Chapter 57

Christian

“Marc, look at you!” Christian stepped out of the car to embrace his friend. “Do you all see that?” Marc called out, making all of the men laughed out loud.

Christian had a meeting with Fabio Garcia, to negotiate about Serena—but he kept it a secret because he didn’t want Serena to stress. He felt bad about keeping this secret from her, but he did not want to worry her with yet another burden.

“I’m not ashamed to admit that I missed you—and because you weren’t here I had to summon Luca.” He slammed his arm over his shoulder. “Summon?” Marc started laughing. He had been out of town for business for a while, and the two had a lot to catch up on.

“I’m out of town for a while and next thing you know Serena’s secret is out, Isobel is a snake and I jump right back into a meeting with Fabio, what’s up with that?” Marc whispered so no one could hear.

The both of them shifted their eyes towards the car door which got opened and watched as Gio and Lucio stepped out. Christian was still hurt by Enzo, but he was not planning on betraying him and made his father believe that Enzo needed some alone time. All this time he had been keeping an eye on Gio while Enzo seemed to be the real problem.

The only thing Christian hoped for was that the informant kept his word and had not mentioned Enzo’s name. “Christian, Marc.” Lucio gave him a nod. Whenever Lucio was working it almost seemed as if he was a completely different person, till the point where even Christian got intimidated but lately the man everyone had once feared, had turned soft.

“Christian, you don’t talk—you just sit and listen,” Lucio ordered him, knowing his son was a hot-head and could possibly make matters worse. Christian nodded his head with clenched fists before he lit a cigarette. How could I ever take over if you won’t let me? Those were the words he wanted to say to his father, but couldn’t.

“Let either dad or Matteo do the talking, just sit there and say...nothing.” Gio patted his little brother’s back. While Marc made his way over to Emilio and Matteo who had also arrived, Gio tried to read his brother’s face.

“You really need to stop doing that, just go meditate or something.” Gio pulled the cigarette from between Christian’s lips and threw it away, earning himself a glare. “Stops smoking for two months, wants to play counsellor.” Christian sighed at him.

“When your girl tells you to stop—you stop, it’s only going to be a matter of time before Serena tells you to stop.” He shrugged his shoulders while Christian rolled his eyes. “The difference is that unlike you I’m not a puppet.”

“You know what, months from now we will look back at this conversation. Now that the two of you are in a real relationship a lot will change.” Gio chuckled.

“We’ll see about that.” Christian rolled his eyes.

“Why did you ask me to go on a double date, don’t you want to be alone with her? Why did you even ask her in the first place.” Gio asked while Christian scrunched up his nose. “I did, but I’m not ready for that.”

“You look like a teenage boy in love, please.” Gio laughed at his little brother. “Gio, I’m serious—she told me she loved me.” He stressed himself out. He had never even said something like that to his family.

“Do you love her?” Gio asked and looked as Christian had immediately shaken his head. “I care about her and I don’t mind her loving me, but I don’t know if I love her. We haven’t even known each other for that long.”

“You love the baby, but the baby hasn’t been here for that long—better yet, the baby’s not even here yet.” Gio shrugged his shoulders. “That’s different.” Christian disagreed.

“I don’t know if you realize or not, but everything you have been doing for Serena—including almost beating me up and wanting to disown my children, was out of love for Serena.” Gio reminded him.

“But you shouldn’t force yourself to say it back, when the time comes you won’t even think about it.”

Christian listened to his brother’s wise words, and couldn’t imagine that it was the same brother he had always resented. A lot had changed.

“It’s time to go in!” Lucio announced.

Everyone followed behind Lucio and Matteo—and walked into the garage. Fabio and Vincenzo were seated around the table in the center of the room.

For a second Christian’s eyes met with Vince’s but both of them quickly turned away. The two who used to be two peas in a pod could not stand each other—and it was all because of a resurrected family feud.

“Sit.” Fabio pointed to the chairs around the table. Even though Christian was a fearless person, it was no different case for him—and just like everyone else he had also been afraid of Fabio Garcia, but to protect Serena, he had pushed those fears to the side.

He looked the man straight in his eyes and sat down in front of him before anyone else got the chance. “Am I doing business with you?”

“We’re not doing any business together, I came here to tell you to leave Serena and my baby alone—if you value not only your life but also your men’s life, you will leave her alone.”

I really like it when you take charge, so always be your own person and take charge, those were Serena’s words and he wouldn’t go against it. Maybe Gio was right, Christian thought to himself. Maybe he did love her.

Everyone went quiet for a second until Fabio started laughing and his men followed him. Christian on the other hand could not laugh and glared at Vince who glared back at him.

“Hmm, so you are capable of being passionate about something. There were rumors that you were...softer than you look, but I guess they’re wrong.”

“Fabio, I wish I could say it was nice to see you.” Lucio took over the conversation and glared at Christian for ignoring him. All Lucio truly wanted was to take down Fabio, but he knew that many of the families felt bad for Fabio and would not agree to this.

“I wish I could say the same, but this time the both of you have really crossed the line,” Fabio growled. “I don’t like getting lied to. So hearing you bastards gave me one child and send the other one away does not sit right with me. I spared you, your other children but this is as far as I go.”

“I won’t let Serena live and put some hybrid baby or whatever the plan is on earth—so both families can unite and take me down. Lucio, I promised to make you suffer the same way the two of you made me suffer.” Fabio spoke, while Christian looked over at his dad to see what his next move was going to be.

“You won’t touch my family ever again, I won’t let you!” Matteo lost his patience. Fabio grinned at Matteo’s outrage and leaned back in his chair.

“I already gave you my son...and you killed him, what more do you want?” Matteo spoke with a broken expression.

“I’ll give you four months to decide—four months to give me Serena. My son Vincenzo took a liking towards her, so I’ll spare her—all you have to do is bring her to me.” He smirked as Christian glared at Vincenzo. A few months ago he wouldn’t care, but Serena was his and no one would take her or the baby.

Christian was confused as to why the big Lucio Lamberti who was known to have a temper, bowed down to Fabio Garcia. Yes, Christian was also scared of Fabio, but he knew that a fight was going to break down one way or another.

“As I said, I don’t have any time for this—and since this involves my baby I’m in charge. So now I’m telling you, let it rest...or in four months from now I’ll end up killing all of you.” Christian looked Fabio in his eyes and saw how the man was starting to feel threatened.

Fabio had expected for the two families to fear him as they had done all those years ago—but Christian’s big mouth was a surprise to him.

“Vince, if you really care for Serena you will stop him—do you really care for her, or were you going to hand her over like a dog?” Christian questioned his old friend.

Christian leaned in closer so Vincenzo could hear him and looked into his eyes. “Your mom and your brother? They are dead, it happened decades ago and there is nothing you can do to bring them back.” He spat in his face as everyone including Fabio Garcia went quiet.

“Your hag of a father who can barely stand up straight is also nearing his end—and let me promise you, if he lays one finger on Serena or my baby, you will deal with the consequences and I will be coming after you and I will make your life miserable, so tell him to drop it!” Christian growled before he grabbed Vincenzo by his collar.

This time everyone stood up and reacted as Fabio’s men pointed his gun at Christian while Lucio and Matteo’s men pointed their guns at Vince.

“So you get to live happily ever after while I have to suffer without a mom and my brother, is that it?” Vincenzo spoke through gritted teeth and freed himself from Christian’s grip.

Fabio hummed and took a deep breath as also he stood up from his chair and pulled his suit straight. “I think this conversation is over. You have such a big mouth Christian, I’ll let you get off the hook today but mark my words, four years from now I will collect my price.” He spoke as he moved circles around the table under he was right in front of Christian.

“This new generation is definitely something. You don’t know what I’m capable of boy, but you’ll find out soon enough.” He grinned before he whistled and left the garage will all men following after him.

“I told you not to do anything crazy but still...” Lucio turned around to face Christian. “I’m sorry dad, but we can’t sit here and listen to this near fossil while he’s threatening to hurt the ones I care about, I won’t.”

“I’m proud of you, let’s go.” Lucio gave him a small smile and left him behind flustered. It had bothered Christian that his dad did not have the same energy to fight, and he wondered if there was more behind it. Lucio Lamberti, who did not want to get in to a fight?

“I agree with you, we both do.” Matteo slammed his arm around Christian’s shoulder and looked at his son, Emilio. “Uncle Lucio has grown weak, he’s even decided to forgive the Sala’s,” Emilio spoke while Christian looked at him in full surprise. “W-what?” He stuttered.

He knew his father had grown soft, but forgiving Isobel after getting them into this mess? He had expected him to let them go but not to forgive them. “Hey, watch your words!” Matteo scolded Emilio who shrugged his shoulders. “It’s true though,”

“Anyway, I know my daughter and my grandchild are safe in your hands, and with our family's strength combined, we can take down Fabio. We have four months to prepare—so be ready.” Matteo instructed before also he had walked off.

Christian made sure everyone walked out first before he followed behind them, but when someone grabbed him by the wrist he raised his fist in the air, but one he had recognized the face he had dropped it. “Beau?”

He looked at Beau who had a soft expression on his face and wondered what his business was. “What do you want? Did Vincenzo send you?” He asked. He had no issue with Beau, but at the end of the day, he was Vincenzo’s right hand.

“I felt like it would be appropriate to thank you for everything,” Beau smiled. “Thank?” Christian chuckled in disbelief.

“Yes, for taking care of my sister—I know she is in good hands with you, and thank you for not saying anything to Matteo. She’s right, you can be trusted.”

Christian’s eyes widened for a second as he quickly put two and two together and knew exactly what was going on as his mind went back to Serena saying Adrián was still alive. He was Adrián.

“Yes, of course, no problem. I mean—how long has it been now since you’ve told her the news?” He played along.

“Like a week I think...Christian, I’m on your side, and even though I don’t want anything to do with the Alfonzo’s I will do everything to keep Serena safe, so thank you. That’s all I wanted to say to you.” Beau smiled one more time before he left the garage.

Christian chuckled in disbelief at the news he had just received and thought about Serena’s lack of trust in him, as only one thing went through his mind.

She still does not trust me.