Chapter 239

Christian “Hey, sleeping beauty!” Beau kicked Christian’s leg, waking him up. “We have to go. Dario is expecting you.”

Startled, Christian opened his eyes, noticing he had fallen asleep in his chair while caring for Serena. “Where is she?” He asked, not wanting to lose her again.

“Matteo took her to Siena, and we’ve got to go.”

Stressed, Christian got up from his chair and brushed his hands through his hair. “She didn’t wake me. Why didn’t she wake me?” He paced back and forth, eventually reaching for his phone.

He let out a frustrated sigh at the long list of missed calls. “Please tell me your dad didn’t see me like this?”

“Oh, he didn’t.” Beau simply shrugged. “Serena told him you were taking a nap, and he went off.

Something about you not being allowed to rest.” He said. “But don’t worry, I stuck up for you as always—“ Beau’s sentence was cut short by a pillow getting thrown at his face.

“Ow.” He frowned. “What was that for?”

“Just call Dario and tell him we’ll be on our way!”

Sometime later, Christian and Beau were in the car, headed to the secret location where Dario kept both Berto and Luca.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll just drop you off.” Beau broke the silence. “I need to be with my sister.”

“Yes, should.” Christian sighed, agreeing. If anything, he felt as if he should’ve been the one taking care of Serena’s—but as of now, he had other duties. “Just tell her I’ll be home soon.”

“I will.”

“And tell her not to cook for me.” Christian pulled a disgusted face, earning a chuckle from Beau.

The drive to the location gave Christian enough time to think about his feelings. If anyone would’ve told him he would be forced to kill his uncle and his cousin for the sake of the family, he would’ve called them crazy.

Sadly enough, it had all become a reality, and there was no way out. It was something that needed to happen.

“Keep me updated.” Beau dropped off Christian, who could sense guilt in his eyes. He had always had his back, but this time he was forced to decide between being there for his friend or his sister.

“Yes,” Christian spoke. “And don’t let Serena enter the kitchen. I’m serious!”

~

Entering a cold and dark building by himself was something he had already done quite a few times, but this time was different.

This time it was to confront his uncle and his cousin, who had tied his innocent fiancee to a bed.

Christian believed in second chances, but not when it came to hurting Serena. He didn’t even believed he deserved a second chance for the pain he had put her through.

Upon entering the large empty space, Christian’s eyes shot to Berto, who had been tied to a chair.

His signature mask was not on his face, revealing his 3rd-degree burns.

Berto’s sharp eyes looked in Christian’s direction. “So you’re here.” He squinted one eye as the other had been covered with an eye patch.

Ignoring his uncle, Christian shifted his gaze to the soundproof glass. Luca, who was known for his careless ways and his eyes full of mischief, slammed his fists on the glass. Christian couldn’t make out what he was yelling, but the horrific look on Luca’s face gave him an idea.

‘Let me out of here.’

‘Please don’t kill me.’

‘You owe me your lives.’

“Luca canceled all of Berto’s plans, so there is no threat anymore,” Dario revealed himself. He walked closer until he had reached Berto and knelt to his level. “Just a pathetic old man, waiting to take his final breath.”

A low laugh escaped from Berto’s lips. “Your mother would’ve spat at you!”

Aggravated, Dario connected his fist with Berto’s nose. “Don’t talk about my mother!”

“The mother who made me this way in the first place?” Berto furrowed his brow, unfazed by the punch. “It’s in your blood. You can’t run from it.”

“I called Johnny.” Dario changed the subject, facing Christian. “I told him to visit him for the last time since we’re all taking turns today.”

“Taking turns doing what?” Christian wondered, realizing one of the cons of running the business together. It was a fifty/fifty deal, so technically, Dario could do anything without his permission.

“Don’t worry about it.” Dario sighed heavily. “Grandpa and grandma will also be here soon.”

“Wait—what?”

“Mother and father?” Berto asked equally as shocked, his tied hands tightening around the armrest.

“That’s right.” Dario nodded. “Before I send you off to hell, I’ll let you have a moment with the man you despise the most.”

Right at that moment, Johnny entered the room. Berto scoffed, seeing his son’s face—but Johnny did not have any time for him. His gaze directly moved to his brother behind the glass.

“I’m embarrassed to call you my son!” Berto tried grabbing his attention. The man smiled as Johnny stepped closer to look into his dad’s eyes.

The rage in Johnny’s eyes had somehow managed to let Berto lower his head. Christian saw that as a sign of weakness. Berto began to realize he wasn’t the boss anymore.

“No, I’m embarrassed to have you as my father,” Johnny told him. “Even though you’ve never liked me, I mourned your death like no other. Visited that so-called grave of yours almost every day.” He spoke. “So why…why Luca and not me?”

Christian knew his cousin well enough to know that it wasn’t out of jealousy. Johnny was a brother who would take over all of Luca’s pain and scoldings if it was possible.

“Because your brother is vulnerable, stupid…which has clearly backfired this time—“

“Don’t you talk about him like that!” Johnny pointed out, wrapping his hands around Berto’s neck.

“You don’t get to speak about him like that.”

“Hey, calm down.” Christian held back his cousin after seeing Dario would not be taking action anytime soon.

Why would he? Seeing Berto in pain was what he wanted.

“Christian and Dario feel the same,” Berto said.

“Do you really think they’ll let him live?”

There was a quick pause as Christian and Dario shared a look. Christian knew what had to be done and hoped his cousin would agree. After all, Johnny had encouraged him to kill Luca in the first place.

Judging by Johnny’s silence, Christian could already guess that, that wasn’t the case. He rested his hand on Johnny’s shoulder, who was staring at his younger brother through the glass.

“As you can see—he’s not tied up,” Christian whispered to a skeptical Johnny. If he had to lie about it, so be it.

“Look, he’s an idiot, but Luca and I always had a great bond, and I do not want to hurt him.” Dario backed him up. “He’s my brother too, you know.”

‘Please don’t let this be true’ Christian repeated in his head.

He doubted Dario’s words as all he had cared for until now was his father’s torture. Everyone knew Johnny was not stupid and could not be fooled.

His strong mind to distinguish the truth from lies had been his personality trait for ages. Something he used to get praises for after saying his infamous words, I told you so.

“So you expect us to believe you’ll just let him walk free after all the crap he’s pulled?” Berto got in his head. “I know Christian won’t.”

“I can give you my word that whatever will happen, he’s not on the list for today—so I suggest you come back tomorrow so we can discuss this peacefully.”

Conflicted, Johnny stared from the glass to Dario and Christian before taking a deep breath. “Then I’ll be back tomorrow.” He announced as he walked off without looking back.

“He doesn’t believe you.” Berto sang, grinning through his pain.

Dario pulled Christian to a corner. “What are we going to do with him?” He beckoned to Luca.

Christian glared at Luca, who was still slamming his fists against the glass, not showing any sign of stopping. “Berto is yours, but Luca is mine.”

“What do you want to do—“

“Kill him,” Christian answered. “I have no desire to see him alive, and Berto is right. He’ll never stop.”

“Because he’s his son?” Dario questioned.“Because if that’s the case, you should also kill Johnny and me.”

“Will you resent me if I do kill him?” Christian asked, feeling unsettled. This was not the way he had expected things to go. “Since when do you care about what happens to Luca?”

“I don’t, and I know death is the punishment he deserves.” Dario clarified himself. “I’m just asking you whether I’m safe or not.”

Christian understood Dario’s worries. In the past, Dario was no different from Luca, but there was one difference. Dario had never lost his mind and remained the same, while the same could not be said about his brother.

“You are safe, and I will never work against you.” Christian made it clear. “You have my word.” He stuck out his hand, knowing how much Dario meant not only to the family but also to Serena.

“Good.” Dario accepted. A relieved smile appeared on his lips, but that smile was short-term as a high-pitched chortle could be heard across the room.

“Father, mother—what a pleasant surprise!” Berto said as the two followed his eyes.

In the doorway stood the person he despised the most.

Franco Lamberti.