Chapter 14

Christian paced back and forth as he stood in the hallway in front of his dad’s office and wondered whether he should get in or not. After he had a day to process the news he decided to tell his dad. The last thing he wanted was for Lucio to find out from someone else.

Lucio knew his son could be a handful and had always warned him about the consequences of his reckless behavior. ‘don’t knock up some random girl, and especially not one of the girls we work with.’

He knew his father wouldn’t be having it because he had already broken two rules. Lucio had been very vocal about how Christian had to take his distance from Serena.

“Christian is that you running a marathon out there? Are you on drugs?” Lucio called out to his son. Just like Christian he had a great sense of hearing and had heard his footsteps. Christian felt guilty for calling out Serena yesterday while he had ended up doing the same, and it was all because of nerves.

He was grateful for the fact that his dad was even in the office today. The last thing he wanted was to tell him the news in front of the whole family. Telling Lucio was one thing, but Francesca Lamberti was a woman who he did not want to deal with, at least not right now. “I’m not on drugs, I didn’t want to bother you.” Christian lied as he walked in and took a seat in front of his dad.

“You came to spend some time with your father? You never do.” Lucio smiled at his son. The times Christian stopped by to do something non work-related were so poor, Lucio could count them on one hand. Lucio felt as if he was the one the blame and knew it was most likely due to the way he raised him.

“I’m going to tell you something, but you have to promise me that you won’t get angry,” Christian spoke, almost sounding like a young child who was trying to compromise with their parent. Lucio chuckled and leaned forward as he felt anxious for what was about to come. Christian was a bold person and barely knew any fear, so even Lucio knew that this couldn’t be good. Lucio feared for the news while Christian feared for his temper.

“Let me bring out my liquor for this one.” Lucio sighed and refilled his glass. “Take some too, because you will probably need it.” He spoke while he poured a glass for Christian.

He could read the fear all over his face and prepared himself for whatever was about to come. The last time Lucio had seen Christian in fear was when his son was still a young boy. Lucio used to take him along to many deals to prepare him for the real world, while little Christian begged him not to hurt anyone.

“You better tell me now because I’m not drunk yet,” Lucio joked. Christian looked at the glass filled with liquor before he picked it up gulped it down in one go. “Christian, is it that serious?” Lucio wondered while the nerves were getting to him even more.

Christian nodded his head and stole his father's glass so he could also empty that one. “Serena’s pregnant. You’re getting another grandchild, congrats.” Christian let out all in once before he poured himself another glass.

The words ‘I’m going to be a dad’, were words he wasn’t ready for. He could shamefully admit that he had even tried to practice it in front of the mirror, but each time it came out as a question.

He had expected at least one reaction, but when he didn’t hear anything and looked up to observe Lucio, he could sense that his dad was not that pleased. “Serena is carrying your baby?”

“Tell her to abort it.” Lucio spoke, meanwhile Christian felt as if his world came crashing down.

“No, we’re keeping it.” He immediately told his dad. He was determined to make clear that whatever crazy thought Lucio had, was not going to happen.

“Tell her to abort it.” Lucio repeated himself. By the look on Lucio’s face, Christian could sense that this was not negotiable, but he had made Serena a promise and he was going to keep it.

“Does this has to do anything with the fact why you don’t want me around her or why you’re always protecting her because your words don’t make sense right now!” Christian fought back.

Christian had slowly became the family's favorite because unlike his brothers he was not afraid to go against his dad, Lucio never corrected him. He had always enjoyed it and had not expected for it to backfire one day.

“Wait, she’s not some secret half-sister or something, right? Because if that’s the case that’s seriously messed up!” Christian wondered. Lucio shook his head and denied his accusation.

“In that case, you should know that she’s moving in with me and that I’ll be taking full responsibility and be the man you've raised me to be.”

“She can’t have this baby, tell her to abort it.” Lucio spoke for the third time. “It?” Christian spoke, confused. “Are you at going to give me a reason why you’re calling my baby, it?”

“No, I don’t have to give you a r-“

“Yes, you do. Because I told you she’s pregnant and you’re close to fainting. So you can either give me a reason or I will walk away from this conversation.” Christian states, but just as he was about to get up Lucio grabbed his arm and forced him back down.

“Serena is an Alfonzo, she is Matteo’s daughter,” Lucio admitted the secret which he had been hiding for so long.

“W-what?” Christian stuttered. Matteo Alfonzo was the head of the Alfonzo family who was right below the Lamberti’s, and most importantly, his father’s best friend. The two had known each other their entire lives and had always remained great friends.

“You mean the one he had twenty-one years ago?” Christian asked and felt confused upon hearing the news.

It was a well-known story between the Lamberti’s and the Alfonzo’s. The story of Fabio Garcia losing his son and pregnant wife in a house fire which led him to declare war.

At that time he had given Matteo and Lucio’s men who were unaware, the go to put his house on fire. Fabio Garcia was also not aware, but he needed someone to blame, so that was what he did. Even though Matteo and Lucio who were not even there when the order was given had punished every man responsible, it still wasn’t enough.

Fabio thought it was a scheme by the two most powerful families to wipe them out because they felt threatened by his sudden rise and had persuaded all the other families to go against them. Eager to stop the war Matteo and Lucio tried to reason with Fabio who had given them one option, an eye for an eye.

Fabio told Matteo and Lucio that the only way to stop the war would be for either one of them to give up their next child to him so they could one day feel the same pain. Matteo and his wife had taken full responsibility and wanted Lucio's family to stay out of it.

The piece which no one besides Lucio, Matteo, and his wife knew was that Matteo’s wife was expecting twins. They had decided to hand over their newborn son and to send their newborn daughter far away.

They had expected for Fabio Garcia to spare the boy and to raise him as his own while they feared the daughter who Fabio would have no use for would not come out alive.

After they learned that there was not a single update about their son and whatever Fabio had done to him, the Alfonzo’s were grateful that they had given their daughter another life. Both family’s resented Fabio, but even though they were the strongest, they had learned from their past mistakes and did not want to start a war.

Lucio had first suspected Serena’s true identity when he did a background check and found out more about her childhood. He was the who had dropped her off as a baby.

He knew it was for the best not to interfere but he couldn’t help but feel guilty that Serena had to struggle while the only struggles his daughters—which he had three years later, had was about which designer bag they were going to buy next.

Serena refused every job he had offered her, the same way she refused every check he had offered her and he knew that there was nothing he could do anything about it. Working at the club was not what he had wanted for her, but it was the only way to keep an eye on her. He wanted to gain her trust until he could persuade her to do something else, but what he didn’t expect was for Christian to get her pregnant.

“Her identity is still hidden, so I still don’t know how this is my problem. The baby is not going anywhere!” Christian told Lucio. Not even Christian had expected to live for his unborn child the way he did, but it was still his child and he wanted to deal with it the proper way.

“Son, if I learned about her identity that quick, then the others will too-“

“You’re the one who put her there!” Christian yelled as he was not in the mood for any further discussions.

“Christian, you’re a smart kid so listen to me. What do you think will happen if not only Serena’s identity comes out, but also the fact that she’s carrying a child which will carry both the Lamberti and Alfonzo name?” Lucio tried to get through to him.

“Every single family will turn against us for lying and Fabio will start a war for making a fool out of him.” Lucio explained in the calmest way possible.

“Think about the lives we will lose. Our family, the Alfonzo’s, innocent men, the unborn child you’re so desperately trying to save, Serena, so tell me? What do you treasure more, the life of an unborn baby or the life of hundreds?”

Christian clenched his fists and tried to ignore his father’s words, but he couldn’t because he knew he was right. He didn’t want anyone to be in danger, which included Serena and the baby.

“Christian, I can’t force you to do anything you don’t want to, but I treasure you because you always think with your brains. Don’t disappoint me.” Lucio pleaded. Christian softened his look at the word ‘disappoint’, because he knew someone would end up hurt one way or another.

“Dad, I made Serena a promise.” Christian tried to get through his father’s head, but Lucio did not care. Lucio cared for the life of not only Serena but also his own family and knew that sacrifices were supposed to be made.

“I don’t fucking care, write her a check and make her leave or let her abort the baby but you can’t be involved with either one of them!” Lucio exploded. No one told you to knock her up so I’m not doing this with you!”

Lucio slammed his fist on the table, while Christian flinched at his reaction and did not dared to say another word.

Lucio Lamberti might’ve had a temper, but he barely yelled at his sons. Christian was shocked and realized the situation was perhaps a bit more serious than he had originally expected it to be. There was no way that his dad was going to sacrifice hundreds of lives for a baby. If it was up to Christian he would’ve protected the baby with his own life, but he knew he had to take responsibility and that his decision would not only danger the baby, but his family as well.

Christian got up from the chair and shot Lucio a hopeless glare before he turned around to walk away from the situation. “Stop!” Lucio ordered as Christian stopped in his steps.

“I think you can handle Serena’s tears, but we both know you’re a coward and if you’re truly my son and if you can’t bare the thought of losing your family...” Lucio sighed.

“Then you’ll not only do what’s right for you, but for all of us.”