His Promise: The Mafia's Babies

Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Christian’s nothing like him.

That was the first thing going through my mind as I took a look at the collection of weapons on the wall.

Christian was fearless but cautious. Even though I definitely knew they were there. I had never everseen weapons in the house. “Why do you have to be crazy? I thought I finally met someone normal.” Isighed as I observed the room.

It was nothing like an office. It seemed dark and uncomfortable-almost like a dungeon. There was notime for useless thoughts. I had to get myself together so I could search what I came for.

I took my chances and walked to the desk, but my heart almost dropped when I opened a drawer. Itwas full of pictures on top of pictures and pictures. I gasped and pulled them out to take a look at them.

They were pictures from months back, starting from when Christian and I weren’t even together.Pictures of Christian from around the time where I didn’t even know him yet, pictures of Christianbringing me home from the club, and much more. What was Dario up to?

Even though I knew I didn’t have much time. I pulled out more pictures. I was shocked and couldn’tbelieve my eyes. My eyes landed on a picture of me with Vince, Beau, and Luis. After I got involvedwith Christian, he also involved himself with my life.

I grabbed a picture of Christian driving Gina home as my heart nearly stopped. I knew this picturebecause this was the picture he had shown me, and back then, I thought he had this obsession withChristian, but he had an obsession with everyone close to him. He had an obsession with every singleone of us.

My hands landed on a set of pictures of Franco. If Franco was indeed his grandfather, it must’ve meantDario probably despised him even more than I did. There was one thing that was confusing me, andthat was that Dario did not seem to have an issue with Lucio. I didn’t know whether it was because hewas dying or because he didn’t resent him.

The collection of pictures of Johnny and Luca was as big as the stash of Christian’s and Franco’s.Christian’s theory was starting to become a reality, but I still needed actual proof.

“Oh my god, so scary.” I huffed at the weapons on the wall. It seemed as if he was preparing an armyon his own, and it looked terrifying, but I had to keep it together. Time was ticking, and I had to go backany time now.

I opened the other drawer, which was full of maps, and flipped through the pages. I wasn’t that goodwith numbers, but I could still read and all I could understand was that he was sticking his nose into theLamberti businesses. He was really trying to take over Christian life, and he was so shameless about it.

It made me sick, and I was disgusted. He was so obsessed with Christian to the point where he eventhought about taking me. This must be why Christian was so sure that he wouldn’t hurt me.

I took out my phone and took pictures of every little thing that had caught my eye. Dario wasn’tmessing —with just Christian anymore, but he was messing with everything which would one daybecome Siena’s,

and I would not accept that.

He couldn’t touch Siena.

Evidence was challenging to find, and Dario had nothing which could directly connect him to Christian’suncle. It was obvious that the claims were valid, but other than him stalking Johnny and Luca, therewas no solid proof.

“Serena!” I heard a voice call out and nearly tripped. My body froze as I did not have a backup plan. Igrabbed my phone and texted Dario that I would be down soon. He could absolutely not see me here.

I placed everything back the exact way I found it, but just as I was about to leave, my eyes landed on avault in the back. It was a giant vault, and whatever was behind it must’ve been a big catch. There wasstill much more, and I didn’t have enough time. I had to come back here.

There was not much I could do at the moment, so I left the office and made my way downstairs. “Thereyou are.” Dario chuckled. “What took you so long? Were you pooping?”

Usually, I would laugh at his joke, but I couldn’t do that anymore. I really thought he was a good person,and I felt stupid for trying to see the good in people. A small part of me was still hoping for all of to beone big misunderstanding. Dario never appeared to be an aggressive or angry person, there had to bemore to the story, and that’s why I had to go back to the safe.

“I thought I could get the juice out, but it obviously wasn’t a success.” I smiled and looked down at thestain. “Yes, I can see.” Dario sighed and slammed his arm around my shoulder.

His touch made me want to throw up, but I had to play along with his stupid games. I would end myown business, and he would end up having nothing. All I had to do was play along with his stupidgame. “Are you okay?” Dario asked.

up

with

“Yes,” I nodded. “I’m just a bit tired. I guess it’s because I really paid attention today.”

“I think so too.” Dario smiled. “You did a really good job today. I think we’re done now.”

That was all I wanted to hear. We were done for the day. I felt sick, and I didn’t want to be near himanymore. The horror-like layout on his wall made me cringe. He was insane, and he was obviouslydealing with a lot of anger.

What if he was even angrier than Christian and Beau combined? Was that even possible?

Every time I looked at Dario, all I could see was the person who denied my brother his happiness. Helistened to my struggles and looked me in the eye while he was one of the people who encouragedIsobel’s grandpa not to take any action.

“So uh, I’m just going home and heading back to my daughter.” I smiled back as I patiently waited forhim. to remove his hand from my shoulder. “Where’s your dad?” I asked.

“Who?” Dario frowned. If he was planning on living with a new identity or whatever kind of game hewas playing, he was not really doing a good job. “Your dad. I spoke again.

“Oh, my dad? He left. He was just here to pick something up.” Dario explained. “Okay.” I chuckled.“Anyway, I have to go, and I’ll see you whenever I see you-”

“Wait!” Dario stopped me and wrapped his hand around my wrist. I looked from my wrist to his eyesand frowned my eyebrows. What was he doing?

“I-I’m sorry,” Dario muttered and released me. “I know it’s none of my business, but I just wanted toknow if you’re still in contact with Christian.”

I chuckled at his pathetic question. He had people following us around all day long, so if anything, heshould know. Was he testing me? I would play along with his game just as Christian suggested. All Ihad to do was give him a bit of hope.

“Yes,” I spoke. “We visit each other for Siena’s sake-but I just can’t stand him.” I sighed. “I hope youcan

keep this a secret, because my family doesn’t know yet” I pouted. “I only told you” Knowing Dario, hewould jump up and down to tell my family the truth-but that was the last thing I needed.

He seemed tensed by my request but nodded his head. That’s right, he couldn’t play me this time. “Idon’t know if you’ve heard, but Isobel is pregnant.”

“1 heard, congrats,” Dario gulped.

“Thanks, she really wanted to celebrate it with Beau and Christian since they’re best friends-so we’reall going out tomorrow.” I sighed. “It’s not like I want to, but Beau is my brother.”

He couldn’t open his mouth because I put him in a trap. He knew that he could not tell my familyanything, because that would mean that he would lose my trust. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be discussingthis with you.”

The frown on Dario face told me he actually believed my words. “No, please-I don’t mind.”

“Good, but why are you asking?” I wondered. It still wasn’t his business. I bet he expected a lie, but Iwas giving him the truth he wanted. Just as he had to gain my trust, I had to gain his trust.novelbin

“I thought maybe we could go out for dinner sometime, just as friends?” Dario suggested. I knew thefriend part was just to satisfy me and that he had different intentions. “Sure, we can do that.” I smiled.

“Really?” Dario asked, surprised. “That’s good to know. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Me too!” I lied. “But I really have to go now. I have a baby to take care of.” I excused myself.

Only when I was back on the road, I felt as if I could finally breathe. Dario was so confusing. Heseemed like he couldn’t hurt a single fly, but that was not true. The images of his office and hisunhealthy obsession with the Lamberti’s were something I could not remove from my head.

“Where’s everyone?” I asked Luke as I entered the house and received the same reply as always. Dadand Beau were out, Luis and Carmen at school, and Luke skipped classes.

“How was Siena? What’s she doing?” I asked and followed him upstairs to her room. Siena wasasleep. “She’s sleeping, I just gave her a bottle, and we played a bit, and she was really nice today.”Luke smiled.

“So you’re ready for children?” I teased while Luke immediately shook his head. “Not for a long, longtime -I’m sixteen.” Luke laughed. “But if you need a babysitter, I’m up for it.”

“Thanks, and I appreciate your help, but I need you to go to school,” I told him. “I don’t want you todepend on dad. Everything we have can one day disappear, so I need you to stop skipping classes,and 1 need you to do your best.”

Maybe those words were a bit too rough, but the way Lita and Matteo were raising Carmen and Lukemade me angry sometimes. Matteo had Emilio, Marcello and even Beau while Luke and Carmen werejust kind of there. Growing up, I always wanted to do many things but never had the opportunity to doso. The Alfonzo name opened so many doors for Carmen and Luke but all they cared about were thenewest clothing collections and video games,

Matteo and Lita weren’t taking any action, but I knew for a fact that they would freak out and blameeverything on Luke, once they would realize that his school results weren’t that bright.

If I wasn’t going to look out for them, who would?

“I understand. Calm down, sister.” Luke spoke, embarrassed. “By the way, someone left a box for you-1

took it to your room.”

“I’m going out now, bye!” Luke said in a hurry and left while I was thinking about whoever send me abox. Ever since Fabio Garcia send a dead squirrel in a box, opening presents hadn’t been the sameanymore.

I made my way over to the room and looked at the gift box on my bed. Who would even send me agift? I closed my eyes and opened the box as I prepared myself for another dead squirrel, but it wasn’t.

It was a beautiful dress, with a pair of heels and some other accessories. “For me?” I whispered as Iheld the dress and read the card attached to it.

‘Don’t embarrass me and wear this tomorrow so we can match, Christian.”

I laughed at the card and looked in the mirror behind me to look at my flushed cheeks. While others.might’ve seen his comments as rude, I loved them. I was used to them, and knew only special peoplereceived those kind of comments from Christian.

Was this double date thing really a good idea?

I didn’t want to fall back into the same routine, but I was doing the exact thing which I promisedwouldn’t. We were supposed to fix things with our families, and we were supposed to work on ourrelationship. We were supposed to do things slowly.

But how could I do things slowly when I hadn’t even fallen out of love with him?