Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Being Summoned

Sipping on her morning coffee, Camelia smiled watching Junior play in the garden glad that her son was having a good time; she had been worried he would sulk until Cristiano came home to them. 

She had no idea when Cristiano would be back, it felt like forever since she had seen him and Camelia prayed that he would be home soon; she wished to share the news of her pregnancy with him. 

Matias was thrilled with the way her pregnancy was progressing since they had discovered that she was going to have a baby when they had assumed that it wasn't going to be possible. 

Camelia wondered how he would react when he discovered that they were going to have another child, she was sure that he would be thrilled when he found out. 

Cristiano adored Junior and Mateo, he would do anything for their sons and Camelia was sure that he would be the same for their third child whatever it may be. 

The sound of someone approaching made Camelia look up and she swallowed at the sight of a nervous Jorge; she didn't know what was wrong but he was holding a very important letter in his hands. 

"I am so sorry Camelia," Jorge said moving to hand Camelia the letter that had arrived, he had no idea how she would react but he knew that they would be safer this way. 

Camelia slowly reached to take the letter from him, her hands shaking a little fearing the news that they were about to receive from the letter; she feared that she was about to learn her husband was dead. 

Reading the letter, Camelia felt sick at the news that her husband had been taken hostage; she couldn't believe that this was happening and they had no idea if he was still alive. 

His jailers weren't revealing anything and Camelia knew that if there was one family behind what was going on it was her own.

Her first husband might have been dead along with her older brother but from what Camelia had heard her parents were still alive; they would certainly not be happy that she had married Cristiano. 

"The emperor insists that you and the boys move to the capital for your own protection," Jorge murmured not sure how she would take the news, it was bad enough that she had no idea what was happening to her husband; the last thing that they needed was for Camelia to become stressed out. 

Closing her eyes, Camelia didn't say a word trying to wrap her head around what was happening; this was her worst nightmare and she couldn't stop herself from imagining them bringing Cristiano's body home to her for his funeral. 

"Mama?" Junior asked walking over to his mother, he didn't know what was going on and it scared him to see his mother so upset; he didn't want his mother to cry and be sad while his father was away. 

Camelia looked to her eldest son, she had to be strong from him and Mateo; she had no idea if they would ever see Cristiano alive again but they were going to have deal with that. 

"We're going a way for a little while," Camelia whispered sitting her son down next to her, she brushed her fingers through his hair and kissed the top of his head. 

The idea of being summoned to the Emperor's court scared the hell out of Camelia but she knew that declining wasn't an option right now; they needed protection especially if Cristiano wasn't coming to be coming home to them. 

Junior frowned not liking the idea, he didn't want to leave their home especially after everything that had happened recently. 

However Junior understood that his mother wouldn't force them to leave if there wasn't a good reason for them to do so; he cuddled into her arms and held onto Camelia hoping everything was alright.

***

Taking a deep breath as she held Mateo in her arms, Camelia whispered softly to him and prayed that this was going to be okay; she had no idea what was going to happen but she doubted the Emperor was going to be a problem. 

It seemed unreal that this was happening to them, everything was starting to look up and now Cristiano was a hostage; Camelia didn't want to think about what he was going through right now or when she would see him again. 

Mateo whimpered burying his head into Camelia's shoulder, his things were packed up for the trip to the capital and Camelia was dreading it; she had no idea what would be waiting for them when they got there. 

It was going to be a long trip with two young children and Camelia just hoped that things weren't going to get worse when they were on the road; she wanted her husband back before it was too late. 

"We are ready when you are," Jorge announced stepping into the nursery where Camelia was, he was sure that it was for the best that they were moved to the capital for protection. 

The last thing that anyone wanted with Cristiano missing was for people to try and take control of things that rightfully belonged to Camelia and her sons.

The capital would offer them protection until things were sorted out, no one wanted to think the worst and assume that Cristiano wasn't going to be coming back from this alive. 

Nodding her head, Camelia focused on her son and prayed that this would all be over soon; she couldn't imagine what would happen should the news ever reach her that Cristiano had been killed. 

They had been through so much already and Camelia wanted nothing more than to hope that they would have the happy ending that they deserved.

***

Taking a deep breath as he was pulled from the water that he had been held under for whoever knows how long, Cristiano coughed trying to clear his lungs of the water that he had swallowed. 

"I have thought of hundreds of ways to kill you over the years," Carson mused sitting down in his seat, it had been amusing to watch Cristiano suffer during the last couple of weeks. 

The news had just been released that he had been captured and Carson was sure that Camelia would be devastated; he was disappointed to hear that she had been called to court but he guessed that it was for the best. 

Shaking his head, Cristiano glared at Carson wondering what he wished to achieve by doing this; he wasn't going to regret anything that had happened in the past. 

This was clearly because he had married Camelia and Cristiano wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of getting inside his head; he would get out of here one way or another. 

The emperor would protect Camelia and their sons and Cristiano was thankful that the man would do so; there would be members of his family that would want to steal everything away that was rightfully his sons. 

"Now I get to hurt you like you hurt me," Carson spat while Cristiano was tied down to a chair, he was going to enjoy this and it was only the beginning; no one would recognise the General when he was done with them. 

Cristiano didn't say a word, he stared right at Carson wondering what the man was going to do; the rebellion would be done with soon and there was no way that he would be able to keep him hidden. 

"I am going to take away everything you love," Carson continued picking up a sword, he smirked before he moved forward and before Cristiano could react sliced off the man's left hand. 

Cristiano screamed out in agony and stared at the sudden detached limb, he was going to kill Carson before this was over one way or another.