Chapter 91

1 HOUR

I had been tied to a chair for about four hours and didn’t know how much longer I could take it.

Fabio was getting more aggressive and impatient by the minute and the sight of him pacing back and forth without saying a single word made me anxious. “Hold on for one more hour, Christian’s already here,” Vince whispered in my ear.

“Sir!” One of the men called out as he opened the door. “The house is surrounded!”

Fabio grinned and looked at me. “So they did feel like saving you after all, but it’s already too late.”

“Leave them, leave them so they can see how I will light this house on fire.” He told the man. “I’ve been so busy with you that I’ve forgotten all about your little family.” Fabio leaned in closer. “Let’s say, all I’m really after is already here.” At least the plan worked.

0 HOURS

“Call those two idiots. It’s time to bring Beau.” Fabio spoke as he made his way towards me. There was no more time left, and just as expected he had requested Beau. “And where the hell is Enrique?”

Who was going to tell him that Enrique was very dead?

“This will all be over soon.” He spoke as he stroke my cheek. “That’s what we all want, right?”

Vince fumbled his hands and had a nervous look on his face. “They’re not picking up.” The man spoke as he glared at Vince. “I’ve already spoken to them, they’re probably just busy.” Vince said.

“Busy?” Fabio chuckled. “Call again or go there, I don’t care—tell someone to bring that kid here!” He growled out.

“I’ll go—“ Vince started, but Fabio shook his head. “No, you will stay right here where I can see you—Andy goes!” He spoke as he pointed to the man.

Vince took a deep breath and nodded his head in response. “Okay, fine—he’ll go.”

The man gave Vince one final look before he stormed out of the basement, and it was not that difficult to read the room. We had to get out of here and we had to do it as soon as possible. “I was thinking, we should bring Luis here—to teach him a lesson,” Vince spoke.

Fabio rubbed his chin as he went into deep thoughts. “Since when do you want to ‘teach’ Luis’ stuff?”

“I was going to let him run out the fire, that would’ve been the right punishment for him walking out on us.” Fabio spoke.

“It’s not to teach him a lesson, it’s so he knows what kind of monster you are.” Vince spat out. I understood what Vince was getting at, and bringing Luis here was definitely necessary. If Fabio was really going to burn down the whole estate, it was not safe to leave Luis alone.

“That’s fair, bring the boy here.” He told one of the men who had immediately obeyed and ran out. Vince gave me a reassuring smile, but all that went through my head was that it could be the end for us. Not even the thought of Christian being close was enough to calm my nerves.

“Ah, Luis.” Fabio clasped his hands and smirked at the frightened Luis who had just walked in. Even if it was just for a short while, I was happy that I got him out of this unhealthy situation. No child deserved this. What kind of father was this man?

Luis ran over to Vince and wrapped his arms around his waist. His head was turned against Fabio as small sobs left his mouth. “He’s not going to hurt you, do you remember what I told you? You can’t cry.” Vince whispered in his ears.

“Sir!” Another man burst through the door. “The house is completely surrounded, it seems like all the families have decided to go against you.” He spoke in a hurry.

Fabio lowered his head as small snickers left his mouth before he let out an annoyed yell and threw the first thing he could find towards the door. Vince held Luis against him while my hands had immediately moved to my stomach.

“You!” Fabio walked towards me and roughly grabbed my chin. “Am I not the one they should be feeling sorry for? Why should they feel sorry for you?” He yelled out before my cheek was met with a hard slap.

Stay strong Serena, I told myself as I wrapped my arms around my stomach. He could hit me and he could punish me, but not the baby. “Dad, I think Beau is missing!” Vince suddenly called out.

Fabio lost every bit of attention he had for me and turned around to face Vince. “Missing? And what makes you think so?” He spoke as he stepped away from me.

“That must be why the guards aren’t picking up their phone anymore, I already thought they sounded a bit sketchy over the phone—Beau must’ve escaped.” Vince tried to shift the attention to himself which seemed to have worked.

“And you’re only telling me now?” Fabio spoke with clenched fists. “It’s because I wasn’t sure, but I’m sure now—Beau has escaped.”

Once again Fabio let out a yell and threw the first thing he could find, but this time he left me alone. He saved me.

“Make sure she doesn’t move a muscle!” He pointed his finger in Vince’s face and stormed out of the basement. My eyes moved to the four other men who were also in the room as I wondered how Vince was going to take care of it, but before I could even think it through he had pulled out a gun.

“Vince, I know you’re excited, but your dad told us to let her live for now.” One of the men laughed as the other three followed. Vince whispered something into Luis’s ears before Luis covered his eyes.

“Out,” Vince demanded as he pointed the gun towards him. One of the men pulled out his gun and pointed it at Vince, while the two orders surrendered. “Fabio told us to shoot anyone who would sabotage his plans, especially you.” He spoke.

“I have some personal business to take care of, out!” Vince repeated himself. The man lowered his gun and laughed at Vince. “A pregnant woman? The woman of your former friend? You’re a pig.” He chuckled. The man whistled and gestured for the three others to leave the room as they all followed.

The moment they walked out of the basement Vince slammed the door shut and locked it. “Hey!” The men yelled and pounded on the door.

“We have to move quickly, when he finds out the truth about Beau all three of us are dead meat.” Vince walked towards me in a hurry and cut the ropes around my legs.

“Enzo, you can come out now,” Vince called out while he grabbed my hand to help me up. Enzo?

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Vince asked me and placed his hand on my belly. “No, I’m fine, let’s get out of here,” I told him and pulled him into a tight hug. “Serena, I love you.” He whispered in my ears as I pulled him closer.

The same words which had been so difficult for Christian to say came so easily for Vince, and yet I could still not return his feelings.

“Squirrel.” I heard Enzo’s voice as he appeared from what seemed to be a hidden door. “Serena,” A voice behind him spoke. Christian.

“Christian?” I cried while tears streamed down my cheeks and flew into his arms. “It’s okay, you’re safe now.” He comforted me before he pulled me in closer. “I’m so sorry, you’re safe now.”

“Let me look at you.” He sighed and pulled away so he could drag his fingers through my hair. “I’m fine, and the baby is fine—we’re fine.” I immediately reassured him. Despite my head getting pushed into a water bucket, I was really fine.

“Vince, open this door now!” Fabio yelled out from the other side, but this time he sounded different. It almost seemed as if he was not human. “Serena, I will kill you!”

“I don’t want to ruin this little reunion, but Serena needs to get out of here.” Vince said.

“Are you not coming with us?” I asked him, but Vince shook his head. “What’s the point of me trying to escape? Christian needs enough time to get you out of here while I’ll keep my dad here, so Christian can deal with him for once and for all.”

“Christian,” Vince spoke. “I’ll keep him here, so you go and get Serena and Luis out of here.”

“Vince, no,” I whispered. All I wanted was for him to be okay.

“Let’s go.” Enzo spoke as he tried to reach for Luis’s hands, but Luis shook his head and ran into Vince’s arms. “Open this door!” Fabio yelled.

Luis refused to let go of Vince and pulled the ends of his shirt. “I’m not leaving without you, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Luis, and I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe—you know what you have to do, we’ve discussed this,” Vince tried his hardest to push him off.

“Guys, we have to go.” Enzo rushed us, but Luis wouldn’t let go of Vince. “No, please no—just come with us,” Luis yelled, but by the look on Vince’s face, I could tell that he never planned to escape. His plan had always been to remain here to help Christian. Just as his plan had always been to confront his father.

“Shoot!” I heard Fabio demand before the metal door was met with several bullets.

“Sorry bud, if you want to stay here and die, you can—but I’m getting Serena out of here.” Christian apologized before he picked up Luis and threw him over his shoulder while all Luis could do was cry. “Luis, I’m so sorry.” He sighed as he opened the door again and forced us out of the basement.

I turned my head so I could look at Vince for one last time until the very second the door closed. “I will walk you guys through the end of the tunnel and then I’ll go back for him.”

“How fast can you walk?” Christian asked.

“Fast,” I replied and followed Enzo and Christian through the tunnels while I tried to ignore the sounds Luis’s loud sobs. “You have to go back for Vincenzo, I’ll be okay.” I grabbed Christian’s arm, but he shrugged me off.

The sounds of the metal door getting hit with bullets combined with Luis's sobs as he cried out Vince’s name were enough to make me feel guilty. “Vince is ready to give his life so you and Luis can get out of here, now move!” He spoke irritated.

“Serena don’t worry, the others are probably inside right now—just keep walking.” Enzo stood behind his decision, but the look on his face told me otherwise.

He also felt uncomfortable.

Leaving Vince alone with a pissed off Fabio was no different from killing him ourselves.

I did not agree, but he was not in the mood so I did not question his decision and did what he told me to. After a few minutes of walking, we heard the sound of the metal door falling, followed by the voices of Fabio’s men who had gained full access to the tunnel as all I could do was stop in my steps.

“Vince,” I whispered and turned my head. I felt terrible and was not able to ignore the awful pit in my stomach.

“Serena, keep walking.” Christian grabbed my wrist while he still carried the crying and kicking Luis over his shoulder. “Keep walking!”

“I can’t!” I spoke with tears in my eyes. “If you let me walk while Vince is still out there on his own...I’ll never forgive you!” I yelled at him. If it was anyone else I wouldn’t have cared, but I cared about Vince.

“Why am I starting to think that you care more for his life than the baby’s life?” Christian commented. “Funny, I had the exact same thought about Isobel!”

He was definitely one to talk when he was the one who forgave Isobel. “Guys, if you all want to go to relationship therapy, we can do it after we get out alive—come on.” Enzo attempted to stop us.

“I’m not doing this with you, Serena keep walking,” Christian demanded, but I didn’t take a single step. The footsteps of Fabio’s men were getting closer by the second, but there would be no point in escaping without knowing Vince was safe. “No.”

Enzo sighed and ruffled his hands through my hair. “Squirrel is right Chris, this doesn’t feel right—is this what you want for Luis?”

After hearing Enzo’s words Christian gulped as he went into deep thoughts, but the voices of Fabio’s men were getting closer.

“You take Luis and Serena out of here—and I’ll go back now,” Christian suggested, but I couldn’t stand the feeling and held his wrist. I knew that my wishes were impossible. I wanted him to go back for Vince, but I also wanted him to stay with me.

I was prepared and knew that he had to go back either way to deal with Fabio, but I wasn’t ready to let go of him.

“No, I know you can’t concentrate unless you see for yourself that’s she safe—you get her out of here and I’ll help Vince hold Fabio until she’s safe.” Enzo turned around and walked away from us. “Enzo, Fabio’s men are out there!” Christian tried to stop him.

“Yes, another reason why I have to get back—go I’ll cover for you!” Enzo promised.

“I’ll be there soon, don’t die,” Christian told him.

“If anyone is going to kill you, it’s going to be me!” He yelled back at him before he grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go.”