Page 23 of Silent Night with Massimo

Her eyes grow wide for a second, relief washing through her.

I am not telling her that I believe her accusations, but I think she is just happy to know I am willing to investigate my own cousin.

There are too many things pointing toward him, and I can't ignore them anymore.

I hurry up the stairs with Vera close behind me.

I don't want to alert my entire family and create absolute chaos and panic throughout the lodge if there is only one person infiltrating us. I'd rather catch them - and whoever let them in - and deal with it quietly.

I have enough security on the premises to keep my family safe. This is something that would never havehappened if someone inside here had not helped them get in.

I understand Adrian's concern about Vera—he's never been one to trust easily—but my instincts don't point to her. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's to trust my instincts.

I knock once on Elio's door and then shove it open. The room is empty. Not a single sign of him. My frustration flares.

"He's not here," I mutter.

Vera steps in behind me, her brow furrowing.

"I saw him coming up here a few moments ago," she insists.

Without hesitation, she rushes to the bed, dropping to her knees. She checks underneath and gasps in horror.

"It's gone," she whispers, her voice trembling. "The book—it was here?—"

I shake my head, moving toward the door.

"It doesn't matter right now. Let's find him. If he's involved, he might lead us to the person who broke in."

She bites at her lower lip, glancing under the bed one more time, finding nothing. She jumps to her feet and hurries after me as I leave the room.

Going downstairs we find Adrian rushing upstairs. "I can't find Elio." He mutters in annoyance.

"We were just in his room," I say. "He isn't there."

"I want him to help me with the search, but then I just ended up searching for him as well." He shakes his head.

"Keep looking and keep me informed," I say, grabbingVera's arm and pulling her along with me as I continue down the stairs.

Elio is my brother's best friend. I don't know how he will take the news if I try and explain to him that I think he is the one who let the intruder inside.

There is nothing in the world that my brother cares about more than he cares about his family.

I pull Vera out into the garden, away from where the family can see us through the big living room windows. We run around the side of the house and come skidding to a halt as I see a figure rushing past one of the lights against the far side of the security fence.

"There," I whisper, pointing.

Vera leans close to the wall, near the corner, just behind me, peering into the darkness.

"I don't see anything." She whispers.

We both jump a little when whispered voices come from the other side of the corner we are hiding behind.

"All the guards are on high alert. You need to leave." Elio hisses.

"Fuck that. Do you know how hard it was to get in here - even with your help."

I recognize that voice. Tano Vitale. One of the lower cousins in the Vitale ranking. A messenger. What the fuck is he doing at my lodge - and what the fuck is he doing talking to Elio?

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