His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies

The next morning I woke up it took me a second to remember where I was staying.
The huge king-sized bed and spacious room were definitely not what I was used to— but I had to admit,rose and had nothing to
complain about.
In case I would end up seeing Christian, I took a long shower and put on some makeup which was sometdone in a while. I
definitely did not want to look pretty for him, but I was also not in the mood to look likBesides that, I was going shopping with
Olivia. The credit card Christian had given me was enough reasothe part and make good use of it. In the beginning, I was heavily
against the idea of using his money, buhad realized he had more than enough so it wouldn’t matter.
When I heard three knocks on the door I freaked out for a second and thought it would’ve been ChristiaEmmanuella opened the
door instead.
“Good morning sweetie, I’ve prepared breakfast for you so you can come down whenever you’re ready.”closed the door again.
So this is what it felt like to have a mother.
A bright smiled appeared on my face at the thought of me not having to eat any burned eggs or any oththe food I had ever made.
I wasted no time and made my way downstairs while I took in the smell of Embreakfast.
“Good morning, you look energetic!” Johnny spoke and was seated at the large dining table. My eyes mewas sitting next to him
and I not only wondered what both of them were doing here but also where ChriFor some reason, I was extremely interested in
someone who I was trying to stay away from.
“That ring is...it definitely yells Christian.” Johnny chuckled, looking at the big diamond around my finger“Going somewhere?”
Emmanuella asked and put a full plate for me on the table. “Yes, shopping,” I told hdig in my food.
“That’s right, for the dinner I suppose? Good choice, aunt Cesca is-“ He warned and chuckled, not finishi“Oh my god, this is so
good!” I squealed with a mouth full and continued eating, trying not to think aboEmmanuella laughed and patted me on my head.
“The food ain’t going nowhere.” Johnny joked at my behavior. “Yes, it is, to my stomach,” I replied. The ggiggled.
“I’m sorry, but who are you?” I asked, trying my hardest to not sound rude. Once again a giggle left her stuck out her hand.
“Isobel, Christian’s friend nice to meet you!” She introduced herself. “Christian has more friends?” I askedsuppose to be a
serious question but was received with laughter instead.

“What’s so funny?” I heard a voice ask and looked to the side as Christian walked in. “Joke is already oveJohnny laughed and
nodded his head. “When the cat has returned the mice won’t play.”
Isobel chuckled and gave him a slap against his shoulder. “I don’t think it works like that Johnny, it doesnShe told him. It was so
strange to see how cheerful and welcoming they were that it had almost seemed Christian joined us at the table and sat down on
the opposite side of me, doing whatever he was trying tHis eyes immediately went to my finger to look at whether I was wearing
the ring or not. “Did you sleep while the other two continued their discussion and I nodded my head. “Yes, I did.”
“I like you better without that circus act on your face...but you still look great.” He gave me a backhandedreferring to my makeup
and I didn’t know whether to smile or cry. What was he even that rude for?
“Isobel, I didn’t know you were coming,” Christian said the very next second, ignoring my existence. Thelooked at him was not
the way one looked at a friend and I did not know what was going on between thdid know was that her being that nice to me
while I was carrying his baby and she obviously seemed intewas extremely sketchy.
“I wouldn’t but I figured I’d come and look at the big talk of town myself before you leave for work.” Shesmirked at me.
“I have a meeting with your dad, we can leave together.” Christian offered, but surprisingly enough Isobehead. “I wanna do
whatever she is doing.” She said referring to me.
Johnny had a suspicious look on his face and chuckled before he took a sip of his coffee while Christian phis ego got hurt at
being rejected. “So what were we doing, shopping?” She smiled at me.
“Oh yeah, with a friend, feel more than welcome to join me.” I forced back a smile. I had no idea what hethis fake mask she was
wearing, but I only had to deal with her for a few more months.
“Johnny, let’s go,” Christian spoke and glared at Isobel. It seemed like he obviously had an issue with it bPerhaps an ex-
girlfriend?
“Don’t forget, be ready at six.” He mumbled and walked out with Johnny trailing behind him.
“So when are we leaving?” Isobel asked and also stood up from her chair. “Now.”
Isobel was not joking when she said that she was going to do whatever I was doing, and even took it as ffull-blown conversation
with Vernon, my driver. Once again I got confronted with my lack of social skills await until the baby got here so I could get my
check and get out of here.

I had texted Olivia to warn her beforehand, so she wouldn’t see any unwanted surprises. “I’ll pick you upVernon spoke and drove
off.
“Serena!” I heard a voice call out and was pulled into a tight hug by Olivia. “You look so much better andring!”
She looked from Isobel to me and was probably waiting for her to introduce herself, but Isobel took matthands and stepped
forward. “Nice to meet you, I’m Isobel and did you guys work together at the strip clwhile knowing damn well that was not the
case.
“Uhm no at the factory, we’ve already seen each other before,” Olivia called her out, causing her to shrug“Hmm, my bad.”
While we went shopping I made great use of Christian’s credit card and bought much more than I had prwithin a half year. It only
took me one day to figure out that expensive clothing is indeed my taste and thlot better when you did not have to look at the
price tag.
Although Isobel was with us she luckily did her own thing and kept her comments to herself. After we wehad some time left
before Vernon was here to pick me up so went to a nearby cafe. It wasn’t long until Oto the bathroom and Isobel took the
opportunity to interrogate me.
“Must be hard, getting pregnant like this.” She sulked, showing me her fake pity— but I wasn’t going to had dealt with girls like
this too many times before. “Nothing hard about not having to get up to go to wknow,” I told her, implying we lived the same life at
the moment. She did seem like the typical spoiled ric“Listen, let’s not beat around the bush, do you have a crush on Christian?”
She sighed as if she had wantthat all along. “I’m aware of your fake engagement because he told me, so...”
So he told her?
For him to have told her about his plans must’ve meant that they were indeed very close, but I did not krich girls were his type.
“I don’t have a crush on him, and since you know of our plans you must also know that after the baby geso do what you gotta
do,” I told her to make things clear. Her face had finally relaxed and her expressionnatural.
“Good, because I like you and I wouldn’t want to ruin anything.” She smiled while I was wondering why sdesperately trying for a
man who she would most likely never get. After Olivia had returned and we wereVernon had picked me up and drove me home.
Home, it sounded so foreign to me.

The first thing I did was try on the new clothes I bought and felt like a princess. Who would’ve imagined would be living like this
because I definitely didn’t?
I took a quick nap but got startled when I looked down at the time and saw that it was already five, meanhave that much time left.
My eyes went to the drool mixed with the foundation which got smeared over and in disgust I turned it around.
All it took were fifteen minutes to wear the dress and the shoes I bought, while the remaining forty-five mmy hair and makeup. I
couldn’t cook, I couldn’t clean, but at least I could make myself look better than Ito me, that was one of my charms.
Satisfied I looked in the mirror and appreciated my new outfit. The red cocktail dress hugged my body pshowed the small baby
bump I already had and the red diamond heels were also a perfect match. I had ematching clutch and a hair bow more
expensive than my rent, but this was what Christian wanted so I wocomplain.
I should’ve accepted a check from the first time, if I had done that a long time ago I would’ve lived like tactually having to live
here.
When I saw the time on my phone I made my way down the stairs and just before I could reach the flooragainst Christian. “My
body is not a magnet, you need to stop doing this.” He told me in a serious tone bup and his eyes widened. “W-what, do I look
terrible, did I overdo it?” I asked him but he quickly shook h“No, but I see you’ve made good use of the credit card.” He told me
without as much as cracking a smileseemed embarrassed by his backhanded compliment.
Only now I took the time to observe him but unlike me, he always looked handsome so there was not mHe always looked like a
snack while I was an occasional snack whenever I felt like it.
“Did Isobel give you a hard time?” He asked as if he had already known what she would be like, but I showhile he eyed me
suspiciously. Of course he knew his special lady friend better than I did.
“So, are you ready?” He asked me and stuck out his hand. I looked at it for a second but eventually accepit doesn’t look like I
have a choice.”
“Serena, can you promise me something?” Christian asked. I looked into his eyes, wondering what his reqto be.
“Can you promise me that you won’t give up on this situation, whatever happens, tonight— because I prwill protect and defend
not only the baby but also you.” He spoke.
And for him to warn me like that could only meant one thing.

That it was indeed time for me to shake