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

Chapter 42

From the moment we had entered the theater room, Isobel didn’t hesitate to keep up with Christian so sto him on the long lounge while Luna took matters into her own hands and pushed me to the other side“You’re sitting next to me, Serena?” Christian gave me a warm smile and pushed Isobel who was glaring the side so I could join them, while I had a startled look on my face. “Thank me later,” Luna whispered, thinking she had done something to help me. Perhaps it wasn’t that sthe part where I had basically confessed my feelings to him. Olivia who had made her goal very clear from the second she got here, moved next to Isobel so she couLuca. “Faith, come sit next to me!” Marc had offered, and also she made her way to the other side and saLuca and Marc. “Right, just leave me alone here— I’m okay.” Luna sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m next to you!” I smiledlaughed and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Right, I pushed you here for a reason— you can’t let her I immediately shushed Luna and looked beside me to see if Christian had heard her, but he was too busy“Can I sit next to you?” Johnny had walked over and asked Luna. “S-Sure, I mean— why not?” Luna told him and gave me a satisfied smile. Johnny sitting next to me madbetter because I knew he was not going to pull any stupid games. “So what are we watching?” Luna asked Johnny who had shrugged his shoulders and leaned forward to don’t know, Luca’s in charge. Luca, what are we watching?” He asked. “As if it couldn’t get any worse.” I heard Christian whisper to himself and giggled. This whole corny idea movie and having a sleepover seemed to be a disaster to him and it was not that difficult to see that Lucfavorite cousin, he was no Johnny. “Thanks for asking, I’ve decided that we are going to watch…Grease!” He teased everyone but quickly rewhen he heard all the sighs and complaints. I, on the other hand, did not have any issue with the movie, again that I did not fit in with them. “I’m just joking guys!” Luca laughed at his own words. “Any suggest“How about the godfather? It fits the theme and seems kind of similar to the youngest son and all, don’tChristian?” Luca suggested while the whole room went quiet. “That’s what happened with uncle Lucio anwith Christian and his brothers.” He casually explained to Olivia who I knew was regretting her decision. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I turned around to look at Christian who seemed unfazed, but behind all of that, I could read a hurt expr“For what the stiff faces? I am joking.” Luca started laughing, while everyone except for Christian and I fotopic had obviously embarrassed him and I figured why he did not seem to like Luca. The backhanded codefinitely to get on his nerves and perhaps even out of jealousy. “Let’s not talk about that kind of stuff…for once. Now is not the time.” Christian smiled, not trying to ruin“Okay.” Luca smiled back, knowing exactly what he had done. While Luca had eventually picked out a hoChristian tried his best to cheer himself up but officially felt down. Isobel had not even noticed and continued talking to him while he was obviously not in the mood. So mclose friend. While the movie was playing, I looked around and thought of how the hell I was going to sleep here tonmovies were definitely not made for me and scared the living crap out of me. “Are you okay?” Christian athrough the movie and moved away from Isobel to wrap his arms around me. “Fine,” I told him and looked down embarrassed. “Don’t lie, you’re shaking.” He said and pulled my headAt times the things he did confused me because this was the last thing he should be doing. I wanted himdistance, I wanted him to give me a reason not to fall for him so I could wake up from this crazy dream. “The baby’s not dying because she’s scared,” Isobel whispered and glared at me. “Besides that, she’s twweak to be scared of movies if you ask me.” “I don’t think so, I think showing your fear requires strength.” Christian jumped in to protect me. His eyespoke from experience and would not allow Isobel to bully me. “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and scoohim. For some reason, I felt safe in his arms, as if nothing could happen to me and as if he would protect me. due to him squeezing me so tightly but it worked. Near the end of the movie, the majority fell asleep, whLuna were in their own little world and Christian sighed out of boredom. The way how he had managed to not even flinch once had amazed me, but then again…I knew that he hway worse— but the art of falling for him had to do with me closing myself off from any of those thoughtrying to see the good in him. “I’m gonna go for a smoke,” Christian announced and looked at Johnny who was too busy with

showingon his phone. “Alright then.” He rolled his eyes and tried to get up while I pulled him back down. “And mknowing it was for the best not to follow because of the baby. “You can wait in the kitchen if you want.” He offered and held my hand before looking at Johnny and Lunto be getting along well.” He sighed and got up while I followed closely behind him. He chuckled at me staying so close to him that I was almost breathing in his neck and placed his arm aroshoulder. “I’ll turn on the lights for you, so no ghosts can get to you or the baby.” He reassured me and d“Will you be okay?” He asked as I sat at the kitchen table and I nodded my head. He kept the door open on me and walked to the kitchen deck. “Is this okay?” He asked and looked back to see if I inhaled any smcigarette. “This is fine.” He had turned back around which gave me the perfect opportunity to stare at him in awe. I did not knowgotten like this, but the idea of me liking him scared me. Perhaps I wanted him to show me the bad side would keep my head clear. “Smoking is bad for you.” I tried to start a conversation and heard him laugh.like my mom than you think.” “How’s the baby?” He suddenly asked. “Good.” “Great…how are you?” He asked this time, and once again I gave him the same answer. “Good.” “And how are we?” I smiled at his odd habit of asking these questions in the same sequence as usual. It was obvious that hewas too embarrassed to admit it. “What do you mean, we’re fine right?” “You know what I mean.” He spoke and finished smoking in silence. I did not know what his goal was. Diembarrass me? I told him to drop whatever I had said— but yet here he was, talking about it. He walked back to the kitchen and poured a drink while I was thinking of ways to get out of this converstime was more than enough. Christian joined me at the kitchen table and stared at me for a second before shoving the glass into my h“Thank you.” I barely whispered and tried my hardest not to look at him. He watched as I drank the glassand waited until I was finished. “Serena, I want you and the baby to live a happy life.” He spoke out of nowhere. “I want to keep you safe— and you’re amazing but I can’t ever return your feelings.” Well, at least he was being honest about it. “Yes, you don’t have to rub it in that I’m not good

enough foto forget what I said-“ “It’s not you…it’s me and I’m sorry.” Christian apologized. I could not seem to understand why he was trheart once again. “Serena, you don’t know what kind of person I am-“ “Then tell me!” I raised my voice. “Because you keep saying that, but you should let me decide that for mthink?” The look on Christian’s face had changed and I knew that I had to push him just a little more until he woup. “I want to get to know you— and I knew what I was getting myself into, so let me decide that for my“If I’d tell you— we wouldn’t be sitting here,” Christian spoke, and I knew all too well what he was referricrazy, call me insane— but for some reason unlike before I did not give a crap about what he did becausit with my own eyes. “You wouldn’t Serena…you wouldn’t be able to handle it, I know it.” “You don’t know anything about me.” I reminded him. Yes, I was scared of horror movies— but I had gonso could probably manage. “I just want to keep you and the baby safe.” Christian started again, but his idea of keeping us safe seemme. He was always talking about keeping us safe, but wouldn’t tell about who or what he was keeping u“You don’t like me? Fine, but at least tell me for the baby’s sake— because how can we co-parent if you Don’t you think that’s unfair?” I tried once again. “It’s not like you’ve ever opened up.” Christian turned the situation around, but it was not going to happtime. “But I am willing, all you had to do is ask.” He sighed, knowing he had lost this argument. I also did not enjoy talking about my life, but at least I waand all he had to do was ask. “Fine, what do you want to know?” He spoke to my surprise. A smile had appeared on my face at the thofinally getting the answers I was seeking. “You can start by explaining Luca’s comment.”