Chapter 202

Christian “Christian, have you listened to a word I just said?” Dario asked. They had finally arrived at the warehouse and all they had to do was wait for Berto. Christian sat next to Beau, while Dario sat next to a terrified Kenzo “Everyone is in position, and we’re just waiting for the signal. Kenzo told us Berto would text him.”

Dario repeated.

Christian took a deep breath and slowly moved his finger across his phone screen. It was a picture of Serena and Siena, an image that meant a lot to him. Will I ever get to hold them again? Christian thought.

He flinched by the touch of Beau’s hand on his shoulder and blinked a few times. “Yes, I’m sorry”

“Do you already have an answer regarding the other issue?” Dario asked. Christian frowned his eyebrows as he tried to follow up on the conversation. “Sorry, I haven’t heard a single thing.” He confessed.

Dario and Beau gave each other a look before Beau turned his attention towards Christian “You should call Serena,” Beau spoke. “I know you didn’t want any distractions, but hearing her voice could also work as an encouragement.”

Christian chuckled. “I don’t deserve to hear her voice, and besides that, the guards told me she is safe, and that’s the only thing that matters to me at the moment.”

He didn’t want to risk another fight and knew it would only be a matter of time if he were to call her “Beau” Christian began. If something were to happen tonight, he wanted Beau to know how much he appreciated him. I’m sorry for everything.” Christian apologized, but Beau shook his head. “We really don’t have the time for this right now)

“But -”

“No!” Beau stopped hum “Stop being ridiculous and clear your mind I don’t know you like this!” He spoke, disappointed “Keep your head in the game!”

Christian turned around to look at Dario and Kenzo, who had worried looks on their faces. “A-

anyway.” Dano spoke “I asked you where you were going to take my dad”

“That’s easy” Christian spoke. “I’ll keep him like a dog, just how he kept my brother like a dog)

“That’s a good plan.” Dario sighed. Christian could hear the anxious tone in his voice and had hoped he wouldn’t end up changing his mind. At the end of the day. Berto was still his dad.

“Don’t worry about it Dario gulped as he read Christian’s mind I told you I’m on your side, so I’m on your side-no matter what “I know” Christian reassured hum. He once again stared straight ahead and started to rethink his life. He hadn’t even made that much time for his dying father and it was all because he was too obsessed with catching his uncle When all of this is over, I’m going to do better That was Christian’s motto He had realized that he was the one who had been living in fear and felt as if it was time for a change. “Beau,” Christian called out again. Beau let out an annoyed sigh and rolled his eyes. “What is it now?”

“I need you to stay in the car with Kenzo.” Christian decided. “In case something does happen…

Isobel is pregnant, and Serena can’t lose both of us-you know that.”

Christian had expected Beau to rebel against him, but this time it was different. The same guy who always had a lot to say nowadays, remained silent and gave Christian a nod. “Thank you.” Christian smiled gratefully. “I’m happy you understand because—”

“Has he always been this talkative?” Dario interrupted him. Beau shook his head and laughed at Christian’s nervous behavior. “No, unless it’s to complain about my sister, never.”

“Everything will be fine, so stop worrying. Dario told him. “You need to stop with this negativity.”

“Okay, I’m sorry,” Christian spoke, defeated. He rested his head against his seat and wished for all of it to be over. He was so determined to change the family business, but not a single thing had changed. “Beau. can I bother you again?” Christian asked.

“No,” Beau replied as he away from Christian. “Well, too bad,” Christian continued. “I’m going to have to bother you anyway.”

“I wanted to give Serena the life she never had, and I wanted us to grow old together, raise Siena and a bunch of other babies, stuff like that.” He began. “But we’re so sucked into this lifestyle that we don’t even know if we’re even going to reach that age.”

“Stop being so dramatic” Beau snickered, but Christian couldn’t crack a laugh. Not this time. The more time passed by, the more he thought about his life. “Serena and I…we would’ve never had these issues if 1 wasn’t in this business…why can I just have a normal uncle?”

“You wouldn’t even have met her if you weren’t in this family,” Beau reminded him.

“You know what I mean,” Christian spoke. “Don’t you want to grow old with Isobel and witness your babies’ first steps?”

Beau shrugged his shoulders. “I would like to see their first steps, but I don’t know about growing old with Isobel.”

“What do you mean by that?” Christian questioned. “Don’t you love Isobel?”

“That’s not what I said. It’s just…I barely know her.” Beau answered truthfully. Christian needed some time to take in Beau’s words. “Wow, you’re ridiculous.” He spoke, shocked.

“Well, let’s be realistic,” Beau explained himself.

“Isobel’s pregnancy is unplanned, and I’m willing to take responsibility for it, but-”

“So was Serena’s. You’re ridiculous.” Christian repeated. He could not imagine being with someone he didn’t love and felt bad for Isobel. Despite her demanding behavior, he had always thought the couple was happy.

“So? It’s the truth.” Beau spoke unbothered. Christian took his words to heart and thought about his own relationship. Serena’s pregnancy was anything but planned, but that didn’t mean he didn’t truly loved her.

“So, what are you saying?” He asked. “That my love for Serena isn’t real, so we can’t grow old together?”

“That’s not what I said. I’m just saying” Beau sighed. “You can’t love someone just like that. I’m sure it took some time for you to love my sister.”

“It did, but I never lied about my feelings, Christian stated. “Things only got official when I realized how I felt about her, and it wasn’t because of the baby”

“So you think I’m lying about my feelings?” Beau frowned. Dario listened attentively and followed their discussion, while Kenzo did the same.

“No, I’m not-I’m just saying you should think about your future.” Christian tried to explain one last time. Beau scoffed and turned his head, so he didn’t have to face him.

“I will, and if you want to ‘grow old with my sister and rush into a marriage with my sister tomorrow after all of this is over tonight, then do you!”

“That’s exactly what I will do.”

“Fine.” Beau nodded, determined to get the last word. Christian laughed at Beau’s little game and thought of Serena, who behaved the same way. “Fine,” Christian teased him.

“Okay,” Beau spoke. Christian held back his laughter and tried his best to remain serious. “Okay” He repeated. He looked back at Dario and Kenzo, who were laughing and smiled at the two. He was glad to know that he could at least make Kenzo smile.

“What?” Beau hissed as he also turned around to see what was going on. He relaxed the expression on his face after seeing the smile on Kenzo’s lips.

“Nothing, it’s just…the two of you are like brothers. Kenzo smiled. “I never had a brother so.”

“They are always bickering back and forth.” Dario shared. “And Beau is just like Serena. Always trying to have the last word.”

“That’s not true!” Beau spoke in defense.

The smile on Christian’s face had vanished as he listened to Dario’s words. It seemed as if he wasn’t the only one who had noticed the similarities between the two. It made him wonder if perhaps Dario did knew Serena just as well as he did.

The ongoing discussion between Beau and Dario got interrupted by the sound of Kenzo’s phone.

“What is it?” Christian asked immediately. Kenzo had a tense look on his face and slowly looked up from his phone to face Christian.

“H-he texted me.” He spoke, afraid. “He’s here, and he’s inside the warehouse.”

Christian took immediate action and unbuckled his seatbelt. “Beau, inform the others that it’s time-

Dario, you come with me.”

“And you,” Christian looked at Kenzo, “You sit here and listen to Beau. Don’t do anything stupid”

“I won’t, I promise.” Kenzo lowered his head as Beau stepped out and made his way towards the backseat. “Good luck.” Beau smiled at Christian “And make sure you come back alive. We aren’t done arguing”

Christian felt more at case after hearing Beau’s joke and gave him a nod. “When are we ever?”

He waited for Beau to join Kenzo, before he walked off with Dario to make their way to the warehouse. It wasn’t long until a group of men joined them.

Christian watched as Dario gave them final instructions and felt grateful he didn’t have to do it himself. Having Dario by his side felt like a blessing. “We want to fix this issue without violence.”

Dario ended his speech.

One of the men laughed and patted the gun in his pocket. “That’s why we brought those.” He spoke sarcastically, while the others laughed. Christian, on the other hand, couldn’t appreciate the joke.

“Once again, we’re not going to use it. Christian made it clear. All he wanted was for his uncle to surrender and even had a tiny bit of hope that he would perhaps turn back into the old Berto.

“We stick to the plan, we take him, and that’s it,” Christian instructed as he reached for the button to open the door to the warehouse. He took a deep breath before he pushed the button and watched as the door slowly rolled up.

“The lights aren’t working. One of the men immediately pointed out. Christian could sense that something was wrong, but he wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

The darkness of the warehouse made him anxious, so he pulled out his gun and looked at Dario to ask for his permission. He did not want Dario to back down because it was his father. “It’s fine, come on,” Dario reassured him.

He walked next to Christian as the group walked in, but it didn’t take long before they stopped in steps. “Something is wrong,” Christian concluded.

He closed his eyes and focused his attention on the sound of a crying female. “He’s onto us,” Chris realized as every bit of hope he had, had completely shattered. “What do we do? Do we retreat?” D whispered. He was just as clueless as Christian.

Christian tried to come up with a solution, but his head was empty. The warehouse was pitch black there were several footsteps, which didn’t belong to any of his men. He wasn’t the only one to notic all of the men pulled out their guns.

“Retreating is clearly not an option.” Christian hissed, annoyed, as the sounds of the female cries slow got closer and closer.

“He’s right. It isn’t.” An all too familiar voice spoke. Even though it was pitch black, it was enough for Da and Christian to realize that the person standing a few feet away from them was none other than Berto Lamberti “You give me the money and Luca, and I won’t blow off their heads,” Berto spoke before all of the light turned on.

Christian had finally realized who the cries belonged to and came face to face with the two people he sworn to protect What were they even doing here?

His uncle held a gun against their heads, and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Carmen, Luke?”