“Serenity?” Selena called worriedly, the paleness of her friend’s face was starting to scare her.
“What’s wrong, what happened to her?” Xander rushed in after hearing Selena’s distressed voice calling out to his girlfriend.
“I don’t know, she’s been sitting there staring at that picture like that for a while.” Selena muttered, sounding a little unnerved.
“Ser, baby, what is it?” Xander crouched down beside her and tugged the picture out of her grasp.
“It was taken a month ago in Mexico city.” She supplied and Xander’s eyes widened.
“This c
“Are you sure this is Darrio in the picture?” Lorenzo stared hard at the camera image of his brother sounding more unconvinced than shocked.“We had Julio run it through facial recognition.” Xander frowned, Lorenzo’s reaction was throwing him for a loop.“If it is him and he’s really alive, why would he fake his own death?” Matteo’s jaw clenched, he was quickly becoming angry.“We have reason to believe he’s been recruited by the League of Vengeance.” Alexander supplied, watching the brothers closely.“You mean our brother is working for a group of assassins that go around striking names off a list and are named after a c
“Hey, Babe?” Serenity uttered as she crawled onto the bed.Under the low light of the bedside lamps she looked like a panther stalking its prey and Xander had to shake his head to rid himself of the lustful thoughts that invaded his mind.“Yeah?” He cleared his throat, focussing all his attention on her frowny face.“Enzo and I were speaking, he wants to tell my parents about Darrio and he wants me to tell them we’re engaged.” She rolled her eyes at the last part as she settled back on her heels.“Babe, you’re not even on talking terms with your parents.” Xander flinched, the last thing he ever wanted was to come between Serenity and
“Hey, I thought Teo was with you?” Serenity frowned as she hugged Enzo.“Teo hasn’t been home all week actually, he leaves early in the morning and gets back after midnight.” Enzo revealed matter-of-factly.“Seriously, where is he going?” She looked at him with surprise painted on her face.“I think he got a job.” Enzo smirked, hobbling along beside his sister to her black Mercedes.“Woah, does Giovanni know?” Serenity’s eyes lit up with amusement. Of the three brothers Matteo was the most rebellious and the one who cared the least about what his father thought.&ldquo
The charcoal grey Jeep sat bathed in darkness on the moonless night. Inside the confines of the vehicle its owner sat tensely listening for any sound other than the low hum of the wind outside with his eyes darting across his surroundings without pause. The sudden crunch of gravel was the only giveaway that his associate had arrived, spotting the dark figure in the right wing mirror he squared his shoulders just as the back door clicked open. Xander listened closely as the man shuffled in the vehicle and settled into the seat and he caught himself holding his breath. “You shouldn’t have come here.” The man spoke, his voice holding an unfamiliar tone of indifference. “I shouldn’t have had to come here.” Xander responded strongly as his jaws clenched and his grip tightened on the steering wheel in front of him. “How did you find me?” The man asked, dropping the facade suddenly. “There’s nothing in this world that can’t be found if you know where to look.” Xander answered, he
“Thank you.” Xander smiled at the cashier and picked up his coffee and stepped out of the cafe when a voice calling his name stopped him dead in his tracks. “Mr Moretti.” Xander searched the area before his eyes landed on a man in a black polo shirt wearing a pair of dark aviators. “Who’s asking?” Xander eyed the man suspiciously, nothing about the man seemed familiar and a face was something Xander never forgot. Removing the glasses from his eyes, the man nodded to a nearby bench, “Arnold Ludwig. I have a message for you.” Normally Xander would have ignored the man and walked away, but he could shake the feeling that the stranger had something to do with Darrio, so against his better judgement he took a seat at the bench. “Speak.” Xander commanded. “You’ve been asking questions you don’t want the answers to, Don Moretti, I suggest you stop and carry on with your business as usual.” The man stated, keeping his eyes on the black car parked across the street where Alonso watched t
By the time they made it home the sun was already setting in the sky and somewhere in between Olympia running tests and putting Xander on a drip, Serenity realised she left her phone on her table at home.Xander still hadn’t said what made him angry enough to drive his fist through a glass door, nor had he said much else to her and Serenity only grew more worried as the hours ticked by.“I’m going to have a shower.” Xander grumbled when they entered the house through the new wooden door Alonso had installed.“Do you need help?” Serenity asked quickly, ready to follow him, but Xander was quick to dismiss her offer.“I’ll be fine.”&
Serenity hummed at Selena excitedly telling her a story, only half listening as she stared at a spot on the counter with far too much concentration. “Serenity? Are you okay?” Selena placed her hand on Serenity’s arm causing the latter to jump in surprise. “I’m fine, sorry, I’m sorry. My mind is just elsewhere today.” Serenity sighed, feeling guilty for not paying attention to the woman standing right in front of her. “What happened yesterday, Ser? You sounded unnerved over the phone.” Selena crossed her arms over her chest and gave Serenity a stern look, daring her to say it was nothing. “It’s Xander, this whole thing with Darrio has got him worked up so much so he put his fist through a glass door and had to get stitches.” Serenity said softly glancing at the entryway with cautious eyes. “Has Xander found out anything more about your brother or the league?” Selena wondered and as soon as the words were out for her mouth the man in question entered the kitchen with Miguel in tow.
Illuminating the night sky was a beautiful full moon accompanied by thousands of twinkling stars, but basking in its glow was a woman with far too many thoughts racing through her mind. The rooftop of the Moretti residence was the best place in the city to think, but all she wanted was to shut the voice in her head up and tear open the seal on the envelope in her lap. The sound of the door sliding open behind her notified her of Xander’s presence before he spoke and Serenity’s body tensed. “Hey, I thought as much I’d find you up here. What’s going on?” Xander spoke softly, taking a seat on the bench swing beside her. Seeing his surious eyes settle on the envelope, she sighed, “Selena gave this to me earlier this evening, from Peter.” She flipped it over to reveal the name written in black ink. “Are you afraid of what you might find inside?” He wondered, reading the tension on her face. Serenity nodded timidly, “I’ve been sitting here for three hours trying to guess what mig
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