My Best Friend's Brother: The Husband - Book 2[First Draft]

Chapter 34: Tracked

Christian:

In many ways, I never expected to be where I am right now. After Darla, I thought I would never find someone to love me so I did what most men would, I fucked around, played with girls' hearts, and hardened mine. I know now that wasn't the best choice. I should have taken the time to heal myself and become better. Instead, I turned into the men my father always warned my sister about; the ones who saw women as nothing more than toys for their pleasure.

When I met Chloe and got to know her, the boy I used to be came out in fractions until all I wanted was to give her the world. Her story made me realize how awful I was to the women I slept with and just women in general who weren't part of my immediate family. I gradually became the man I needed to be for Chloe. The fact that she stayed with me after finding out that I only wanted to marry her as a way out of an unwanted union still sits heavy at the back of my mind.

Despite my aloof attitude towards her, she still fell in love with me. Not because of what I had but because of the connection we unknowingly formed throughout our time together. Chloe Santiago became my everything in a very short period of time. With her, came my beautiful Lisabeth whom I regret not knowing about earlier, and now our two gorgeous soldiers; Armani and Armina.

My stinging eyes were glued to my family who were huddled inside the bedroom Chloe and I were staying in. My wife was sitting against the headboard of the bed, her green eyes wide in awe as she held Armani to her chest. Lisabeth was beside her, carefully rocking her baby sister Armina. Mom, Dad, Lydia, Carlito, and Rachel were all either sitting on the floor beside the bed or standing against the walls of the small room.

It was still a shock to everyone that my Chloe gave birth to twins, even the woman herself. The twins had their mother's brown skin but their eyes were very much mine. They both had stark crystal blue eyes that peered into the soul as they stared at you. I got to see them first as Chloe passed out after giving birth to Armina.

I still remember the tightness in my chest and the happiness that surrounded me as I stared at them in their little cots, holding back tears. After I caught my bearings, I carried Chloe to the bedroom and cleaned her up. She woke up only a half hour ago. The first thing she did was hold Armina and cried while doing so.

The babies were tiny, seeing as they were almost three months premature and I can tell it frightened her because it frightened me too.

"Why is she so tiny, Mommy?" Lisabeth asked, hugging her sister to her chest.

Chloe smiled gently at her and nudged her gently with her shoulder, "She didn't get to fully grow in my tummy, baby so you need to be extra careful with her for now okay?"

My daughter frowned. I watched as her thumb caressed the blanketed head of Armani before she kissed her forehead, "Okay Mommy."

She smiled brightly at the tiny baby, "I promise to be the best big sister ever."

I felt my heart constrict as I held back tears. I was one lucky fucking bastard to be blessed with not only a loving wife but also three kids of my own. I'd be damned before I let anything happen to them.

Pushing away from the doorframe, I went over to the bed, standing beside my wife. Her head raised, and I met her bright eyes as she gave me a beaming smile. I searched her face, my brain committing every inch of it to memory before I bent down and pressed my lips against hers. My hands held onto either side of her face and I deepened the kiss, savoring the taste of her lips before pulling away.

"I love you, Chloe," I whispered against her lips.

"I love you too," is her instantaneous answer.

I stepped back from her, kissing each of my children's foreheads before giving Dad, Carlito, and Rachel a look they knew all too well. The four of us excused ourselves, heading to the makeshift living room area where Vincenzo, Miliani, Uncle Gerardo, Angelo, Roger, and Mafalda were all waiting for us.

"Is she okay?" MIliani asked, concern lining her words.

I nod, my lips twitching up slightly in a smile, "Yes she is. Thanks for asking."

"And the baby?" Mafalda interjected.

"You mean babies," my sister added joyfully to the shock of everyone, "My bitch had twins."

I rolled my eyes, sighing at my sister's vulgar language before gesturing for everyone to sit. I remained standing, taking a deep breath to mentally prepare myself for what I was about to say. I wish my happy moment didn't need to be overshadowed by the information I was about to relate.

"We're out of time. Dwayne is in Sicily."

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped and tension buzzed through the air electrifying the atmosphere.

"Tell me you're joking," Uncle Gerardo hissed.

"I wish he was," my father-in-law sighed, "Remember we sent Manolo and Levi back to the States two months ago to do a spy mission? Well, they were caught by Dwayne's men and barely escaped with their lives. As we speak, they are tailing the Jopok to our destination."

"Fuck," Miliani cursed, "But how do they find us everywhere we go? It makes no sense. I killed the only man who could rat us out."

"Do you think Samantha has anything to do with it?" Angelo asked.

"She wouldn't dare," Miliani hissed, "Unless she wants to find her sister's pretty little head decapitated from her body."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "I thought you don't kill innocents?"

"I don't. Her sister is far from innocent and the only reason she's above right now is because I have her under protection."

 I nodded understandably as we silently thought about what factor we were missing. My cousin Dangelo waltzed into the living room then, his face white as a sheet as he held Elara in one hand and her blanket in the other. I frowned as he slowly parted his lips.

"They've been tracking us," he mumbled, throwing the piece of cloth toward me.

I caught the blue fluffy blanket, noticing a tiny silver box attached to one of the rounded corners.

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Elara came here with that blanket," Dangelo continued, "I never thought..."

He trailed off as everyone's faces shifted, a look of recognition crossing them. I remember Mafalda telling me that Samantha was the one who brought Elara over to Sicily. Angelo's question didn't seem so far-fetched now.

MIliani's eyes instantly filled with rage and shot off her seat, pulling her gun out from under her skirt as she marched to the infirmary wing of the safe house.

"Fuck, not again," Vincenzo cursed before running after her.

"I already disengaged the tracking device but I'm not sure."

I looked over to Dangelo, my head still buzzing with everything that just happened.

"We don't have much time, then," I turned to Angelo, "Vincenzo is busy, please start gathering what men we have left and have them ready for an attack."

The brooding man nodded and pulled out his cell phone. Just then, a loud bang sounded through the safe house before two sets of rapid footsteps came our way. I noticed MIliani first, her face covered in splattered blood and her eyes red with anger. My cousin wasn't far behind her, holding the gun she previously had when she got off the couch.

"Samantha was the fucking rat," she spat, "She was one of Dwayne's fucktoys."

I winced at her choice of words before sighing, the gravity of everything hanging heavily on my shoulders. From one problem to the next. All I wanted was a peaceful life with my family but then this just had to happen. Everything interconnected right back to the cosa nostra and everyone I loved was in danger.

This needed to end and I was going to end it tonight.

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