Page 48 of The Sins Of The Biker

My heart falls, and Luca yells at the top of his lungs, “Nooo.”

I hug him, allowing him to drown his sorrow against my neck. His cries break my heart, and I watch as the paramedics move his father’s body into one of the black bags that zip up and cover him. They lift his father onto the stretcher. Luca breaks away from me and stands as they pull the stretcher up from the floor at hip height.

“Nooo, Dad. Nooo.” Luca cries, leaning down and resting his head on his dead father’s chest.

Hugging him from behind, I can’t help but clutch his body to me, feeling the vibration of his sobbing as he mourns his father.

“I’m sorry, sir, we need to take him away. I’m so sorry for your loss,” the short red-haired paramedic says.

Luca straightens, wipes away his tears, and I let go of him. He sniffles. “Okay, can I come with you?”

“Of course.”

“I’m coming too,” I interrupt, and Luca turns toward me.

“No, sweetheart. I’ll be all right, and I promise I’ll see you later. I have to go with him, you understand, don’t you?” he asks, cupping my face with his hands.

“Of course I understand. I’m so sorry, Luca. I know how much you loved him.”

He hugs me again, and when he pulls away, he follows the paramedics out of the marquee, turning to me and miming, ‘I love you’ before he’s out of sight.

“I love you too,” I whisper under my breath.

Once they leave, I browse around the room and notice most of the guests have either left or are in shock.

My father steps forward. “Are you okay, Serena?”

“I have no idea,” I reply, placing myself in his welcoming arms. I can’t help but let my tears fall. “How did this happen?” I sniffle. “How, Papi?”

“I don’t know,Pepita. All I know is your husband will be mourning his father, and it is your duty to be there for him.”

I pull back, “Of course, I will be there for him,” I state, anger rushing through me.

He shakes his head. “Sorry, sweetheart, that came out wrong. I just want you to be prepared. Clemente’s death is going to cause a lot of problems for the family. You need to prepare yourself for what’s coming.”

Tilting my head, I ask, “What do you mean?” I swipe at my tears. “What does his death have to do with Luca and me other than his family?”

My father shakes his head. “Oh, Serena, you’re so naïve. Do you not know what family you’ve married into? You must know.”

“Yes, of course I know,” I snap. “How couldn’t I? I was just hoping the business Mr. Clemente was into would not affect Luca and his marriage.”

He glances around the room, making sure no one is in earshot, then grabs my arm and walks me to a quiet section of the marquee. “Luca will now have to step up.”

Frowning, I reply, “What do you mean, step up?”

“Step up and run his father’s business. Who else do you think is going to run the cartel? Luca is his only son. You have just come into a large sum of money, Serena.” His eyes lighten when he says those words, and he smiles, touching my arm.

I pull away, not believing what he’s saying. My father almost sounds happy that Javier Clemente is dead.

“Serena,” he says in a stern tone. “Don’t stand in the way of your husband’s future. Just think about everything you will have and what your children will have.”

I can’t believe I’m hearing this. “Are you serious right now?” I growl, glancing around the room after my protest caught some of the guests’ attention, causing them to stare at us.

“My husband has just lost his father,” I say in a low voice. “And all you can think about is what we are to gain from his death? Who are you? Because you’re not the father I knew as a little girl.”

“Serena, you’re always so dramatic. I’m only saying—”

“I know what you’re saying. Frankly, I don’t want to hear it. Now, please excuse me. I must say goodbye to our guests and wait for my husband in our room.”

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