His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika novel Chapter 236

As if my legs moved independently, I stood up from my chair.

“C-Christian?” I called out, prepared to make my way over. Before I could take a step, Luca wrapped his hand around my wrist and brought his lips to my ears.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He whispered. “Just sit down while you still can.”

There was no need to repeat that sentence a second time as I followed his instructions and sat down as he told me to.

My eyes searched for an explanation as I looked at the three, but they didn’t give me any attention.

“Ah, Chrissie!” Berto snapped his fingers. “Our guest for today!”

For a split second, Christian turned around to look at me, but it was not a look of love. It was a look of disappointment and pity. His eyes were saying. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be here.

Was he angry?

Of course, he was. He must’ve been pissed, and rightfully so.

“I see you brought my son, the brother and…Vince?” Berto squinted his eyes. “You grew a lot.” He said. “I heard about what that fool, Fabio, did to you—it’s a pity.”

Vince chuckled. “Yes, it sure is.” He spoke sarcastically, probably knowing Berto wasn’t any better than his dad. If anything, that man was even worse.

“Come on, sit—sit!” Fabio guided them to the table. “Don’t be strangers!”

Luca got up to show the three to their designated seats. Christian sat on the opposite side of me, with Dario on his left and Beau on his right.

This time I tried making eye contact with Beau and Vince, but also, they were not interested in whatever my eyes had to say.

“Doesn’t this feel good?” Berto yawned. “A meeting without weapons?”

Christian shook his head. “I’m not here to—“

“Nuh-uh.” Berto raised his hand to stop him. “First, we eat!”

The room was completely silent as the others were forced to eat.

“So what kind of meat is this?” Vince eased the tension. Even if the worst situations, he knew how to make something out of it. Out of all three, he was definitely the less tense, but that was Vince. Other than that breakdown which had been so out of character for him, he had always been laid back.

“Human,” Berto spoke. “It’s human meat.”

Everyone dropped their forks before the man let out a loud sound of laughter. “I’m just kidding!” He cackled. “You should’ve seen the looks on your faces!”

After Berto’s immature joke, everyone—including Luca, felt the need to eat their food in complete silence.

Once in a while, I would try to steal a glance at Christian, but he refused to look back at me.

Was I mad at him? No, I wasn’t. I would’ve ignored me too if I had the chance.

I was annoying and well aware. No one had to remind me of that.

“So, how is Lucio?” Berto broke the silence.

I looked at Christian’s shaking hand and watched as he squeezed his fork. “Dying.” He spoke through gritted teeth. “And you’re not making it easier.”

The painful expression on Berto’s face quickly changed to a frown as he tried to hide his sadness. “Don’t we all die?” He shrugged, looking at Dario. “Isn’t that right, son?”

This time Dario squeezed his fork. “Yes.” His eyes were dark. “Everyone dies one day.”

I was still confused and did not know what those three were doing here. By the looks of it, they weren’t that happy to see me, so it couldn’t possibly be to get me out of here.

I know I wasn’t the saint in this situation, but just a tiny smile of acknowledgment would already make me feel better.

There were so many questions I wanted to ask, and I was going insane because I couldn’t.

How is Siena?

Does she miss me?

Is she looking for me?

“Since we’re all here—let’s play a game,” Berto announced, getting up from his chair. “I’m calling it…answer or die!” He looked into my eyes.

Frightened, I lowered my head, but it was already too late as Berto had already made his way over to me.

The feeling of his cold hand disgusted me.

Don’t freak out, Serena.

That will only hurt you even more.

I took several breaths and kept my eyes on my plate.

“Dario, you’re up first,” Berto spoke with still his hands on my shoulder. “Everyone gets a turn, so don’t worry—“

Dario scoffed. “Just get it over with.”

“Do you love Serena?”

I let out a small gasp and raised my head so I could look into Dario’s eyes.

How could Berto ask something like that, knowing Christian was present?

Did he want him to lose control and do something so that he could hurt him?

Did it even matter still? I wasn’t part of their life anyway.

Dario slowly turned his head and met my gaze. Those eyes, which had always been warm and kind, seemed dark and dull. “No.”

Did my actions make him hate me that much?

“That’s clearly a lie.” Berto chuckled. “If you didn’t, you would’ve attacked me by now—but you fear for her life, so you’re holding back.” He said. “You can’t lie to your father.”

Dario coughed, raising his brow for a second. Instead of going against his father, he turned to give Christian, who seemed unbothered, a hopeless look.

“Dario used to beg me not to hurt you,” Berto whispered. “You can kill all the Lambertis for all I care, but please don’t touch Serena.”

I felt my heart beat out of my chest, knowing the Lambertis wasn’t the only reason for Dario’s change of mind. The feeling in my heart wasn’t because of happiness. It was because of guilt.

I led him on, put his life in danger, and broke his heart—all because I didn’t know what I wanted.

All because I started falling in love with someone I shouldn’t have and eventually panicked.

“Okay, Alfonzo boy—you’re up next.” Berto glared at Beau. “Who would you like to see your sister with?”

“As her brother, I’d prefer not to see her with anyone,” Beau answered a lot quicker than Dario.

Good, so that meant Berto could move on.

The relief faded as quickly as it came after hearing Berto’s hard laughter. He wasn’t pleased with his answer.

It was all so clear to me now. He was trying to pit the three against each other, and it might actually work.

“That’s how I felt when it came to my sisters.” Berto shook his head disapprovingly. “But the answer is not good enough.” He spoke. “I want you to rank them from one to three, and I want to hear your reasonings.”

“Do it,” Christian ordered. “Do whatever he wants, just do it.”

Beau blinked. “But—“