Chapter 42: New tides

***

Mama Dido had taken Butter back to the Island the very next day, Serenity had a tearful meltdown when her best friend left her again. They promised each other to meet up soon and hugged and cried at the wheels of the airplane for a couple of hours.

The following week passed in a blur, Serenity was loaded with school works. She was busy studying and preparing for the mid terms which was in a few days. She would sit in her little study for hours before Alessandro forced her out of the house. He would take her for walks or swims everyday. The days were salty and sweet.

"I forgot how to do this problem, Alessandro." Serenity placed her notes infront of him. They were relaxing in the little orchard. The butlers had laid out a cutesy picnic for them. And the girl still brought her books along.

Alessandro picked up the pen and solved it precisely.

"With every question I solve, you take a bite of your sandwich." He negotiated.

She sighed and chew down her almost cold sandwich. These days, her anxiety and examphobia had disrupted her appetite. Alessandro had to either coax or threaten her to eat.

He placed the answers in front of her. Serenity beamed, staring at him in awe.

"Why are you so good at everything! I am so jealous."

"I should be the one who is jealous. You never seem to pay attention to me these days."

She grinned, "You're such a big baby."

"Oh really?" Alessandro raised his eyebrow.

Serenity paused, "No, Alessandro. That was sarcasm."

The raised eyebrow slowly came down. He looked at her serious expression and muttered under his breath.

"And she still don't get sarcasm."

"Did you say something?"

"No. Finish your juice."

"By the way, our English teacher gave us an assignment to write a literary piece on how we envisioned ourselves in the future." She sipped her lemonade, taking sweet time to swallow the drink, "I am confused about what to write."

"What do you aspire to be?"

Serenity shrugged and laid down on her back on the ground. Alessandro quietly stuffed a little pillow under her head. His fingers caressed the side of her face.

"I don't know." She answered honestly, "I am confused. Justin said that he will follow his father's footstep. He will be inheriting their family business."

Alessandro frowned. His fingers combing through the strands of her hair stiffened for a moment before he relaxed. He knew who Justin was. He has his eyes and ears everywhere Serenity was concerned. The only fact that assured him some sanity is that his little girlfriend's supposedly good friend is gay.

"You can take your time, love. There is no hurry."

"But I don't like being clueless, Alessandro. I read on the internet that lack of exposure puts a limit on the skills of many talented individuals."

He narrowed his eyes at her quirky expression slowly drawing on her face. He can already see where this conversation was going. Still he pretended to be oblivious for her very convincing act.

"You're right."

"And you know a lot of old people regret not discovering their potentials to the fullest. And they have a very sad life till death."

"Hmm"

"And also young innocent girls are often exploited because of their naivety."

"Okay"

"And many girls suffered at the hands of their abusive boyfriends. And they couldn't even leave them because they have no way of fending for themselves. So they don't escape and bear all the atrocities silently."

Serenity didn't realise the deeper tone when he hummed an answer.

"So..."

"So?" He repeated, this time Serenity noticed the change in the air around her. She shivered unconsiously and gulped a lump of saliva.

"So.... I want to...I want to learn a lot of things."

"What things?"

She peeped at him with one eye shut and immediately sat up straight.

"You know...some moves...some fighting and...and guns." Her voice dropped to the smallest of whispers.

"Do you mean to imply that I should train you in case you happen to encounter an abusive boyfriend?" He smiled but she could only feel the drop in the temperature.

"You know...I mean...just in case?"

"Just in case we break up?"

Serenity gasped and quickly shook her head, "No Yes...NO Alessandro."

"Or do you mean to say that I will be the abusive boyfriend?"

"No!" She yelled, "Oh my God! Stop putting words in my mouth."

"Then how could you even think that you will be exploited or abused when I am here by your side? Do you think your boyfriend is that pathetic that he will let others take advantage of his lovely girlfriend?"

"I was just talking rationally. Alessandro. I didn't mean or imply anything else." She explained.

"Serenity." Alessandro breathe, " You will be the reigning queen of the Vitali regime in the years to come. And I do not want my Queen to be looking for excuses to persuade me when she can be directly demanding it. You need to realise that you have equal power and control over me as I have over you. As long as it is not harming you in any way or putting you in any sort of danger, I will do everything in my power to fulfill all your wishes. So please, my love, understand the position you have in my heart and in the family."

She turned away from him, "I can't do that, Alessandro. I cannot just wake up one day and assume that I have powers over anyone. If I am to be reigning by your side, at least I should earn that position by myself. And I will work hard for it. But for now honestly, I am just a keep that you won, a liability on your shoulder.... It hurts my self respect, you dummy!" She punched him on his broad shoulder with a pout.

"You haven't move on from that." Alessandro frowned. "I thought I made it clear that you're not a keep-"

"But that's how the world sees me...like Belle who fell for Stockholm syndrome with the beast. I am nothing."

"Fuck the world."

"Alessandro!"

"How many times do I've to make it clear what you mean to me, love? The world will keep on talking. You are the princess of the Irish mob. You have the whole O'Sullivan clan behind you. You will never be a 'nothing'"

Serenity chuckled humorlessly.

"I doubt my athair will ever see me as his daughter. He hates me. So...I disagree with what you said. I don't have the grand backing as you put."

He cupped one side of her face and rubbed soft circles with his thumb on her plump cheeks. Serenity nestled in his arms with a sigh. Alessandro didn't reply for a long time. He seemed to be in a deep thought. The sky darkened with the approaching twilight.

"Love..." Alessandro spoke in a low tone, "What if you wake up one day and you are the true heir of the O'Sullivans...what will you do?"

She yawned carelessly and mumbled.

"Perhaps divide the power among my brothers and demand a regular income of my choice for the rest of my life. My goal in life is to get paid even when I do nothing."

"Why are you so easy to please?" He laid a kiss on top of her head.

"You want me to be a material girl." She replied cheekily.

"I want to spoil you rotten."

"Aww...you can absolutely do that. Help me in my trainings. I want to learn martial arts, shootings, horses riding, gymnastics...." She listed off the things excitedly , counting her fingers and talking about the adventures she wanted to pursue.

"Your wish is my command, my Queen."

"Cheesy much."

She smirked playfully. Alessandro narrowed his eyes and before she could jump out, he pulled her tighter and leaned forward, biting her cheek.

Her squeals and laughter echoed through the little orchard.

***

Athena was discharged the following week. Aaron stayed to her aide the entire time. It was difficult for the both of them to acknowledge the changing relationship between them, the attraction was undeniable so was the resistance. Aaron brought them to his penthouse to lay low for the first few weeks. The situation at the Springton Villa was crucial.

Alessandro Vitali's unsurprisingly visit and the aftermath was no secret in the elite circle. Mrs. Springton was hospitalized as an immediate effect. Her entire body was paralyzed and pricked with the burns of a thousand needles. She was unofficially declared a living dead. There has been no cure for the poison Alessandro administered on her body. It will slowly eat away the living soul of her painfully before all will be left is the corpse and bones.

Athena Springton was enraged when Aaron broke the news. She always warned Alessandro to not interfere with the Springtons. Albeit she did not possess an ounce of affection for her so called parents but it was dishonor on her part.

"Call that fucking bastard! I am going to kill him!" She screamed, clenching her fist tightly. Her sharp nails drew crescent blood on her palms.

"Athena, Calm down!" Aaron hurriedly pulled her close and caressed her hair soothingly, "We will get through this. This much rage is not good for you. Calm down darling."

"How dare he! How dare he fucking do this to me! He knew it well! He knows me!" She grounded painfully.

" Alessandro must have an explanation. Relax."

"I don't care about his explanation! I asked him for one single thing...one fucking promise ...to not mess with the Springtons! He broke his fucking promise!"

"I understand. Everything will be alright. Let's think it through."

"Nothing will be alright! He will be chilling with his pretty girlfriend when I have to faced my demons alone."

"You are not alone, Athena. I am by your side, always."

Athena smiled mockingly, "Give or take. You will be running for the hills in a week time."

Aaron stared at her with an unwavering gaze, "I am sorry but you are wrong this time. I will prove you wrong."

"Get lost, Aaron."

He smiled softly, "I'll brew you some tea."

As soon as Aaron was out of the door, Athena's expression crumbled. There was a bitter smile along with the unsaid pain in her eyes. She was nearing her breaking point.

***

Dublin, Ireland

"He is having convulsions! Quick!"

The hospital chamber was in chaos as the doctors rushing in and out to attend to the V.I.P patient. The current Don of the O'Sullivans was in a critical situation. The situation outside of the room was no better. The consiglieres gathered out, trying to come to a compromise to fix the falling regime. The health condition of Conall O'Sullivan was a top secret. It was even kept away from his immediate family members in fear of an uprising or a revolt. His only trusted council of advisors are aware of the dire problem.

The head physician came out of the emergency and responded to the awaiting crowd.

"We are doing our best. However his conditions have worsened over the past few days. There has been no physical reaction. It can be assumed that.." the Doctor sighed,..."Mr. O'Sullivan wants his peace. He is stable now and would likely be conscious by the next few hours. I suggest you are prepared."

Consigliere Keanne, who had been by Conall's side for the longest, nodded in understanding.

He turned to his fellow colleagues. He could see that they all know what the follow up procedure would be but he still voiced it out.

"Prepare the writ. And send the code to Mr. Fostello and Mr. Giovanni Vitali."

Unknown to anyone's notice, there was indeed a rat slipping away into a corner.

Conall had lost all his former glory. He was bones and skins on the bed. His karma catching up on him. Consigliere Keanne, dutifully reported his reports in the mob.

"We have successfully curb the shipments. And the negotiations with the Romeras are ongoing. We believe the ballot is in our favor-"

"Keanne-" Conall coughed with a chuckle, "-what is the use of you reporting to me on my death bed? Shouldn't you be, like everyone else, chasing favors with the next apparent heir instead of accompanying this useless bastard?"

Keanne bowed his head, "My loyalty lies with the head of the O'Sullivan throne. I will serve the current regime to the fullest before the next ruler steps up the throne."

"I have two unofficial request, Keanne...the true heir to the regime is not the boys. It is my youngest daughter, Serenity."

Keanne's eyes widened before he controlled his expression.

"I see Ceres waiting for me there at the end of the tunnel and I know I will finally cross over to my beloved. But before that, I want to meet my daughter for one last time. I have always ignored her...her whole life. Ceres won't forgive me if I don't repent my sins. I wish to tell her that I have always loved her and she is and will always be my dearest little girl." There were tears in his reddened old eyes, the cracks in his voice giving away his emotions.

"I understand, Sir. I will bring her to you immediately."

"And as for my second request, protect her, Keanne. Although she is under the protection of the Vitalis, the more powerful someone is, the more enemies will sprang up. Serenity will never be safe enough. This is my last and final request as your Don."

Keanne stood up solemnly, his sullen eyes fixated with honor as he took the oath, placing his right fist over his chest. "I will abide by this oath for the rest of my life."

***

Bruno sat calmly in his office. He had yet to establish a partnership with Briar Perdi. Whatever secret was spilled, was now changing the direction of the tides. He had snuck deeper into the O'Sullivan portals and dig into their ancestral histories. Indeed his dearest sister was the true heir.

But Serenity was unfit to rule the crime family. It was most likely that the Vitalis will take advantage of the situation and clumped the Irish mob in their hands. And if that isn't the case, Serenity might hand over the control to Killian.

In both scenarios, the odds weren't in his favor.

He grounded his teeth in annoyance.

His man entered secretly to deliver a message.

"The Don is dying...and the time limited."

"Estimation."

"Less than a week."

"Ring up the Perdis...we will go according to their plan."

****

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Stella Cadante