Author note : thanks for the reviews :)

CHAPTER 5
I solemnly swear

It'd been days since Stefan had had news of Elena, it wasn't her style that evening he dialed her number. After her deal with the devil, Elena had replayed the conversation many times in her head. She was still pissed she had been manipulated but looking closely to the situation she realized he had taken one hell of a chance talking to her, his whole life depended on her answer - her own too probably - but he used no weapon to convince her. And there was the whole «falling for him» part she didn't like. She was deep in thoughts when her phone rang, she looked at it and wondered what was she going to say.

-« Hey Stefan.» She greeted him in a fake cheerful voice

-« Hey yourself, what have you been up to?» He fell for the cheerful tone.

-« Deep into a case, preparing for a trial next week.» That was the truth, Aaron's was on Tuesday.

-« So that's why I haven't heard from you? I was getting worried.» This was quite true. So far the conversation was normal. «What's the case about?» Hmmm…

-« Broken parole, the guy got out of the state to see family.» She was dodging, would she be able to keep the charade going. She could tell Stefan the truth but it would snowball like crazy. He cared a lot and wouldn't let her dive head first into a pool of dirt plus he'd think it was because of him when, now, it was also because of her, she had put this upon her head as well.

-« Can you escape a hour or two to grab a drink?»

-« You have no idea how thick the file is and I need a win, so I'll pass. Raincheck?»

-« You're so devoted to your work, I can't compete. How about Wednesday then? We'll either celebrate or drawn our sorrow, I have a hearing on Wednesday so, two birds, one gallon of margarita?»

-« Sounds good.» She said a genuine smile on her lips though she doubted she'd be able to have that drink.

-« Ok bye then Elena»

-« Bye Stefan.» When he put his phone down, Stefan was a bit relieved and still, in the back of his brain he remembered what she had said about putting the MC down. Was she really going to try and go that way? He knew her and how stubborn she was, he'd ask when he'd see her, he couldn't talk about it on the phone, plus he had to read the truth in her eyes, she could hide her feelings so well sometimes.

Every time one of the members of the MC was in jail there was a special meeting in «the nest», the room where the MC leaders gathered to talk business. Damon dragged himself out of bed, hungover, head pounding, he put his cloths from the day before on and got out of the bedroom. There was always coffee ready behind the bar, as a rule, the first in made a fresh pot and considering the sun was already hight in the sky, he was sure there'd be some for him. He stirred and groaned, popped two aspirins in his mouth and swallowed them with a long gulp of coffee. He could smell the smoke of the cigar his father loved so much, he was already in the nest and since he couldn't hear anything the door had to be closed - the room was soundproof - and since he hadn't been dragged out of bed to attend it was probably about one of his father's secret business thing. So long for being at the center of everything even as a VP, no one had Giuseppe's full trust, with him, everything was a puzzle and he toyed with everyone like a master puppeteer and the worst in all that was most of the members didn't care. They knew, they just, didn't care.

Everything felt so fake, around the table there were five other people, three who had been there for decades, Troy, Michael, Santos, then Chad and Tony who were no more that five years older than Damon and had taken the seats of their now dead fathers. Better not ask how they passed. And there was him, the absolutely not prodigal son who had the eyes of him mother and the cut of his father, one hell of a bad combo.

One of them had been on that highway the day they got sold, the day Aaron got arrested. He had to keep himself in line, he couldn't say what he knew for he didn't know enough. He downed another cup of coffee and listened as engines roared outside, the other were already there, he looked at the clock, it was almost noon.

The meeting went… let's say it just went. Giuseppe wasn't happy about the missed deal and Aaron going to prison. The two others escaped easily, they didn't have the same burden to cary, they were free to ride anywhere. When it came to the reason why the VP's best friend got arrested, why he had to flee and what could have happened to make things go downhill he just blamed it on a random cop operation but he agreed they had to investigate the matter. No shit Giuseppe. He gave that job to Troy, he had a way to talk to the local police, the sheriff had a daughter, it helped. Again, Damon swallowed his rage and didn't say much except that they had bought themselves a new toy and that he'd claimed this one, she wasn't to be messed with. That statement made the guys around the table look at him, some frowned, Damon had never publicly claimed a woman before, the beloved president joked about it and they all laughed, he too had a reason to keep that girl close, to get his favorite son back. Good luck with that dear daddy, it'd never happen and if everything went right, you'd rot in prison for decades… or accidentally die, who knew.

Again, the meeting ended up with Giuseppe keeping more than he was telling, everybody except for Damon was fine with that and they all moved to the bar, other members of the MC joined all afternoon and evening and, with them, women who wanted nothing more than a good night or two or ten and perhaps manage to keep a biker between their legs long enough to get married to one. Bad boys kinks for most of them and, after a few beers and shots, he picked one he took to his room and forgot about his frustration with until he kicked her out of his bed. It was nothing much to him and to any of the others for there were old ladies you loved and worshipped as long as they could close their yes on whatever happened out of the house and there were those they picked up when they felt like it. No harm, no fool, just the way things went in the MC. The VP, though in need of getting rid of this life, was no monk and, really, at that moment he'd had an hitch to scratch so, he didn't care. The girls around the MC knew he wasn't going to put a ring on any of them, he'd been clear he wasn't going to settle down any time soon. Still he had put a claim on a woman now so, soon he'd have to behave like he was really hooked. He couldn't bring her in their shit hole of a bar and let her linger there when he was fucking random girl number one hundred and whatever in the room behind the bar, well, he could but it wouldn't help his case.

He sighed as he slowly woke up, the smell of the cheap perfume of the girl - a blond? He couldn't remember - still in the air. He got on his feet, opened a window and stepped in the small bathroom attached to the bedroom to take a shower. He reeked of sweat, body fluids and his own bitterness.

For all the time he had spent within the MC he had never been too close to anybody, Aaron excepted, but there were people that he respected, to a certain level. One he thought wasn't as rotten as the others were. He was wrong.

Troy had always been close to Giuseppe, sort of an armed right hand. His father sent him here and there to clean the mess. So far, his only fault had been to look at Giuseppe as the brother he'd never had - or one he had but lost - but now, he was the one Damon saw on the highway footages. Troy was no rogue agent, he was under daddy Salvatore's boot and it was easy to get to the conclusion he had been obeying orders.

The 'what the orders were' was the big fat question. What had been behind the failed deal, something bigger, something secret? Who was in this exactly?

Elena wanted to be kept on the loop but would it be wise to tell her? It probably wouldn't help not to tell, first because she'd have to be extra careful, second because he needed her and she'd keep asking until his ears ringed, he didn't know a lot about her but this he was sure of. He wasn't going to text her the news neither was he going to show up at her place uninvited, third time's a charm but he was pretty sure she had bought pepper spray - and a rifle - by now.

He put some clothes on, good thing he kept clean ones in that room, and called her.

-« Damon?» She answered and he could hear she was still debating what she should make of him calling her, being pissed or professional.

-« I'm leaving Mystic Falls in five minutes, I have to see you, name a place, not too crowded, I'll meet you there.» It wasn't an order per say but there was urgency in his tone.

-« So you call and I give up everything to meet you?» She was being sassy for no good reason, or just because she didn't like his tone.

-« You've asked me to keep you updated, haven't you? Name a place or I get in your apartment again.» He was doing this half for her, half for him. She had to know who the man was and dig shit on him, things he didn't already know.

-« Fine, same café as last time, I'm at the library anyway.»

-«Good girl.» He didn't like her tone either, he hang off and got on his way. Those two would have to work on their dominant sides if they wanted to work together efficiently. Question was who was going to give first?

She made a rough evaluation of the time it would take to a biker to get to Atlanta from Mystic Falls, he wasn't going to speed up, probably avoid CCTV but he wouldn't take that long so she put the books back where they belonged, gathered her things and got to the café, she had less than 48 hours left before Aaron's trial, she was more or less ready but she didn't want to leave anything to chance. Her coffee on the table she was reading the file again when Damon pulled a chair and sat opposite her. She closed the file and sat straighter in her chair, he didn't look good, well he did look good, as always, but he seemed on edge and tired.

-« What the hell happened? You look like shit.» The words got out of her mouth and she immediately regretted saying them. «I mean, you look like you need some rest and a hour alone with a punching bag, I'm not volunteering obviously.»

-« I look the way I feel and, for the last time, I don't beat or hurt women, keep that kind of snarky remarks out of your mouth.» It really was something he despised, some guys in the MC were that kind of bastards and he just couldn't stand it. He had had to get into fights here and there to keep bad stuff from happening at the bar, it was common knowledge Damon Salvatore wouldn't let things like that happen, not under his watch. She could call him a thief, a dealer or a killer he wouldn't mind, he was all that, but definitely not a woman beater, the sole idea made him cringe.

-« Alright, I won't bring that up again.» She could tell he was being very serious about it, it honestly was unfair of her to bring that up when she had, as he'd said when he'd broken in her apartment, read his file. She didn't really know him and what could have been swept under the rug but his eyes and the tension in his shoulder told her he was saying the truth. «I'm sorry. So what's that thing you didn't want talk about on the phone?»

He sighed, a bit of the tension left his shoulders but his eyes were filled with anger. She knew it wasn't her who had triggered it, it'd been there all along, it was just a bit more intense now. He leaned over the table to keep his voice low.

-« I know who was on the highway but I have no idea why, what's sure is it doesn't smell good. How good are you at putting you nose where it doesn't belong?» He was toying with a paper towel to calm himself tearing it in small pieces but his yes were still on her.

-« I make a living putting my nose where it doesn't belong, that and dusty law books and if I can't find things I know people who can.» She didn't have that big a professional web but she could still pull some strings here and there. Damon shook his head.

-« I don't want too many people to know you're digging. You're safe for now I want to keep things that way, play solo and don't say a words to Stefan. Unlock your phone and give it to me.» He reached for her, hand open, palm up, he had given an order, again. « I can't pass notes, I want to write the name and things you have to know on your phone, if you have a password protected app I'll use that one.» Damon wasn't used to explain himself, he had been inside the MC too long he had forgotten about basic politeness, that or he didn't care but Elena was living in 'the real world' whatever could that mean, he probably wasn't to expect her to be spoken to the way he spoke to, well, anybody else. She seemed to take it pretty fine though and when she didn't she made clear he was being an ass. It was sort of refreshing and annoying at the same time, but for good measure he added «please».

-«Good boy.» She answered in a bitter tone then unlocked her phone and put it in his hand. She'd been waiting for the right moment to put him back in his place. He wasn't a good boy, she wasn't a good girl, if he wanted her to stop sending him back his upsetting words he'd stop using them.

How could two people think so alike and be such complete opposite? Could parallel universes such as theirs meet at some point? One thing was sure the verbal battles would keep going between those two.

Damon typed Troy's name, the times he did in jail, his wife's name, address and a few other things. He locked the phone again and laid it back on the table next to Elena's hand.

-« Elena if everything goes our way, I'll be free, you'll take the credit for the whole thing. Fine, you're not a 'good girl' dully noted. I'm not a 'good boy' either, if things don't go our way you'll probably witness how not a 'good boy' I am. You don't have to genuinely like me but as I said before you'll have to pretend to be close to me. I don't have female friends. There are fiends' sisters or mothers or whatever I see and never would mess with but the MC is very old school. Not my rules, there's, I won't say I haven't followed them though. So you can think whatever you want of them or me, but for our sakes, yours and mine, try not to get at my throat every time I talk to you. I'm your golden ticket to get in my father's lair. Imagine I'm someone else, I don't care but start looking at me as if you cared, I've been told I'm candy for the eyes, for all superficial it can be, if it helps, use that. On my side it won't be too hard to imagine why I could be interested in you. That said, if you find anything about what I just put on your phone call me but don't give details over the phone. Just tell me where to find you and I'll come. Understood?» Again he kept his eyes on her as he spoke it was mesmerizing and annoying at the same time an Elena took a moment to think before answering.

-« I won't get at your throat at the MC, I'll still be me so don't push too hard.» In all this she caught something she shouldn't have given too much attention to but she stored it to the back of her mind. «I'll do my job, after all I wanted to do it alone, as crazy as it will sound I need you with the MC, you need me for the rest. I'll find everything I can about the man who was on the highway, You've kept me posted as I asked and you'll keep doing this I'm sure. I'll cut you some slack and will try and trust you. Don't you dare backstabbing me. As for the candy for the eyes, you're right it will help but again, don't push too hard ok?»

-« How hard is too hard? You seem to think I could ask for more than you're ready to offer, I'm pretty sure I've said a few minute ago I'm not that kind of person.» She cut him off

-« I said I wouldn't bring that up again, and I won't. It's not what I meant. You're not the only one with trust issues here. Didn't you get the backstabbing part? Been there, done that, not fun, never again, won't say more. Now that we made things clear tell me what I'll have to expect when you'll bring 'new girlfriend me' in the MC, it's probably best if I don't freak out too much.»

This conversation was pretty hard to follow, he expected her to think or say things but she wasn't acting as he thought she would. On her side she could see a bit more behind that shield of his, not a lot but enough to realize she had judged him harshly. Stefan had given her his version of the story and even if some must have been true there were things even the younger Salvatore didn't know. It was confusing for the both of them. She was game, it was only fair to answer her questions.

-« There are regular MCs and there are outlaws, we're outlaws, as far as I can remember, we've always been so expect men who have seen a lot, speak loudly and aren't the kind who drinks cocktails in fancy clubs. No matter the looks of the members, always remember that they're all dangerous but also remember that if you're with me, and I already passed the word you are, they'll never hurt you. As long as they think I'm on their side, the VP, my father's loyal son, you'll be protected by each and everyone of them. That implies that, at every moment, you'll have someone watching you. You'll look out of place at first, it's nothing but normal. We don't have women in the MC, some do, we don't and by that I mean female members but there are women around. It's archaic, sexist and not pretty and, this time, probably the way you think it is, on that part you'll have to look the other way. But you, you won't be seen as that kind of girl, you'll be seen as an 'old lady', a name we give to the wives and official girlfriends. You'll be untouchable. You're going to hate that part but it's as if you had my name branded on your forehead, no one touches what's mine. I expected that look on your face, it's not flattering I know but you have something the other 'old ladies' don't have, at least in my MC, you're one of our lawyers it gives you a card to play. It's a game of power, who's in the inner circle, who isn't and who's backstabbing who.» He used her word so she could relate «I'm supposed to know more than most and yet here we are, you're the one who found the highway footages, you're the one who will give me intel on someone I've known all my life, you said you've been there so you must know how I feel right now. Now for the fun part, what does the MC do? Basically we're smugglers and sellers, weapons, drugs even chemicals, that brought us a lot of money and a lot of troubles especially since my father expended his territory. It's a constant war for survival with other MCs, gangs, police, feds, that part you already 's a lot to take so… any question?» Only a thousand - again - but she'd keep to the basics.

-« In short scary guys surrounded by women with low expectations and self esteem doing illegal things and riding bikes. Same guys who will look at me as your property. Charming. And you, in all that, what am I to expect to see of you. Give me a heads up, who's Damon when he's at the MC?» It was a legit question for she couldn't look scared of her own 'boyfriend', right?

-« The guy who smashed the face of someone who tried to rob you, the guy who brought you home making sure you were fine. This is me. I respond to violence with violence and…» He paused trying to find the right words «who shows he cares when he cares, not that it happens often. I don't really spend time reflecting on myself especially on the 'how to show I care for my girlfriend', I've never had an official one.»

-« Yeah sure…» She rolled her eyes, how could she believe he hadn't had a few over the years. He raised a brow and kept his eyes on hers.

-«You know, Elena, I don't usually tell my story to people, you must be the first person I've told that much about me, the MC, my life style, so far I haven't told you one lie, It'd be counterproductive, why should I start now? I've had my share of 'low expectation and self esteem' girls but never thought of settling down, not with the life I have. The day I'll lower my guard and let someone get close enough to call her my girlfriend it will really mean something for me. All the guys back at home, in the MC, know that. Not that I want my father to fall so I can rebuild my life of course, but they know I wouldn't bring a woman in my world if I wasn't serious about it. Of course we're faking it but they don't know that. Now since they haven't seen me in a serious relationship before they won't be phased if I don't broadcast my love professing it out loud and cover you with kisses from head to toe in public. I'll probably keep you close, invade your personal space here and there wrap my arm around your waist or shoulders because it's what people do. You're not signing for more than that. What I'm signing for is your observation skills, how you can find things I couldn't and let my father think that with you by my side he can get closer to my brother, thought we won't let that happen.»

Elena leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, she needed a minute to think.

-« Get up!» She eventually said as she did so herself. He was good at hiding his emotions but right now he looked genuinely surprised, he kept his eyes on her as she took a step closer going around the table. «Let's define the boundaries but make it look real. Hold me.» Right here in a public place, not crowded but still, she was asking him to play boyfriend/girlfriend as if rehearsing a play. That was…unexpected and strangely intimidating but he wasn't one to say no to a challenge so he got on his feet and stood right in front of her, in her personal space looking down at her face. «We're going to finish this conversation in situation, come on, you're Damon Salvatore, at the bar and you're with your girl, what do you do, how do you hold her.» Hadn't he just told her he'd never been in a serious relationship? What was she trying to do? Teach him? Fine. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, it wasn't rough per say but not nice either, she almost crashed against his chest «Ah… ok not subtle but it will do.» One of her hands moved up and lingered at he back of his neck, he fought not to move away from her. It's not that it wasn't nice, in fact, it was a bit too nice and he could't afford doing something he wouldn't be able to take back.

-«Now that we've established I can hold a woman in my arms, by the way, thank you for doubting I can be something else than a cave man, anything else you need me to show you?» He had to be corky hadn't he? But the doe eyed lawyer tiptoed so her mouth was close to his ear and she spoke making sure no one could hear what she was about to say.

-« I'm glad you told me things the way they are and didn't try to lie to my face but one thing you haven't noticed is that a MC guy is spying on us from the other side of the street. Now don't look, keep doing what you are doing because, congratulations, this is our first official date.» She wasn't lying, from where she had been sitting, not far from the window, she'd noticed the leather jacket and black Harley from the corner of her eyes, had given a quick look before she came up with the idea of making this meeting look like something casual. He'd already put a claim on her, meeting her was something he was expected to do. That MC guy was either curious or had been sent to keep an eye on him, her or them both. Well, she was Damon's 'girlfriend' now, they were here to chat a bit, have coffee and probably more later thought she'd leave that part to the man's imagination. Public display of affection had to come from her especially after what Damon just said so she ended up deciding in a hurry how she could get her 'NOT' love to give her a hug in public. Her free arms sneaked around his waist to keep him here, it'd do no good if he just wanted to get out and start a fight with that 'spy'.

Little did she know that he didn't want to pick a fight. He knew something like that would happen he just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

-« See, this makes me think I picked the right girl for the job, you're observant and you think fast but, the guy outside, it's what I was talking about earlier. The MC is now bound to keep you safe, I didn't tell anyone I'd come see you tonight so they sent a guy to make sure you were fine. This proves my father takes this seriously and that the Stefan bait worked. Congratulations, you're now officially under the Raven's protection.» He didn't let go of her but turned a bit so he could see the guy, it was a prospect - MC members wannabe put to work to earn their cut - raising a hand and nodding to the guy he let him know everything was fine and that he could leave which he did. «And now he's leaving thinking I'm going to be with you all night.»

She let the hand that had been at the back of his neck slowly move down and loosen her arm around him.

-« Tell me you didn't know he was there.» Her face grew serious.

-« I did't know he was there.» He too loosen his hold on her not letting her go completely «I'm straight with you, I don't and won't lie to you, it's the deal. This won't work if we don't trust each other. I told you, when with me you're free-ish, without me, you're basically spied on.»

-« So now I'm quite literally on a leash?» She now looked angry which was a bit stupid of her since he'd been clear about it, sure he had started this without her knowing, putting that stupid claim on her before asking her to work with him but on her part she had wanted to make a move on the MC - a legal move - on her own. It's not as if Stefan hadn't told her to keep away from Damon from the start. Yet it was infuriating her to know that things wouldn't go according to her rules, that she had to bend to a MC rules, her ego was bruised.

-« Partly, yes. I'll give you space, as long as I know no one doubts us I'll just drive you home and leave you be, I'll send people I trust to keep an eye on you when I can't be around. It's a lot to take, I know, I see your face right now and I'm impressed you haven't tried to kick or punch me already but it's the way it will be.» He would have let her slap him if she'd needed to release the pressure. He'd dropped this on her shoes, he'd used her so as sincere and open he was now it was already too late. He'd been desperate to set things in motions, he'd used MC ways of doing things, no wonder she wasn't happy about that. «I could apologize for how I did things but I'm not sorry, I do what I need to survive, It's selfish, I know but, again, as I said before, I'll keep you safe, I won't throw you to the sharks, It's my mess it won't fall on you.»

-« Don't make promises you can't keep Damon.» She moved away from him and got back to the table to gather her things.

-« Elena,» He move closer so no need to could hear him as he spoke «I thought this through, I don't make promises I can't keep, the only thing that will stop me from keeping it is a bullet between my eyes» She shoved her files in her satchel and turned to look at him, hell he was standing close.

-« Then we better hope it won't get to this. I guess I'm not allowed to take a cab home so let's go now, I need you to leave me be for today, the sooner the better.» She walked to the door and he just follow her. She was taking things better than he had expected, she really was something else.

He parked his bike in front of her building and she gave him back his second helmet - her helmet - then searched for her house key.

-« I pick you up tomorrow morning or you rather go with the spy?»

-« Oh, cause you're giving me a choice now? » It wasn't a slap or a kick it was more passive aggressive « I need to focus on Aaron's case, I don't want to see your face until then so I'll take the spy. Goodbye Damon. » With that she left him there, it was clod and a bit mean but she still hadn't digested all he's told her, it would take more than a night to get used to her "new situation". He didn't linger and hit the road, taking the long way home avoiding CCTV and MC members.

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