Serenity didn’t wait for the door to Xander’s office to close behind the man who had recently departed before barging in herself. The two of them along with Peter had taken refuge at Alexander’s primary residence which was a sizable house that actually belonged to his parents, though since they were on an extended vacation enjoying their retirement, the young master was free to do as he pleased.
“What did he say, has he got any idea who took Matteo?” Serenity barked at the two men seated casually in the office.
She wasn’t sure when the two became friends, but she rued the day since both Peter and Alexander saw it fit to out vote her today.
“Another bogus lead.” Xander’s jaw clenched. There had been many
Like every day for the past month, Serenity entered Lorenzo’s room with hope sparking in her heart.“Hey Enzo.” She dropped her purse on the chair beside his bed and moved to stand in front of the window that overlooked the expansive gardens of the hospital. Across the green park where scores of people mulled, going about their business was another building that Serenity recently learnt was a rehabilitation centre- the best physical rehabilitation centre in LA.“Today marks a month since-” She cut herself off, she had yet to say the words aloud, somehow she felt like saying them would make it real and every fibre of her body screamed in protest.“Xander is doing good. Unsurprisingly he’s great at this whole Don thin
As bullets rained down on her, Serenity spotted a truck up ahead that seemed to be her only option for cover and Serenity pressed her foot harder to the floorboard. She could hear Xander roaring through the speakers, but she was too focussed on her task to hear what he was saying. A bullet whizzed past her head and lodged itself in the windshield, shattering the glass just as she swerved in front of the truck and onto the exit. The truck’s bulky body gave her the advantage she needed to lose the cavalry and without even checking for oncoming traffic she swerved onto the bridge and got back on the opposing lane. “I lost them, Xander! I lost them.” She breathed heavily. “Good, now keep driving, I’m waiting for you at the exit, follow me.” Xander breathed a small sigh of relief, but he knew they weren’t out of the woods yet. True to his word, a few miles up ahead Serenity spotted his charcoal grey Jeep. “I see you.” Xander swerved in front of her when he saw her coming and swiftly le
“Why do you hate him so much anyway?” Peter sipped on his hot beverage, but his eyes watched her over the rim of his mug.“Besides the fact that the man isn’t exactly the picture of virtue? I don’t trust him, I get the sense that he’s hiding something and Xander is too blinded to even question. Vito Costello is the only person who knew we were going to the warehouse that night.” Serenity’s eyes glared at the liquid swirling in her cup.“The same can be said for Genino and by the looks of things, there are more fingers pointing at him than Vito right now.” Peter pointed out and Serenity couldn’t help but sneer at the logic of it all.“I still don’t trust Vito.” She mumbled moodily.
With a heavy sigh, Serenity steps into the Moretti residence and is surprised to find Xander waiting for her leaning against the wall in the living room.“How is he?” Xander’s deep voice broke the silence, his eyes watched as she placed her purse and keys on the side table and warmth sparked inside him.“Hurting, furious, blaming himself. Take your pick.” She responded bitterly, the relief she felt at seeing Lorenzo awake and alert was quickly dampened by the pain she felt at seeing him digest the news of Darrio’s death and Matteo’s disappearance.“Serenity, we need to talk.” Xander spoke after a beat of silence and Serenity’s feet paused in its journey towards the stairs.
Serenity sat ramrod in her chair around the same table as the Capos, one of the reasons being that Joseph Genino sat calmly in the chair across from her, completely unaware of the homicidal thoughts running through her head. The second reason being that Xander was taking his sweet time about getting the meeting underway.Just as her patience reached an all time low, a man entered the room and whispered something in Xander’s ear which caused his whole demeanour to change. Serenity sat forward, practically on the edge of her seat.Don Alexander cleared his throat, finally facing the room full of people he summoned, “Thank you all for taking the time to be here.” he started, but the tone of his voice spoke otherwise, he wasn’t grateful in the least.
Light, measured footsteps sounded in the room and Serenity felt her spine stiffen, “How did you find me?”“I looked everywhere else and you weren’t there.” Xander took a seat on the floor beside her and brought his knees to his chest, mirroring her position.“I’m surprised you didn’t just call Daniel.” She chuckled dryly.“Oh I did.” Xander scoffed, “You shouldn’t be here, it’s not safe and you know that.” He looked around at the stone wall of the mansion, he had to admit the place felt a lot more like home than his parent’s house did.“Oh please enlighten me
“Hey.” Lorenzo greeted as he rolled through the living room door where Serenity typed furiously on her laptop with a pair of eyeglasses perched on her nose.“Hey, you’re back already.” She glanced up at him briefly before turning her attention back to the strongly worded email she was drafting.“Yeah, turns out there wasn’t much to do other than sign a bunch of paperwork.” Lorenzo’s voice held a tinge of hostility which wasn’t lost on her.Turning her eyes to her brother she set her laptop on the couch beside her, “Is that a bad thing?” She asked curiously.“No.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, an action
“Don’t look so frightened, Chica. I don’t bite, unless you ask me to.” José whispered in Serenity’s ear and laughed mirthlessly when the hairs at the back of her neck stood. “José, I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but we both know I’d be lying.” Serenity squared her shoulders and offered him a sarcastic smirk. José’s hand flew to his heart in mock hurt, “You wound me, Chica.” He cackled and took a seat across from her. “Whatever, did you get what I asked for?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Si, it’s all on here.” He slid the flash drive across the table, but before Serenity could take it, his fingers tightened, “I must warn you though, you’re not gonna like it.” He looked at her seriously. “I was counting on it.” She gritted and forced the stick from his hand and plugged it into her phone to transfer the files. “You got what you need.” José nodded and took the stick that she handed him. “One tin of pringles.” She retrieved the tin from her bag and slid it across the ta
FIVE MONTHS LATER “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Lorenzo Lombardi and Olympia Harper Ruiz.” Serenity shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she listened to the minister speak of the beauty of marriage. “Are you okay?” Caterina whispered to her heavily pregnant daughter beside her. “I’ll be fine.” Serenity whispered back, she somehow had to make it through the ceremony. “Are you sure?” Caterina frowned at her knuckles that were turning white on the armrest of the chair from the fierce grip she had on it. The little princess in her arms stopped her from reaching out to Serenity. “I’m fine.” Serenity gritted out. The strain of the day had finally caught up with her and the pain she woke with was steadily growing worse. From his position behind Enzo, Xander was sending her worried looks, he looked seconds away from marching across the room to her side. “Oh God!” Serenity groaned when she felt wetness trickle down her legs and all eyes turned to h
Serenity browsed through the grocery store without much care in the world as she decided on what flavour of ice cream to buy. “You should get both.” A timid voice muttered behind her and Serenity spun on her heels. “Ivy.” Serenity breathed and her eyes widened. The young woman looked worn out and altogether a shell of the person she remembered. “You look good, how far along are you?” Ivy’s eyes flitted to her protruding belly with a small smile. “Four months. How have you been?” Serenity asked with a tinge of worry in her voice. “Fine, I guess.” Ivy half shrugged, not bothering to hide the fact that she was lying and Serenity’s face contorted into a frown. “I’m just about done shopping, would you like to get a drink?” Serenity pointed over her shoulder at the tiny cafe at the front of the store. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Ivy’s eyes fell. “Please, I just want to talk.” Serenity pleaded, giving her the famous puppy dog eyes that Xander hated. “Okay.” She nodd
The courtroom was filled to the brim with spectators and media alike on the day the verdict on the case of Joseph Ledger versus The State was to be delivered. From her position at the front of the courtroom, Serenity could see the scores of Mafia associates and gangbangers lining the benches, but her eyes were focussed solely on her brother in the last seat of the second row.Matteo, unlike the rest of them, sat behind the defendant and only a few feet away from Ivy. His eyes hadn’t left her since he entered the room, and if it hadn’t been for the tensing of her shoulders when he sat down, Serenity would have thought she didn’t know he was there by the way she skillfully ignored him.“Relax, he’s a big boy.” Xander’s hand around her’s tightened, though his gaze was focussed
Serenity and Xander grinned when they entered the Lombardi Estate, after a long month on honeymoon they had tan lines and large smiles.“Oh my God, you’re back!” Selena rushed to hug Serenity as soon as her eyes landed on her best friend.“I missed you too.” Serenity giggled, stroking her hair softly.“Finally! For a moment I thought you guys decided to settle down there.” Darrio joked when he came up to greet them, followed by the rest of their rather large family.“Hi.” Ivy was the last to greet the pair and the moment Serenity’s eyes landed on her she instantly knew something was wrong.“Hey you, is everything okay?” Serenity frowned.“I’m fine.” She forced a smile, but the bags around her eyes were a sure sign that something wasn’t quite right.“So, how was it?” Olympia wrapped her arms around Serenity’s and walked with her into the house, once again the group was gathered at the Lombardi household for dinner, and it seemed the occasion would become a regular one.“It was wonderfu
“Ladies and gentlemen, if I could please have your attention. Will the bride and groom please make their way to the dancefloor for their first dance as husband and wife!” The MC announced with vigour and the crowd erupted in applause. The beginning notes of “From this moment” by Shania Twain played through the speakers as Xander escorted her to the makeshift dance floor set up in the backyard of the Moretti Residence. “Finally.” Xander whispered in her ear when he took her in his arms and began swaying her to the beat of the music. Serenity smiled up at him with a perfect brow cocked in question, “Finally, what?” “Finally you’re all mine and no one can take you away from me.” He pulled her impossibly closer and tucked her head under his chin. Serenity felt her heart flutter, “Do you remember the last time this backyard was donned and decorated?” Serenity’s eyes travelled to the surrounding trees all draped in fairy lights. “My birthday?” Xander frowned questioningly. Seren
The door to Serenity’s room was pushed open, in the reflection of the floor length mirror she saw her family walk through the door one by one.“Mia Figlia, you look so beautiful.” Caterina brought a hand over her mouth to cover the gasp when she laid eyes on her only daughter in a wedding gown.“Hey guys.” Serenity spun on her heels and looked at them with a nervy smile.“You’re gorgeous, Sis.” Darrio looked at his baby sister in awe, she made a radiant bride.“Aww, you guys are gonna make me cry.” Serenity’s fists balled at her sides to avoid rubbing at her eyes where tears were already pooling.
“Don, Capo Genino is here to see you.” Alonso stuck his head in the door to notify Xander whose fingers immediately stilled on the keys of his laptop. “Bring him in.” Xander smirked and closed the lid on his device before leaning back in his seat. “Don Moretti.” Joseph Genino bowed his head in respect as the door closed behind him. “Have you come to me with a decision?” Xander cocked an eyebrow, but his face remained stoic. Joseph nodded solemnly, “I’ll do it, I’ll step down as Capo in return for my brother’s life.” He spoke the words as if they physically pained him, but Xander didn’t care much for the dramatics. “Fine.” Xander stood and buttoned his suit jacket as he rounded the table to stand before the downtrodden man, “Joseph Genino, you are hereby stripped of your title and privileges as Capo to the Mafia. Bow before your Don.” Xander sneered and held out his hand. Genino didn’t even seem begrudging as he kneeled before Xander and brought the Don’s ring clad hand to his lip
“Shall we?” Caterina motioned for them to follow her to the dining room.“Oh wow, Caterina, this looks delicious.” Rosa complimented seeing the large spread in the centre of the table.“You really went out of your way, Caterina, thank you.” Xander smiled gratefully at her, which earned him a blush in response.“Before we start, I’d like to say something.” Caterina cleared her throat in an attempt to get rid of the ball of emotions that seemed to have lodged itself in her throat, “These last few weeks-” She sucked in a deep breath.Dropping her napkin on the table, Serenity moved to her mother’s side where she wrapped a comforting arm around her, “You’ve got this.” She whispered softly in Caterina’s ear.“These last few weeks have been incredibly taxing on all of us for different reasons, but standing here today I am sure we would not have been able to do it without all of your support.” She looked around the table with teary eyes, “So, thank you.” Caterina sobbed a little at the end.
“In the case Alexander Moretti vs. the people on charges of human trafficking and drug smuggling. Based on the evidence presented to the court, Mr Alexander Moretti is hereby found not guilty and is exonerated of all wrongdoing.” The judge turned his gaze to Xander, “Mr Moretti, rest assured that as a result of the excellent work of your legal counsel, the evidence presented to the court will be used to bring the responsible parties to justice.” Dropping his gavel he announced loudly, “Court is adjourned.” With her hands clasped together on her lap, Serenity let out a heavy breath. The wild beating of her heart was the only thing thumping in her chest as she let the verdict wash over her. “Dio Mio, thank the heavenly father.” Rosa Moretti spoke beside her with relief dripping from her tone. When Xander’s parents arrived suddenly the night before, he didn’t know how to break it to them all the crazy that had transpired since they were set to arrive. “He did it, just like he said