Page 25 of Silent Night with Massimo

"Massimo, it's a trap," I scream again.

But he's out of sight now - around the other side of the massive property. I don't know if he can hear me, and I don't know what is going on.

I know that by myself I won't be much help, so I choose to run back towards the house to find Adrian.

All I hope is that he believes me.

I need him to believe me.

His brother's life depends on it.

I rush back into the lodge.

It's peaceful inside. No one is aware of the massive dangers lurking around outside in the darkness of the estate.

"Adrian," I shout into the lodge. Everyone nearby turns to glare at me.

"Where is he?" I shout, angry, desperate, panicked.

"Keep your voice down." Someone snaps.

"We are under attack," I shout back at them, then run towards the back of the lodge where I see a guard.

I hear the murmur of panic and movement as I leave the crowd of family who were just a moment ago sipping hot chocolate and Irish whiskey.

"Is she joking?"

"That's not funny?"

"Where is Massimo?"

I bolt towards the guard and grab his walkie-talkie. "Hey." He shouts, snatching it back.

"Where is Adrian? Massimo is in trouble. There's an ambush in the back garden. He needs help."

The guard blinks in shock for a second, then speaks into the radio. "Who has eyes on Adrian - everyone report to sector five. Now."

Then he starts running and all I can do is run and try to keep up.

We burst through the doors into the back garden.

It's chaos. The white snow is splashed with blood which looks so bright red in contrast it's a shock to the eyes.

The guard shouts into the radio again. "Sector five. Under attack. Sector five. Now."

I see Massimo wrestling Elio and a group of Vitale men trying to pull him off.

A shot fires but I can't tell which direction it came from or if it was our men or theirs.

Guards rush from both sides of the house, joining the chaotic battle in the snow. The air fills with the thick, sickening sound of screams, and my stomach churns as I watch someone stumble to the ground, a knife buried deep in their eye. Blood gushes from the wound, splattering across the white snow like a violent slash of red paint. I feel the bile rise in my throat.

I want to vomit.

I don't know how I can help. How can I make this stop?

Watching Massimo being attacked is a nightmare I can't wake from. Elio kicks free of him just as someone leaps onto Massimo's back from behind, the weight throwing him off balance. The snow makes it hard for them to move, their feet slipping and sliding.

"We need him alive!" a Vitale man shouts, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Lock him down!"

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