Chapter 52 The Expected
Dante's POV
I kept my gaze on Nico, giving him a hard look before slowly bringing my eyes down to his phone in front of me.
I flexed my jaw at the sight. It was one of Serena from before we boarded the plane. The video caught her staring down at her phone before we boarded the flight.
“And what exactly are you driving at with this?” I asked with my jaw locked.
“She's always on her phone recently, it's obvious there's something going on she isn't saying,” Nico replied.
“That's normal,” I shrugged. “I wasn't expecting her to tell me everything in her life.”
“Okay, including this?” Nico asked, flicking the screen of his phone to the next video. “That's a shot taken by the plane’s security camera a few minutes after we boarded. I took the liberty to get it,” he added.
I squinted my eyes at the picture that zoomed in on Serena's phone. The picture seemed to capture a message on her phone.
“Let me help you, Don,” Nico said suddenly. “That's a message from an unknown number telling Serena not to board the flight, and we all know what happened with that flight,” he added, throwing his arms around.
“What are you driving at, Nico?” I asked, already knowing the answer to that but refusing to believe it.
“Serena knows something. Serena is in contact with someone that knows a lot more than he or she should. Serena may be playing us, Don,” he explained with a long sigh.
I took a deep breath, shaking my head. “You've never liked Serena, I get that. But jumping to conclusions with no evidence is low from you,” I countered.
“What more evidence do we need?” He asked back.
“And do you know why she was told not to board the plane? Do you really think Serena would make a plan to bomb a plane she's in and risk her life just to end mine when she could stab me in bed?” I shot back immediately.
“Don—”
“No, Nico,” I cut in. “I'm not telling you to trust Serena, but pulling out clips with no full evidence and attacking her in public like you did earlier is uncalled for. We don't do that, Nico,” I said in a sharp tone.
He nodded reluctantly and returned his phone to his pocket.
“Good, now you still owe Maria an apology,” I added.
Nico scrunched his face like he didn't know what I was talking about before it finally clicked.
He simply nodded his head and I did same as we began the short walk back.
“What's with her anyway?” Nico asked in a calmer tone.
“She's the queen of the Ramirez family, wife to the late Carlos Ramirez,” I announced.
“You mean the Carlos Ramirez?” Nico asked, finally getting the point.
“Yes, regardless of her situation, she deserves respect, from both of us,” I replied, knowing the pact of respect in this hierarchy.
Nico mouthed a wow before nodding. “ I never knew, she doesn't look it,” he said slowly as we reached the house.
“We all don't,” I replied simply.
We got back in the house and found Maria sitting on a small couch and reading a book.
“It's about time,” she said without turning to us. “Was about sending out a search team,” she joked.
“You don't sleep?” I asked.
“You are still young in this, Dante,” she started. “A time will come when you can't close your eyes cause all you'll see when you do is blood,” she added.
I couldn't reply to that, I just nudged Nico who stepped forward. “Maria, I want to—”
But she cut him off. “Don't sweat it, just don't do it again. I've forgotten about it, don't want to remember,” she said calmly.
Nico nodded even though she couldn't see him and as he stepped back, I nodded at him and he left.
I slowly turned to leave as the whole atmosphere felt heavy.
But her voice froze me. “Dante,” she called out. “Take it easy on my niece, she's not ready for this life yet.”
I nodded again, even though I knew she couldn't see me. “I will. Have a goodnight rest your highness,” I replied as I left.
And just before I turned to go, I could see her face stretch into a smile.
I returned to the room and slowly shut the door behind me. Serena looked to be sound asleep already as she was hugging a pillow to her chest.
I smiled and laid down on the space she had left. Then I remembered Nico's warnings and her strange behavior. I shook my head, not wanting to believe she was working with the enemies even though I knew she was hiding something.
I remembered my phone too and picked it up from where I had hidden it. I played the recording and turned my eyes to Serena.
This confirmed everything. I knew now that I had to take control of the situation before the situation takes control of my family…
The next morning, after what barely felt like sleep, I pushed myself off the bed and headed straight for the shower. We would still carry out our earlier plan to go see Serena's mother.
Regardless of anything, getting Luca and the Romanos off my back would greatly help in settling everything and finally going after them and fully taking over their families.
I had to prioritize my plan now and that is to be the head of the Romano family once and for all and have Luca and his men doing my bidding.
I have to use Serena to achieve that, especially now that I know she's related to the queen of the Ramirez family that practically controlled the whole of Peru.
I know Carlos is dead and some men have defected from her, but the fact that she still has a good hold over most of them proves that the family is still in control. With her on my side, I have a good shot at conquering the Romanos.
And if it comes to it, I'll offer her my allegiance, she can't refuse having the Russo family in her circle.
I stepped out of the showers just as Serena stirred in sleep.
As I got my shorts on, she sat up from the bed. “Good morning, Dante,” she croaked out in a sleepy voice.
I smiled, putting on a fake look. “Morning sunshine, I know you slept pretty well last night,” I chimed on.
“I did, it has been one of the best I've had in a while,” she agreed with a smile.
“That hurts, considering the nights we've had,” I faked.
She laughed. “You know our nights ain't part of that. They are special,” she said with a smile.
I laughed as I got my trousers on and tucked in my shirt. “Time to get ready. The sooner we get this done, the better,” I said to her.
“Isn't it too early?” She whined on, plopping back on the bad.
I shook my head at her baby character. “It's past 9am. Time to take a shower and prepare, meet me outside, Serena,” I said in a more commanding tone than I had intended.
“Yes, sir,” she called after me as I stepped out. I just shook my head in response.
I met Nico in the small hallway and I gave him a nod. “Play it cool,” I said and he nodded back.
I went in search of Maria, but she was nowhere to be found. I knocked on her room door but got no response. Then, as I stepped out, I caught her figure sitting just outside on a fallen log of wood.
Not this again.