Chapter 89

Christian

4 HOURS

Vince will take Serena, don’t try to fight back, those were the words Christian had told Johnny.

Right before everything went down he had decided to call his cousin, so he would not interfere.

When it protecting the people he loved, Christian knew Johnny was ruthless and he did not want to see Vince gelast expected was to get a phone call from Luca instead.

Luca being willing to give his life for Serena’s safety came as a shock.

While everyone was panicking, Christian remained calm because everything was going according to plan

“They have my daughter and you’re just standing there.” Matteo grabbed him by the shoulders.

“Give yogo and take her myself.”

“No, you won’t,” Christian told him. He did not wish to disrespect Matteo Alfonzo, but he could not let h“I will get to her in four hours, everything is going according to plan.”

“The hostages in the safe house have already been released and help is on its way. We gave Fabio what hthere’s no reason for him to attack us.”

“Do you really believe that you can walk in there and grab Serena and that Fabio is just going to hand hegrabbed him by the collar.

“Yes, I do.” Christian remained calm. “Now that Serena is there, we can all go over there in peace withoutabout anyone else getting hurt in the process.”

“So she’s your sacrifice?” Marcello chuckled. “You better hope this fucking works out for you, or we’ll beinstead!” The usually calm Marcello lost his cool.

“So be it.” Christian shrugged his shoulders and looked at his dad. “From now on we’ll move as plannedwe’re only going to surround them and we’ll spare everyone who decides to work along.”

“Spare?” Gio frowned his eyebrows. “Are Vince and Luis not enough? Are you insane?”

“According to Vince, Fabio is planning to light the house on fire—we have around four hours to save Serignored his brother.

“This is ridiculous, you’ve lost your mind.” Matteo sighed. “These people are Fabio’s followers, they wonbecause you’ll politely ask them to.”

“Yes, these people are followers and they need a leader—Fabio’s own family doesn’t want anything to dafter I’ve taken care of him, I will find them a proper leader,” Christian spoke. Franco laughed and wrappearound Christian’s shoulder.

“That’s actually not a bad idea, Fabio does not know that Beau is missing and his attention is only on Sergive us enough time to get there.” He agreed. “My grandson is a genius.”

“He is, all of you are overreacting—all we have to do is sit back and relax.” Lucio stood behind him.

Just lhis sons, the remaining Alfonzo’s and all the other families weren’t impressed with this new plan, but theturning back. He had already made up his mind.

“Do you really think we can trust Vincenzo Garcia?” Emilio scoffed. “Yes, we can—and after that we let hi“No, hold them hostage.” Matteo corrected him, but Christian shook his head. “No, we let him go—we lelet Luis go, that was the deal.”

“The deal you made with them,” Matteo spoke against him. “Sir, I don’t want to argue with you—we botthing.” Christian reminded him.

Matteo took a deep breath. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

Christian gave him a reassuring smile and did not want him to worry. “Serena will be safe, don’t worry abstrong.”

“Marc, Beau, Gio, and I will go ahead to check out the situation, I want you all to remain here for now,” CLucio.

“Beau? You just told me she is safe unless Fabio finds Beau. He’s staying here!” Marcello decided and grahis arm. “No, we could really use Beau’s help—he’s been very useful and he knows the Garcia estate as tneed him,” Christian spoke.

“So I just have to wait here for some more hours and trust that you will bring back my sister unharmed?”“As you can see I don’t bail on my sister, or any family for that matter—so you don’t have to worry abouglared at him.

Christian gave Beau a pitiful look and felt sorry for him. He felt sorry that Beau’s life was also in danger—seemed to care or notice, including him. Serena was a priority.

“I’m coming with you,” Lucio spoke and grabbed his coat. “No, dad—you’re staying here!” Christian demthough Lucio was ill, he was still determined to stay by Christian’s side—but Christian thought otherwise“Christian, you want to protect Serena and your child—and I want to protect my baby, so I’m coming witreleased himself from his grip. “And I’m going to protect my baby.” Franco stepped forward.

It had come to Christian’s attention that his grandfather who had retired and had not shown his face in adetermined to take care of Lucio.

“Grandpa.” Christian sighed. “You shouldn’t even be here, I thought we had discussed that the oldies woout and stay home.”

“I’m coming whether you like it or not, come on—let’s go!” Franco snarled.

It wasn’t long before the six had all left in pairs and gathered near the Garcia’s estate. Even though it wosmartest for him to pair up with Beau, he had to admit that he felt a bit threatened by Serena’s cold but brother.“So what’s the plan again?” Marc asked as he leaned back in the car seat.

“Four hours from now Fabio will notice Beau is missing, Vince told me that he checks on him in four hou“He will lose his mind and we’ll surround the house while I will go back in to take care of him,”

Christian to take back what is mine, Serena.”

He felt guilty for even handing her over like that, but in the end, it had all worked out because Fabio hadabout them. “You should’ve stopped your dad,” Marc said.

Christian had always told Marc everything, and this time it was no different. He told him about Lucio beinof dying, Enzo betraying the family, and came clean about betraying Serena. “And where’s Enzo?” Marc a“Not here, I told him to stay out of our business.” Christian sighed. He could still not forget about his broand if he had to be honest with himself, they weren’t all that wrong.

“I appreciate you being here to help me, I know you’ve been avoiding me.” Christian chuckled at Marc. Hforgotten his reaction after he came clean about cheating on Serena.

I didn’t drag you out the house so you could cheat on a pregnant woman, Marc had told him before he an end to their friendship. “Yes, I work for you so.” Marc yawned.

“I told you I’m sorry.” Christian expressed his feelings. He knew that he had a lot of fixing to do and that probably be kissing Serena’s feet until the day he died. “Don’t apologize to me, apologize to Serena.” M“I mean, you are going to tell her right?” He turned around with a worried look on his face. Marc’s wordssame as Lucio’s, he had to tell her.

After everything was finished, Christian did want to tell her and he knew that he had to beg for her forgivdidn’t want to ruin their relationship.

Agreeing with everything Serena had done was a way to wash away his guilt. He had thought about whereaction to Serena hiding Luis and saving Beau would’ve been the same if he had not betrayed her, and tno. He would’ve been furious.

He knew that he did not have the right to get angry, so all he said were the same words. It’s okay and I dargue.

“Marc.” Christian sighed. “Do you remember how difficult it was to convince her to move in with me?”

“Of course I do.” Marc rolled his eyes. “It’s like history is repeating itself, because how do you think I feel“I’m the one who told her to tell you, and look at how things have worked out? Christian, you cheated onspoke. “I know!” Christian stopped him from talking. “I know I did, and there’s nothing I can do to fix it—think will happen when I tell her?”

“It’s Serena, she will grab her bags, grab the baby, give you the ring—and leave,” Marc told him.

“But thidifferent, this time she has a family to take care of her—so you can let her decide that for herself.”

“And if you’re worried about the Alfonzo’s hating you, don’t—because you know that Serena loves you always protect your good name.”

“I don’t care about them hating me—I care about Serena not loving me. I care about her leaving with my“You should still tell her, you know that. You might lose Serena, but she won’t keep the baby away from yup without a family, you know she isn’t like that.”

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Marc shrugged his shoulders as Christian looked at him in shock. “What?”

“I mean, let’s be honest—the two of you in a relationship? Very toxic, extremely toxic—maybe it’s for thelet out his true feelings.

Throughout the months it had become clear to him that the two were probably better apart than togethpersonalities did not match, their ideas of life did not match—and not even their love for each other cou “Toxic?” Christian chuckled. He knew very well where Marc was coming from. He was aware of their toxicSerena making him out to be the nicest person on the planet still confused him. If the roles were reverseleft her a long time ago.

Only after hearing how many times he had broken her heart by calling her stupid, he knew that whatevea joke to him, was definitely not a joke to her.

Gio’s words came back to him. How can you love someone you barely know?

It was something he still hadn’t found the answer to, because he did love Serena. He knew she deserveddid not want to lose her or the baby.

“Let’s not forget about you forgiving Isobel.” Marc kept talking in his ear. “You can’t forgive your own brcan forgive Isobel—the same Isobel who also tried to get her killed, you were even screwing her while Seopposite room of—“

“I know!” Christian snapped. “I know, you don’t have to remind me—I know!”

“Oh, you know?” Marc sarcastically spoke. “Then do better, do better as a fiancé and a father.”

“I will.” Christian made a promise to himself. Not many dared to point Christian in the right direction, andJohnny would’ve been able to make him realize his mistakes, but Marc could.

Christian knew he was wrong, but hearing it from his best friend felt different.

After all of this was over he would change as a man and just as promised, change the family business so go to his daughter.

“You know, a lot of your problems come from you not being able to express your feelings, so you turn tosmoking instead and from there everything goes wrong. Maybe you need professional help.”

Marc sugg“I’ve already stopped both, I don’t want to be a bad example and I don’t want to end up like my dad,” Cdefended himself.

“That’s good, that’s a start.” Marc smiled and patted his shoulder. “If you would’ve done that a bit earlie“Then I wouldn’t have to worry about Serena walking out on me.” Christian finished his sentence.