CHAPTER 57

Mack was laughing in the car where he was in the company of his friends, his parents and in-laws were coming in the other car and they were all getting out to visit places and have fun, but they all noticed that the eyes of the businessman in love were roaming all over the place maybe hoping to see her.

Loretta gave the idea of going to the mall to eat pizza for a change because they only eat in exclusive restaurants, Mark took his cell phone and called his parents to tell them the good news and they accepted the occupants of the other car.

They entered in great excitement walking and observing everything that was there, they even used virtual games where the older ones also participated leaving the youngest of the group open-mouthed.

Laughter could be heard wherever they passed, they went from north to south of the mall, while from south to north walked the beautiful Jenna and Alice without even imagining that any of them would cross their steps.

Two cars arrived at the mall where some men got out led by Carlo Lombardi who was talking on his cell phone, asking for the location of who was looking for her man who was following her, receiving the affirmative answer he needed and ordered everyone.

"I want you to guard the perimeter I will approach her if you see anyone trying to intervene scare him off, don't let him near us."

Jenna ignoring what was happening was with Alice inside a baby clothes store, looking at everything with a big smile, she grabbed some pieces looking at them lovingly saying to her nana.

"Look nana if it's a girl this would look cute on her wouldn't it?" Alice was nodding very happily looking at her she was happy touching those clothes and imagining her baby wearing them.

No one noticed that a big man came in and subtly approached her as if he was looking for something among the baby clothes, until his body pushed Jenna a little and he spoke as if he was sorry.

"Oh, excuse me, you, it's just that I... I was looking for some little pants for my son and I didn't see you sorry" Jenna when she heard him just smiled back.

"It's okay don't apologize, I imagine you must feel the same way I do" she said it stroking her belly to which the man asked curiously.

"Are you pregnant?" she nodded to him and received a smile from the man who exclaimed.

"You can't tell, I thought I was just looking out of curiosity that's what my wife did when we first got married" Jenna noticed familiar features in the man, but didn't think much of it and spoke.

"Well I'm not married yet, but I'm waiting for him to ask me to be his wife I know he loves me and he was very happy when he found out we're going to be parents."

He made a sign to his men who prepared to draw their weapons when he looked at her from the front and asked her.

"I introduce myself I am Carlo Lombardi cousin of your father Luiggi Lombardi, you must come with me my grandfather wants to talk to you."

Jenna received the shock of that news and spoke to him loudly and decisively.

"That man doesn't deserve to be called father, so go away I don't want to meet any person with that last name that has only brought me pain and regret, please stay away". Alice stepped in front of her to protect her and enunciated with protective fury.

"You heard my child, please go away, she doesn't want to know anything." Carlo just looked at her smiling malevolently and pushed her making Alice fall on top of some boxes with clothes and saying authoritatively grabbing her by one arm.

"You go with me" He started to push her to take her away when she screamed loudly alerting the armed men who made a human shield to protect their boss.

They left the premises being Jenna almost dragged away by Carlo and she was screaming.

"Let me go animal I don't want to go with you, help... help me please".

Mark and the others just arrived in front of the store and heard the voice of his beloved Jenna asking for help urgently until he saw her and spoke "It's Jenna... it's her, but why does that man want to take her away?"

She stepped forward managing to push off two armed men and shouted standing in front of the one pushing her.

"Who are you, why do you want to take her?" she looked at the frightened Jenna saying "Jenna... my love, you are here, but what is going on?"

Despite having their guns pointed at her by those men, Marck was more worried about her who upon seeing him brightened up and said.

"Marck help me he wants to kidnap me, I don't want to go with him." Being gripped tighter by Carlo she looked at the man standing in front of her and commented.

"Marck Black hahaha the cradle snatcher, I want to inform you that she is Luiggi Lombardi's daughter and belongs to my family, she is going with me and you can't stop it."

Her grandparents were terrified watching what was happening and shouted.

"Let her go you bastard she is our granddaughter." Dereck stepped forward saying.

"Son please be careful..." but the armed men closed the circle they had made further until Carlo ordered laughing.

"Bring him this idiot too, my grandfather will want to talk to him, let's go and don't let anyone get in the way."

Quickly and swiftly they grabbed Mark pointing him in the chest and ribs pushing him to take him away and Jenna had better be carried by Carlo to leave faster while she screamed scared, poor Alice was standing at the door of the shop crouched scared and crying, while the others screamed.

"Nooo my son my granddaughter don't take them" the Black's guards couldn't shoot because they would hurt the hostages.

Juliet said crying "What will they do with them? My Jenna is pregnant for God's sake, hopefully this won't hurt the baby".

Only the screeching of car tires could be heard as they disappeared from the scene, no one lifted a finger for fear of the gunmen and being hurt or killed by them.

Dereck banged on the wall helpless to do anything to help them and shouted.

"Damn that Lombardi family has only brought misfortune, my son is in danger, that man said Jenna is Luiggi's daughter that... her grandfather wanted to talk to her, but what for, why, what the fuck is going on?"

Marcus came closer saying "Dereck I know Antonni Lombardi when it comes to his family he protects them he doesn't harm them and I think that... Jenna is safe who I worry about is... Marck, when he knows what is going on between the two of them and that he is the father of the baby Jenna is expecting how do you know what his reaction will be?"

Carla, Juliet, and Alice were together hugging each other crying, Loretta called Richard to tell him what happened, Ralph was squatting down clutching his head not wanting to believe that an outing to go for a walk and have fun would turn into a tragedy for them.

While in the car where Jenna and Carlo were sitting in the back she spoke in fear and pleading.

"Please don't hurt Mark... he... he's the father of my child." Carlo just smiled listening to her begging, but he didn't answer her anything plunging her into sadness and worry not knowing anything about what was happening to her love.

In the other car, Mark was sitting in the back between two thugs who pointed their guns at him, he was quietly watching the other car and imploring inside that nothing would happen to her.

Carlo took his cell phone and called his grandfather saying.

"Grandfather, we are on our way, I'll take her here so you can talk to her... and I'm also bringing the boyfriend, the cradle snatcher", he received Antonni's answer.

"What a good decision Carlo, you go straight to the living room, I'll be waiting for you there".

"Jenna replied a little angrily, looking at him fixedly.

"I don't know any grandfather, why do you have to talk to me?" to which Carlo replied.

"Luiggi is my cousin and also your father, we are both grandchildren of Antonni Lombardi the head of the clan and you are his great granddaughter, you carry our blood it is normal that he wants to meet you and talk to you" she spoke furiously.

"That man my father? He is a damned wretch who cheated everyone, abused my mother and got her pregnant, I hate him, I loathe him, he is a delinquent who deserves to be in prison, I am nothing to the Lombardi family, I don't want to know anything about you, you are..." Carlo, tired of listening to her, interrupted her saying "Shut up, I don't want to keep listening to stupid things, if you want nothing to happen to your sweetheart, you will remain silent".

Jenna paled before that threat and closed her mouth in disgust, because she didn't want Mark to suffer in the hands of those men, she looked back observing the other car, but she couldn't see it because of the tinted windows they had.

They arrived at a huge mansion guarded by many armed men, they opened a huge gate for the cars to enter and closed behind them, they stopped at an entrance where they were greeted by other men who opened the doors.

Jenna got out with fear observing how majestic the mansion was, but she immediately remembered her beloved and looked towards the other car from where they pulled him out pointing their guns at him.

Carlo took her hand and they entered first, then Marck entered with the others, they walked a few minutes and entered a huge room adorned with paintings, marble statues, eighteenth century furniture, where a very tall, burly man with white hair stood with his back turned and Carlo was heard speaking.

"Grandfather here are the two of them." The man turned around and the resemblance to Luiggi was remarkable most of all and he spoke very seriously.

"Leave us alone" - Carlo replied "but grandfather" Antonni looked at him and inquired.

"That's an order Carlo, get out of here... I want to be alone with them".

They all hurried out leaving Mark and Jenna in the presence of the Lombardi patriarch who sat down on a luxurious sofa saying.

"Sit down both of you please." They both shook hands and sat down together on a sofa without taking their eyes off the serious looking man who spoke.

"So you pretty little girl... you're my great granddaughter." Jenna didn't answer him anything just watched him and Antonni kept talking.

"You are beautiful... I heard what my grandson Luiggi did with... your mother."

Those words caused an angry reaction from Jenna who replied.

"That man abused my mother!... he's a damn rapist, I deny being his daughter... he's not my father!" Mark spoke.

"He was a wretch, he touched my wife, he made me believe that I had done it, he is a coward, he deceived everyone, my father was almost killed because of him, she almost died because of Luiggi, he dared to shoot her!" he said it already standing up to what the patriarch ordered.

"Sit down you are not so innocent either, for you impregnated the one you raised as a daughter, Mark Black."

Hearing this he sat down but said "I didn't know it was her, I fell in love and when I recognized her I..." Jenna stood up angrily saying.

"He shot himself to kill himself because he thought he slept with his daughter, but I found some DNA tests that said he wasn't my father, we are free to love each other plus I... I'm pregnant by him and I love him."

Antonni watched them very seriously but continued.

"I just want to stress that you are my great granddaughter Jenna and I am going to recognize you with my last name, you are a Lombardi and you deserve to have it, I don't accept what my grandson did it was cowardice, but you carry my blood little girl."

Jenna was about to say something when Mark interrupted her saying.

"I think... you should accept the last name that belongs to you my love, I say that because... because when we get married our son must not know what happened between us."

"You guess my thoughts Black, besides I don't oppose your union, you love each other and that's what matters." Mark looked at her and knelt down in front of her saying.

"Jenna my love here in front of your grandfather I want to ask your forgiveness for the stupid things I said to you... I am sorry for having offended you in that way, if you want to hit me for being so cruel and idiotic you have every right, I didn't mean to hurt you I have no excuse can you forgive this brute and foolish man?" he looked at her with eyes full of tears to which Jenna threw herself into his arms saying.

"Of course I forgive you my love, I know what you felt when you read that letter I understood you, our love will overthrow any obstacle, I love you so much, besides here we have our son we both love right?" she said it caressing her belly.

The Lombardi patriarch spoke smiling.

"Well here it is clear what must be done, I would only like to hear from your lips my dear great-granddaughter do you accept to receive the family name that belongs to you?"

She looked him in the eyes and then looked at Marck who was smiling and exclaimed.

"I accept, I do it for my love and our child I carry in my womb."

"You are a woman of good feelings Jenna you have made a good decision, I can promise you that you will not have any contact with Luiggi, because what he did is something unforgivable, as for you Black I accept you as another member of my family and I will call so you don't worry about you."

He grabbed the cell phone made a call and spoke to someone on the other end of the line, as he watched the couple kissing each other lovingly, he put the cell phone aside to comment.

"Since we finished our conversation I will accompany them to their house, I have to talk to their family, they accepted that I visit them, let's go".

They both smiled when they heard him, got up and left with the patriarch who ordered his grandson.

"Let's go to the Black's house, I'm going to give a good news hahaha". Carlo seeing his grandfather happy was infected by it, because it was rare to see him that way and he spoke.

"Grandfather can I know what the good news is?" Antonni answered him.

"Jenna I accept my last name and I am also going to be a great-great-grandfather hahaha." The news pleased Carlo and he smiled and got into the car.

Who would believe that the Lombardi patriarch, a cruel being like his grandchildren, would give his arm to twist for the love of his blood, his great-granddaughter and only cares about his happiness, a happiness that Luiggi will not have because Antonni does not approve of what he did and maybe that will influence his decision to support him.