3 Chapter 3

Three days after they got the news, Thomas and Serena, along with William and his wife, flew to New York. Serena was nervous, she hasn't seen her mother and her brothers since she left. Only Thomas came to visit his sons once or twice in a month since the divorce. After nearly seven hours of flight, they finally reached JFK Airport where one of Lucia's drivers were waiting for them. Thomas put his arm around his daughter's shoulder and followed the driver to the car. The drive to the mansion was quiet and Serena was getting more agitated. As the car stopped in front of the house, she took a deep breath and followed her aunt out of the car and helped her father take out the luggage from the back of the car.

Serena barely made it to the entrance door when it suddenly opened and both of her twin brothers appeared. The three of them stare at each other.

"Serena..," Scott said softly.

"Hey, Scott," Serena gave him a small smile.

Scott rushed to her and pulled her into a tight hug while Stefano chuckled and walked to his father, hugging him.

"God, I've missed you, baby sis," Scott's voice muffled as he hugged his little sister, "You look different though,".

"Is it a good difference or bad?," Serena frowned at him.

"Does it matter?," asked Scott looking at her in alarm.

"I was just kidding, brother," she laughed and hugged him again.

She can feel Scott's body vibrate as he laughed too.

"Alright, it's my turn, pea-brain," said Stefano.

Scott finally let go of his sister and went to hug his father, his uncle and aunt. Stefano gazed at her first before pulling her into an embrace. He was always the serious one in the family.

"How are you, sorellina?," asked Stefano, kissing the top of her head. (baby sister )

"Pretty good. You? You sound like grandfather when you speak Italian, you know," replied Serena smiling at him.

"That's what mom said," said Stefano, "Come, let's all get inside,".

He took Serena's luggage from her hand and put his other arm around Serena's shoulder, steering her inside the house. Scott was chatting animatedly with his father and his uncle who were holding Elizabeth's hand as they stepped into the entrance hall. Serena took a look around and smiled to herself.

"It's still the same," she whispered.

"Yeah.. We're the one who changed when you left, Serena," said Stefano quietly.

"Where's your mother?," asked Thomas looking at the twins.

"I think she's with grandfather in the ballroom," Scott replied sadly, "Come on, I don't think she knows you guys have arrived,".

They walked to the ballroom and saw that the door was already open. Few family members had gathered and when they saw the group approaching, everyone went quiet. Then Lucia's younger sister, Philippa gasped when she looked closer at Serena.

"Oh mia nipote..," said Philippa softly and they both embrace, "Look at you, so beautiful,". (my niece )

"I miss you, aunt Philippa," Serena smiled at her, "Where's mom?,".

Philippa glanced inside the ballroom and Serene walked inside. There were rows and rows of chairs for the funeral and there was an open casket at the altar. A woman sitting in the first row of the chair, a few meters from the casket. Serena crept quietly and stood behind her mother.

"Hi mom," Serena said quietly.

There was a gasp and Lucia turned to look behind her. Her teary eyes went wide.

"La mia bambina..," Lucia wept as she rushed towards her only daughter, pulling her into a tight hug, "You're here.. Oh I miss you so much,". (My baby)

"I miss you too, mom," Serena replied.

"Then why didn't you return all of my calls, or visit," Lucia cried, gripping her daughter's shoulder.

"Mom.. Please, not now," said Serena as footsteps approaching behind them.

Thomas walked towards his ex-wife and gave her a tight hug as she cried in his chest. Both William and Elizabeth went to meet Lucia's brother, Antonio who was standing in front of the casket, looking down at his father's body and offering condolences. They head to the dining hall after exchanging embraces with Thomas wrapping his arm around Lucia's body, leading them. Serena gave a small smile to Stefano, they both understood why both Thomas and Lucia never remarried or dated someone else, they still have feelings for each other.

They had dinner together and discussed the funeral that will be taking place tomorrow morning. Lucia kept glancing at Serena while they were eating. Once in a while, Stefano gave his mother a begging look for not bringing up why his sister never wants to contact any of them, while Serena and Scott catching up together.

"Serena..," Lucia called her at the end of the table.

At once, everything went quiet and Stefano looked worried.

"Yes, mom?," Serena looked up at her mother.

"Your room is still the same," Lucia smiled sadly at her, "I redesign it though into much more modern, just in case you ever come back,".

"Thanks, mom," Serena replied nodding, before turning to her dessert.

"Can you still speak Italian?," asked her uncle Antonio.

"Si, zio Antonio. Posso ancora parlare Italiano," replied Serena fluently. (Yes, uncle Antonio. I can still speak Italian)

"Very good, never forget your roots, my dear," said Antonio, "When you're in the 'family', our language is our main communication. You'll know when you join the meeting,".

Serena frowned at her uncle but she didn't say anything since she's just a guest in the house. She can feel her parent's eyes staring at her and the twins were suddenly interested in their food. The talk on the table had turned into work and company and Serena started to get bored. She slowly stood up.

"Sorry to interrupt, but may I be excused? I'm kind of in a jetlag right now," Serena looked hopefully at her mother.

"Of course, sweetheart," said Lucia gently, "You had a long flight, you have to rest,".

"Thanks, mom," Serena nodded and she bade everyone goodnight and kissed her father's cheek.

Lucia had stood up, hoping that her daughter could do the same to her, but Serena had walked towards the door and headed upstairs to her room. Looking disappointed, she sat back down playing with her food. Thomas grabs her hand from under the table and gives it a calm grip.

Serena opened the door to her room and gazed around. Everything has changed. Her mother had redecorated her room and half of her walk-in closet was already filled with fancy designer dresses, new handbags and shoes, jewelry, and casual clothes. Her mother must have asked her father for sizes. She opens another door that leads to a bathroom with new marble floors and a bathtub. The rainfall shower was surrounded by a glass wall and the sink gleamed under the light.

She walked back towards her bedroom door and locked it. Opening her suitcase for toiletries and pajamas before stepping in for a warm shower. After putting on her cotton pants and a t-shirt, she decided to open the glass door in her room that leads to the balcony and take some fresh air before going to sleep. As she sat down on the bench and gazed at the sky, she heard the sound of a car engine approaching the mansion. Looking down she saw a black Mercedez park in front of the porch and two people got out from the car where they were greeted by another pair of people. She didn't recognize who it was since it was dark. Deciding to call it a day, she went back inside and lock the balcony door, switching off the light, climbed onto the bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

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It took both Hendrick and his brother, Hans, three hours to reach the Verdino mansion after their five days mission on tracking down a threat. Upon hearing the brutal death of Giuseppe Verdino, the brothers hasten their work and return back to New York to pay respect to their allies who had lost their leader. They reached the mansion just before midnight and that's when Hendrick noticed something. The light in Serena's bedroom was on. His heart stops for a moment.

"Is she here?," he asks himself in his thoughts.

He had missed her. Ten years was too long and it was torturing. Scott was wrong, Serena never had a crush on him. It was the other way round, it was him who had a crush on her. He had promised himself that if he ever sees her again, he'll make sure that he's not going to let her go, he'll make sure that she's going to be his. He had wanted to visit England himself to see Serena but never got the courage to face her, he had made her cry on the night before she left.

The twins were waiting for him and Hans at the porch when they arrived. Hendrick glanced again at her room and saw that the light had been turned off. Must have been his imagination then. After giving the twins a condolences hug, the four of them went inside to have a light supper and the twins filled them about the funeral on the next day.

"What about your dad? Is he here?," asked Hans and Hendrick immediately went quiet.

"Yeah.. They arrived a few hours ago," Stefano replied.

"They?," asked Hendrick, his ears pricked open.

"My dad, Serena, uncle Will, and aunt Lizzie," Scott replies as he finishes his hot chocolate.

So she's here, he thought to himself. He can feel his heart beating loudly. The twins head to their room after that and the Metzger brothers decide to sleepover since they will be attending the funeral. For the first time in his life after ten years, Hendrick finally smiles before falling asleep. He felt relieved that Serena is now sleeping under one roof with him.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Serena," Hendrick closed his eyes to sleep.

Morning of the funeral came. Hendrick took a shower and put on his suit that he borrowed from Stefano. He went downstairs to the dining hall to join for breakfast in hopes to see Serena. Nearly everyone was there but there was no trace of her. As he helped himself with pancakes, he saw Lucia and Thomas converse together at the end of the table. He wasn't the only one who was looking for her, Stefano frowned as he looked around him.

"Colton," he called the butler, "Have you seen Serena?,".

"Oh, she and your aunt had their breakfast right after they come back from their morning jog," replied Colton with a chuckle, "They head straight to the kitchen and really alarm the chef and the maids,".

"Why?," asked Stefano.

"Well it's half past six in the morning, sir.. And they insist on making their own breakfast," Colton replied again, "It made Sergio go into a panic attack, but the women end up having breakfast with Sergio,".

"Well, it looks like you'll see your sister in the funeral then," said Thomas as he walks towards his sons and Metzger, "Hans, Hendrick.. How are you, boys,".

"Doing great, Mr. Evans," replied Hans, "How's the company going?,"

"Expanding," Thomas smiled proudly, "Apparently, my daughter is now in charge of our branch in Manchester, and she had a few projects there,".

"Serena? Wow.. I guess she's perfect for the job," Hans nodded.

Hendrick frowned looking at the window. There's no way that Serena's going to stay in New York if she's now in charge of part of her father's company. They all head to the ballroom five minutes before ten in the morning for the funeral to start. Rows of chairs soon start to fill with families, relatives, and close friends, along with the members of the 'family', and allies. Hendrick and Hans both took their seats with the rest of their own gang. Hendrick's eyes darted every corner of the room and that's when he saw her.

Serena arrived in the ballroom wearing a black dress with long lace sleeves, her hand clutched in Stefano's arm. Her wavy brunette hair falls on her shoulder and her dark brown eyes look straight at the half open coffin. God, she's much more beautiful, said Hendrick in his head. Serena took a seat between her father and Stefano, her eyes facing straight on the altar and she looked solemn.

The funeral started and the ballroom went completely silent. The last rites were read by their own Catholic priest, followed by funeral liturgy and the Mass. Finally, the twins, uncle Antonio, Thomas, Hans and Hendrick, and two of the most loyal men stood up, taking their job as pallbearers. Serena followed her mother and aunt Philippa inside a limousine to head to the grave site on the edge of the city.

They arrived at the cemetery half an hour later and as they took their seats, waiting for the coffin to arrive. She sat in the front row next to her mother and watched as her brothers, her father, and her uncle, along with a few men whom she didn't see their face lowered the coffin into the grave. Her eyes followed as the coffin was lowered, there were no tears coming from Serena. She had been prepared for this since she knows her family will always be in danger when they're a Mafia. Yeah, she finally has to accept that her mom is now the Don of the Verdino family. She was lost in thought that she didn't notice that everyone was already standing up.

"Tesoro..," Lucia called her daughter softly. (Sweetheart)

"Oh, sorry mom," said Serena and she quickly stood up, taking one of the roses from her mother's hand.

She follows her aunt Philippa and her cousin Adriana who is uncle Antonio's daughter to the grave and at the same time couldn't help feeling that someone was staring at her. She turned around to look behind but everyone was either talking with each other, or lost in thought. She took turns throwing the rose on the top of the coffin with her mother beside her and finally walked alongside Adriana. They head back to the mansion for the Wake half an hour later.

Families, relatives, and friends had gathered in the living room and some were talking in the entrance hall when Serena and her mother arrived. The Don of Verdino step on the podium and look at her people below before starting her speech:

"Hey, everyone.. Four days ago, my father, Giuseppe Verdino was shot six times on his body, and one bullet through his head, killing him instantly. He wasn't alone, two of his closest men who were with him were also shot to death. We haven't had any lead yet but so far, our family suspected that the Lynch is involved since they were our biggest enemy and rival. The Lynch, as we know, is one of the top Irish gangs and very dangerous. They have people across Ireland, England, and as well here. It's a dangerous time for all of us," at this time, her eyes gaze on her daughter, "But we will stay constant vigilance, and if you have family or loved one, make sure they are protected. We will find whoever is behind these and we'll kill them. Those who have any information of the incidence, please step up, let us know. If the witness doesn't wanna talk, we pay them. Money talks, the more money, the louder it talks. And never let anyone know what you're thinking,".

With that, Lucia finished her speech and stepped down. The 'family' bow their head respectfully as she walks towards them. People start to mingle with her, offering condolences and talk about how brilliant her grandfather was. Serena decided to escape from the people and excuse her mother about going to the bathroom. She went outside and headed to her grandfather's studies, there was a piano there and she hadn't played with it for years, although sometimes she played piano in her father's home in England or during her cousin, Alexander's wedding.

She closed the office door and sat on the piano bench. Choosing a tune in her head, she started playing and sing at the same time:

City of stars, are you shining just for me?

City of stars, there's so much that I can't see

Who knows? I felt it from the first embrace I shared with you

That now our dreams, they've finally come true..

City of stars, just one thing everybody wants

There in the bars, and through the smokescreen of the crowded restaurants

It's love, Yes, all we're looking for is love from someone else

A rush, a glance, a touch, a dance..

A look in somebody's eyes, to light up the skies

To open the world and send it reeling

A voice that says, I'll be here, and you'll be alright

I don't care if I know, just where I will go

'Cause all that I need is this crazy feeling

A rat-tat-tat of my heart, think I want it to stay..

City of stars, are you shining just for me?

City of stars, you never shined so brightly…

There was a sound clapping hands and Serena gasps. She didn't realize that there was someone in the studies with her.

"Looks like you haven't lost your touch, you always play beautifully, Serena," said a familiar voice.

The voice that once belonged to someone that she considered her best friend. She stood up and slowly turned around from the bench and looked at the man who was standing behind her. He looked older now, and more handsome. She gave a small smile at him.

"Hello, Hendrick," she greeted him.

"Hello, Serena," he replied, and with that, he pulled Serena towards him and hugged her, never wishing to let her go.