Page 28 of Silent Night with Massimo

I lead her at my side - not upstairs - but down towards the back of the house - towards the cellar.

We walk down the stairs and my stomach knots tightly.

I am about to face my cousin. The man who has stood by my side for years, sharing my victories, my struggles, and the weight of leading this family. He's been woven into every aspect of my life, into decisions that shaped our future. My cousin, part of my blood, part of my trust, has betrayed me.

All the while... I clench my fists, the anger rising in my chest. All the while, he has been working with Dante Vitale, scheming behind my back. And even worse—he has known. He knows that my son is alive. My breath catches in my throat as the realization cuts deeper. He kept that truth from me, stole the one thing that could have brought me back from the edge all those years ago.

My heart hardens, and my jaw tightens. I can't let emotion cloud my judgment now. This betrayal has cost me more than I can even comprehend.

I hear Adrian's voice from inside the cell.

"Why? Why the fuck did you do it?" he asks his voice tight with the pain of betrayal. "You have been my bestfriend since before we could walk, man. I don't understand." My heart breaks for him.

"Adrian?" I say gently as I step into the room.

He turns to look at me, his eyes are dark and his shoulders tense. His fists are clenched at his side.

"Massimo." He replies tightly.

"Has he given you anything?"

"Nothing. He hasn't said a word."

I step closer to Elio who is backed up against the wall. He looks skittish and uncomfortable.

"If you don't talk - then you are useless, and I will put you out of your misery." I snarl quietly.

"You can't kill me." He says quickly. "I deserve a trial. I deserve to tell my side of the story."

I snort, sarcastic laughter. "You want to try and justify betraying your entire family - not once - not just once - but for years. Over and over again, for at least six years that I know of."

"Six?" Adrian asks, curious.

"Yes, he was involved in the kidnapping of my newborn son," I say, staring at Elio, and watching his reaction.

He shakes his head. "I don't know what you're talking about." He denies it. But I can see in his eyes that he's hiding something. His gaze shifts from place to place as he does his best to control his expression.

He is a terrible liar. I don't know how he managed to get away with this for so many years.

Our trust in him was the only thing that kept him safe.

I take a deep breath. I don't have all night.

I need to sleep, I need rest, I need to have a fresh start tomorrow morning so that I can decide what to do.

"Massimo?" Adrian says, sensing my shift in mood.

"I've had enough," I whisper darkly.

Without hesitation, I grab Elio around the throat, my fingers digging into his flesh as I lift him off his feet and slam him against the stone wall. The sound of impact echoes through the room, and Elio squeals in fright, his eyes wide with terror. He kicks his legs frantically, clawing at my hand, desperate to free his airways. But I don't ease up.

I tighten my grip, my voice a low growl as I lean in close, my breath hot against his face.

"Talk. Tell me what I need to know—or die."

Elio's eyes bulge, his face reddening as panic flashes across his expression. His lips start to turn blue, and tears stream from his eyes, mixing with the sweat on his face. He's suffocating, and he knows it.

For a few more seconds, I hold him there, watching the fear in his eyes flicker into something darker—desperation. Finally, I loosen my grip, just enough for him to gasp for air, his body sagging as he sucks in a strained breath.

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