Page 24 of Silent Night with Massimo

My heart is beating so fast that I feel nauseous.

I'm torn between jumping out from behind the wall and waiting to hear what they say. I choose to wait. Knowledgeis power and the more I have the better it will be when I need to take Elio down.

"Just tell Dante that Vera isn't exiled anymore. And I know she's looking for the kid. And tell him tonight is too hot to do what we planned. You triggered the security systems. There is no element of surprise anymore."

"He's not going to be happy about any of this."

"I fucking know that. Keep the kid hidden for fuck's sake. I'll be in touch with him." Elio snaps angrily. "I have to go. I can't be seen with you. Get the fuck out of here."

The kid.

Vera was right.

Our son is still alive. It's the only possible kid they could be worried about.

For a moment I can't move. Complete horror spins through me as I process the truth of what they've said and everything that it means. Where is my son? Where has he been all these years?

Vera's fingers dig into my arm, sharp and painful, pulling me out of my frozen state.

I glance at her then step out from behind the corner - glaring directly at Elio and the Vitale rat.

"Elio!"

He bolts. Full speed he runs towards the back gate with the Vitale spy right in front of him, faster and nimbler.

Chapter 11

Vera

Massimo is running at full speed, chasing Elio and the other guy. I don't know who he is, only that he is part of the Vitale gang.

They were talking about my son.

My son is alive.

I finally have concrete evidence of that, and my heart is both singing and screaming at the same time.

Where is he? I am so desperate to just hold him in my arms. I can't believe he has been alive this entire time and he has never even seen his own mother's face. He has never heard his father's voice.

Is he locked up somewhere? Has someone raised him as their own and tricked him into thinking they are his parents - who? Where?

I can hardly breathe, but I need to - I need to focus. Now is not the time to have a meltdown. Not with Vitale guys on the property and Elio trying to escape.

Massimo is still chasing Elio. I need to get help.

I spin around to run back towards the house to scream for Adrian and the guards - but that is when I see them.

A massive group of Vitale men waiting just near the back gate. They have cut away a section of it.

The first guy who got in was a scout - a distraction - the entire security force is looking for him while the main attack sneaks in at the back.

I can't believe what I'm seeing. I don't know what to do.

Massimo is running straight towards them - straight into the trap - do I still go and look for help or do I try and stop him?

"Massimo," I scream at the top of my lungs.

All I can hope is that my scream will alert both him and the guards.

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