Lahat ng Kabanata ng Veins of Vengeance: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

Lazaro’s POVEighteen years ago…“Mama? Please come back, father's very upset.” I choked out the words, feeling guilty that I had to answer the call behind father's back.Father had already placed a bounty on her head in the last 24 hours saying if she didn't return, he'd force things his way. I didn't need anyone to tell me what he meant by that—not after all the blood I've been forced to watch.I could give away her calls now.Make father proud. Make the DeLuca family proud.But deep down, I knew that wasn't going to be enough for him. Nothing was ever enough.Mother was the only one who had ever shown me love. Who had ever shown me how proud she was to have me as her son, and not some heir to a world of violence.“Laz, baby, I want to see you one last time.” She sniffled through the line. “I need…I need to feel my baby one last time…I’ll tell you my location on just one condition.”My eyes widened in attention and I whispered into the phone, “What is it mama? What do I need to do?”

Seraphina’s POVAric lifted his gaze to look at Lazaro, who now stood behind me.“What is it about the death of my mother that I should mention to my wife?” Lazaro continued, his tone menacing, and I slowly turned around to see that his eyes were filled with murderous rage.Aric scoffed, walking over to where Lazaro stood. “I was just having a light-hearted conversation with Ms. Seraphina, over here, Lazaro. You really should calm your hor—“The words were snatched out of his mouth as Lazaro suddenly grabbed him up by his shirtfront, closing the distance between them. “I told you, man,” he gritted out, “she’s Mrs. Seraphina De Luca! And did you call that a light-hearted conversation? Mentioning my mother? What gives you the right to do that?”Pressing his lips together in a tight smirk, obviously mortified, Aric tried to pry Lazaro’s fingers away, but he held on tightly. “Get your hands off me, man,” he requested in a polite undertone that I found quite odd.“This is your last warning

Seraphina’s POVI woke up to a number of calls and texts. About ten from my brother. Both calls and texts. About five calls from the housekeeper at the Alvarez mansion. Voicemails too.What was going on?I picked up my phone from the table, glancing at the time on the screen.5.45pm.Yawning, I scrolled over to the messages app, opening my brother’s text box.His first text had dropped around 3:30pm.Pick up the phone, Seraph. It’s urgent. The next one was dropped around 3:37pm.You know I never do this, but there’s something I have to tell you. The urgency was clear. Dante never dropped me texts, neither did he call. Often. But he’d dropped me three texts. Suspicious.I was just about to scroll down to the third text when the phone started to vibrate in my hands again, a call incoming from the housekeeper at the mansion.Vibration mode…no wonder I hadn’t gotten the texts or calls. I quickly slid to the answer icon to the right and placed the phone against my ear. “Ms. Harper I’m s

Lazaro’s POVA warm, suffocating feeling spread through my chest as she repeated the words again, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty hanging over her eyes.And slowly, I lifted myself off the bed, pulling her close. “You’re what?” I demanded again, still in subtle denial of what I’d heard the first two times.“Pregnant, Lazaro,” she repeated with a nervous chuckle, lifting a hand to her hair to ruffle it. “Does it come to you as a surprise?” She added, her gaze turning accusatory.“What? No—““You’re the first and only man to ever put their hands on my body, Lazaro,” she interrupted, her cheeks turning crimson, “and we did it without protection. So,” she shrugged, “you shouldn’t be surprised if I end up pregnant.”I swallowed, my heart racing uncontrollably. “I know that,” I replied, “but are you certain?”She seized a deep sigh, shaking her head. “Not really. I just suspect so. I don’t know what it feels like, but my body feels different. You can say I’m almost certain.”“Wow,”

Jaxon’s POVI cautiously walked up to Seraphina’s room, adjusting my tie and running my fingers through my hair to make it look slightly presentable.The past couple days had panned out in my favour, as I’d said more than a dozen words to her, for the first time in a lifetime.I happened to be the mouth-piece for the two, Lazaro, and her, as I was sent back and forth between them, to leave messages they both were too proud or stubborn to exchange directly.So, fortunately, I’d gotten to see Seraphina’s ravishing beauty up close, and personal, and her alluring smile that never seemed to fade, even in the face of despair.It was a great feat, you see, because I’ve nursed a quiet affection for her for two whole years.Since that time I’d set my eyes on her, from across the room, I’d never stopped thinking about her. Then, somehow, she’s suddenly within reach. Somewhere I could see her everyday.Wife of my boss, Lazaro De Luca. Life never fails to pull surprises out of its fucking bag.H