❝ 𝙾𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚞𝚗.
𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎, 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 ❞
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
FIVE MONTHS LATER
"RYAN!!! I WANT SPICY CHICKEN WINGS INSTEAD!!"
"Okay!" I yell back, hoping Serenity can hear me."Are you serious? Ten minutes ago she wanted Mexican food and now she wants spicy chicken wings. Can these next four months go any faster?!"
"Serenity's scarier than when she's La Diabla." Cassandra says, putting her shoes on.
"We'll be back in a few!" I yell again. Cassandra and I head out the front door and to my car. "I can't believe she's already five months pregnant." She adds once the both of us are in the car.
"Five months since the underworld has heard or seen her too." I responded.
It has been that long since anyone has seen La Diabla. Serenity came up with a plan not long after she moved back in with her parents about how she was going to convince the underworld why she will be MIA for a year.
Which was honestly a great plan.
La Diabla will be taking a year off of fighting at the Red & Black Cave so she can 'teach' people a few of her tips and tricks. Of course that actually won't happen but Cass and I have already started on creating fake but really believable results from the people she's apparently teaching. Somehow everyone's been believing it which concerns me but hey, it works.
They also think La Diabla is still in action as an assassin and still taking clients. While that's slightly true, it's actually Cassandra and I who are the one's killing the victims. Serenity does her known signature on the pieces of papers then gives them to us so we can put them on the people Cass and I kill.
Recently, Serenity gave us the burner phone she used to send her clients information about the victim being killed because when she had it, she kept falling asleep which caused her not to see our messages about another person we killed so then she could send a message to her client to let them know they're dead. It was originally me who asked her to let us use her burner phone from now on to send the client messages because I was personally worried about her forcing herself to stay up late.
So to sum that up, the underworld thinks La Diabla is still in action as an assassin but has taken a year off from illegal underground fighting. In reality, Cass and I are the ones who are acting as La Diabla and will act as her for a year by still taking clients and going on missions while Serenity is actually simply resting and taking time off from both of her specialties for a year. Still, she's training but making sure not to overdo it.
"What do you think it'll be?" Cassandra asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"What? Oh shit-" Well I just ran a red light. Not the first time it's happened and will not be the last.
"The baby. I think it'll be a girl. Wait, imagine the Castillo Mafia having an heiress to the throne."
"Doesn't seem like a bad idea. The underworld will definitely not take it lightly but I can already see Serenity slicing the throats of whoever says anything about how a woman won't be able to lead."
"Do you think she and Elijah will one day find their way back to each other?"
"Yes." I immediately said, "I have no doubt about it."
˗ˏˋ𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'ˎ˗
—
˗ˏˋ𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞'ˎ˗
Five months. Five fucking months since I last saw the love of my life. Five months since I was able to kiss her, to hear her laugh to tell her I love her. Even the eyerolls and threats she gives me. I miss every little part of her and it hurts so much. I still haven't been able to forgive my papá for what he did but I'm still able to get along with him.
The week after Serenity and I signed those papers, I was a total mess. So much so Grayson had to take my place for the first three days because on the fourth day, Valentino called me to ask to return the favor I promised I would since he and his team helped us a few weeks ago.
On the second day Grayson told me that he, Aria and Jayden will be clearing out Serenity's stuff from my room. I know it's not fair but I kept the two weapons she hid under the bed before she revealed who she was. I honestly don't know why I did it but I felt like I needed something of hers to remind me of the good memories we made. Even one of my shirts she wore one day, I have it hanging on the side of the closet that was hers.
Which is and has been empty, that shirt is the only thing there. She told me she was going to wash it before giving it back but she never did, which I'm thankful for because it still smells like her vanilla scent which I never want to forget.
Everyone has been careful not to mention Serenity's name at first but it failed. If they didn't mention her name, La Diabla was brought up instead. Rumors are floating around that she's taking a year off from her underground fighting but still focuses on her assassinations.
Speaking of, I have lost my one and only spy. Meaning Natalie has decided to take a year off. She made this decision a month after we attended Celestina and Valentino's wedding. She wasn't too fond of the idea of taking a year off but once our mamá did an ultrasound on her and found out Natalie was having twins, it was what was best.
Though Pregnant Natalie is way harder to have around but the only thing that's getting all of us through it is meeting our future nieces or nephews. Grandchildren for our parents and children for Natalie and Samuel.
I think about Serenity a lot. Even while on my own missions, she's the only person I think of. She'll always and forever be the first person I think of when I wake up and the last person I think of when I fall asleep. I do wish I fought my papa and Jonathan harder for what they made me do. It could really have never ended.
If I knew losing her would be so painful, I would have never let her go.
ONE MONTH LATER
"Okay, y'all, on one were going to pop the confetti!" Odette says, handing a confetti popper to our parents along with Cassandra and Ryan.
One day, all of them decided to gang up on me and convince me to find out the gender. Technically none of us know the gender other than my sister. I let the ultrasound tech tell Odette and she went to the store and bought enough confetti poppers for all of us.
I was going to wait and let it be a surprise but now that this . . . small gender reveal party is happening, I don't regret a thing. We all began to count down from three and once we said one, I was the first one to pop my confetti popper.
It's a girl.
I drop the confetti popper on the ground, put one hand on my stomach and the other covering my lower face. I was soon tackled by hugs causing me to brush away all the thoughts that were running through my head.
My parents, my best friends and my sister all congratulated me and afterwards they offered to help clean up the confetti. I took that opportunity to head inside to grab some more food because I was getting hungry. I mean, I have to eat for two now.
I wish Elijah was here . . . I'm now regretting not telling him about you. But I promise you will meet him one day. I don't know when that will be but it will be before you know it.
"I wish there had been another way instead of you two signing those papers, too." I hear Odette say.
"Did I say that out loud?"
"I'm afraid so." She nods with a slight smile.
"Odette, I feel so bad that you have to keep this from Grayson." I say, changing the subject. "I feel so bad that you, Cassandra and Ryan have to keep this from Grayson, Jayden and Aria."
The three of them keep telling me it's okay but I know it's not because I will never forgive myself if I find out that I'm the reason their relationships end. All because they have to lie for me. They keep telling me it's okay but I can't help but feel guilty.
"It's okay, Serenity. But right now, we need to focus on names! Do you have anything in mind?"
"I only know what I want the last name to be."
┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈
"You should come meet my daughter once she's born!"
"I would love to, Celestina! I'll fly over as soon as I find out she's born."
"Oh, also, you should hear this song I'll be singing to her as her lullaby. I have to go now because I have an appointment and Valentino is firm on making sure I don't miss out on any of those."
"And how does he feel he's having a girl? I mean the Morales Mafia will soon have a woman leading it."
"Scared but excited."
"I can already see that in twenty years she's going to be one powerful boss. But before you go, do you mind if I use this song as well to sing to my future daughter- when I'm ready to have a baby?"
"Yes, of course! I got to go now but I'll talk to you later, bye, love you!"
"Take care, Celestina, love you!" I hang up and throw my phone on the bed and rub my stomach to feel my baby kick. While doing so, I decided to take a trip down memory lane from a few months ago when I went on my last mission before I started my year off from going on missions.
Ryan insisted on staying by my side while Cassandra went on her own way and I am so glad I let him stay with me. The three of us were going to meet in the security room so we could hack into the cameras along with the speakers. But once Ryan and I got to the security room, it turned out there was someone in there who I didn't see.
Ryan immediately took me to the ground by pulling me down with him and hitting his back, breaking my fall. I remember pulling one of my knives and throwing it at the man's ankle then Cass came not too long after and shot him dead.
She then gave hints to both teams through the speaker, telling them where the two enemies they were after, were hiding. When we knew they were getting closer to them, we left the two enemies tied up in a room where the ceiling had a tile that popped up so Cass, Ryan and I could escape before Elijah and Valentino's team saw us. I have a feeling Elijah saw me as Cass and Ryan pulled me up by the rope.
They know we were there because we left our signatures on the wall. Two weeks later, Celestina and Valentino's wedding happened. Let's just say it was hard to avoid him and everyone else. I know it wasn't fair but I didn't want to deal with them asking me how I am.
After my small reminiscence, I grabbed my phone and looked up the song that Celestina sent me which is absolutely beautiful. I'm definitely going to be singing this to my daughter.
TWO MONTHS LATER
"One more month until I get to meet you . . ." As soon as I rested my hand on a certain spot on my stomach, she started kicking. "Woah there. I can already tell your legs are going to be your strong suit. I wonder if you'll be more of a gun or knives kind of girl?"
"Time will tell, little diabla." I turn around and see my papá holding two cups. He hands me one and helps me sit down on the couch. "But I think she'll be a knife kind of girl just like her mamá." I smile and sip on the tea he made me. "Your sister tells me you have yet to pick out a name."
"I've already picked out a name. I'm just waiting until she's born to announce it. I mean y'all have already taken having the gender be a surprise!" We both chuckle and I set my cup on the table since all of a sudden I felt a strong cramp.
My papá seems to catch my facial expression. "Serenity, are you okay?"
"I'm- fine- just going- to use the bathroom-" I say in between breaths as I stand up. "Oh god- I think I just peed on myself-"
"No hija, I think you're in labor."
"What? No. No, I can't be. It's too early."
"Only a month early. Come on, we need to get you to the hospital."
┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈
The ride to the hospital was horrible, especially on my papa's part. I was over here in the car wanting to kill anyone I saw because of the amount of pain I was feeling. While I was getting rolled up to my room in the wheelchair, I had a mask covering my face so nobody recognized me. It has also been the first time I've been out in the city in eight months.
My mama along with Odette shortly came into the room with me. I was told not too long ago that I'm ten centimeters dilated which is scaring me. I mean I'm about to push a whole baby out of me. If this is the same pain that Natalie will be experiencing but double, I feel so bad for her.
"Are you going to tell us the name yet?" Odette asks.
"Nope." I say as I squeeze her hand again when I feel another contraction happening. Even with this needle in my back, the epidural, I can still feel the pain. Not as bad as it was two hours ago but still bad.
"Give me a hint, at least!"
"No." I hear the door open and a bunch of doctors and nurses come in. "Oh god here we go." I add.
"And that's my queue to leave." My papá says, kissing my forehead. "I'll be right outside. I love you, hija."
"I love you." I let out another breath as I felt the bed being adjusted.
"Alright, are you ready to push?"
"Fuck no." I say without thinking. "Oh god. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"No worries, hun. Alright on three."
┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ꕥ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈
"I-I can't do this."
"Yes, you can, baby." My mamá says, wiping my tears. It's been an hour of me pushing and the girl is being stubborn like I am and won't come out.
"Mamá, I can't-"
"Yes. Yes, you can." Odette adds before she gives me her reassuring look. The look she always gives me when she knows I'm scared, nervous or worried about something. I take another deep breath and push again. One last time.
A moment later the room is filled with the beautiful sound of my daughter crying. I start to cry as well, tears of happiness. "Oh my god, you're beautiful." I say, kissing the top of her head. "You look just like your papá. . ." I whisper to myself.
Her newborn assessments were done within no time. Now I'm enjoying my time holding her close to me.
"So what's her name?" Papá asks.
"Alessandra Crystal Castillo."
"It's beautiful." Mamá says.
"It's perfect." Odette adds.
"It's- well they stole the good words." Papá adds and we all chuckle. "It's a perfectly beautiful name. Alessandra is going to grow up and be one powerful leader."
I smile down at my daughter and softly caress her cheek. I never imagined myself becoming a mother at a young age but now I wouldn't change a thing if it meant I can relive the moments from when I found out I was pregnant, to finding out the gender to hearing her first cry and having her laid on my chest for the first time again.
"Te amo tantísimo, Alessandra."
THE END