to respond to that. He cleared his throat. "What's good here? I can't say that I have ever eaten here."
Bonnie slid the menu over to him and said, "Sarah and I have already ordered but the kitchen is holding them until you order. The bone-in ribeye is probably my favorite thing on the menu. The Branzino is delicious, too."
He studied the menu and said, "I hope that we didn't keep you two waiting too long. I tried to time our arrival…"
She smiled, "Father Finn kept Mass mercifully short this morning. I am sure he knew most of his parishioners were a little under the weather…"
"I was surprised that you went to Mass this morning. You had a late night from what I hear," Damon admitted.
"Grams always said that if you can party on Saturday night, then you can worship on Sunday morning. Besides, I make an effort not to miss Holy Days of Obligation," she explained.
Damon smiled because Giuseppe had a similar rule about work. He didn't care how drunk or high Damon got the previous night. He had always expected his son to show up ready to represent the family. He studied the menu and decided what he wanted. Then he quietly talked to Victor to figure out what he might like to eat.
He was ready to order by the time a waiter arrived. "I'll have the bone-in ribeye cooked medium. I want the creamed spinach, baked potato, and wedge salad to go with it. I also want the grilled chicken burger with potato wedges for him."
"Would you like anything to drink?" the waiter asked.
Damon considered choosing from the impressive cocktail menu. However, drinking around Bonnie probably wasn't the best idea. He said, "I'll take take a glass of Malbec for myself and an apple juice for my brother."
"Very good, sir." He turned to Bonnie and said, "The appetizers you ordered will be arriving in a few moments, Ms. Bennett."
She smiled at him. "Thank you, Campbell."
The man nodded in her direction and hurried away to place Damon and Victor's orders with the kitchen.
Bonnie asked, "Did you get my e-mail with the link for our shared calendar? I highlighted all the important dates for the rest of the month. I figured you could fill in any days or times that you want to get Sarah. This way we will have an idea of any plans where she is concerned. I'll also add any doctor's appointments as they are made."
Damon pulled out his phone and opened the e-mail. "Yes, I got it this morning. Thank you for putting something like this together."
"You are welcome. I also cc'd Rose so that she has access to the calendar, too."
"That's even better," he admitted.
Bonnie bit her lip and grasped the Saint Christopher's medal around her neck. "Would it be okay if Sarah showed Victor the aquarium? It's just over there."
Damon frowned when he noticed her nervous tic. He nodded and helped Victor out of his chair. "Go ahead, bambolina."
Sarah hopped down and excitedly took Victor's hand. "Come on!"
Bonnie reminded her daughter, "Be gentle with him, bambolina. He's smaller than you are."
"I will be gentle, Mama," Sarah promised.
Damon watched as Sarah led Victor across the room to the large aquarium display. He turned his attention to Bonnie. "Is everything okay?"
She nodded. "Everything is fine, but there is something that I want to talk about with you. I'm not sure how you will react so it was best to have this conversation without little ears being present."
"Okay. What's on your mind?"
Bonnie said, "I don't know if you had a chance to really look at the calendar yet. I have tickets for a Warriors game next weekend. I'm taking Sarah and my brothers to the game. Ty is coming with us. He's bringing Nikki and his nephews, too. The plan is to watch the game Friday night and stay over at a hotel. The next day we'll do some tourist-y shit before coming home."
Damon's eyes hardened. He asked, "Are you asking for my permission?"
"No, but I don't want to lie to you. Besides, we'll be courtside and it is a nationally televised game. There is a chance we might get caught by the cameras," she explained.
Damon prepared to lay into Bonnie but paused when the waiter returned with the appetizers. He muttered, "Thank you."
Bonnie said, "Thank you."
The waiter nodded and left the couple alone.
"I don't care what the fuck you and Tyler do in your spare time but my daughter isn't part of that," he snapped.
"What exactly do you think is going to happen on this trip, Damon? We're going to a game and doing some sightseeing. I've already booked the presidential suite at the Ritz. My brothers and Tyler's nephews will take one room. Nikki, Sarah, and I will take the other. Ty is going to camp out on the couch."
Damon faltered because he had jumped to the wrong conclusion. He said, "I'm sorry. I thought you were planning to tell Sarah about…"
Bonnie shook her head. "No, I'm not ready for that. I want to wait at least six months before I have that conversation with Sarah."
He relaxed even more because there was no way Bonnie would still be with Tyler in six months. Damon would make damn sure of that. "Uh, thank you for keeping me in the loop."
"I meant what I said about us being co-parents, Damon. I want us to be the kind of partners that can talk to each other. I know my relationship with Tyler isn't easy for you but I'm not trying to be a bitch. I'm not trying to rub it in your face," she replied.
He chuckled darkly. "No, you just flaunt your relationship at the nightclub…"
Bonnie said, "I had no way of knowing you would be there last night, Damon. Anyway, we were only dancing together. It wasn't anything salacious."
"You have never danced that way with me," he said in a somewhat bitter voice.
"You never took me to a nightclub," she argued in a quiet voice.
Damon scowled but he knew that she had a point. He had been dead set against Bonnie going to clubs and bars even after she turned 21-years-old. He just didn't think it was appropriate behavior for his wife. He muttered, "It is safe to say that I had some fucked up ideas about what a good wife should be."
"I can't imagine where you got those ideas," she quipped with a small smile.
Damon said, "I keep thinking that if you had just told me the truth that everything would have been different. But that's a lie. I mean I would have gotten on board eventually because I love you but it would have been a struggle."
She smiled sadly. "I think our failed marriage was the push I needed to be the person I am now."
"And who are you now?" he asked curiously.
She said, "I am the person that is not the least bit concerned about your feelings where business is concerned. If I was still in love with you, I don't think I would have the ability to be ruthless with you. I was always so worried that you wouldn't love me back if I disappointed you. Now I just don't care."
Damon frowned because that was the last thing he wanted to hear.
Bonnie reached out and took his hand. "That's just the business side of things, Damon. I guess what I mean is that I am able to compartmentalize things now. I can snatch out your heart on a business deal and still comfort you on the day of your father's funeral."
"I appreciated that comfort...right up until you tried to force me out of my own company," he said with a smirk.
"Business versus personal, mio amore," she replied with a grin.
Damon cocked his head to the side. "I don't know….it felt a little personal, Bunny."
She said, "My wanting you to step down isn't personal. I think that you are too busy to properly address Velocita's needs. Bringing it up at the meeting and catching you off guard...well that was definitely personal. You embarrassed me at the nightclub. I just wanted to return the favor."
Damon chuckled. "You did that…"
Bonnie smiled wryly.
"Since we're in a relatively good mood, I would like to suggest something," he said.
"Okay."
He asked, "What would you think of a doing a weekly family dinner with Sarah and Victor? Nadia would join us whenever I can negotiate that with Katherine."
Bonnie felt uncertain about agreeing to spend so much time with Damon. However, she couldn't deny that the idea would benefit their daughter. She asked, "What if we make Sunday lunch a weekly thing?"
"That could work. You wouldn't feel strange about Nadia being there?" he asked worriedly.
Bonnie shook her head. "Her mother is a hateful whore but Nadia is an innocent little girl. The few times I have met her, she has been nothing short of precious. I want Sarah to have a strong relationship with her sister. I think it is really important."
"Thank you, Bunny."
She smiled. "Thank you for suggesting it, Damon."
Sarah and Victor ran back to the table. The little boy babbled, "Dame! Fishies!"
He chuckled and picked up his brother. "You like the fish, huh?"
She helped Sarah reach the appetizers on the table and said, "Be careful or you will be adding tropical fish to the menagerie you already have at the manor."
Damon groaned and placed Victor in his chair. "Don't remind me. You should have heard the racket that the puppies and the kids were making this morning. I was this close to locking myself in the office."
Bonnie chuckled as she imagined Damon suffering through the noise. Her mother's house was rarely quiet. There were fewer people living in the house but the space was much smaller. She placed a few appetizers on Victor's plate for him to try.
Sarah pouted as she munched on a stuffed mushroom. "I miss my puppies."
Bonnie said, "I'm sorry, bambolina. Maybe you can spend some time at the Manor with your papa today."
"Can I, Papa?"
Damon tensed because he was meeting with Elena after lunch. Victor was still young enough that he wouldn't have a clue what was being discussed. Sarah was older and particularly observant. Moreover, his sweet little girl couldn't keep a secret to save her life. She might inadvertently mention something to Bonnie and ruin Damon's plans before they even got started. However, he didn't feel right about missing an opportunity to spend time with his daughter.
He said, "I actually have a meeting after lunch. It is about a new project and I can't really reschedule it. But I could always pick up Sarah afterwards. Would you like to spend the night at my house, bambolina?"
Sarah said, "Yeah. I wanna see Bella and Nico."
He looked to Bonnie. "Is that okay?"
Bonnie nodded. "Sure. I didn't have anything planned for today. It is probably best that Sarah comes home with me first anyway. She could probably use a nap. Then I can pack an overnight bag for her."
"I don't need a nap, Mama," she argued.
Bonnie smiled. "Well, I need a nap and you are my nap buddy. Right?"
She nodded. "Mama needs lots of rest for the babies."
"Really?" Damon asked.
Sarah said, "Yep. I have to help her rest."
"And she does a great job of it," Bonnie said with a grin.
Soon the waiter arrived with their meals.
Damon enjoyed having lunch with his little family. He watched the way Bonnie coaxed Victor into speaking about the fish from the aquarium and his new toys. Sarah told Damon all about staying up late to play Chutes & Ladders with her 'uncles'. The only person missing was Nadia. He would be sure to rectify that in the future. More accurately, he would have Rose negotiate with Katherine. He was doing his best to keep his distance from his former mistress. She was definitely his kryptonite. They had too much history and Katherine knew how to push all the right buttons.
After lunch Damon paid the bill despite Bonnie's protests. They were still married and he wasn't going dutch with his wife in public. Then he walked Bonnie and Sarah out to their car.
He hugged Sarah and then kissed Bonnie's cheek. "Thank you for meeting me for lunch."
She said, "It was surprisingly pleasant. I look forward to doing this again."
"Next Sunday, right?" he asked.
Bonnie nodded. "We'll be back from San Francisco in time for Mass Sunday morning. We can meet wherever you want for lunch."
He said, "Here is good. I think I want another crack at that ribeye."
She chuckled. "You didn't finish all of it today."
"Which is why I need another crack at it, Bunny. Besides, you can just take my leftovers home again," he nodded toward the takeout bag in her hand.
Bonnie chuckled and said, "Blame your children. They have turned me ravenous."
Damon placed his hand on her stomach and said, "Doesn't sound so bad to me."
She shook her head with a wry smile. She asked, "What time will you pick up Sarah?"
"Uh, around 4 o'clock. Is that okay?" he asked.
"Sure. That's plenty of time for a nap," she replied.
Damon picked up his cranky little brother. It seemed Sarah and Bonnie weren't the only ones due for a nap. He said, "I'll see you then."
Bonnie gave a wave and climbed into the back of the SUV with Sarah.
One of the guards closed her door and then climbed into the passenger side.
Damon watched the SUV speed out of the parking lot. Then he climbed into his waiting car. Damon buckled Victor into his car seat. Once the driver was in position, he said, "We're going to the Claiborne"
The man nodded. "Yes, sir."
Damon maintained a suite at the Claiborne for the nights he wanted to be away from home. Some nights he had a female guest but there were times when he just wanted to be alone. The hotel was on the opposite side of town from the Rischard where Katherine lived. He never wanted to accidentally run into her while out with another woman. Until recently, Damon thought he was juggling his wife, mistress, and side pieces admirably. Now he knew that Bonnie had been onto him from the very beginning.