Family

Bella kept her eyes shut, dreading what she might see. Damon's family was intense, close in a way that felt suffocating. After showering and dressing, she marched to his room only to find it empty. Fury bubbled inside her.

His parents waited at the kitchen table downstairs.

"Have a seat," Damon's father said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Damon explained everything. My son rescued you…"

"I didn't ask to be rescued," Bella cut in. "My father deserved what happened. The arrangement with Lucas was my burden."

Elena's gaze pierced through her. "Arranged marriages often succeed, Bella. You'd have had years to develop feelings."

Years? Bella thought. Never. She forced a smile. "I'll certainly try. Excuse me, I need to get to work."

"Remember, we're here for you," Elena told her "You're, family now. And thank you for helping Damon."

Bella nodded and left. Outside, Bulldog escorted her to the parking lot. As she exited the car, an arm yanked her into the adjacent vehicle. She yelped.

"Damon! You scared me." Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. "You're still feverish. We need to set up another IV tonight."

He pulled her closer onto his lap. "I needed to see you. Come to the cabin early. I want you, Bella."

Their kiss quickly intensified. "I have to go," she mumbled between kisses. "I can't... Damon, please." He breathed her in deeply before reluctantly releasing her.

Bella couldn't focus all day. She visited Lucas several times, perhaps out of guilt, but his condition was improving, which was a good sign. After changing, Bulldog drove her to the cabin.

Upon entering, Bella saw Damon sitting by the fireplace, seemingly wrestling with his thoughts. She touched his shoulder.

"Damon, I understand if…" Her words were cut off as his lips met hers, causing her to forget everything. He began undressing her slowly, his mouth exploring her body with a fervent hunger. Bella moaned, driving him wild. He tore off her bra, his mouth moving over her breast, his hands sliding over her skin.

"Damon," "I've never been with anyone like this…"

He paused, looking into her eyes. "And you chose me?" He asked softly, kissing her tenderly, now aware she had never been with anyone. Things heated up as they entwined, his mouth driving her to the edge of sanity. He thrust into her, and she let out loud moans. He tried to balance his desire with gentleness, holding her around the middle, his mouth on her chest as the world around them disappeared.

Even afterward, he didn't release her, his arms still wrapped around her. His kisses continued her neck and shoulder, her body still tingling beneath him.

She glanced at the clock. "We need to leave, Damon," she urged, though he had other plans. Pulling her back into his arms, he embraced her again, this time with more intensity. He couldn't get enough of her. It was crazy. Usually, he resorted to aggression during intimacy, maybe driven by his anger, but this felt different, it felt normal. And normal was not something he ever felt. Bella kissed him, then slipped off the bed to get dressed. "I really have to go, and so do you,"

He held her close, kissing her once more. "Alright, go ahead," he said while getting dressed. "Remember, at home things are different. I will be different, Bella." She smiled and left. Damon's thoughts lingered on her; he had never felt this way about anyone. She was his, only his. He closed his eyes, shaking off the feeling, needing to revert to his usual cold self.

Rafael was waiting in the car. "Boss, ready?"

"Let's go. How much did you get out of them?" Damon inquired.

"Nothing, they're not saying a word."

The warehouse was frigid, and their captives were suspended by their arms. Damon walked past them, then turned back, his gaze icy. He slipped on his gloves. "Now tell me, why?" he demanded.

The men were battered, their faces barely recognizable, swollen and bruised.

"Fuck you" one muttered.

"Yeah, fuck me" Damon chuckled with a chilling laugh. Rafael handed him a phone, displaying a picture to the man.

"Now, I'll ask one more time, or she dies," Damon warned.

"No, please, that's all I have... alright, stop, I'll tell you. He wants Benjamin's daughter, but your brother got to her first. He thinks if he dies, he can take her from your family."

Damon's anger flared. "Take her? That's not how it works. You show us no respect, come to a wedding to commit a massacre, and I'll take you all down one by one. Why is she so crucial?"

"The old men moved their money to offshore accounts, ready to flee, but his connections can't be bought. He believes she'll take over the business."

Damon shot him in the head, then approached the next man. "Take him down," he commanded.

"You will deliver this message to him: run, because I'm coming for you." He laughed, and the man ran, haunted by the chilling sound of his laughter.

He entered the mansion to find everyone already sitting at the table. Damon didn't acknowledge her as he took his seat. "Honey, I have a surprise for you," his mother announced. "Remember your friend Kayla? I ran into her, and she's coming for dinner."

"Mom, please don't plan things for me," he replied. "I don't like it. I can find my own girlfriends. I'm not ready to settle down, and that's final."

"Son, you're thirty-one, aren't you? It's time," his dad chimed in.

"Stay out of my life. Now, what's for dinner?" he retorted. Bella noticed the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He still hasn’t fully recovered.

The doorbell chimed. Moments later, the maid ushered in a woman with glossy dark hair and hazel eyes that immediately found Damon across the room. She wore a black cocktail dress with pearls at her throat, as if dining with royalty rather than family. The men rose from their chairs as Elena made introductions. Kayla slid into the seat directly across from Damon, barely glancing at Bella. Throughout dinner, her gaze rarely left him, creating a palpable tension that no one acknowledged. Later, as coffee was served in the living room, Bella noticed Damon's pallor.

"Your fever's back," she whispered. "You need another IV…"

"Enough," Damon snapped. "Stop hovering. I said I'm fine."

His father's voice cut through the room. "Damon! She's only trying to help you." He turned to Bella with a softened expression. "Thank you for looking after him."

Bella nodded and quietly excused herself.

She knew it was all part of his act, but it didn’t make the sting any less sharp when his words hit her.