Chapter 156

“It seems like everything’s still the same,” I muttered to myself as I got out of bed. Christian was up early and wasn’t there as usual, but this time I understood the reason.

He was eager to get back his brother and probably fly out that door once he got the go. After hearing several voices downstairs, I decided to at least look a bit presentable.

I took a shower and got dressed before heading downstairs to make my way to the others. I stopped in my steps when I heard Christian and Johnny whispering and hid behind the wall so I could eavesdrop on their conversation.

“What do you want me to do? Tell her not to go?” Christian spoke. “I’m done with all the secretive stuff. She’s coming with me, whether you like it or not.”

I smiled at Christian’s words and had the urge to fly into his arms. They must’ve been talking about me joining them, and it seemed like even Johnny didn’t want me to go. “If something happens to her-”

“Nothing will happen to her.” Christian rolled his eyes. “Serena is not some weakling, and she can protect herself.”

That’s right. I could protect myself.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Johnny sighed. “I just don’t want her to get hurt. You know that.”

Johnny always had the right intentions, but he was wrong this time. Christian was right, I was not weak, and I was not a burden anymore. “I won’t get hurt, right Christian?” I revealed myself and gave him a back hug.

Christian turned around and looked at me with a soft smile on his face. “Did you sleep well?” He asked. I ignored his question and looked at Johnny, who was glaring at me. I bet a lot of Lamberti’s would be annoyed by my presence, but I was here, and I was here to stay.

“Is there a problem, Johnny?” I frowned, knowing he couldn’t speak up against me in front of Christian. I got to experience firsthand how his family controlled him-but today would also be the day I would be putting a stop to it.

Johnny looked from me to Christian and stared into my eyes with a hateful look on his face. The kind look he once had, had vanished entirely. “No,” Johnny spoke. “There’s no problem.”

“What problem?” Beau wondered as he entered the room with Marc. “I told you there’s no problem!”

Johnny snapped and stormed off. “What’s his problem?” Beau asked, confused. “I was just asking him a question.”

“I know, just let it go.” Christian sighed. “What’s more important than Johnny’s feelings is Luca’s phone call.”

Christian grabbed my hand and pulled me to the side so we could have a moment in private. “I’m so sorry.” He apologized. “Johnny’s just looking out for you—”

“I know,” I reassured him. “And I’m looking out for you.

Christian moved his hand to my cheek and caressed it as he stared into my eyes. “I know, you’re always looking out for me. I know that now.”

“We’re all good to go!” Johnny announced as he walked back into the room. “Luca called, he said….dad…is out.” He spoke. I bet it wasn’t easy to hear about his dad and everything he had been doing. Maybe that was the reason why he seemed so tense.

“Fine, let’s get my brother,” Christian spoke in a hurry to leave the house and pulled me along with him. while Johnny, Marc, and Beau followed closely behind. “I have something to discuss with you,”

I whispered in Christian’s car.

It was about Dario. If there were a possibility that he would surrender himself, it would be entirely unnecessary to show up with guns or any other shape of violence.

I sat down next to Christian and gave him back the car keys. He seemed calmer, so I wasn’t afraid to let him drive this time. “I just want all of this to be over. I’ll make sure of it.” Christian spoke. “This was not the life I wanted for our family, but I’ll fix it.”

“I know.” I smiled. I was proud of his behavior. Unlike yesterday, he remained calm and was only focused on one thing. Saving his brother.

“What was that thing with Johnny and him not wanting me to come along?” I asked. Christian his shoulders, and it was clear to me that they had discussed a bit more than that. Did Johnny no around at all?

“What’s your request?” Christian changed the subject. I would love to know what Johnny’s behavior about-but this was way more important than his feelings. “Yes, I need all of you to leave your guns in car.

“What?” Christian exclaimed. “Serena, do you want to get us all killed? Dario-”

“He won’t do anything.” I clarified. “Dario won’t do anything, don’t worry about that. I took care of it.”

“What?” Christian spoke, flustered. “What do you mean?”

It was time to tell him the truth. I didn’t want Dario to get hurt, and I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt either. “I met up with him yesterday and-”

“You what!” Christian raised his voice. “Just shut up, listen-and focus on the road!” I told Christian. “I need you to trust me on this one. All you have to do is go there with empty hands.”

“Empty hands?” Christian repeated. “You want me to go in there empty-handed? I don’t know what the hell you did-but do you really think he will help us?”

“Yes.” I nodded. I trusted Dario and knew he would end up making the right decision. He wouldn’t do it for the others, but he would do it for me. Also, he thought his dad went too far this time, so he didn’t have a reason not to help us. “Christian, do you trust me?”

“That’s a stupid question,” Christian spoke. “Of course I trust you, you know that. I just don’t know if it’s smart to go there empty-handed.”

“Well, it is,” I spoke, annoyed. I needed him to listen to me, but it seemed like his family was still influencing him. He wasn’t doing what was right, but he was doing what he was taught. “I need you to trust me, please?” I pleaded. “I won’t sit there and play a happy family if you even think about hurting Dario.”

Christian had a hopeless expression on his face, which made me wonder what he planned on doing with Dario. “Don’t you think it’s fair towards Johnny to let him go?”

It became clear to me that the conversation between Johnny and Christian was about Dario.

Luca was even more of a threat, but everyone looked past him and was too focused on what Dario was doing. “Do you want to keep me satisfied, or do you want to keep Johnny satisfied?” I asked Christian.

“All Dario wants is some respect and a family, and all you have to do is give it to him. Dario will help us. I’m sure of it.” I tried my hardest to convince him. “And after all of this is over, the two of you can shake hands apologize and be cousins. How about that?”

“That’s not how it works, Serena.” Christian chuckled. “As long as Berto is still here, it will never work out.”

“He’ll leave, you know that.” I sighed, annoyed. I knew it would only be for a while, but still-that gave Christian enough time to make up with Dario. “Do you remember how everything always backfires.

whenever you don’t listen to me?”

“I do,” Christian replied. It was time for him to open his eyes, and it was time for him to see that fighting wasn’t always the option. “I’ll let you make your own decision because I’m not like your family, and I don’t want to push you-but if you trust me, you’ll make the right decision.”

Christian drove in silence until we reached the gate to the mansion, while I wondered which path he would take. Would he listen to me, or would he listen to Johnny?

We all got out of the car, and the gates opened, revealing Luca. “I’m here, as promised.” He spoke.

This guy was so two-faced and fake that it was almost ridiculous. He should drop the family business and get into acting.

“How about we go in there, empty-handed?” Christian suggested. Beau respected Christian’s suggestion, while Luca, Johnny, and Marc were heavily against it. Luca clearly had a plan to get rid of Dario, and I would not let that happen, and by the looks of it, neither would Christian.

“In that case, it’s not a question, but an order. We go in their empty-handed.” Christian chuckled. I finally understood his plan. He was waiting to see Luca’s reaction before he made a decision.

I turned my head at Johnny and gave him a satisfied smirk to show him that he lost this time. I knew for sure that he was not working against Christian because he didn’t have the heart for that-but he was too attached to Luca to see that his little brother was slowly trying to get rid of all of us.

Christian grabbed my hand as we made our way to the driveway and reached the door, which had automatically opened. Christian pulled me behind his back while Dario finally revealed himself and looked him in the eye.

Please don’t make me look like a fool, and make the right decision.

“Move,” Christian growled. “I have no business with you. I’m here to take my brother, and then I’ll be out. You and my uncle can do whatever you want-but I won’t let you touch my brother.”

The look on Dario’s face softened as his eyes met mine. “Is this how you’re betraying us, Luca?” He played along with the game. Luca kept his mouth shut and stepped back. I bet he was hoping for Dario to fight back, so there was no choice but to overthrow him, but that didn’t happen.

Dario took a deep breath and stepped aside instead.

“You’re right, Christian,” Dario spoke as he glared at Luca, who was surprised by his words.

Η “It’s time for me to do the right thing for once, come on.”