His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies

“Luca’s comment? What about it.” Christian chuckled.

“The comment about your dad and your uncle seemed to bother you.” I tried to clear up his mind. He wefew seconds before he finally started talking.

“There’s not much to say— grandpa was supposed to give the entire empire to my uncle, his oldest son—gave it to my dad…it clearly hit a nerve with some of my cousins,” Christian explained. “How old were yohappened?”

Christian had a bothered look on his face as if he was trying to get out of this conversation. “I was six so remember much— but I remember how everyone had changed when my grandpa retired.”

“How come?” I asked.

“People started to treat us different, we moved into a bigger house— started living more isolated…my dacold person,”

“And Luca?”

“Uncle Berto was supposed to take over my grandpa— and after that Johnny and Luca but when he retirminute he had changed his mind…uncle Berto was not really a family guy and my grandpa would do anyus,” Christian explained, and I couldn’t help but wonder. “Are you a family man?”

He chuckled and avoided my gaze. “I may not always show it, but unlike my brothers, I will walk throughfamily.”

“So that’s why Lucio chose you…the same way your grandpa chose him.” I concluded and thought aboutwas actually suppose to be in his position— but for some reason seemed to have fewer issues with it tha“You know, my cousins call me a fake, all of us. They say we don’t belong there— and me especially becafollowed in grandpa’s footsteps, he chose his youngest son instead, even my own brothers dislike me.” Cas if it didn’t affect him, but it clearly did.

“Johnny seems like a loyal friend and cousin.” I smiled, thinking about how he always stood by his side acomplained or given him any backhanded comments, if anything he was there for Christian.

“He is, he’s been more like a brother to me than my own brothers have— while if anything…he should beholding a grudge against me.”

The way Christian praised Johnny had always amazed me. There was no doubt that despite everything hehis brothers, but the way he spoke about Johnny was different.

“And Vincenzo?” I tried to throw in the subject. I had to bring it up one way or another, and now would bAlthough they did not talk to each other anymore— I was extremely curious about Vincenzo saying his dwith the Lamberti’s was complicated.

be best friends, ever since we were young. It had alwayVincenzo, and

jealous that she got to experience the youngknowing him better than I did had hit a nerve. “Did you and Vincenzo stop being friends because of me?“No…a lot has happened, we were about to break ties at one point and I just happened to do it earlier thbusiness is business but apart from that it’s better like this,” Christian spoke, not getting too much into tis his family? He had once told me that he was the oldest son.”

funny.” Christian chuckled.

dad disowned him.” He spoke. My thought immediately weVincenzo’s face when he spoke about his dad and I figured that,

family so I’m glad the two of you cut ties.” He told me, unaware that we had been hanging outHis words were supposed to scare me, but they didn’t. I was sitting here at a table with Christian

yourself,” Christian suddenly asked. It was strange to

chuckled, thinking about not

didn’t— because I respect you.” He spoke in a serious tone. Even though we were fine nowbut wonder where all that respect had been at the

parents abandoned me, went from grogroup home— dropped out

you get your last

to me and used to work at the place I was dropped off as with her for a while but she passed away.” I smiled, thinking about Melanie Reyes, a woman who had takhad truly treated me as her own. For that, I would always be

of women and grateful,

I cringed at his words. “Emmanue“So you were a little rebel in school?” Christian

school I was angry with the world and used to have quite a temper. After college, I had turnnotch and lost the confidence I once had.

can still do it, it’s just that the pregnancy is holding me back,” I warned him while he looked at me in swould you

rolled my eyes

to one I had been trying to avoid. He

“Dance.”

be a dancer?” He continued asking, and there was no way

studio…but things don’t alwexpected.” I sighed as he nodded his head and took in my words. “You’re

be when you were younger?” I

much of a choice so I never really thought about it.” He spoke with a smile on course, he hadn’t, his future had been planned out for

does it remind you of your childhood?referring to the butterfly necklace around

me a butterfly necklace as a baby but when I got older I lost it,” I explained. “Your familywas thoughtful. I