Page 11 of Silent Night with Massimo

"Sweetheart, I think your dad will be sad that you are down here. Don't you think you should go and find him?"

"Dad busy." She shakes her head.

"What were you doing?"

"Put up lights in a tree. Then Santi claws knows whe I is. He coming soon."

Her face is so serious as she nods at me, her eyes wide. "He is coming soon. And he is probably going to bring you all sorts of wonderful presents."

"Oooh yes. I is a good girl." She giggles and waves her hands in the air to emphasize her statement.

I laugh again. She is like a warm sun in the middle of winter. Everything about her is pure joy and innocence.

I don't want her to go, but I don't want her to stay down here in this cold cellar.

"Bella, I think you need to go back upstairs. Maybe you can go help decorate the Christmas tree with your cousins?"

"Nope." She says, shaking her head.

She leans into me, and I hold her a little tighter.

My entire body goes rigid with tension when I hear heavy footsteps coming down into the cellar.

"Bella." Massimo's voice booms and echoes in the open space.

Bella's eyes grow wide, but then she grins and ducks beneath my blanket.

I am about to tell her to come out when the door flies open and Massimo's dark, angry eyes are on me.

"I - she - she came in here - " I stammer.

From beneath the blanket, curled against my side, Bella giggles and it is the cutest, naughtiest giggle in the world.

Massimo pulls his mouth tight, fighting against his anger. I assume he doesn't want to show it in front of his daughter.

"Bella, get out here. Let me see you." He demands.

She throws the blankets off herself and shouts "Boo."

I hold back my grin because of the heavy tension coming from Massimo.

Massimo's eyes flash with humor - then anger again.

"Bella, get your little butt upstairs and go and help with the decorations."

She sighs dramatically and wiggles off the bed, then turns back to face me. "Bye, pritty lady." She grabs me in a hug and then runs away, slipping past her father and through the door. I hear her little footsteps climb the stairs and I watch Massimo's mood grow darker by the second as he glares at me.

"I don't want you anywhere near her. Do you hear me?She doesn't need any more complications in her life. Complications like you." He snarls with accusation.

"I didn't force her to come in here, Massimo. She snuck in on her own. I tried to tell her to go back upstairs." I say defensively.

"I don't give a fuck what you tried. Never speak to my daughter again." He steps close to the bed and his eyes are lowered down on me. I can feel the heat, the tension, the anger in his stare.

My body surges with desire and fear at the same time.

The kiss is still fresh in my mind.

I reach up and touch my lips unconsciously.

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