His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies

Chapter 245

Hours had passed, but Christian had yet to move a musele. Many had either left the graveside in tears or had stepped out to take a breather, but not Christian.

“It’s okay to cry, Christian.” I wrapped my arm around him, leaning into his chest. “If you want to yell, bawl-punch someone….I’m here.” I spoke. “Okay, maybe not the punching part—”

“I know.” I felt Chistian’s soft lips pressed against my temple. “I should be crying, but people are relying on me, and I can’t let them down.” He tried convincing himself. “Tears are a sign of weakness.“

His words to me were nonsense, but I respected his wishes. He felt obligated to be the bigger man this family needed him to be and held back every bit of emotion.

Others depended on him to prepare a perfect service for Lucio, and he did. Gio and Enzo were older, Franco who had lost his son had more experience-but as the heir, everyone expected Christian to do everything as if he was not grieving as well.

Christian didn’t mind. There was no good way to explain it, but in a way, he had become more mature, more serious, and more responsible.

I had learned to respect his boundaries. If he didn’t want a shoulder to cry on, that was okay-but I wanted him to know I was there for him.

“You know.” Christian began. “Knowing dad is not in pain anymore is a blessing.”

He pulled me closer. “I have prepared myself for months, fearing this moment…but I’m fine.”

“Are you really?”

“Yes,” Christian simpered. “And it’s all because I have you, Siena, little Christian.” He touched my stomach. After plenty of guesses, we were both expecting to get a son.

“Your mom is also doing better than expected. She’s so strong.” I praised Cesca. After seeing her reaction to Lucio’s passing, I had not expected her to get back on her feet-but she was doing perfectly fine.

We moved to the Lamberti estate to keep her the company she needed, and she surrounded herself with great company and friends, especially Lita, who had been helping us a lot.

“I think we’re all fine because we knew what to expect,” Christian explained. “Dad would’ve made fun of all of us for crying.”

“He would-wouldn’t he?”

“No doubt.” Christian beamed, trying to remain positive. “Anyway, we should head home and prepare for

the feast.”

Any other person might’ve confused this get-together as a birthday party, mainly because of the number of people, music, and food-but that was the way Lucio would’ve wanted it.

He was a people person and would not want anyone to mourn his death. He asked us to celebrate his life, so we did.

“Serena, you should try this.” Franco pushed a sweet dessert into my mouth. “This was my boy’s favorite!”

smiled politely, not wanting to disrespect the ridiculous taste of sugar in

accidentally caught Franco crying in Lucio’s old

a hug and a late-night talk

taste Lucio’s favorite sweet while I stood in the corner without any company.

who had been by my side for more hours than I could count, had disappeared with Beau, Vince, Marc, and Dario, who had dragged him to the kitchen for a drink.

told him to stop being a wimp, and I hadn’t seen him ever since. So much

relative, she

her reaction when she had reunited with Siena, who had grown

tell she’ll end up having Christian’s personality. Cesca had

awkward-isn’t it?” The woman who had been standing beside

at talking to new people, and I didn’t know how to make friends. I admired her courage to speak

say something but closed it right after and gave her a nod. I

just yet. “Dario said I should stand next to you whenever I feel awkward because

doing. “He’s one to talk. I’m not nearly as awkward

“He can’t even take a compliment without doing that weird

her sentence, laughing. “The blinking

“Yes!”

me. By the looks of it, she knew him very well. A

his…girlfriend.” The woman slammed her hand against her forehead. “I’m sorry. It’s all-new,

was seeing someone?

showed my excitement. She knew my name,

Dario had also told about the feelings he’d once felt

to meet you.” She spoke, making a grand gesture with her hand. “You’re gorgeous. I can tell why Dario had

know? She just didn’t care.

I grabbed both her hands and looked into her eyes with a desperate expression.

be a weird question, and you might run away and call me crazy-but would you like to be my best friend?” I didn’t realize my words. “O-Or we can

was I even

a run for it, I looked away from her eyes. “Im

off. “We can be best friends. Just give me your

or are they normal like mine?” Jade

were

Jade about

from normal.” I scratched my head, hoping that would

okay. Normal is

me an innocent smile, but all I could think about was that Dario wouldn’t be around for much longer. A few months from now, he would move to the west coast, and she would most likely tag along and forget

a playdate with our babies-”

didn’t know

hadn’t told us about her? Did he