Chapter 199

Christian “Someone tell me what the hell he’s doing here,” Christian whispered as he walked down the stairs.

He didn’t even have the energy to look at all the strangers setting up equipment for the party as his eyes could only see Luca.

What was he up to?

“Cousin!” Luca opened his arms. Christian’s eyes met Johnny’s, who shook his head in disapproval.

“Luca?” Christian forced a smile on his face and pulled him into a hug.

He didn’t want to push him away, but he felt suspicious, and the last thing he wanted was for him to be at the party when he knew what he was capable of. “I didn’t know you were also coming.”

“See, you invited Johnny to supervise the party, and you told him not to leave me alone, so here I am.” Luca shrugged. Johnny had an apologetic look on his face, but Christian had no time to worry why he was or wasn’t here.

“Dario, I haven’t seen you in a while.” Luca smiled at him. Christian was curious about Dario’s reaction, but Dario stepped forward and placed his hand on Luca’s shoulder. “It’s good to see you,”

Yes, I bet it is.” Luca chuckled. “You never really liked me-but that’s okay.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, but it is,” Luca responded. “If I remember correctly, I was the one who stood up for you at the party, all those years back, and now you’re practically married to Christian.”

“That’s not true.” Christian defended Dario. “Look, I know you have a lot to say, but can we not do it today?”

Luca scoffed. “Not today? Then when do you want to do it?”

Christian felt anxious just by hearing those words and wondered what he meant by that. Was he up to something?

“Christian, look at my dress!”

Christian turned around to look at Carmen, who walked towards the group with a big smile on her face. What he really wanted to tell her was to walk away, but he did not want to ruin her special day.

“What do you think? Luke and I are matching.” She smiled. “She looks pretty, doesn’t she, Christian?” Beau spoke after Christian remained silent. He could only focus on Luca.

“You look beautiful.” Christian agreed. Luca stepped forward and pushed Christian aside so he could take a look at Carmen. “You look beautiful, and you look exactly like your sister, and speaking of Serena-1 heard she’s in Panama, that’s a long way from here.”

“She is,” Carmen nodded. It was nothing more than a conversation, but Christian knew his real intentions. behind it. He wanted to threaten everyone by using Serena.

“Carmen, how about you go and make sure Enzo doesn’t do anything crazy,” Dario suddenly suggested. He had a furious look in his eyes and was seconds away from attacking Luca. Just like Christian, also he wasn’t crazy and knew what his brother was trying to do.

“Sure, okay” Carmen smiled and walked off. It barely took a second before Beau’s hand was wrapped. around Luca’s wrist. “If you address my sisters ever again, I will kill you”

Luca released himself from Beau’s grip and had a smug smirk on his face. “Playing the overprotective brother to the siblings you didn’t even know you had last year, that’s cute,” Luca commented. “And I’ll mention Serena and Carmen all I want. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“If I want to go to Panama and have a conversation with Serena-I’ll do it right now.”

Beau clenched his fist and took a deep breath before he looked at Christian. “Either you stop him from talking, or I’ll do it for you.” He warned him. If it were up to Christian, he would love to see Beau do that- but there was other stuff to worry about.

“Beau, how about you and I take a walk so you can calm down,” Dario suggested. Christian felt guilty. knowing the person who probably irritated him the most at the moment had yet again saved the day. Beau gave Luca one last glare before he walked off with Dario.

“So,” Christian spoke. “How about we take a walk so that we can talk in private?”

Christian didn’t react because there were other people around, but the thought of Luca even having the nerve to threaten Serena made him sick. It wasn’t quick before he realized that Serena was his life. He would always love her and he wouldn’t be able to let go of her.

Johnny, who hadn’t said a word, wrapped his hand around Luca’s wrist and pulled him along so the two of them could follow Christian. “So, how have the two of you been?” Christian asked as they had reached the hallway. He removed the rings from his finger and hid them in his pockets.

“I’m good, although I don’t really understand why Johnny is still babysitting me.” Luca laughed. The sound of his laugh added to Christian’s anger. “You don’t understand?” He frowned.

He looked around him one last time to make sure no one else was around before he repeatedly connected. his fist with Luca’s eye. “Christian, stop!” Johnny called out, but Christian wouldn’t listen.

“Give me a second, please.” Christian sighed as he pressed his lower arm against Luca’s throat.

“Listen here, you ugly beast, I’ve been nice for way too long, but if you threaten Serena ever again, I will “What?” Luca managed to get out. “You will what? Ruin my life even more?”

“Isn’t it already bad enough that you’re keeping me hostage?”

Hostage?

Christian took a step back upon hearing those words and thought of Serena. He thought about his terrible behavior and about how he’s been giving her the same treatment as Luca while she was close to being a saint.

“I want you to think about the reason why I’m keeping you, hostage,” Christian spoke as he released Luca from his grip. Johnny sped over to his brother’s side and wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “Christian, was that necessary?”

“Yes, yes it was,” Christian replied. He patted Luca on his shoulder. “Just keep your fucking mouth shut, or I’ll shut it for you.” He told him. “Family or not, if you ever threaten Serena again, mark my words-I will kill you.”

“And you!” Christian looked at Johnny. He felt unsure about his decision to trust Johnny and hoped his cousin was still on his side. “Listen, just keep him in check” Christian changed his tone.

“I’m sorry.” Johnny apologized. “I will, and I’m sorry.”

The look in Johnny’s eyes said otherwise, and Christian started to doubt himself. What if he went too fart What if he had only made Luca and Johnny’s resentment worse!

“You guys can go ahead and make sure all the cabinets are close. I don’t want any of these kids to steal anything. Christian instructed them..

He had yet to figure out how to sneak Kenzo into the house as he didn’t want Luca to lay his eyes on him.

Christian stared hopelessly as Johnny and Luca walked away. He couldn’t stop thinking about his threat and wondered if there was some kind of truth to it.

“He has changed a lot,” Christian suddenly heard a voice. He turned around and looked at Dario. “I thought you walked out with Beau.”

“I did, but I didn’t want to leave you alone with my two unstable brothers, so here I am,” Dario spoke. Christian felt offended by his words. “I don’t need your saving.”

“Oh, I know that.” Dario clarified. “I actually think you’re the one who’s been saving me all this time, and that’s why I want to look out for you.”

“Look out for me?” Christian chuckled. According to Christian, the only way he could be looking out for him would be by taking his distance from Serena.

“Do you think there’s a truth to his threat?” Christian questioned. “There’s no way he could’ve been in contact with Berto, right?”

Dario shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, do you trust Johnny-

“Of course I do!” Christian interrupted him. “I mean, it’s Johnny, and he has never betrayed me. He has always been loyal to me.”

“I see.” Dario sighed. “Then you don’t have anything to worry about.”

Christian’s mind went back to Johnny and the hateful look in his eyes. Would his cousin really betray him? Even if he did, there would be no turning back.

There had already been way too many preparations to let this plan drop. That was not an option. “I need to make a phone call,” Christian spoke as his mind went back to Serena.

Christian didn’t get scared that easily, but catching his uncle was not a small thing. He knew that Berto had lost every bit of humanity he had left and that he wouldn’t show anyone mercy, not even his own nephew.

Christian’s main goal was to make sure that Serena would be safe, and if something were to happen to him, he wanted Serena to know how much she meant to him. Even though he had sent more than enough. security to keep an eye on her, he wanted her to be prepared.

He knew Serena was someone who would sacrifice her own life to save everyone else’s, and he could not that to happen. “You should make it quick because I’m afraid Carmen and Luke are turning your house into a nightclub.”

“They’re what?”

“I didn’t want to interfere, but I just saw some guy with an ice sculpture. Do you even know about that?” Dario frowned. He observed the irritated look on Christian’s face and smiled at the idea of him getting worked up over something that small. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” Christian spoke. “It’s for Carmen, and all I want is to get on her good side-so it’s fine.” He convinced himself, but Dario knew better. He could hear the irritation in his voice and knew it would only be a matter of time before he would lose his cool.

“How about you make your call, and I’ll check up on grandpa,” Dario suggested. He understood Christian probably wanted some privacy and respected his decision.

Christian waited until Dario walked off before he grabbed his phone and dialed Serena’s number.

“Please don’t be angry.” He whispered to himself, but he knew that it was most likely not the case, especially after his unnecessary outburst.

“If you’re not calling to apologize, I don’t want to hear it.”