His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika novel Chapter 382

Chapter 382

Vincenzo

1 felt the cold breeze on my skin as Aria and I stepped into the warehouse, surrounded by several men.

At the center stood Christian, and behind him was a small group of his people, including Beau.

Christian’s face twisted with anger as he yelled at AJ and CJ, who were kneeling on the ground. No one interfered. Ever since my father and Christian’s crazy uncle had disappeared, things had returned to the way they were.

In the past, those two had been the biggest threats to the Lambertis.

Now, everyone felt threatened by the Lambertis again, and no one dared to disrespect them-rightfully so. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, making it hard to focus. I had come here hoping to find a peaceful solution with my long-time friend, but seeing the state he was in and the tension in the room made me doubt that possibility.

Aria broke the silence, adding fuel to the fire. I hadn’t expected anything less from her.

“Are you two insane? Kneeling for this guy?” she asked, her voice dripping with dismay.

Ishifted uncomfortably, knowing that her big mouth might force me to choose between my loyalty to my wife or to Christian, who was like my brother.

“Get up, both of you!”

AJ and CJ shared a look and carefully stood up from the floor, while Christian turned around to glare at both of us. His eyes were sharp, almost demanding that I do something about Aria’s temper-but I didn’t.

He chuckled, rolling his eyes to look away from me. “Little girl, I think it’s best if you stay out of it.” In that one sentence, it became clear what he really thought of Aria.

“L-Little girl!” Aria was at a loss for words. She searched for my eyes, but I lowered my head. “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” She snapped.

I closed my eyes for a second, fearing that once I opened them, I would see the faces of all our men, who would view me as a coward. I was so intent on not being like Fabio that I had tried my hardest to be everything he hadn’t raised me to be, but this felt wrong.

Christian walking in here, disrespecting me, my men, and even Aria, was not something I should have to accept. The old Vince would’ve never accepted that.

“Vince,” Christian called my name, and my eyes shot open, while his searched for understanding. “I know it looks bad, but I have every reason to believe one of these men stole my daughter’s necklace.”

Aria nudged my shoulder, pressuring me to answer. “Vince, tell them we don’t steal.”

His gaze locked onto mine, and I hesitated for a moment. No, I didn’t believe AJ or CJ would steal the necklace, and despite our relationship, I wouldn’t betray my wife either. “They said they didn’t do it, Christian,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Other than that one horrible occasion from years ago that I didn’t like talking or thinking about, Christian and I had always had each other’s back. He didn’t bother me, I didn’t bother him, nothing got in between our friendship, and it had been like that for years.

Christian’s eyes narrowed. “Can you point out the two thieves who helped you with the delivery last time?” He asked, well aware that it was indeed the two men he accused of stealing.

I glanced at AJ and CJ, my stomach aching with unease. Yes, they were no saints–but those two wouldn’t steal something if I allowed them to.

“It was those two, right? Christian’s voice was filled with desperation. “Vince, I just want my daughter’s necklace back, that’s all.”

As I looked at Beau, who stood behind Christian, my eyes begged him for help-but he turned away. Nowadays, Christian trusted him more than he trusted me. He had the privilege of being Serena’s brother. If anything, he had the power to make Christian walk away, as he could encourage him to let us discuss it in private, but he didn’t.

The guy who used to be so tough that others feared to approach him, known for his courage and temper, had turned into a coward under Christian’s watch.