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

Christian
“Vince? Vince, wake up!” Christian shook his friend’s near lifeless body as the surgeons pulled the stretchtheir lives.
If anything he had expected to go to the hospital for the birth of his daughter, but not for this.
“Christian, I think they can take it from here.” Marc grabbed Christian’s hand to stop him from walking. ItChristian thought to himself and couldn’t shake off the thought of Vince reaching out his hand while he jbest friend reached out for his hand while he felt pressured to save his brother instead.
“Enzo is all right, he’ll manage—thanks for asking.” Marc patted his back. That was right, I hadn’t even abrother, the thought had suddenly crossed Christian’s mind. “And dad?”
“Your dad’s at home—he’s fine, just a bit shaken up, and your grandpa is dealing with Fabio’s men who surrender,” Marc explained. He was at home.
His own son was in the hospital and he was at home. Christian couldn’t forget the look his father gave toknew that this would most likely never get fixed. It was the same look he himself had given Enzo, but despersonality change, he was afraid that this time things might’ve been different. “You should give your dadon’t talk to him unless it’s business-related.”
“Have you told Serena?” Christian asked. He made her a promise, but he had broken it, just like that. Vincfor his life while he made a promise to Serena and Luis.
“Yes, she already knows about everything and—” Marc began and turned around after he heard Serena’“Christian!” She called out while Luis was beside her. Christian stuck out his hand to hold her, but she hadinstead. “Vince?” She asked as Christian’s heart felt as if it had shattered into a million pieces.
Even until now, it was still about Vince.
“Christian, where is Vince?” Serena repeated as only one thought went through Christian’s mind. There wyou doing, are you hurt or are you okay—just Vince, Vince, Vince.
“He’s in surgery—“ Marc tried to explain. “Surgery?” Serena cut him off and looked at Christian. “What dsurgery?”
Christian took a deep breath and thought whether or not this was something to get angry over but quicwasn’t. He knew that if anything he was the last person who had the right to get angry, not after what he“Well, will he make it?” Serena asked. Christian looked down at Luis who had shown zero expression andcould look at him. “Of course he will make it, he has to.” He spoke as he looked into Luis’s eyes.
“Serena, I think it’s for the best if you go home now and—“

“No,” Serena spoke. “I’m not going home until I know more about Vince, I’ll stay here the entire night if made up her mind.
“Wow, nice to see you care about me and the baby.” Christian blurted out. “Uh Luis, let’s go and buy a bbrother!” Marc read the room and dragged Luis away from the situation.
“What the hell are you on about? Don’t you think I care about you and the baby?” Serena wondered. “Yoothers got hurt tonight, my brother got hurt, my dad nearly collapsed—but all you care for is Vince.”
“That’s not true!” Serena defended herself. “I have eyes and I can see that you’re doing fine, so my worrigo to Vince, what’s wrong with that?”
“Serena, I don—“
“Have time to argue? Me neither.” She crossed her arms and turned away. “If that’s what you’re going toafter picking a fight, then don’t start it in the first place.”
She’s right, Christian thought as he remembered his position. He had no right to be upset. “I’m sorry, I dthat.” Christian immediately apologized and grabbed her arm. “Me neither.” Serena sighed.
“Christian, after everything we’ve been through, how can you say I don’t care about you?” Serena asked his hand. “I came here to check if you were alright before Vince had even crossed my mind and I love yobe with you.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself, just forget about it.” Christian was eager to end the conversation anddown so she could sit. “Fine.” Serena huffed.
“Serena, I have to tell you something.” Christian suddenly spoke. He knew his path of being truthful wouunless he started telling her the truth. “Well?” Serena frowned.
“When the basement caught on fire, Vince reached out his hand to me and I did nothing. I wasn’t thinkinall I wanted was to protect my brother and only after realizing my mistake, I went back to get him—I’m sapologized. She should hear it from me and not from someone else, he thought.
The reassuring smile on Serena’s face was a complete surprise to Christian. He had expected her to call hmonster, but she didn’t. “Don’t feel bad for saving your brother. If it came down to it and I had the chancwould’ve done the exact same. That’s life.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“It is.” Christian agreed as he brushed her hair to the side. “You’ve been through so much today, and youbeautiful.” He smiled as she looked down with a blush on her face.
“Have you thought about a name yet?” Serena changed the subject. “I think the baby is going to remainwhile.” Christian chuckled.
“Fine by me, as long as it’s not something like Christina.” Serena shrugged her shoulder while Christian hlook on his face. “Not Christina, noted.”
“I’m not even going to ask.” Serena yawned and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’m tired.”
“I told you to rest,” Christian said, but before he knew it she was already asleep.
Two hours had passed and the doctor had finally come back to give them an update. Luis looked at the dhopeful eyes as Serena held his hand. “The surgery went well, he’s out of life danger.” He told them.
“Is he awake, can we see him?” Luis immediately asked, but the doctors’ expression had changed as he s“The surgery went well—but now it’s up to him to wake up.” He had changed his original approach.
“Up to him?” Christian frowned his eyebrows as the doctor nodded his head. “Yes, it could take days, weyears—it’s up to him.”
“What?” Luis pouted as all the hope he had left had vanished. “Y-years?” He repeated the worst-case sceburst out crying. Marc immediately picked him up and pulled him in a tight hug while Serena’s hand moAll this news was too much for her.
Every single word the doctor spoke after that had become a blur as also she was thinking about the wors“Let’s take you home so you can rest,” Christian spoke.
He could not bear the thought of seeing Serena in the state she was in, so the first thing he decided to dher the baby room. “Keep your eyes closed.” He told her and focused on the smile on her face.
“They are closed, open the door!” Serena spoke. Christian opened the door to the baby room and led heSerena gasped as she opened her eyes and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Why are you crying, don’t youchange it if you want.” Christian spoke in as he feared to have failed her again.