Chapter 62

Christian

“Would you stop shaking, you’re making everyone anxious.” Gio rested his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

Christian had not closed an eye and immediately visited Lucio to tell him what was going on. ‘Somehow I did not receive my invitation, but here’s your present -Fabio’ Lucio read out loud.

“We decided to go through with the gender reveal to show that we are not threatened, and this is what he does?” Lucio growled.

“Dad, they were able to get so close to Serena and the baby.” Christian felt as if he had failed Serena. He was trying his best to protect her and still...

“That’s why I told you not to provoke him—but you didn’t listen, you never do,” Lucio stressed. He knew as best what kind of man Fabio was, and tried his hardest to protect Christian as Lucio had been carrying his own burden and kept it a secret from his children.

“You told him you were proud.” Gio tried to calm down the situation. “Yes, at him for sticking up for what believes in—not for his unnecessary big mouth!”

“We’re screwed, the rat we had on the other side...they killed him.” Lucio sighed. “Now we don’t have anyone.”

Christian took a deep breath and kept his mouth shut. He made Serena a promise to keep Beau’s identity a secret, and he did not want to break it.

“I don’t think he was in the wrong, I think he did the right thing.” Franco corrected his son. As the end was near, Franco Lamberti had temporarily moved back to the Lamberti estate so he could prepare himself for the war and because Lucio had a secret, no one was aware of.

“We can’t let Fabio walk over this family, ever. He sends Serena a dead squirrel? Fine, we’ll send him two dead cows—two can play the game. Lucio, since when, have I raised my son to be a coward?”

“From showing the Sala’s mercy to bowing down to Fabio, have you completely lost it?”

“Father, you know why—not now.” Lucio stared right into Franco Lamberti’s eyes. “W-why, what’s going on?” Christian finally raised his head to look at his father.

“It’s nothing, let’s focus on this for now.” Lucio shrugged it off while Franco Lamberti chuckled. “How is Serena doing?” Gio asked.

“How do you think?” Christian glared at his brother. “I tried to comfort her the entire night, she was shaking—she’s scared. And I don’t know if it’s because of the dead animal or because I lost my temper and yelled at her...”

“I’ve never seen her like this before, the last time she was shaking was when she told me she was pregnant.” Christian thought about the somehow fearless Serena, who had always seemed completely unfazed by everything going on.

“I don’t understand, why would he suddenly move this fast?” Gio wondered. “It doesn’t matter, the point is that he did—and if we don’t fight back now, we will never be able to stop him.” Franco leaned back in his chair.

Christian had no problem with his grandfather taking over things, as he started to think his own father was turning weak.

“The Alfonzo’s are investigating the source of the package as we speak—and after that, we should all gather around the table to discuss our strategy, we can’t sit down and do nothing anymore.”

“To keep Serena safe, she needs to be around the people she can trust—was there anyone suspicious at the party?” Franco turned to Christian.

“No.” He immediately spoke, knowing where his grandfather was headed—but after yelling at Serena for being irresponsible last night, the last thing he wanted was to throw her best friend under the bus. Not after he had told her it was okay to invite her.

“What about that Olivia girl? She works at Vincenzo’s factory.” Franco pointed out as expected. “She doesn’t anymore, and she would never betray Serena.”

“How do you know that?” Gio agreed with Franco. “Because I know her—and that’s not the kind of person she is!”

“Besides that, Serena told me Vincenzo yelled at her and she quit work after she spoke about the baby.”

“Okay, just checking.” Franco shrugged his shoulders. “None of us expected the Sala’s to be snakes either—but Isobel betrayed us without a second thought.” He snarled.

Gio and Christian gave each other a look as their mind went to Enzo, who had also betrayed them. The hatred Franco felt for the Sala’s made Christian worry about what would happen if the truth about Enzo ever came out.

“Piece of advice? Send Serena far away to a safe home.” Lucio spoke for the first time, making three heads turn to him in surprise. “So you’re telling me to let Fabio win, are you sick?” Christian raised his voice.

“Christian, it’s for your own good—even Mia and Stella are back home to finish their school year online.” Gio tried to get through to him, but for Christian, all of this did not make sense.

“I will protect Serena and the baby, and they will stay right here!” He argued. For him sending away Serena, was the same as a loss. The same as letting Fabio win—and showing him that they indeed felt threatened.

“You can’t,” Lucio spoke. “You see how close the danger is, you can’t.”

“Grandpa, say something.” Christian turned to Franco, but all he did was scoff as he looked in a different direction. “I’m afraid he has a point this time, Christian.”

“Gio?” Christian tried and looked at his brother who shook his head. “Even Matteo agreed to this, it’s the safest for everyone,” Lucio said.

“I will not send her away, not when she needs me the most.” Christian stood by his point and was determined to keep Serena by his side. Lucio reached out his hand and grabbed Christian’s leaning over the desk.

“Christian, you have a big heart so I’m asking you to stop being selfish and immature so please, use your head, I’m begging you,” Lucio spoke as Christian’s eyes widened at his dad’s words. Lucio Lamberti, who was begging?

“Everyone is willing to give their lives to keep Serena and the baby safe, but don’t you want to do this without losing anyone on our sides.” Gio jumped in.

“You’re not failing Serena, you are protecting her,” Franco sighed.

“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that Serena trusts your judgment. I think she proved that to all of us when she returned after you pushed her away.” Gio told Christian.

“She won’t go to the safe house, and that’s final.” Christian spoke determined.

Franco scoffed and looked around him, noticing that one of his grandsons was missing. “Where’s Enzo, did you not invite him to tell him the news? I understand that he has his own issues—but that does not mean he can jump around and do as he pleases.”

“News?” Christian wondered.

“He will not work until he fully gets better, that’s my final judgment—so please grandpa, respect my wishes—and he’s on his way right now,” Lucio spoke.

Christian lowered his head and fumbled his hands while thinking about the brother he was about to face. He felt nervous, scared—and it was all because of a few words. I have never liked you.

“Hmm, just as it’s about to end—it seems like you’re getting a hang of how to use your power, very well then,” Franco growled out with crossed arms. Christian observed his father’s stressed face and looked at his nose, as a red drop fell down his lips.

“Dad, are you okay?” Christian asked. “You’re mouth... you’re bleeding?” He grabbed a tissue and pushed it into Lucio’s hand.

“Huh? I’m fine.” Lucio accepted it and wiped his mouth clean while Christian gave him a suspicious look. It must’ve been because of all the stress, Christian thought to himself.

“Dad, you should take it easy—grandpa is here, Gio’s here and I’m here, so you don’t have to carry all the burden.” Christian looked at his father with regretful eyes—but Lucio shook his head.

“Protecting Serena is not a burden, she’s as important to me as she is to you—and so is everyone else I have to protect.”

“Very well then, but please watch yourself,” Christian spoke in a worried tone.

The door opened and Enzo walked in, making everyone turn their heads. “Dad, grandpa, Gio.” He greeted them while he tried to avoid all eye-contact with Christian.

“Christian.” He whispered. “I will leave you all alone for a bit, you have a lot to discuss.” Franco got up from his chair and gave a pat on Enzo’s shoulder as he walked out. “Sit and close the door behind you,” Lucio ordered.

Enzo obeyed his father and sat next to Christian after he had pulled the chair away—keeping his distance.

“I missed you at the baby shower, do you not care for your niece?” Christian rolled his eyes.

“Did you personally invite me then?” Enzo sighed, causing an awkward moment of silence.

He has the nerve, after I’ve spared him? Was the only thing going through Christian’s mind.

“Is there something the three of you are not telling me?” Lucio asked after a moment of silence as all three heads turned to him in surprise. “I’ve been very quiet and gave Enzo the time to get better, but now I would like to know what is going on so we can fix it, tell me—”

“You want the truth, I’ll give it to you.” Christian spoke and felt a lump in his throat. He had kept it a secret from his father, but somehow he could not understand how Enzo could walk in here like nothing had happened.

“Wait, let me go first.” Lucio sighed.

“Now you listen to me, and you listen to me very well.” Lucio continued, and look at all of his sons. “This right here, this feud the three of you have—it has to stop!” He told them and closed his eyes.

“You guys need each other, because...”

“I’m dying.”