Chapter 136

Christian’s nothing like him.

That was the first thing going through my mind as I took a look at the collection of weapons on the wall.

Christian was fearless but cautious. Even though I definitely knew they were there. I had never ever seen weapons in the house. “Why do you have to be crazy? I thought I finally met someone normal.” I sighed as I observed the room.

It was nothing like an office. It seemed dark and uncomfortable-almost like a dungeon. There was no time for useless thoughts. I had to get myself together so I could search what I came for.

I took my chances and walked to the desk, but my heart almost dropped when I opened a drawer. It was full of pictures on top of pictures and pictures. I gasped and pulled them out to take a look at them.

They were pictures from months back, starting from when Christian and I weren’t even together.

Pictures of Christian from around the time where I didn’t even know him yet, pictures of Christian bringing me home from the club, and much more. What was Dario up to?

Even though I knew I didn’t have much time. I pulled out more pictures. I was shocked and couldn’t believe my eyes. My eyes landed on a picture of me with Vince, Beau, and Luis. After I got involved with Christian, he also involved himself with my life.

I grabbed a picture of Christian driving Gina home as my heart nearly stopped. I knew this picture because this was the picture he had shown me, and back then, I thought he had this obsession with Christian, but he had an obsession with everyone close to him. He had an obsession with every single one of us.

My hands landed on a set of pictures of Franco. If Franco was indeed his grandfather, it must’ve meant Dario probably despised him even more than I did. There was one thing that was confusing me, and that was that Dario did not seem to have an issue with Lucio. I didn’t know whether it was because he was dying or because he didn’t resent him.

The collection of pictures of Johnny and Luca was as big as the stash of Christian’s and Franco’s.

Christian’s theory was starting to become a reality, but I still needed actual proof.

“Oh my god, so scary.” I huffed at the weapons on the wall. It seemed as if he was preparing an army on his own, and it looked terrifying, but I had to keep it together. Time was ticking, and I had to go back any time now.

I opened the other drawer, which was full of maps, and flipped through the pages. I wasn’t that good with numbers, but I could still read and all I could understand was that he was sticking his nose into the Lamberti businesses. He was really trying to take over Christian life, and he was so shameless about it.

It made me sick, and I was disgusted. He was so obsessed with Christian to the point where he even thought about taking me. This must be why Christian was so sure that he wouldn’t hurt me.

I took out my phone and took pictures of every little thing that had caught my eye. Dario wasn’t messing —with just Christian anymore, but he was messing with everything which would one day become Siena’s, and I would not accept that.

He couldn’t touch Siena.

Evidence was challenging to find, and Dario had nothing which could directly connect him to Christian’s uncle. It was obvious that the claims were valid, but other than him stalking Johnny and Luca, there was no solid proof.

“Serena!” I heard a voice call out and nearly tripped. My body froze as I did not have a backup plan.

I grabbed my phone and texted Dario that I would be down soon. He could absolutely not see me here.

I placed everything back the exact way I found it, but just as I was about to leave, my eyes landed on a vault in the back. It was a giant vault, and whatever was behind it must’ve been a big catch.

There was still much more, and I didn’t have enough time. I had to come back here.

There was not much I could do at the moment, so I left the office and made my way downstairs.

“There you are.” Dario chuckled. “What took you so long? Were you pooping?”

Usually, I would laugh at his joke, but I couldn’t do that anymore. I really thought he was a good person, and I felt stupid for trying to see the good in people. A small part of me was still hoping for all of to be one big misunderstanding. Dario never appeared to be an aggressive or angry person, there had to be more to the story, and that’s why I had to go back to the safe.

“I thought I could get the juice out, but it obviously wasn’t a success.” I smiled and looked down at the stain. “Yes, I can see.” Dario sighed and slammed his arm around my shoulder.

His touch made me want to throw up, but I had to play along with his stupid games. I would end my own business, and he would end up having nothing. All I had to do was play along with his stupid game. “Are you okay?” Dario asked.

up with “Yes,” I nodded. “I’m just a bit tired. I guess it’s because I really paid attention today.”

“I think so too.” Dario smiled. “You did a really good job today. I think we’re done now.”

That was all I wanted to hear. We were done for the day. I felt sick, and I didn’t want to be near him anymore. The horror-like layout on his wall made me cringe. He was insane, and he was obviously dealing with a lot of anger.

What if he was even angrier than Christian and Beau combined? Was that even possible?

Every time I looked at Dario, all I could see was the person who denied my brother his happiness.

He listened to my struggles and looked me in the eye while he was one of the people who encouraged Isobel’s grandpa not to take any action.

“So uh, I’m just going home and heading back to my daughter.” I smiled back as I patiently waited for him. to remove his hand from my shoulder. “Where’s your dad?” I asked.

“Who?” Dario frowned. If he was planning on living with a new identity or whatever kind of game he was playing, he was not really doing a good job. “Your dad. I spoke again.

“Oh, my dad? He left. He was just here to pick something up.” Dario explained. “Okay.” I chuckled.

“Anyway, I have to go, and I’ll see you whenever I see you-”

“Wait!” Dario stopped me and wrapped his hand around my wrist. I looked from my wrist to his eyes and frowned my eyebrows. What was he doing?

“I-I’m sorry,” Dario muttered and released me. “I know it’s none of my business, but I just wanted to know if you’re still in contact with Christian.”

I chuckled at his pathetic question. He had people following us around all day long, so if anything, he should know. Was he testing me? I would play along with his game just as Christian suggested.

All I had to do was give him a bit of hope.

“Yes,” I spoke. “We visit each other for Siena’s sake-but I just can’t stand him.” I sighed. “I hope you can keep this a secret, because my family doesn’t know yet” I pouted. “I only told you” Knowing Dario, he would jump up and down to tell my family the truth-but that was the last thing I needed.

He seemed tensed by my request but nodded his head. That’s right, he couldn’t play me this time. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Isobel is pregnant.”

“1 heard, congrats,” Dario gulped.

“Thanks, she really wanted to celebrate it with Beau and Christian since they’re best friends-so we’re all going out tomorrow.” I sighed. “It’s not like I want to, but Beau is my brother.”

He couldn’t open his mouth because I put him in a trap. He knew that he could not tell my family anything, because that would mean that he would lose my trust. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be discussing this with you.”

The frown on Dario face told me he actually believed my words. “No, please-I don’t mind.”

“Good, but why are you asking?” I wondered. It still wasn’t his business. I bet he expected a lie, but I was giving him the truth he wanted. Just as he had to gain my trust, I had to gain his trust.

“I thought maybe we could go out for dinner sometime, just as friends?” Dario suggested. I knew the friend part was just to satisfy me and that he had different intentions. “Sure, we can do that.” I smiled.

“Really?” Dario asked, surprised. “That’s good to know. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too!” I lied. “But I really have to go now. I have a baby to take care of.” I excused myself.

Only when I was back on the road, I felt as if I could finally breathe. Dario was so confusing. He seemed like he couldn’t hurt a single fly, but that was not true. The images of his office and his unhealthy obsession with the Lamberti’s were something I could not remove from my head.

“Where’s everyone?” I asked Luke as I entered the house and received the same reply as always.

Dad and Beau were out, Luis and Carmen at school, and Luke skipped classes.

“How was Siena? What’s she doing?” I asked and followed him upstairs to her room. Siena was asleep. “She’s sleeping, I just gave her a bottle, and we played a bit, and she was really nice today.”

Luke smiled.

“So you’re ready for children?” I teased while Luke immediately shook his head. “Not for a long, long time -I’m sixteen.” Luke laughed. “But if you need a babysitter, I’m up for it.”

“Thanks, and I appreciate your help, but I need you to go to school,” I told him. “I don’t want you to depend on dad. Everything we have can one day disappear, so I need you to stop skipping classes, and 1 need you to do your best.”

Maybe those words were a bit too rough, but the way Lita and Matteo were raising Carmen and Luke made me angry sometimes. Matteo had Emilio, Marcello and even Beau while Luke and Carmen were just kind of there. Growing up, I always wanted to do many things but never had the opportunity to do so. The Alfonzo name opened so many doors for Carmen and Luke but all they cared about were the newest clothing collections and video games, Matteo and Lita weren’t taking any action, but I knew for a fact that they would freak out and blame everything on Luke, once they would realize that his school results weren’t that bright.

If I wasn’t going to look out for them, who would?

“I understand. Calm down, sister.” Luke spoke, embarrassed. “By the way, someone left a box for you-1 took it to your room.”

“I’m going out now, bye!” Luke said in a hurry and left while I was thinking about whoever send me a box. Ever since Fabio Garcia send a dead squirrel in a box, opening presents hadn’t been the same anymore.

I made my way over to the room and looked at the gift box on my bed. Who would even send me a gift? I closed my eyes and opened the box as I prepared myself for another dead squirrel, but it wasn’t.

It was a beautiful dress, with a pair of heels and some other accessories. “For me?” I whispered as I held the dress and read the card attached to it.

‘Don’t embarrass me and wear this tomorrow so we can match, Christian.”

I laughed at the card and looked in the mirror behind me to look at my flushed cheeks. While others.

might’ve seen his comments as rude, I loved them. I was used to them, and knew only special people received those kind of comments from Christian.

Was this double date thing really a good idea?

I didn’t want to fall back into the same routine, but I was doing the exact thing which I promised wouldn’t. We were supposed to fix things with our families, and we were supposed to work on our relationship. We were supposed to do things slowly.

But how could I do things slowly when I hadn’t even fallen out of love with him?