Chapter 39

While I didn’t even bother, everyone stood up to stop him but Christian looked back and shook his head. “Don’t interfere.”

“So this is what you’re going to do?” Gio chuckled, but surprisingly enough he did not fight him off. “Yes, I want you to realize how weak you are— even if you want to, you can never touch me and you know that, be smart and apologize!”

“Christian, let's talk about this.” Francesca started. “So much to say, and still I have yet to hear a fucking apology!” He yelled out, making his mom flinch. What had always seemed weird to me was how Lucio let everyone do their thing while he sat back and watched. It was understandable that he did not want to choose one side over another, but going as far as letting his sons fight?

“What would be the point of apologizing if the apology is fake?” Gio spat in Christian’s face who still had him pressed against the wall. “It’s about you disrespecting me and my child who will also be above you and your children, it’s for your own good.”

“Mom, you will apologize to Serena and you will call every single family and explain that it was all one big misunderstanding.” Christian turned around his head. I knew he thought he was helping me, but this made me feel even more awkward.

“And from now on you will respect her, all of you.” He said and gave all of them a look. I heard a chuckle leave Lucio’s mouth and he actually seemed impressed by Christian’s outburst. The glare which Francesca always had— had disappeared as she softened her look while staring at her two sons.

“She worked for our family, she and the other girls are one of the reasons why you’ve never had to work a single day in your life— so don’t disrespect her or whatever job she had.” He continued. He still had poor Gio pressed against the wall like a piece of gum, but I did not care— he had it coming for him.

“Let’s all stay calm.” Enzo tried to step forward to come in between them, but Johnny held him back.

“No, I’ve been calm. From now on I will protect Serena and the baby— and anyone who does not follow me will be dealt with. You can fake it for all I care!” Christian yelled in Gio’s face, but Gio didn’t budge. He was unbothered by Christian— but probably also pissed because for some reason he could not hit him back.

“You either apologize right now, or I will make your life a living hell.” Christian gave him one last option. The tension in the room was difficult to ignore and the silence was anything but a comfortable one.

“You’ve heard him— he and the baby are the future heirs of the Lamberti family, so show them some respect.” Lucio jumped in and looked from Gio to his wife.

“I will not apologize to this hood rat—“ Gio managed to get out before Christian’s fist met with his face, over and over again. I stood back in shock while Lucio and Johnny had finally taken action and tried to pull him off.

Before anyone got time to process what was happening, the sliding door had opened and the little Gianna ran in with tears streaming down her face.

“Uncle Chrissie, stop!” She yelled out, making Christian pull away in an instant as he looked at the four-year-old in horror.

“Please don’t kill daddy.” Gianna cried out while Francesca ran to her grandchild to pick her up.

“I’m sorry!” She called out loud enough for all of us to hear and hugged Gianna tightly. “I’m sorry Serena, I’m sorry for provoking you, for making you feel unwelcome and I’m sorry for throwing a drink to your face— I will call everyone and tell them it’s a misunderstanding, I’m sorry, okay?” Francesca had finally apologized and looked at Gio. “Apologize.” She said and pointed at Gianna with her eyes.

Gio looked at me with an angry look on his face and wiped the blood from his nose but when he looked at his daughter who was still in Francesca’s arms he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Serena.” He said and turned to Christian.

“It’s done, it’s over. Okay?” He spoke annoyed and turned his head to Gianna who was still crying while Francesca tried to shush her. “I’m sorry she had to see this— but if you’d just worked along from the beginning...”

“See, now was that so hard?” Christian muttered and walked over to me to grab my arm. Without saying another word we had left the mansion and were back in the car.

“Thank you,” I said after a while and placed my hand on his thigh before I realized what I was doing and pulled it away. “I told you that I was going to protect you, there’s nothing to thank me for.”

“Gianna? Will she be alright?” I asked, thinking about the tears which were streaming down her face. Seeing something like that wouldn’t do good to any four-year-old and judging by the look On Christian’s face he felt the same.

“I hope so.” He sighed. “I never intended to lose control like that with children in the house...I’m not like that. I don’t know what came over me.”

It was not hard to tell that his words were sincere and that he regretted his actions.

“I know, you don’t look like the person.” I tried to comfort him. “I can tell because...you stopped when she asked you to stop.”

“You know...when I was little and my dad...I used to ask him the same.” Christian tried to open up but had quickly changed the subject again while I couldn’t help but wonder what he was going to say about Lucio.

“I don’t want to fight Gio, he’s my brother— but now I have you and the baby to fight for and unless I did something he wouldn’t stop, I didn’t want to hit him...not my own family-“

“I know.” I quickly interrupted him. He did not have to explain himself any more than he had already done, because I still did not see him as a monster.

When I heard my phone buzz I looked at the message which Vincenzo had send me.

‘We all miss you! Pls come over tomorrow?’ I read and told him I would. It was not as if I had anything to do in that lonely mansion all day.

“Why are you smiling, who’s texting you?” Christian asked while I quickly closed my phone. “That’s none of your business?” I replied to his nosy question. I had no issue being friendly, but we were not together so he had to stay in his lane.

“You’re right, it’s not.” Christian chuckled and parked the car. At that exact moment his phone also went off and he grabbed it to read the message. He had a smile on his face and I couldn’t help but wonder...

“Why are you smiling, who’s texting you?” I asked and tried to look over his shoulder, but he pulled away from his phone and bumped his forehead against mine.

“That’s none of your business?” He mocked me in a high-pitched tone while I rubbed the painful spot on my forehead. Well, he got me there.

“Okay, that’s fair.” I laughed as he joined me and stepped out of the car. It was not my business at all, but why was I interested?

“Get your head together, Serena,” I told myself and repeatedly bumped my head against the dashboard. I could not like him, I could not like him.

“Do I want to know?” Christian suddenly asked as he had opened the car door for me. I sighed and got out while I declined the hand he had stuck out. “Trust me, you don’t,” I told him and walked past him while he shrugged his shoulders.

Maybe going to Vincenzo’s house tomorrow wasn’t all that bad.