Chapter 56

I woke up to an empty bed and got up with a big yawn. Christian had told me that he had to leave early beforehand, but he at least could’ve woken me up.

A smile appeared on my face when I thought about how crazy all of this actually was. We were together and it was not a joke. All of it was real.

After I got up I made my way back to my room, or should I say old room—before I took a long shower and threw everything from my closet onto my bed to find something nice to wear tonight.

Our first date.

It sounded so weird and was so strange to get used to.

My phone went off and I reached for it to look at all the new messages. Of course, it was from the girls—and the Alfonzo’s who just couldn’t leave me alone and asked me when they could see me again. And lastly from...Beau?

Call me please, I read and immediately called the number. “Serena?” I heard him call out for me.

“Yes, is there something wrong?” I asked in a hurry. I had yet to tell Christian about Beau, but everything between us went so perfectly and I wanted it to remain that way.

“Did you tell Christian about me?” He asked and I went quiet for a few seconds. How could I tell him I didn’t? I didn’t want to offend him in any way, but I wasn’t even sure whether I could trust him or not. I would never trust anyone that easily ever again.

“Y-yes, I told him!” I lied. It had more so to do that Christian made fun of me and called me ridiculous for trusting everyone, to the point he wanted me to hear Enzo’s words—and even though I loved him, that had definitely left an impact and I did not want to hear it again. I would tell him about Beau whenever I felt like it.

“So what did he say?” Beau asked surprised, while I tried to shrug him off. “Doesn’t matter, why are you calling?” I tried my hardest to change the subject.

“The meeting with Fabio today? I need him to know to stand his ground, don’t let Lucio speak for him—but take charge and speak for himself. All Fabio talks about these days is revenge, so there’s no way to negotiate—all they can do is prepare for what’s to come in a few months.” Beau explained.

It took me some time to take in the fact that there would even be a meeting. Why didn’t he told me something as important as that? It was just the bare minimum but he didn't. I knew I did not have the right to be pissed, considering I did not even tell him about Beau—but I was.

“Tell him that it’s time for him to take charge, the ones Fabio truly fears are him and Emilio. In the future, it’s they who will be a threat to Vincenzo and Luis—not Lucio.” I tried to take in Beau’s words.

“Y-yeah, I got it.” I stuttered, still thinking about the fact that he hadn’t told me a single word. I had never asked anything because I knew of the family rule not to ask anything, but this was different and actually concerned me.

“Serena, I want to see you—hold you, get to know you. Call me insane, but lately, you are all I’ve been thinking about.” Beau spoke. By the tone in his voice, I could hear that he felt all alone and felt extremely bad. I obviously wanted to do the same, but since Christian had tightened security I couldn’t. “I know, I want the same.”

“We have so much to discuss.” I sighed, thinking about our childhoods. Mine could not have been more difficult than his, but it would still be nice to exchange feelings. “I met our parents and our siblings, Beau, they’re really nice people.”

I heard a deep sigh and was met with silence. “I have to go, please make sure to deliver my message.”

The fact that he didn’t want to hear about them made me feel bad and had even broken my heart a little, but I could understand. He had been through way more than I had, and it was all because they decided not to fight for us and gave us away. “Okay...I really want to see you.”

“Me too,” I whispered and tried to control my sadness. Originally I had not felt a bond with him, but after talking to him a few times—I definitely did.

The moment Beau hung up the phone I heard Christian’s voice in the hallway and quickly ran out of my room, only to bump into him. He smirked and tapped my forehead while he continued his phone conversation.

“I thought you were gone!” I told him with a big smile on my face and rested my head against his chest while he tried to continue the phone call.

“Okay, I’ll see you later—something annoying just came up.” He ended the phone call and smirked at me while I rolled my eyes. “Something annoying?” I nagged as he leaned forward to kiss me. “We’re still on for tonight, right?”

“Yes, of course!” I almost yelled out. It would be nice to have a moment together, just the two of us...

“Good, Gio and Dana are joining us.” He suddenly informed me. “Oh.” I quickly managed to put on a fake smile and nodded my head. “Don’t worry, he won’t bite.”

Hard to say with the look he had been giving me.

“Since when are you and your brother so close?” I wondered. Christian went in deep thoughts and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know either, but I feel much more at ease.”

I tried to concentrate on his words, but every time he spoke—the only thing I could focus on was how he did not tell me the truth about the meeting. The meeting concerned not only my life but also my baby’s life. “So what are your plans for today?”

“You know, the usual...business.” He shrugged it off once again. “What kind of business?”

Christian gave me a suspicious look. “You’re curious today.”

“Sorry.” I apologized to not stir the pot and kissed him.

“You can make it up to me, tonight,” Christian spoke as he pulled away. “With the date?” I asked. I didn’t know what could be so romantic about a double date with Gio and Dana.

“No, after the date.” Christian wrapped his hands around my waist and kissed me on my forehead. I already felt my legs getting numb, just by thinking about it. “I wouldn’t mind that. Take me, I’m all yours.”

“Yes, you made that very clear yesterday.” He chuckled and brushed his fingers through my hair. I blushed and looked down, thinking about he would make it his job to embarrass me. But I did not mind, I wanted him, I wanted that and so much more.

All I wanted was for him to be safe and all I wanted was to tell him about Beau, but not knowing how he would react for not telling him in the first place worried me. We started so well and I had no intention to ruin it. “Christian.”

“Yes?” He smiled. “I love it when you say my name.”

“I really like it when you take charge, so always be your own person and take charge.” I tried to deliver Beau’s message to him. “Sure, I can do that.” Christian shrugged his shoulders and luckily just went along with what I said.

“I have to go now, don’t you want me to bring you to your...mom?” Christian suggested, unsure of what to call her. It probably would take a long time before I would even feel comfortable with that word. “No, I need some rest—and I actually think it’s quite scary on my own. Like we talk over the phone but...”

“I understand.” He stopped me from talking and pulled me in closer. “You should always do whatever you feel comfortable with.”

“When will you get back?” I asked him, to get a clear vision of how long I had to get myself ready for this ‘double date’ I did not want.

“Probably the afternoon, I just came back to tell you we’re leaving at seven,” Christian told me and leaned in to press a kiss against my lips. “And because for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about you and our baby.”

I felt my heart flutter by his words and smiled to myself. Hearing ‘I love you’ was not one of my priorities when he would tell me stuff like this. This was all that mattered.

“Good.” I sighed and looked at him with a pitiful look on my face. All of the issues started from the moment when he took me in and he knew this would happen. I had blamed him, resented him—while truly he was trying to protect me all along and couldn’t say anything because he promised Lucio.

“What’s on your mind?” Christian asked, but I shook my head in response. “Nothing, just please promise me that you will be safe.”

“Yeah sure, I promise.” He spoke in his usual nonchalantly tone. I knew that Fabio wouldn’t do anything right now—and that he would return in one piece, but Luca’s words of not knowing whether or not someone would come home alive had always remained with me.

“Good, because I need you tonight.” I stroke his cheek and smiled at him.