92. HALCYON

~ Violet ~ “I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom but I taught her never to dishonor her family…” Violet sat quietly next to Lucas in his convertible as they stared at the screen projecting The Godfather. Lucas was totally engrossed with the film, his eyes lit up with excitement as Marlon Brando appeared. Violet, on the other hand, couldn’t be less enthused. Even though she knew this was only a movie—a fictional story— every scene and word that these characters said reminded her of him. “So, what’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?” Violet recalled the night when she first met Damon, the mafia boss of the Van Zandt family. She was working the late shift at The Union when Dylan told her to leave. But on her way out, he stopped her. “A girl like me?” she asked. Violet could remember that night like it was yesterday. His dark piercing eyes were full of mystery and wonder. He could stop her heartb