CHRISTIANO

Five

Christiano 

That little s**t Damiano finally sent men over. I was ready to match there and stake my claim on the Lombardi organization. I don't think it would have been pretty if I had done that. We still don't know each other that well and fighting with him is the last thing I want. As a matter of fact, I don't want to have any interactions with him. He's always known Lombardi was his father from birth so he can continue being Lombardi's son. I am a De Luca. Always and forever. 

I've sobered up today. The guys were here early in the morning and Nevio has been briefing them on what is going on. We came up with a plan yesterday, one Nev didn't like but had no choice but to accept because we have no other way out. This is the only way we can control this situation. Instead of being sitting ducks here, I decided to take the fight to Balotelli. That asshole won't see me coming because he thinks I'm in a club somewhere sleeping off a hangover. I think word has gotten around about what a bum I've become so these fuckers think they can take me out. By marching to his place, I'm sending a warning to everyone else. 

Christiano De Luca isn't someone you can take out easily. Yes I feel like s**t after finding out Lombardi is my sperm donor. Yes I've been drinking and f*****g women all over the city. Yes I have often forgotten where I was or what happened the previous the night. But that doesn't mean anyone has a chance to wipe my business out. For all her faults, there's something mamma didn't fail at. And that was teach me how this business works inside out. I could be half dead and I'd still take fuckers like Balotelli out. If my enemies know what's best for them, they better stay away from me. 

"We're ready Chris" Nev says standing at the kitchen doorway. I'm on my third cup of coffee today and it's barely seven in the morning. Imagine that. 

"Let's move out then. I want to get this over and done with as fast as possible" placing the empty cup in the sink, I get off the long legged chair. 

"Are you sure about this?" 

"Yes" 

"Okay, I sent Tommaso back to the hospital. He wanted to see Carina and he'll be safe there because of the security Giovanni has put in place" I wince at the mention of her name. Nev is trying to get a reaction from me by saying it out loud. Yesterday before I went to bed, he sat me down and gave me a lecture about what an ass I've been. I don't know when he changed sides. I was under the impression he hated her for kidnapping and shooting him even though she wasn't the one who'd actually done the shooting. Clearly I was wrong. He went on and on about how our love was rare, telling me I should try and sort things out instead of abandoning her. 

It's not as if I left her outside the orphanage like her mother did. She lost our baby and her memories. What's left to fight for? Like I said, I won't be able to look at her and not want to strangle her. She's better off without me. But does Nev understand that? No. So he's taken it upon himself to try and bring me back to my senses. I did tell him to f**k off at some point. He didn't. We spent almost two hours in my room, with him talking and me zoning him out. I don't want a repeat of that so I just nod. That seems to satisfy him and he moves away from the door, allowing me to pass. 

Minutes later we're in the car, heading to Balotelli's home. There are at least fifteen cars with mine positioned strategically in the middle. As usual Nev is in the same car with me but today we're quiet. He's still pissed at me for not giving a s**t about anything for the last three weeks. I don't know how he sees me though. Am I some kind of machine that isn't supposed to have feelings? If I could I'd give him half of the pain I feel so he'd know what it's like. I can't even grieve for my baby properly because the person I'm supposed to be grieving with doesn't remember she was pregnant. f**k, this is the reason I've been drinking. So I wouldn't have to think about anything. 

We're on our way to start or finish a war and I'm thinking about her. Wondering how she is. What does it feel like to not remember me? How we were, Our baby, all those times we were together. A lot happened since the day we met. The good and bad things, everything is so vivid in my head. Honestly, I really do envy her. I wish I could forget how she smells or how soft her lips are. The sounds she makes when she's about to come and when she's sleeping. How smooth her skin feels under my fingers and how content I always felt when I was inside her. I wish I could forget all that. My life would be so much easier. But I can't, so here I am, going to war in the hopes that after I'm done, everyone will just leave me the f**k alone. 

When we're almost there, all the guys get out of the car. They'll continue on foot and surround the property before I go in. It doesn't matter how prepared that asshole is, if I blindside him, he'll go down. If he tries anything I'll kill him and be done with him. Dead people won't have time to bother or plot against me. At the gate, Fabian doesn't wait for the guards there to open the steel doors for us. He takes out his gun, shoots the two men standing beside it and forces our way through, taking the gates off their hinges as drives in. Nev raises his eyebrows at me but I just shrug. Maybe he knows how much I'd like to be drinking my ass off. 

My phone rings as we stop outside the mansion "Hello" 

"Sir, Balotelli's men are here shooting the place up" 

Fuck, I literally just finished rebuilding my house and that bastard is destroying it again. Hanging up, I call Sam. He's leading the other guys that have surrounded this property "Sam, light this f*****g place on fire"

"I thought we came here to talk" Nev says. I can hear accusation in his voice and I want to punch him. He's treating me like a rookie who's just joined this business. 

"We're way past talking" I tell him just as bullets start flying everywhere "Balotelli's men are currently at our house doing the same thing. Knowing him, he's here hiding out like a p***y" 

"f*****g hell. I'm glad I sent Tommaso to the hospital" we watch as shards of glass go flying everywhere. Sam is still on the phone and I tell him to step it up. Seconds later, a room at the back of the house blows up. I want to force that fucker out. If that means burning this place to the ground then I'll do just that. We have to blow up half of the house before he comes out with three men flanking him and a gun in his hand. Fabian gets out and opens the door for me. 

"Well, if it isn't the p***y in the flesh. Fancy seeing you here Balotelli. I thought you'd be over at my house where you sent your minions" 

"Give me a good reason as to why I shouldn't kill you right here, right now" he snarls making me laugh. 

"Are you that delusional? You're f*****g surrounded you asshole. I don't send my men to war and stay at home like a coward. I lead them" 

"Coward? You mean like how you've been hiding behind daddy all this time?" 

"I have never hidden behind anyone...." his bark of laughter cuts me off. 

"I feel like I'm in some soap opera watching this drama unfold. A father protecting his son in secret and pretending to be enemies in front of everyone else" 

"What the f**k are you talking about?" 

"Why the hell do you think I stayed away all this time? Are you so dumb that you think you made it to the top all on your own?" he walks towards us, stopping a few feet away from where we're standing "Never pegged you for a stupid person. Lombardi warned us to stay away from you because you were his to take care of. Now that word is out he was your father, his words make sense" 

"Call your men off Balotelli. We don't want to start a stupid war that might result to innocents dying" Nev says when it's clear that I have no intention of speaking 

"You're just a lap dog that does whatever he's told to do" he fires back. I can hear them talking and what they're saying but it's going in one ear and flying out the other. Protecting me? What the f**k does he mean by that? 

I just found out he's my father. I can't handle knowing that I owe my success to him. No f*****g way. He can't go from being the devil to father of the year. I have never needed his help and I didn't ask for it. I have worked hard for everything I have, for my position, for the respect of everyone. There is no way I owe that man anything. 

"Let's go Fabian" I mutter walking backwards to the car. I need to get out of here then I need a drink. Nev grabs the phone in my hand, firing orders at Sam. I think he's showing Balotelli that we're not joking because the attack starts all over again. We drive off, leaving Balotelli cursing us while trying to shoot at our car. Bullets are flying past the window, one even hits the front windshield. When we get to where the other cars are parked, I kick Nevio out, telling him Fabian will drop me at a club then pick up Tommaso. 

"Sir, where do you want to go?" 

"The hospital" if he's shocked, he doesn't show it. He just nods and continues driving. I had planned on going to see her later but now's a good time as any. 

Tommaso is sitting at the waiting room sulking because his Zia forgot him. He's with Paulo who's trying to persuade him to go home. I walk straight to her room and let myself in. It's dark but I can see just fine. For a second there, I debate on leaving without seeing her. She's asleep so she won't know that I was here. But before I know it I'm moving to sit on the chair beside the bed. I'm surprised by the tears on her face and knowing her, she's pretending to be asleep hoping I'll leave. Lifting my hand, I brush her hair away from her face 

"Even asleep you're still beautiful" I murmur wiping away the moisture on her cheek. She's determined to pretend to be asleep "I know you're awake Carina" at that snaps her eyes open, sitting up. 

"Who the f**k are you?" she asks 

"I've been asking myself that for a while now. Who am I?" 

"Did you also lose your memories?" 

I chuckle "I wish I had. I really wish I had lost my memories" 

"What is your name?" 

"Did you really forget everything Carina?" I still can't believe it. 

"Do we know each other? How did we meet? Are we friends or something?" 

"Are you okay? I mean, are you in pain? You've been in bed for a few weeks. Can you walk?" her eyes widen and she throws the covers off her, getting out of bed. Of course she doesn't make it far because her legs have been inactive for a while. I wrap my arm around her intending to support her but find myself pulling her into my body. God, it feels so good to have her in my arms. I might not want to admit it, but deep down I was scared she'd never wake up. 

"Easy, you're still too weak to stand on your own" 

"But my legs are fine. Right? I can walk?" f**k, the way she asks it makes some of my anger melt away. Bending my head, I place a small kiss on her lips. It's a goodbye kiss. 

"You will be fine Carina" I whisper "You're better off not remembering anything. You have a second chance. Live your life like everyday is the last and forget about the past. For your own good, I hope you never remember" slowly, I lower her on the bed then leave in a hurry before I change my mind. It's clear that she's the only person who can make me feel better but I'm still mad at her for lying to me. 

I hope she never remembers our time together. It will be better for us if she forgets it forever. 

*****************************************

Guess who's winning father of the year! It's definitely not Chris. 

On the other hand, I appreciate the fact that he wasn't mean or rude to Carina. She just woke up and will need more time to recover. 

Admit it. Your heart fluttered a little when he held her. If you're this couple's shippers, please move this way. ⬅️

The rest can go deal with Balloteli.