Chapter 87 Back to the Past
Serena's POV
I dreaded the fact that I knew it, I dreaded the fact that the sign meant something to me.
I took a step all the way back to my bed and sat with my head in my hands.
It was something dad did every time something happened and he wasn't happy about it.
I never asked what it meant and I hadn't seen it since then, till now.
I shook my head, refusing to put much thought into it.
I got up and made my way towards the door when it pushed open just before I got there.
Valentina stepped in with a worried expression on her face.
“Are you alright?” She asked as she stopped in front of me.
I smiled. “I'm fine, Valentina. I was in here and not out there,” I added, gesturing towards the window.
“Oh good lord, happy you are safe. I was busy ensuring the children don't cry themselves to death,” she exclaimed with a hand over her chest.
“The children?” I asked, wondering if she finally brought her family over.
“Yeah, Dante hasn't told you yet? He came back with two kids yesterday,” she explained.
I went numb, like nothing was going on around me.
My mind blurred quickly and I kept blinking my eyes to see if I would wake.
Dante has children? For who? Since when? And why am I just finding out?
Valentina nudged me playfully and I fell back to reality, looking up to catch a wide smirk on her face.
“Don't worry, they aren't his,” she teased with a wider smirk.
I laughed nervously, trying to hide the fear that sparked up a few seconds ago.
“Ohh,” I exclaimed.
“Yes, so you can stop panicking now,” she added with a smirk.
“Panicking? I was never panicking,” I replied, trying to look unfazed.
“I saw the look in your eyes, you were going to faint if I didn't tell you otherwise,” she shot back.
I laughed, trying to push the topic away. I was about to ask her about her own family when Dante came storming in.
He stopped when he saw Valentina and I standing together.
Valentina stepped back slowly. “I'm going to leave now,” she said with a smile, walking round Dante and out of the room.
“That was pretty cool down there,” I said softly to break the silence.
Dante nodded his head. “You learn a couple of things while on the job,” he replied.
I nodded. “You think he'll come back anytime soon?” I asked.
“Certainly, that's even why I'm here,” he replied. “I want us to go speak with the elder of the Moretti family and I want to know if you are chill with us going today.”
Wow. He's really asking for my opinion on this.
“Sure, we can go now,” I replied.
“Great,” he nodded and turned. “I'll be getting set then, you should too,” he said as he stepped out.
I took a deep breath before flopping back down on the bed.
Going to speak with the elder meant going to Moretti territory, that is going back to where I practically ran from.
It would be weird to go back and especially walk free without having to look over my shoulders every now and then.
Maybe it would do great for me.
I got up and quietly made my way to the bathroom, taking a quick shower before drying myself with a towel.
I applied the necessities and decided to go with a green formal gown that suited me properly.
It sounded like an official event and besides, I had to look my best when returning to the place that turned me to my worst.
By the time I had my full dress on, I applied a bit of make up to plop my face a bit.
I was going for the kill.
I stepped out when I had done all I felt I had to do. I made my way down the elevator to find Dante already dressed.
He looked completely different from the dirty mess of earlier in his crisp black tuxedo.
He matched it perfectly with a black bow tie and Christian Loubouting shoes.
He looked up the moment I stepped into the living room.
I knew he was impressed by the way his eyes lit up the moment I walked in.
But he did a good job in covering it up, rather just nodding in my direction.
“Guess who's ready,” Nico chimed, giving me the impression that they'd been talking about me.
“Are you all set?” Dante asked in my direction and I nodded even though I didn't feel it.
Nico stepped out and Dante made to leave. I started following them before Valentina called from behind.
"Serena, take care,” she said, stepping out with two children.
I quickly remembered what he had said earlier about the children and I smiled.
“They are cute,” I remarked and she smiled. “They look cute in your hands,” I added.
Her smile faded slightly and I knew something was wrong.
But before I could ask, Dante cleared his throat beside me.
I adjusted myself and waved at Valentina. She waved back even though she still held a bit of restraint behind her eyes.
I made a mental note to ask her what was on her mind when we got back. If we get back.
I fell into strides with Dante who had hung back slightly for me.
“We've got a long journey ahead of us, we need to beat time,” he explained.
I nodded without putting much thought into it.
We made our way to the waiting car and without much waste of time, the car kicked into gear and zoomed off.
I stared out the window all the way through the journey.
“Are you worried about going back there?” Dante suddenly asked from beside me.
I was startled as I wasn't expecting the question.
I recovered in time to respond. “Not really, just tiny nerves here and there.
He nodded curtly. “Figures, I was worried you would actually not want to go again. Especially after you'd send your mother after so long,” he continued.
“Yeah, I mean I wouldn't if I had my way, but with the circumstances around everything, I just have to,” I replied.
He nodded. “You'll do good, okay? Just don't look around too much, you are past them now,” he replied softly.
I nodded even though I couldn't feel the truth in his words.
Am I really past them? Or am I just prolonging the inevitable?
We went another 30 minutes without saying much of anything and as we began to pass by familiar sites, my phone buzzed in my bag.
I quickly turned to Dante who was busy on his own phone.
So I slid it out and carefully spotted a message from the unknown number.