Chapter 63

Christian

“You’re what?” Christian chuckled in disbelief and looked at Lucio, hoping he’d say it was all a joke, but it wasn't.

Lucio observed the reactions on his son’s faces and took a deep breath. “I’m sick...I’m dying.” He repeated himself.

“Stage four lung cancer...I’m dying.” He spoke once again, looking right into Christian's eyes. “I-I don’t understand.” He stuttered.

Lucio took a deep breath and looked at Gio’s pained expression before his head turned towards Enzo.

“You not getting along is enough to kill me...but I don’t want to leave like this.” He raised his voice at Enzo, who had tears running down his face.

“Why would you tell us this right now?” Gio spoke while Christian felt as if his own life had ended upon hearing the news. “Can’t you get treatment?” He stammered as Lucio shook his head. “I can’t.”

“How long before...” Gio tried to hide his tears. “Could be weeks, months, could be years—but we must be prepared for the worst.” Lucio sighed.

“I haven’t told anyone other than grandpa, not your mom—and absolutely not your sisters, so keep it to yourse-“

“Why would you say this now!” Christian slammed his fist on his desk.

“Don't,” Lucio tried to calm his nerves, but Christian was not having it.

“Why would you do this to me? Why would you say this to me right now?”

“Because I need you to be ready!” Lucio yelled out, making him stop talking.

“Because I need you to be ready to take over—and I need your brothers to remain by your side, both of you!” He gave Enzo a look.

“Trying to avoid a war with Fabio, forgiving the Sala’s, making sure you are respected—everything I’ve done is not because I’m weak, but because I want you to be powerful!”

“This doesn’t make sense,” Christian whispered with clenched fists.

“Christian, calm down,” Gio spoke, only to get his hand pushed away. “Christian, we don't have time for any of this, now sit down and listen!” Lucio yelled.

Christian took a deep breath and looked from Enzo and Gio back to his father.

"First tell me, tell me what's going on between the three of you so I can fix it," Lucio asked.

In one moment, Christian's decision to tell Lucio the truth had fallen apart. In that one moment, he had decided to spare Enzo. "Tell me the truth."

"The truth?" Christian repeated as the three brothers all looked at each other. Gio slightly shook his head at Christian, while Enzo had a troubled expression on his face.

“The truth is that you’ve pushed us so hard, that there’s nothing left to restore.” Christian closed his eyes.

"This thing I've created between the three of you, it has to stop." Lucio's voice cracked as Christian obeyed his father's wishes and sat back down again.

“I'm sorry for putting the three of you up against each other. I had done what my father had once done to my brothers, and I regret it every single day.” Lucio spoke. “The first time I cried for my big brother was when he took a bullet for me and asked me to take care of his sons while he passed away in my arms.”

Christian face softened as he thought about Johnny, Luca, and everything they had gone through. If anything they probably had it worse. Their father died and they were raised by their mother and the uncle they had thought their dad despised. But they pushed through because he took a bullet for Lucio, and Johnny had been the only sane cousin.

Lucio looked at his three sons with a desperate look on his face. "I don't ever want that for any of you, and when I'm not here anymore...I need the three of you to get along, so whatever this is—it ends now."

"Enzo," Lucio called out his name. All he felt was regret for the way he had neglected him. Ever since a young age, Lucio made Gio, the eldest—and Christian, the youngest, compete while Enzo suffered the most and got neglected.

"I can't go back in time and fix my mistakes, but for everything I have done till now—please forgive me. Forgive me for not being a good father and forgive me for pushing you so far that you can’t take it anymore."

"Dad," Enzo whispered, while Christian looked down at his clenched fists. "Can't you get any treatment, we'll find the best doctor—" Christian who was still in denial started.

"Christian," Gio stopped him from talking. "I'm sure dad has done everything in his power to get better, otherwise he wouldn’t even have told us this—so please work along."

For the first time in a long while, Christian listened to his older brother and nodded his head before he turned his attention back onto his father.

He could not believe that he had been going around, calling his father weak—while there was more going on. He did not know whether he wanted to cry, blame him for not telling them, run out—so all he could do was keep his mouth shut.

"Enzo, everything you went through—it was because of me, and I'm so sorry," Lucio apologized and focused his eyes on Christian.

"But when I’m gone, Christian will need your help, you need to stand by him—protect him, love him."

What protection? Christian thought.

He looked at his father's exhausted expression and did not want to put him through any more pain than he probably already had. “Enzo, listen.”

Enzo turned to Christian, who was doing his very best not to look into his eyes. "Everything that has happened to us until now...let’s forget it and move on.” He spoke through gritted teeth. He did not agree with it, but he would not worsen his father’s condition on purpose.

"I agree." Enzo barely whispered.

Forgiving Enzo was the last thing he wanted to do. He put the baby's life in danger and told him so many hateful things, which were spoken from his heart—but if it would calm down his father, so be it.

For Christian, the worst thing would've probably been the fact that he had sent everyone a letter, except for him. Did he not feel sorry at all?

"Thank you." Lucio had a relieved smile on his face.

"When I go...whenever that time may be. I want you to start clean and I don't want you to deal with any of this shit. Trying to remain friendly with Fabio would've been the safest way, but now that the circumstances have changed—we have no choice but to fight back."

"Starting next week, we will discuss our strategy and I’m putting Christian as well as grandpa back in charge.” Lucio had announced, making all the three bothers look up in surprise. “I’m weak...”

“Dad, don’t worry—it will all be okay.” Christian tried to reassure him, but Lucio shook his head. “I’m scared, I thought you were ready, but you still not being able to make key decisions for the greater cause—“

“Key decisions?” Christian chuckled in disbelief. “I get that you’re sick, but are we calling Serena and the baby key decisions?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Lucio gulped. “What I mean is that you’re being selfish right n—“

"Why? Because I don't want to send Serena who is very pregnant by the way, to a safe house!" Christian yelled out, surprised by his own tone. "Dad, do not stress yourself over me, I’ll figure it out." He spoke in a calmer tone.

"How can you ask me not to stress out, when you won't even follow my instructions?" Lucio wondered.

“Please work along, we’ll provide her with the best care, bring her company—a really good doctor...”

Christian sighed at his father's words and stared at Gio. The person who was known to be immature was the only one being mature. In the past Christian might've thought this was all just some sort of game his brother was playing, but he knew that Gio had changed.

He had turned into a reliable, kind brother. He had turned into a brother who was a threat to his position. The position as heir, Christian never cared for until now.

Christian took a deep breath as he thought about the probable consequences if he would not send Serena to the safe house. All of the families would agree with his dad and call him selfish, they would vote him out as the heir and tell Lucio to push Gio, who had become reliable, instead—but deep down Christian couldn’t do that to Serena. But he knew he had to.

"I'll follow your instructions, and I'll send Serena to the safe house." Christian suddenly spoke. Lucio could tell that it was not what he wanted, but just like Christian, Lucio knew about the consequences—although he would’ve never admitted it in front of the two brothers. According to Lucio, the one who could succeed him could only be Christian and no one else.

“This will help you in the future, you know that.” He told him. All he wanted was to leave on a good note.

After the meeting, Christian did not know how fast to storm out of the office and had planned on leaving without not saying another word.

"Christian, wait!" He heard Enzo's call out. Christian let out an annoyed sigh and rolled his eyes before he faced his brother. This was not what he had in mind. "What?"

"I just wanted to thank you for...not saying anything," Enzo spoke with his head down.

"Thank me?" Christian furrowed his eyebrows. "The only reason why I haven't said anything is that the last thing any of us need right now is dad dropping dead next week, so don't thank me." He pushed past him and stormed downstairs.

With a pit in his stomach, he drove back home and made his way to the kitchen. He opened the cabinet and grabbed a bottle of liquor and a glass. “Stressed day?” Marc walked in.

“You waited for me?” Christian asked and poured himself a glass. “Yes, Serena went to sleep but we did a lot of online shopping. She bought some sparkly pink paint, a crib, and all of that. Your girl knows how to shop.” He yawned.

Christian smacked his glass down on the counter, letting a bit of liquor spill in the process. “She could barely talk or sleep yesterday, so what kind of game is she playing?”

“Game? She’s just trying to make the best out of the situation.” Marc stuck up for Serena.

“Make the best out of the situation?” Christian spoke in surprise. “We’re all worrying for her fucking life and she decides to buy some sparkly pink paint to make the best out of the fucking situation?” He raised his voice at Marc and stepped forward. “And you let her?”

“Christian, you need some rest—I know people call us a married couple, but I’m not doing this with you.” Marc had already turned around to walk away. “And leave Serena alone too, the last thing she needs right now is any of this shit—because while she’s trying to keep it together, you’re out here acting like some pussy boy.” He finished before he had walked out and slammed the door behind him.

Christian let out an aggressive yell and drank straight out of the bottle until the bottle was half empty before he made his way upstairs. He slammed open the room door and couldn’t be more annoyed by Serena who was leaning against the headboard, with her tablet in her hands, wearing headphones, eating snacks as she laughed at the screen.

“Oh hey, Christian!” She laughed as she looked up, but it was not long until she had realized that he was not in the mood.