Page 29 of Silent Night with Massimo

He chokes and gasps.

I drop him and he collapses to his knees. Looking up at me, his eyes are filled with hate. All of the malice he has hidden for years is pouring from his soul.

"I know where your son is." He spits the words out at me.

I clench my jaw, holding back my fists. I want to drive them into his face, again and again.

"Where?" I demand.

"I am the only chance you have of ever seeing him again. You can't kill me, because you will lose your son forever."

"Where is he?" I snarl again.

"Tomorrow night take me to the Winter Ball. I will tell you then."

"Take you to the Winter Ball? The Christmas party? Are you out of your mind?" Adrian snaps shocked at his request.

"Why do you want to go to the Winter Ball?" I ask.

Elio pushes his lips together.

He knows, but he isn't going to tell me.

He is going to bargain with the information.

I should have expected nothing less from a snake like him.

I speak to Adrian. "Chain him to the bed. I will find a way to make him talk tomorrow. Let him simmer for a while. Let him fully accept his situation."

Vera hasn't said a word. She has been watching everything closely.

"Are we leaving it for now?" She asks, mild panic in her voice.

"He isn't going to tell us where our son is tonight," I whisper to her.

I can see the tears of frustration threatening to slip down her cheeks, but she holds them back, nods tightly, and turns to leave the room.

I follow her upstairs, both of us in heavy, silent thought.

She walks up towards her bedroom, and I find myself following her into it.

She pauses, turning to look at me.

"Do you think he will tell us?"

"I will kill him if he doesn't," I say to her.

Adrian hasn't said much since Elio's confession. I glance at him now—his fists are clenched, his breathing uneven. The betrayal hit him hard. He trusted Elio more than anyone.

I know Adrian, though. After something like this, he needs space. After we cross lines this dark, he always retreats to his condo. He’ll shut down emotionally, block it all out. Whether it’s a bottle or someone to help him forget, he won’t be here by morning. He won’t talk about it, but I know where to find him.

I don’t say anything to him now. He needs time to deal with it, but I’ll check on him tomorrow.

"No - " She gasps. "You can't - our son."

Closing my eyes for a second, I try to clear my thoughts, when I open them again her bright green eyes are locked onto me. Intense and sharp and full of emotion.

I step forward, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, and pulling her closer.

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