Page 5 of Silent Night With Luca

I shouldn’t have pitched such a fit last night. Maybe if I hadn’t tried to lose him he wouldn’t have decided to hole up in my place. I just wanted to meet Arianna and figured he wouldn’t be so persistent. Fuck.

I know why. Luca made it abundantly clear last night, his deep, gravelly voice still echoing in my head as he reminded me that this wasn’t his idea—Massimo insisted.

Sure. But I know it’s Luca’s decision to be all up in my space, constantly hovering like I’m some ticking time bomb. As if Marco Vitale is really going to start a war over a few nights together. My family is completely overreacting.

Why didn’t Elio give me a heads up? Fucking A. Some brother.

Dick. Why did you sic Luca on me? A little warning would have been nice.

Because we all want to enjoy our holiday here and we have reason to believe Marco is pissed, which means he could try to pull something. It’s for your safety.

God, my brother is such a prick. I love him usually, but right now I could strangle him. Condescending asshole.

My safety? Whatever. Thanks for ruining my Christmas.

I stand, padding across the room and pulling the heavy drapes open slightly to peek outside. Snow covers everything, a thick, white blanket that glistens in the morning light. Winter Haven might be beautiful, but it’s a prison disguised as a holiday escape at this point.

I could get out and walk to Arianna’s, but she hasn’t texted back so there is a good chance she didn’t even make it home last night. I glance toward the door, considering it. Luca is probably still passed out in his room, or maybe he’s out doing his own life. He can’t possibly tail me for twenty-four hours a day.

I’ll walk to Frost Café, grab a coffee, and be back before he even knows. The thought of outsmarting him gives me a thrill, almost a bigger thrill than the thought of a cappuccino. Beat him at his own game. That in and of itself is motivation enough to try it.

I slide open the wardrobe and pull out a thick sweater and leggings—practical, considering how close I came to getting frostbite last night. Heels were definitely a bad choice. No more of those while I’m stuck in this ice skating rink of a town.

Pulling the sweater over my head, I catch my reflection in the mirror. My hair’s a mess, a wild tangle of dark waves, but I kind of like it that way. It suits me. A little messy, a little unpredictable. I run my fingers through it and shrug. No one here to impress, anyway.

As I sit on the edge of the bed to pull on my boots, my phone buzzes. I grab it off the nightstand and see another message from Elio.

I narrow my eyes, my blood boiling at his condescension.

Please behave. Let’s all have an uneventful merry Christmas together, okay? Two weeks. Can we please have two weeks of peace?

I throw my phone on the bed, barely resisting the urge to hurl the phone across the room. They can call Luca a bodyguard, tell me it’s for my safety… But we all know that he is really a glorified babysitter wrapped up in a six foot four over-exercised body. It’s humiliating.

Sure, I slept with Marco Vitale. So what? We had some fun. We were both looking for some unattached excitement a few nights at the club. Both of us knew it wouldn’t go anywhere. We are two consenting adults, no biggie.

Of course, it became a big deal when someone caught wind and blabbed about it. The Vitales and the Lucianas hate each other, but both families have survived just fine with that rivalry for years. Nobody’s going to start a war over it.

I stand up and move toward the suite’s small living area. The suite is as luxurious as everything in the lodge—rich, dark wood paneling, a massive stone fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the snow-covered mountains. It’s beautiful. Opulent.A cage wrapped in gold.

Holding my breath, I pause at the door, listening for any sound.

Just as I’m about to pull the door open, I hesitate. Is this worth the fight?

Of course it is.

I grab my coat from the hook by the door and slip it on. If I can just get out, just get a cup of coffee without having Luca breathing down my neck, I’ll feel better. I can handle this on my own.

Besides, the Vitales aren’t even that close to each other and they definitely aren’t organized enough to outsmart the Lucianas. People have blown this whole thing way out of proportion.

Taking a deep breath, I turn the handle. Just a quick escape.

I ease the door shut, careful not to let the click echo into the suite. The cold air rushes in as soon as I step out, and for a moment, I savor the thrill of thinking I’ve pulled it off. I take a deep breath, already imagining the taste of hot coffee, freedom.

I turn around, ready to make my getaway—and freeze.

There he is, standing right in front of me with his arms crossed and the biggest, smuggest grin I’ve ever seen plastered across his stupidly handsome face.

“Going somewhere?” Luca asks, amusement dripping from his voice.

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