Page 4 of Silent Night with Massimo

Fuck.

"Leave her there. Is she secured?"

"Yes, she's not going anywhere."

"Take her some food later - and a blanket. Don't let her freeze to death before I've had a chance to speak to her." I shake my head in disbelief. I can't believe this is happening now. Adrian nods. "I'll keep her alive, but honestly, I think we should throw her to the wolves. Barefoot. She can fight her way through the snow, and we can let nature deal with this little issue."

I shake my head. "Not yet." I sigh.

I walk off the cold patio and into the lodge. As soon as I step through the doors, a wall of heat embraces me, and I shudder at the welcoming warmth. I need to get this place ready - and not think about her.

But over the next few hours, as the night grows darker and the house quiets down, she is all I can think about.

I reach over the pink princess bed and tuck my daughter in. Bella should have been asleep hours ago - but she came looking for me again.

"Why aren't you asleep yet, little one?" I ask my daughter, who has been up and down all night despite me putting her to bed several times already.

"I see'd the snow." She smiles, pointing at the window.

"Yes, my angel. But you need to sleep now. You can see the snow tomorrow."

"Dada, is mommy a angel?"

My heart pinches in my chest. I never want to stop her from asking about her mother, but it's so difficult for me to talk about her.

"She is an angel. She watches over you all the time." I brush a dark blonde curl away from her eyes and pull the blankets up around her chin. "Mommy is watching and she's going to tell Santa Clause if you are good or not. And then what happens?"

She giggles.

"Good girl get pessints."

She wiggles into the blankets and I smile down at her. "Good girls get presents. That's right." I lean down and kiss her forehead. "Go to sleep, Bella. We can explore all over tomorrow and make Gingerman cookies, and when everyone arrives we can put up all the decorations."

"Yay." She squeals, then snuggles her face against thepillow. Bella closes her eyes, and I stroke my hand across her cheek. "Good night, little angel," I whisper.

When I leave her room my intention is to go to my own and get some much-needed sleep. But instead, I find myself walking towards the cellar door.

Resting my hand on the heavy, ornate iron handle I pause for a moment. I shouldn't do this.

Then I push it open and walk downstairs, towards the thick wooden doors of the cellar lock up.

I unlock them and push them open.

Vera is curled up on the bed with a blanket wrapped tightly around her shoulders.

It's freezing in here. Cold enough that I can see my breath when I sigh.

"Massimo?" her voice is soft and gentle. It tugs at my heart.

"Why are you here, Vera?" I demand sharply.

"I had to talk to you. Please, Massimo. I've been trying for years to prove that I didn't do what I was accused of. Someone framed me. I need to…"

"Are you fucking joking? You come here, during Christmas, to start this shit. You should be dead for what you did. I shouldn't have exiled you. I should have erased you. I showed mercy. Now you dare to come back and - what? What the fuck are you hoping to achieve Vera? I want nothing to do with you."

She cringes at my words. Tears streaked down her cheeks.

"Our child."

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