His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika
Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Chapter 206

“So, I guess we’re back.” I smiled at Isobel. It was a nice break, but I was glad to be back.

Faith, Luna, and Olivia were on their way home, while Isobel and I were on our way to the mansion. Ihadn’t spoken to Christian since last night, and I truly hoped he was doing okay. I knew my Christian,and I also knew that he had probably been overworking himself.

The situation with Berto seemed to have gotten way out of hand, and to be honest, I didn’t even know ifChristian was healthy enough to deal with all of it. I knew he loved his uncle and understood thingswere not going as he had planned.

“Have you spoken to Beau this morning?” I asked Isobel. I had been so obsessed with helpingChristian that I had forgotten all about my twin. Isobel scrunched up her nose and shot me a disgustedlook. “I know he’s your brother, but please don’t mention his name.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Isobel asked, surprised. “Are you really asking me why?”

I closed my eyes as I tried to ignore her rant about what kind of terrible person my brother was, Whatwas she even doing with him in the first place if she could only complain about him?

After a long drive of listening to Isobel’s nagging, we had finally arrived at the mansion. The car hadbarely stopped before I opened the door and ran over to Christian and Siena, who were waiting at thedoor.

“Siena, my baby!” I called out as I opened my arms. My heart melted at the sight of the bright smile onher face as she leaned forward so I could pick her up. “Did you see that?” I pouted at Christian.

Siena rested her head against my shoulder and started babbling. “Did you miss mommy?” I askedbefore my eyes moved to Christian. “She obviously has a lot to tell me.”

“I can tell.” Christian smiled. He looked at me as if he was waiting for me to jump into his arms, but Idecided to tease him for a bit longer. “Not bad for a dead-beat, huh?” I smirked as I held Siena’s handin

mine.

“Serena…” Christian spoke with a sad frown. I laughed at the dismayed look on his face and openedmy free arm. “I’m kidding. Come here.”

Christian seemed like a happy kid as he pulled me into his embrace and attacked me with kisses. Hemoved his lips from my forehead to my nose, cheek and ended at my lips.

“Why do you always have to be that rough!” I laughed as I tried to push him off. The only one whocould appreciate that gesture was Siena, who had burst into fits of laughter. “I’m sorry, it’s because Imissed you.” Christian stroke my cheek with his finger.

He changed his approach and pulled me into a gentle embrace. “I missed you.” He whispered into myear. I smiled at his words and felt at ease by his decision to take the first step.

“I missed you too.” I smiled. “Where is Enzo?”

“He made sure the house was clean, and then he left to visit my dad.”

“Where are my Carmen and Lukey?”

“Uh, they went home…I’ll explain everything later,” Christian spoke. “I just want to enjoy this moment.”

“Me too, and the next time I’m going on vacation, we’re going together-as a family.”

“Oh, I agree.” Christian laughed. “These two days without you were boring. I had no one to complainto.”

“It’s probably because Beau did all the complaining.” I shrugged as I looked past Christian to stare atmy brother, who leaned against the door.

He watched as Isobel struggled with her suitcases, and all I could see in his eyes was rage. He lookedat her as if she was the dirtiest thing he had ever seen in his life and seemed to be out of it. I frownedat Christian, who shrugged his shoulders. “He wasn’t like this a minute ago.”

“Wait, mommy will be back.” I kissed Siena’s cheek and handed her over to Christian. “Hey, do youremember when we were close?” I joked as I walked to Beau.

Beau’s eyes lit up as he finally got out of his trance and pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry, it’s good to seeyou.”

“Yes, it is.” I ended the conversation as quickly as it started. “But why aren’t you helping your pregnantfiancée with her suitcases?”

“Because I don’t feel like getting yelled at every second.” Beau snapped as he walked past me andmade his way over to Isobel. “He looks miserable,” Christian commented. “Do you want me to grab yousome popcorn, or?”

I smiled at Christian and shook my head. “No, I wouldn’t want you to miss the show.”

Christian slammed his arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

“I like this.” He spoke as he stared into my eyes. “I like the concept of us being a normal family.”

I felt terrible because I knew what he was referring to. Being able to hold me, allowed him to thinkabout something other than his uncle, even if it was just for a little while. “I like it too-”

“You make me sick!”

Christian and I turned around and looked at poor Beau, who was getting yelled at by Isobel. I did notknow where she found the strength, but she raised her purse and hit Beau several times.” You uselesspiece of shit, you can’t do anything right. I told you I have valuable stuff in there!”

I locked my arm with Christian’s as the sound of her aggressive stomps came closer and closer. “Yourbrother makes me sick, and I hope he gets hit by a truck!” Isobel yelled before she made her way pastme to go inside.

“As I said, I like the concept of us being a normal family,” Christian laughed, but all I could look at wasthe defeated look on my brother’s face. If I ever were to hold Christian hostage like that, I would granthim his freedom.

“Isobel!” I called out, only to get no answer in return. I walked in further and went from the kitchen to theliving room, but she was nowhere to be found. “It looks like she’s disappeared,” I spoke to Siena.

“It looks like she did.” A voice spoke. I turned around in shock and came face to face with Dario. Whatwas he doing here? Of course, he was here. He was Christian’s cousin.

“Uh-I-H…H-hi!” I stuttered nervously. I stepped back and stuck out my hand. “I-it’s good to see youagain.” I smiled. Dario had a strange look on his face as he accepted my hand.

“It’s good to see you too. You look good.” Dario complimented me. I tried to control my beating heartand pulled back my hand.

What was happening to me?

It were nerves, right? Yes, it had to be.

I was probably nervous because I had no idea what the hell Christian told Dario, Was he even aware ofanything?

“I feel like Christian’s watching me.” Dario chuckled. His words made me anxious, and I wondered whathe meant by that. “W-what, why?” I spoke with trembling lips.

“Uh,” Dario furrowed his eyebrows. “The baby? She has his eyes.”

“Oh, right!” I spoke, relieved. “She has, and she’s staring at you, so that’s why it looks like Christian iswatching you,” I concluded. There was nothing more awkward than this conversation.

I hadn’t even expected Christian to drag Dario into his life, especially not after telling him how I feltabout. his cousin. I know I also told him that those feelings were a lie, but still.

“Are you okay?” Dario asked. “I mean, are we okay? Or am I making you feel uncomfortable?”

“No, why would you!” I spoke a bit too defensively. “I’m good, we’re good-everything is good!”

Dario winked at me and moved his hand towards a strand of my hair. “That’s good because I missedyou.” He confessed as he pushed my hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek.

I tried to replace the words to say, but I couldn’t. It felt as if I had a lump in my throat, and I was unable tospeak. I knew what I had to do, I had to tell him to step back, but I couldn’t. Maybe I liked his touch.Maybe I was lying to myself.

“I…I missed you too.” I barely whispered. It was okay to miss a friend, right? Siena leaned her headagainst my neck, causing Dario to back off. She was just a baby, but even she was determined to makesure Christian and I would succeed as a family.

“So, did you have fun?”

“Yes, I did.” I kept my answer short. I wasn’t even supposed to be talking to him, not until I knew whatthese feelings meant. “And how was the pool?” Dario continued. “Made any good use of that bikini?”

“I did…” I took a deep breath. If I wanted to work on my relationship with Christian, I had to do the rightthing. “Listen, about the picture I send you-”

“What picture?” Dario shrugged. I didn’t know what kind of game he was playing, but maybe it was forthe best. Christian was right, it was weird of me, and he had every right to feel uncomfortable.

“You know what picture, and I know you want to protect me-but it was inappropriate, and I need you toforget about it.”

“That’s it?” Dario chuckled. “Was there a nude I missed, or are we being so hysterical over a bikini pic?”

Dario had a point. There was nothing to discuss, it was a bikini picture, and it didn’t mean anything. Itwas the kind of picture I could’ve send to my brother, and I was overreacting.

“How was it like? I mean, seeing your dad again?” I changed the subject. I was a nosy person bynature, and nothing could change that.

“How about I take you out for lunch sometime, and I’ll tell you all about it,” Dario suggested. He sawthis as a perfect opportunity to trap me into going on a lunch date.

“Maybe it’ll be good for me to talk someone I can trust.”

I was going to reject him, but that sentence broke my heart. We had a close bond, and he probablytrusted me more than his own family. How could I reject him?

“Uh, yes. Sure-I would like that.”

“Like what?” I heard Christian’s voice behind me. I turned around and held his hand to show him thathe did not need to worry. The idea of those two being in the same room made me nervous, while Ididn’t have to be. They had been in each other’s presence for a while now, and all was good.

“I like you.” I smiled at Christian. It was more so directed towards Dario because I wanted him to hearme. I did not know how he felt about me, but the flirting was a bit too much.

“Don’t lie. You like Dario, but you love me.” Christian spoke. Dario and I looked at each other for a splitsecond before we both turned away. What was Christian doing?

“I mean, I’m not like Dario and Isobel to you, right?” He quickly recovered himself. I knew Christian wasjust trying to save the day, but anyone could see his intentions. “No, of course not.”

“Good.” Christian nodded. He shifted his attention to Dario. “Dario, I need you to tell Beau that he’s agood person. I’m not good with that kind of stuff.”

At least Christian knew that comforting others was not his best charm. He sucked at it, and that wasonce again something Dario was good at. He was good at showing compassion, and he was gentle,nice, charming….

What the hell was I thinking?

“Sure,” Dario spoke. “It was that demon, wasn’t it?”

“Demon?” Christian laughed. “It takes a lot for Dario to disrespect women because he usually runs after

them.”

“Christian,” I whispered. He made it even more awkward than it had to be. “No, I’m serious, taken ornot, he just goes for it-but that’s what I like about my cousins. Dario is a true Lamberti.” He continued.“They’re all shameless.”

I shot Dario an apologetic look while Christian was laughing at his own uncomfortable joke. I could tellthat he didn’t mean any harm, but he took it a bit too far.

“I’ll take care of it…I’ll see you later.” Dario excused himself. He walked off and left Christian behindwith a confused look on his face. “What’s his problem?”

Christian played it off, but I think we both knew that he was the real problem. He was insecure, and hehad every right to be, especially after what I had told him over the phone.

“Don’t worry. We were just talking.” I told Christian.

“Yes, when two friends have mouths…they usually talk.” He spoke, sarcastic. He stared at me while Istared at him and waited for his next move.

Was he going to yell at me?

Was he going to pick another fight again?

“What’s with the look?” Christian burst out laughing and ruffled his hand through Siena’s hair. He did…nothing?

“I missed you, silly. I haven’t made proper fun of anyone in over 48 hours!”

“Yes, me neither.” I smiled, relieved. Although it took me some time to figure it out, I knew whatChristian

meant to me.

He was the one who held my heart, and he was my best friend. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t deny myfeelings for Dario-but he would never be Christian, and strangely enough, I didn’t want him to be.

I only had one soulmate, and that was Christian. There could only be one soulmate, right?

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am now.” I smiled.

“Good,” Christian spoke. “Come on. I have a lot to tell you about yesterday.”