Page 18 of Silent Night With Adrian

“I just think we’re moving too fast, that’s all,” he says, his voice low, as if reconsidering something vital. “I know that was the original plan, but I’m saying that the circumstances are different now.”

My heart aches, wanting to believe that maybe, just maybe, what happened between us last night affected him, too.

“I’m just saying that we could use her. If her brother isn’t going to respond to our offer and try to get her back, we should take advantage.”

The words feel like a punch to my stomach. I bite down hard, trying not to let out a gasp. "Use her"—the phrase echoes in my mind, each repetition twisting the knife deeper.

Adrian continues, oblivious to the turmoil his words are causing. “We have Vitale’s star negotiator. She could tell us about the deals with other families, what they’re planning. She’s worth more to us alive.”

I tear the Air Pods out, shoving them back into their case with trembling hands. Every soft word, every gentle touch last night now feels like a cruel ruse. Was I just a pawn? If so, what use do they have for me beyond information? Will I end up being passed around, humiliated, only kept alive for as long as I can prove useful?

No, I won’t let it come to that.

My heart hammers as Adrian’s words echo in my mind.“Use her... advantage…”

I can't stay here, and running without a plan isn’t an option. I recall an old ranger station from childhood hikes, abandoned but sturdy, just a mile from here. It’s risky in this storm, but it’s my best bet for shelter.

I move swiftly, searching Adrian’s bag for anything useful—finding a flashlight, thermal blanket, and his thick wool socks, which I pull over my feet. I mentally map the route, recalling the emergency fire trails leading south. They’re less direct, but they offer cover and might slow Adrian if he follows.

Quietly, I slip out the back door, adrenaline dulling the cold as I plunge into the forest. Each step crunches through snow, but I keep my breath steady. I won’t survive if I panic now.

Behind me, a low voice calls, “Mia?”

I don’t turn. The cabin disappears behind me as I plunge into the trees and snow drifts. I don’t think about anything other praying I stay far enough ahead of the traitorous man who starts chasing me.

Chapter 15 Adrian

The cold bites into my skin as I bolt down the snow-covered path, following Mia’s tracks, my heartbeat loud in my ears. I barely register the ache in my muscles or the burn of icy air in my lungs. All I can think about is getting her back. Safe.

“Mia!” I call out to her. I need her to slow down and make a move that will clue me in on where she’s hiding. Worry gnaws at me, but underneath, a deeper anger builds—a fury I’m barely holding down. This isn’t just about her escape attempt. It’s about her misunderstanding, her willingness to believe I would betray her, use her. After last night. After everything.

I catch a glimpse of her ahead, tucked between two trees, her body stiffening the moment she realizes I’ve seen her. She tries to run again, but within a few strides, I close the distance and pull her back into me, holding her firmly as she struggles against my grip.

“Let me go!” she cries, pounding her fists against my chest, twisting in my arms. Her voice is raw, filled with anger, fear, and something else—betrayal.

“What the hell, Mia?!” I yell, my temper starting to spill over. My grip tightens, pressing her back against a tree, forcing her to look at me. “Calm down. Stop this right now! What’s wrong with you? You’re going to freeze to death out here.”

“You don’t care about that!” she screams, eyes flashing with anger and pain. “You’re just trying to get me to talk, to give up everything on my family. I know you’re just using me, just like the rest of them.”

Her words ignite a fury within me, my restraint hanging by a thread. I want to shake her, to force her to see the truth, but I grit my teeth, wrestling down the impulse. She doesn’t understand, not yet.

Without thinking, I crush my mouth against hers, silencing her accusation, forcing her to feel something other than fear and anger. I expect her to fight back, but her body softens, her resistance fading as I deepen the kiss. When I finally pull back, her eyes are wide, confusion warring with hurt.

“I’m not using you,” I say, my voice rough with barely restrained anger. “You think I’d risk everything—my standing, my family, my life—just to manipulate you? You mean more to me than that, Mia. But you… running off like this…” I trail off, my hands trembling slightly from both the cold and the sheer effort of holding back my anger.

She stares at me, breathless, doubt flickering in her green eyes.

“I heard you on the phone,” she says hoarsely, the hurt in her voice cutting deep. “You said you’d get me to switch sides. You don’t care about me; you’re just following orders.”

I clench my jaw, the surge of anger intensifying. “You think so little of me?” I take a breath, struggling to calm the storm inside. “Let’s go back to the cabin. You need to warm up. Then we’ll talk.”

For a moment, I think she’ll resist again, but she gives a small, reluctant nod, allowing me to keep my arm around hershoulders as we make our way back to the cabin. I keep a tight hold on her, needing to feel her close, to reassure myself she’s here, safe. But my fury simmers, knowing I’ll have to confront her recklessness—and her misunderstanding of me—in a way that makes it clear that she’ll face consequences if she ever pulls that kind of stunt again.

***

The warmth of the cabin wraps around us as we step inside.

She shivers, still in shock, and I wrap a thick blanket around her shoulders, guiding her to sit near the fire. I look down at her feet covered in icy wet socks. Kneeling down on one knee, I pull them off, knowing that anything wet and cold on her body is the first thing that needs to go. After tossing them in the washing machine and grabbing a dry pair of socks for her to wear, I stay silent as she pulls them over her cold feet.

---