6 Chapter 6
They were taken to One Police Plaza in Manhattan in separate cars an hour later after the police had taken statements from nearby witnesses and a few check ups by the medics which Serena had noticed that she had a few small injuries from shards and debris. Her aunt Lizzie was thankfully not injured even though she looked shaken, and went with them to lodge a report.
To their surprise, when they arrived at the Plaza, Thomas, William, Lucia, Stefano, and Hendrick were already waiting for them. Hendrick was seen talking to one of the detectives when they walked in.
"Oh thank God," Lucia cried as she and Thomas rushed towards Serena and Scott.
William had already pulled Elizabeth into a tight hug and kissed every inch of her face as she sobbed in his chest.
"Mr. Evans, Mrs. Verdino, please step aside. We would like to take some statements from your son and daughter, and also from your driver as well," said the officer who was in charge.
"For what? They were trying to defend themselves!," Lucia looked outraged.
"Well there's a witness who saw that your daughter here chased one of the cars and shot it, making it crash and killed two people inside," replied the officer.
Both Lucia and Thomas looked shocked while Serena just shrugged. Hendrick turned his head looking at her, couldn't believe his ears. Both Scott and Alves were smirking since they were the only one in the Plaza that saw everything.
"Sweetheart, don't say anything until our lawyer arrived. I've already contacted Murphy and he's taking the first flight tonight," said Thomas reassuringly.
"So that means we're spending the night here then," said Scott.
"Just her actually," said the officer.
"Terrific.. Another experience to add in the resume," Serena rolled her eyes, "It's alright, guys. I can handle it,".
Thomas still looked worried when the police took three of them to the interrogation room. The police started asking questions separately and when it was settled, only Scott and Alves were allowed to go home while Serena had to spend the night in jail. The next morning, the jail door opened and Murphy Baxter stepped inside.
"Wow.. That was fast," Serena yawned sleepily.
"Well I came as soon as I can if it's regarding my best friend's daughter," Murphy replied, "Come on, let's go.. You're allowed to leave for now,".
"Thanks, uncle Murph," said Serena as she followed Murphy to the main office to collect her stuff.
When they both stepped outside the Plaza, Hendrick was leaning at the car. His face lit up when she approached him.
"You're injured," said Hendrick quietly as he examined her hands and face.
"It's just a scratch, nothing serious," Serena smiled at him, "Can we go now?,".
"Sure," he opened the door to let her in first before following her while Murphy took the front seat.
They were quiet during the drive back to the mansion. Hendrick kept turning to look at her as she leaned her head on the window looking at the scenery. He slowly grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers, then turned his face, gazing outside, trying to hide his smile. He can feel Serena's confused face boring into his head but didn't say anything. When the car arrived at the mansion, he kissed the back of her hand before finally letting it go. Serena frowned, wondering what's got into him.
"Oh sweetheart," said Lucia walking quickly towards Serena as she got out from the car, pulling her into a tight hug, "Come on, everyone's waiting for you in the dining room. And thank you for picking her, Hendrick,".
"It's no trouble at all, Don Verdino," Hendrick replied, his eyes had a trace of mischievous glint as he looked at Serena.
They went inside and Serena caught a whiff of delicious pancakes and waffles streaming inside her nostrils making her stomach rumbling and her mouth waters. She had started to jog her way to the dining room causing her mother to laugh.
"Those pancakes are not going anywhere, honey," Lucia called.
"Well I'm fucking starving, mom," she yelled back.
"Language, Serena," her mother looked horrified and Serena laughed.
But when she stepped inside the dining room, her family had started swarming around her. Thomas had pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. Scott had given her a gentle punch on her shoulder and Stefano put his arms around her and sat her down with aunt Lizzie serving her.
"Guys, come on.. I'm not on my deathbed. Oh God, this is so good," Serena groaned as she popped a quarter of the pancake in her mouth.
"Actually, mia cara piccola nipotina, we're actually celebrating your first ever killing," said uncle Antonio smirking at her. (my dear little niece)
Serena scowled at him while her father who was talking with Murphy went quiet.
"We were defending ourselves, you can ask Scott and Alves if you don't believe me," said Serena continuing with her pancake, trying to be polite at the same time.
"What about the part that you shoot the car?," asked aunt Philippa.
"I missed my aim, so it was an accident," Serena replied briskly.
The Verdino didn't bug her with questions after that but merrily let her finish her breakfast. Thomas, William, and Murphy were discussing quietly at the end of the table, while Hendrick and Hans were deep in conversation with the twins.
"It's the Lynch, I always knew it's them," Serena heard Uncle Antonio talking with her mother.
"They were an idiot to throw their dead people out," said aunt Philippa.
"Or very smart," Serena replied quietly, putting down her knife and fork on the plate.
The table had gone quiet as they all looked at her.
"Smart? What do you mean?," asked Stefano.
"They want us to know who you are dealing with," said Serena simply.
"Well we do know that the Lynch are our biggest rival," said Lucia.
"Then they must have an accomplice, because I heard one of the men were shouting strelyat' v nikh and it means shoot them in Russian," replied Serena.
"Holy shit," Scott cursed, "We're dealing with Russians now? Looks like our enemies are growing each day,".
Lucia nodded in agreement.
"What I want to know is, why are they targeting you guys?," asked Serena, "Did you or your grandfather do something in the past?,".
"They want something," said Hendrick quietly and everyone had turned to look at him, "Our father told me before he died. They want something from Giuseppe, something precious that everyone will die for,".
"What is it?," asked Serena.
"All I know is that it's some kind of a diamond," Hendrick replied, "That's why you were the main target, Serena. So that Giuseppe can give the diamond for an exchange if the enemies manage to kidnap you,".
"What kind of diamond? How come I never knew of that?," asked Lucia.
"He only told our father," said Hendrick, "But the thing is, father didn't think that Giuseppe had it all this time,".
"And why's that?," asked Antonio this time.
"Because it's a rare diamond and the history is bloody," Hendrick replied, "The diamond keeps resurfacing and missing in different hands throughout the years,".
"Sounds like the Elder Wand in Harry Potter," said Serena and both Scott and Stefano laughed, "I mean the wand's powerful, wizards and witches killed each other to have that wand, even Dumbledore hunts for it when he was younger with Grindelwald. But of course, the wand chooses the wizard,"
"Yeah, well, I don't think the diamond has any power but I heard a rumor that even the royalties are hunting for it," said Hendrick.
"Where did this diamond came from?," asked Lucia
"Africa," Hendrick replied, "And it has a name, Afrikaanse Ster or African Star in English,".
Everyone was quiet before Thomas cleared his throat and looked at his ex-wife.
"Maybe it's time for us to go," he said calmly, "It's not safe for Serena to stay here, Lucia,".
"But she just got out, Thomas," Lucia replied looking aghast, "She needs to have some rest,".
"Not today, tomorrow or the day after," said William quickly, "Lizzie needs to rest too after the ordeal,".
"I was hoping that you could stay longer," Lucia looked sadly at her daughter.
"I still have work, mom," Serena smiled at her mother, "Besides, I'll come and visit you again. Is it alright if I bring a few friends here? I mean Lorcan and Charlotte have never been to New York before,".
"Sure, sweetheart," Lucia replied, "Your friends are welcome here as long as they don't know about our family business,".
"You can count on them, mom," said Serena as she stood up, "Besides, I know how omerta works,".
Serena excused herself to clean up and head upstairs. After shedding off her clothes and throwing it in the hamper, she turns on the shower and starts scrubbing herself gently so she wouldn't damage her treated wound. After half an hour of showering, she grabbed a towel from the rack and wrapped it around her before stepping out of the bathroom.
She was just taking a few steps towards her walk in the closet when her bedroom door opened and she stopped in alarm as Hendrick walked in, looking at his phone.
"Hey, I need to…," he stopped when he looked up.
Both of them froze looking at each other. Hendrick nearly dropped his phone and his eyes were staring at Serena up and down, his pupils dilated and he licked his lips, gulping at the same time. Suddenly, the sound of Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald score came on blaring from Serena's phone, making both of them jump and Serena gasps when she realizes that Hendrick was still in her room.
"Get out!!," she yelled and Hendrick blinked his eyes before running out of her bedroom slamming the door.
Serena quickly locked it and leaned her back at the door, not knowing that Hendrick had done the same, panting trying to catch his breath. My God, that was a major turn on, Hendrick thought to himself. He can feel something rising in one part of his anatomy and he tried to calm himself by thinking of his car and his father's grave. Serena who was still red in the face, facepalming herself in embarrassment. She got dressed quickly and slowly opened her door. When she saw that Hendrick wasn't around, she finally let out a breath of relief and closed it back, slumped herself on the bed. Opening her phone, she saw that it was Charlotte who called her. She called back and chatted for a few minutes until they both hung up and fell asleep.
