Chapter 220

Christian “This meeting didn’t go anywhere,” Christian spoke, frustrated. Dario shrugged. “We knew it wouldn’t.” He agreed.

After a discussion that lasted about a week, the two and Franco had decided to give the remaining Lamberti’s a heads up about Berto’s reappearance. “Do you think they’re on our side?” Christian asked.

Once again, Dario shrugged, unable to answer his questions. The look on their faces said enough for Christian, as did the look on his dad’s face. Even from his hospital bed, Christian could not forget the hateful look in his dad’s eyes as he told him his brother was still alive.

“Do you think I did the right thing by keeping it a secret?” Christian continued while Dario released a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know, Christian.” He spoke. “But I think it’s time to move on from the past.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” Christian muttered. Christian knew the business was the only thing Dario had left, while he had so much more. At every decision he took, he had to think of Serena, Siena, and not to forget—his dad. How would it affect them?

“Listen, I think it’s a good thing we’re keeping it a family matter.” Dario shared his opinion. “Berto is probably making preparations for a big reveal, and we should stop him before he can do so.”

We should stop him. For some reason, those words didn’t sit right with Christian. Although killing his uncle, his own blood—could be seen as a lame move, Christian had run out of options, and so did Dario.

Other than Franco, the other Lamberti’s who thought the two were just trying to stop Berto from getting his hands on the business were not aware that they had planned on taking his life as well.

There was no other way to take care of this situation.

“How is your dad doing?” Dario wondered. “Is he still angry?”

“Yes, but that’s on me.” Christian defended him. “I decided to lie to him, and I didn’t tell him the truth —so all of that is on me.”

Dario chuckled. “You’ve changed.”

“I’ve changed?” Christian asked, surprised. “How?”

“I don’t know,” Dario spoke. “You seem more understanding and mature.”

“It’s because I had to,” Christian stated, realizing he did not have a choice. Lucio’s health was declining, and the entire family needed someone to rely on. This was his duty.

Christian observed the calm expression on Dario’s face. “How are you holding up?”

He thought about the letter which Dario’s uncle had left for him. From the letter, it was clear that his uncle knew he would be the sacrifice for Dario’s betrayal, and he did not seem to mind. His final instructions were clear. Dario could not lose this battle, no matter what.

“I’m good. I just want to get it over with.” Dario sighed, not in the mood to talk about his uncle.

Christian nodded. “Yes, I understand.”

Although their pains were different, he could still relate to his cousin. Just like Dario avoided his uncle’s death, Christian was in deep denial about Lucio’s condition. It was only Serena who had shown him that it was okay to be scared.

Christian smiled at the thought of Serena. He felt bad for sending her away, and he could tell that she did not want to be apart from him. Waking up without Siena’s cries or Serena’s snores was not what he had signed up for.

“Hey, I told Serena about everything,” Christian confessed.

“Everything?”

Christian lowered his head. “About how I told you to keep your distance from her.” He spoke, embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about that—“

“No, it was wrong, and I owe you an apology.” He stood by his point. “Ever since we’ve started working together, you’ve been nothing but kind to me—and you didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”

“That’s true,” Dario admitted. Christian was aware of his rude behavior and wanted to change for the better. He had promised Dario to protect his uncle but failed, and if there was one thing he had promised himself, it was not to let him down ever again. From now on, he was going to treat him like a brother.

“So, if you want to hang out with Serena, I won’t stop you,” Christian spoke with an uncomfortable pit in his stomach. The feeling of jealousy would never vanish, but it was something he somehow had to learn to live with.

“Thanks.” Dario shot him a bright smile. “Also, I want you to know that I’m not a threat to you—“

“Oh, I know that.”

The two shared a laugh. “So, how is Serena doing?”

“Considering everything she’s been through…fine,” Christian told him. “Serena is a strong person.”

“Is she at her parents?”

“Yes, she’s safe.”

“Good,” Dario spoke, relieved. “And she will stay safe?”

“What do you mean by that?” Christian frowned as he could not understand Dario’s intentions. Why wouldn’t he keep her safe?

Dario took a breath. “Look, I know you used Serena as bait to get to Fabio Garcia—“

“And I won’t do it again,” Christian stated. “Fabio Garcia was too easy, too predictable…Berto, on the other hand.”

Berto’s interest in Serena was what had scared him the most. Christian had quickly realized that his uncle was an unpredictable demon who was capable of doing anything—including blowing up an innocent man.

He would not risk Serena or Siena’s life.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” Dario said.

“Now, let’s see where those two are hiding.”

Not long after, Christian and Dario had pulled out all the notes from the meeting. The number one priority was to find Berto and Luca. “I feel like we aren’t getting anywhere,” Dario admitted.

Christian sighed. “So it isn’t just me.”

“Where do we go from here?”

“I wish I could tell you.” Christian went into deep thoughts. “Do you really have no idea where they might be?”

“No.”

“What about Luca? Did he mention something when the two of you were still working together?”

“No.”

“Not a secret hideout or—“

“No, Jesus!” Dario snapped. Christian felt bad after seeing the guilty look on his cousin’s face.

“Look, I’m sorry.” He apologized. “I’m just trying to come up with a solution, and we’re running out of time. Where would someone hide who doesn’t want to be found?”

Dario slammed his fist on the table. “I think he can’t be too far from here!”

“What?”

“My…dad and I.” Dario began. “He had once told me that the safest place to hide from your enemies is in their area.”

“See, now we’re getting somewhere,” Christian commented. A mission that started as a hopeless case was slowly becoming a reality.

Dario, who couldn’t wait any longer, grabbed his keys from the table. “I’ll look around the area for some clues.”

Dario looked at Christian and waited for his reaction. “I’ll join you, but there’s something I have to do first,”

“You have to check up on Serena and Siena,” Dario concluded. Even though this was not the agreement, Christian could not help himself. He had to see them, even if it was just for a second.

“I just have to see her. I won’t go inside—“

“I understand. You don’t have to explain yourself.” Dario smiled understandingly. Losing his focus by being too much around Serena and Siena was a risk he couldn’t afford at the moment, but he couldn’t take it any longer.

How would he stay focused if he didn’t know how they were doing?

“Christian, you should go and check up on her—and I’ll keep you updated.” Dario encouraged him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

After some time had passed, the two went their separate ways. Dario got back to work while Christian made his way to the Alfonzo mansion.

“Christian!” A high-pitched voice called out his name. Christian rolled down his window and placed his finger against his lips as he came face to face with Carmen. “Are you here to visit Serena?” She whispered.

Satisfied, Christian pinched her cheek and shot her a smile. After everything which had happened, she was finally ready to let go of the past. “Can you do me a favor?” Christian asked. “Can you grab Siena and pop her head out the window so I can take a look at her?”

“Pop her head out the window?” Carmen snickered. “She’s a baby, not a doll—and she’s doing fine!”

“And Serena?”

“So is she,” Carmen informed him. “She’s in the back with Siena. They’re just around the corner.”

“Good.” Christian smiled, relieved. “Please don’t tell her I’m here.”

“Got it!”

Trying his hardest to remain unnoticed, Christian drove a circle around the mansion until he found himself at the gates of the backyard. It wasn’t long before Christian’s eyes saw Serena, who was too busy taking pictures of Siena.

“Can’t you just sit still for once!” He heard Serena’s loud voice. He couldn’t help but laugh at the sad pout on her lips and fought against his urge to get out of the car.

Christian was aware that someone as clumsy as Serena had no idea her energetic personality was the thing that prevented Siena from working along, but that was what he liked about her.

Serena’s spontaneous way of reacting without thinking things through was something he had learned to live with, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.

The feeling of guilt washed over him as he concluded that he could not help her out. Not this time.

He did want to visit Serena, but not on the same day he’d dropped them off. That would only make Serena even more anxious, and he didn’t want that. He wanted her to know that he was in control of the situation and that everything was okay.

For now, he only had one goal, and that was to deal with his uncle for once and for all, so they could finally live in peace.

All he wanted was a happy ending.