Chapter 81

Christian

“I forgot my shoes.” Luis pouted while Christian buckled him up. “Don’t worry about your shoes.”

Christian felt bad for what he was about to do—but he was desperate to keep Serena and the baby safe, even if that meant Serena not talking to him ever again.

He got into the driver’s seat and sped off. There were only four and a half hours left. If this new plan wouldn’t work, it would’ve all been for nothing. “Where are you taking me?” Luis asked after a while.

“I’m taking you to my place.” Christian lied to Luis, but Luis was much smarter than that. “Your place is the other way,” Luis whispered. Christian felt bad and knew that Luis might’ve had an idea of what was about to happen, but he had no choice.

“Luis, you know that I would never do anything to hurt you, right?” Christian looked at him for a second. “I know,” Luis mumbled. “And I know that you are keeping Serena safe.”

“Good,” Christian spoke. “Then you also know that you have to go back to your brother.”

“N-no, I don’t want to!” Luis freaked out and tried to open the locked car door. “Luis, calm down—Vincenzo won’t hurt you, I will make sure of it,” Christian reassured him. He had a plan, but for that plan to go through he had to give Luis back to his brother—even if it was just for a short while.

“How do you know?” Luis spoke while tears left his eyes. “I’m sure Vince has been looking for you everywhere. Your brother is not...well right now, and we’re only making it worse.”

“I can’t go back there—Fabio will kill me for helping Beau.” Luis cried. Christian felt bad for having to crush his trust this way—but he could only deal with so much, and Vincenzo wasn’t one of them.

“He won’t, I will talk to your brother and it will just be for a little while—after everything is finished I’ll pick you up. Luis, please trust me.” Christian looked at Luis whose face was filled with tears. “Serena was right,” Luis whispered as he looked out the window.

“No, she wasn’t. I will save the both of you—you just have to trust me.” Christian spoke before he called his dad and put him on speaker. “Christian?”

“Yes, dad it’s me—so listen. Plans have changed and I need everyone to be ready and we have four hours, we’re dealing with Fabio by today.” Christian nervously spoke. He knew it was dangerous to drop a bomb like this and that he should’ve called him from the start, but rather late than never.

“I should just die right now.” Lucio sighed in between some curse words. “Dad, listen—you need to collect everyone right now, and I need you to send Johnny, Luca and even more backup to Serena, she needs all the security she can.” Christian told him.

“I’ve already informed security and the others in the guest house—we have four more hours.”

“Christian, what is going on!” Lucio worried. “It’s a long story, and I’ll be there soon—but Fabio might be attacking us a little earlier than planned.” Christian tried to play it off with a laugh.

“Christian, I will not move until you tell me what’s going on!” Lucio yelled. “I will, I’ll be there soon—just do as I say, please.” Christian pleaded. “I’ll be there within an hour, but I need everyone to be ready, dad you have to trust me.”

“Fine!” Lucio growled as he tried to hang up the phone. “Your brother is giving me a fucking heada—“ He heard before it went quiet.

He felt bad and knew that the information about Beau would be a lot to process within a very short time, for everyone. He knew that it could’ve been prevented if Serena did not try to save the day, and he was disappointed—but angry? No.

He wasn’t angry, he was surprised by her actions and relieved to see that she had her own brains and was willing to go that far for a child. He was proud to see that Serena would stick up for what’s right, no matter the consequences, and couldn’t even imagine what would’ve happened if she had never saved Luis or Beau. He wouldn’t have done the same.

This time Christian dialed Isobel’s number. It was the only way to get through Beau.

“Christian, did Serena tell you everything!” He heard her overly excited voice. Deep down he was grateful that also she was willing to go as far as risking her life for Serena—but he also thought that she had at least owed her that. The only thing which had surprised him was that she had chosen them over Vince who she had known just as well.

“I’ve heard,” Christian spoke. He was not in the mood to hear her voice—but it was the only way he could get through Beau. “I’ve heard how you’ve fixed like a zero point one percent of this mess which you’ve caused in the first place.” Christian had changed his original sentence. “Do you want a sticker? A Scooby snack?”

Grateful or not, Isobel was still wrong and he felt like she had the right to know it.

Just because she had done something good for once, it did not mean that her past should be forgotten.

“That redemption is not looking good for you.” He heard Beau’s voice. “Isobel, give me Beau,” Christian demanded and heard a loud scoff afterward.

“Beau—I’m sorry about what happened to you. If I had known—“

“Then you wouldn’t have done anything, because my life does not compare to dozen others, and it’s fine. All I care about is Serena and the baby, we both do.” Beau spoke the truth.

“Good, listen. I will hand over Serena to Fabio.” Christian suddenly dropped the news. It was all part of a plan he had come up with not even an hour ago, but it was his last option. He was very well aware that the four hours on the clock came to their disadvantage as they were still unprepared.

“W-what?” Beau stuttered while also Luis looked at Christian in shock. “You’re handing her over to the enemy, just like that?”

“Beau, I have a theory why Fabio kept the two of you alive—and it’s a risk, but you trust me right?” Christian asked. All he could hear was Beau’s deep sigh. “What’s your theory?”

“I was thinking, something seemed off. I think the reason why Fabio hasn’t killed you yet despite knowing you’re aware of the truth, is because he wants the two of you together.” Christian shared his conclusion. “As long as you and Serena are not together, the two of you are safe.”

“So what do I do?” Beau asked. “Vince’s puppy and Chrissie’s puppy, you just can’t think for yourself—can you?” He had completely ignored Isobel’s voice in the background.

“I know you don’t want anything to do with them, but you are going to have to start by telling the Alfonzo’s the truth. The plan will only work if Fabio can’t get to you—so you’ll need their protection.” Christian told him. “If it’s the only way to keep her safe, then I’ll do it. Her freeing me got us in this mess in the first place.” Beau admitted.

“See Isobel?” Christian chuckled. “This is how you take responsibility.”

“But there’s one thing—I had expected for Fabio to use me as bait to get to Serena, but now he will use her—and I don’t want her to get hurt.” Beau who still did not fully understand the plan spoke.

“He won’t touch her, because we’ll have Vince on our side,” Christian reassured him. “What? I don’t get it, why would Vince even help us?”

“Because I will give him Luis, he’s right next to me,” Christian spoke. He knew that Vince was desperate to get him back and that his little brother was the most important thing in the world, even more, important than revenge. “And because he loves Serena.” Christian managed to get out.

Even though he hated thinking about it, he could not forget how his eyes lit up the first time he spoke about Serena. He called it love at first sight and spoke about faith bringing them together.

Once again Christian knew that if Vince really wanted to get to Serena, he would’ve—but he was confused. “He really does love her,” Beau confirmed.

“Serena won’t be harmed and Luis won’t be harmed, all you have to do is believe in me. I can’t share anything, but that’s all I’m asking from you.” Christian spoke.

“So you’re handing over Serena to Fabio?” Beau took a deep breath. He felt guilty that the plans had changed, and knew it was all because she had saved not only him but also Luis—only for Luis to fall right back into the enemy’s arms again. “Serena will surrender herself, she just doesn’t know it yet—but you have to trust me,” Christian spoke, leaving out some details.

He would’ve loved to share his plan with Serena, but he knew that Serena was probably the worst actress out there and did not want to risk anything.

This was not the way he had planned everything as his original idea was to made use of the floor plan Beau had copied for him, so his men could take over each corner of the Garcia estate.

He knew that Serena was only protecting the ones she loved—but he also knew that she would end up receiving the most backlash—so he was willing to take the blame himself.

“Isobel listen, did anyone see your face?” Christian asked as the thought had suddenly crossed his mind. “Yeah, why?” The unaware Isobel asked.

“Isobel listen, after four hours both of your lives will be in danger. I need you and Beau to go to my family’s house—just stay somewhere near until I’m finished dealing with Vince.” Christian said.

“Yes, Christian!” Isobel spoke in excitement. All which went through her head was that he did care. He cared about her life. “Luis, are you okay with all of this?” Beau wondered.

“Yes, I trust Christian!” Luis spoke back. After hearing Christian’s plan, he knew that he could trust him. “Okay listen, I have to go and deal with my Vince—Isobel, you go and do as I said.”

“Yes, I will!” Isobel spoke and felt happy to finally be included.

After she ended the phone call, Christian looked at Luis. “Luis, I know that you are scared of your brother—but for this to work you have to work along, can you do that for me?”

“Of course I can, I’m a better actor than Serena.” Luis showed him his bright smile. “I think everyone is.” Christian chuckled and clicked on Vince’s number so he could put him on speaker. “Luis, I need you to ask your brother where is he is, I need you to tell him your true feelings—only you can get through to him.”

Luis nodded his head at the same time the call was answered. “Christian, I swear to go if you’ve done anything to Lui—“

“I’m fine, Christian and Serena have been very nice—I went there myself,” Luis spoke and looked at Christian who nodded his head in approval. “Luis, Luis is that really you? Where are you—I’ll come and get you!” Vincenzo spoke.

“Vince, drop Fabio and drop your revenge, let’s just live happily as we did in the past, you and me.” Luis’s begged his brother.

“I am sorry for walking out and I’m sorry for worrying you—but you've pushed me and that’s unacceptable,” Luis spoke. “Yes, yes—you’re right, I’m a monster and I’m sorry. Come back home so we can fix this!”

“Fabio will kill me,” Luis whispered. He knew Fabio would not let him live for exposing Beau’s location. “What? Don’t be crazy?” Vince tried his hardest to convince him.

“Vince, listen—are you at home right now?” Christian spoke for the first time. “Bring him back, or I’ll kill you!” Vincenzo yelled out, but Christian did not felt threatened. “Vince, you’re on the losing team here—Luis did something and now his life is in danger.”

“Is that true Luis? W-what did you do?” Vince spoke in a hurry. “Something which your dad will take his head for, but I have a way to fix all of this,” Christian told him. “Actually, you don’t have a choice—if you want to safe Luis, you will do as I say.”

“Fine, what do I do? I’m at my place.” Vince immediately spoke. All he ever wanted was for Luis to be safe.

“I need you to send everyone home, right away. What Luis did is serious and you can’t trust them anymore—in four hours from now they will all turn on him.” Christian told him.

“It's true, Vince,” Luis confirmed.

“I don’t understand,” Vince whispered. “But if Luis agrees, I will do as you say and send everyone home. You have to go in through the back—you know how right?”

Christian who was not amused by Vincenzo’s tone tightened his grip around the steering wheel and looked over at Luis who could feel the same. Someone as broken as Vince would’ve never agreed to it so easily.

“Vince, if you screw me over—I won’t give you Luis. I’ve heard all about how you’ve put your hands on him!”

“I did, and I never meant to hurt him. I just want my brother.” Vince defended himself. Pushing Luis was a choice he regretted since the day he’d walked away.

“Then you’ll do as I say,” Christian spoke and hung up the phone before he gave Vince the opportunity to answer.

“Luis, I need you to stay in the car for a while—“

“I understand.” Luis nodded his head. Also he had heard the sudden switch in Vince’s tone and was scared that his brother was once again thinking about doing the wrong thing.

“Remember what I told you about playing pretend?” Christian reminded Luis.

“Are you going to threaten me to get to my brother?”

“Yes, something like that—it might get scary, but I will never in my entire life do anything to hurt you, you know that right?” He told Luis. Even he did not know how far he was willing to go, but he needed Vincenzo to believe him.

“Yes, otherwise Serena will kill you.” Luis nodded his head.

“I think that’ll happen either way.” Christian sighed.