Page 8 of Silent Night With Adrian

Dread pools in my chest. I try to stay calm, but my hands start to shake as I reach for my phone, calling Dante.

It rings once, twice—then goes to voicemail. I try again, heart hammering, but there’s no answer. I leave a message the second time I get the voicemail greeting.

“It’s me. If you get this message, please call me back. I think someone is following me. I’m my car driving back to the Airbnb but…I don’t know what I should do with the car following me.”

Think, Mia.I punch in 911, hoping a quick call to the police might scare off whoever’s tailing me. But after a few seconds, the call drops—no signal in this godforsaken blizzard.

The headlights draw closer, blinding me as they press up against my bumper. I try to speed up, but the road is slick, and my car fishtails. I let out a scream as they ram me again, harder this time, forcing my car off the road. The tires skid, the car jolting violently to the side before slamming into a snowbank. My head snaps back, and for a few seconds, the world spins.

When I finally blink, I see several dark figures moving toward my car. Shadows, blurred by the snowfall. Panic surges through me, and I fumble with the door handle, thinking maybe I can run, but it’s too late. They wrench the door open, dragging me out into the freezing night.

I struggle, kicking and twisting, but their hands are like iron, holding me in place as they yank my arms behind me, tying my wrists tight with what feels like rope. The cold bites at my skin, my breath coming in frantic puffs as they secure a blindfold over my eyes, plunging me into darkness.

“Struggle all you want, princess. It’ll make no difference.”

I freeze, my breath shallow.Princess. The word hits like a slap, a twisted mockery of the life I tried so hard to avoid. I know whatthis is. My family’s blood-stained ties, my own role—I’m nothing more than a pawn in this twisted game.

“Who are you? Where are you taking me?”

One of them mutters, “Keep her quiet,” and I bite back a scream, not wanting to give them the satisfaction.

My heart pounds, fear clawing at my throat as they haul me into the back of their truck, shutting the door with a harsh slam. The engine starts, and we’re moving, the tires crunching over the thickening snow.

I sit in silence, bound and blindfolded, my mind racing.This isn’t random. I know exactly what this is. It’s the life I’ve tried so hard to avoid, dragging me back into its clutches on Christmas night, no less.

The air around me is tense, thick with the scent of leather and cigarette smoke. I strain to hear anything that might tell me where we’re going, who’s behind this, but all I hear is the low murmur of the men in front.

Finally, I let out a shaky breath, letting the truth sink in.

I’m a pawn in someone else’s game now. And whoever’s playing isn’t showing mercy.

Chapter 6 Adrian

Christmas Evening - Present Day

Ididn't need to hear her screaming and cursing to know that she was angry as fuck.

When I walk into the room, Mia is silent, her fierce green eyes locked on mine. She’s perched on the edge of the bed, hands bound tightly behind her back. Her fury pulses in the room as she holds my gaze, unbroken.

I settle into the chair by the door, leaning back and watching her. “You know why you’re here?”

She narrows her eyes, that fierce defiance flickering. “Care to enlighten me?” Her words are sharp, but something in her eyes tells me she’s searching for any hint of her fate.

“Your brother owes us something he’s been holding onto for too long.” I keep my tone flat. “Consider yourself… collateral.”

“Collateral.” Her scoff is icy, dripping with disdain. “For all your self-assured plans, it sounds like you have no idea who you’re dealing with. Dante’s not going to give up territory just because you’ve kidnapped me.”

“Maybe not.” I lean forward, smirking. “But let’s be real, Mia. You’re worth more to him than a few deals.”

Her expression falters, her jaw tightening as she swallows. But she doesn’t deny it. “And what if he doesn’t?” she whispers, almost to herself.

The edge in her voice shifts, an unease creeping through, and it hits me that she’s not just resisting this situation—she’s fighting something bigger. Something that scares her more than being stuck in this cabin with me.

“What if he doesn’t what?” I ask, my tone softer than I intend.

She looks away, her teeth grazing her lower lip as she fights to keep her composure. “You don’t get it, do you?” she says quietly, finally meeting my gaze. “If Dante doesn’t come for me, then I have nothing. I lose everything.”

The weight of her words settles between us, and for a moment, I see beyond the fury in her eyes. There’s something raw there, a desperation she’s trying hard to hide.

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