Page 16 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

Gia’s jaw tightens, but she keeps her focus on her food. She’s talking softly to Matteo, her son.

I feel my jaw tighten.

A kid I didn’t know about.

The past six years have brought more changes than I expected.

She avoids looking at me. Good. If her eyes meet mine, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop the words that are boiling inside me.

Her father sits at the head of the table, laughing, acting like nothing has happened between them. The audacity of this man. It’s enough to make me sick.

Matteo, though, that kid looks so innocent. Gia’s father dotes on him, feeding him fruit, and acting like the perfect grandfather.

It’s a farce.

This is the same man who plotted against my family, and he’s sitting there, playing happy Grandpa. I clench my fist under the table.

I need to focus. There’s a reason I’m here, and it’s not for Christmas cheer.

“More eggs, Dante?” Aunt Carla’s voice pierces through the tension. Her smile is awkward, her attempt at breaking the ice unnecessary. I shake my head.

The food is tasteless, despite how luxe everything looks. The decorations, the expensive table settings, the glittering Christmas tree in the corner—they mean nothing to me.

I’m here for business. That’s all.

Later, I find Gia alone, standing near the balcony, staring out at the snow-covered mountains. The tension from brunch still lingers in the air.

I’m not sure why I followed her out here. The moment I see her standing alone, something in me snaps.

“Gia,” I say, my voice low, deliberate.

She doesn’t turn, doesn’t acknowledge me at first.

That pisses me off even more.

“Are you just going to ignore me?” I take a step closer, my chest tightening with every breath.

Finally, she spins around, eyes flashing with anger. “What do you want, Dante?”

“What do I want?” My voice sharpens. “I want answers.”

“Answers?” she scoffs, folding her arms. “I don’t owe you anything.”

I step closer, my body closing in on hers. “You don’t owe me anything? You and your family…”

“Don’t.” Her voice is cold, but there’s something else beneath her frigid words. “Don’t you dare bring my family into this.”

“Oh, no.” My voice drops, low and dangerous. “Your family destroyed mine. Your father…”

“My father? You think my father…”

“He’s the reason mine is dead!” The words explode out of me, my fists clenching at my sides. “You think I’m just going to forget that?”

Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t back down. “You don’t know what happened.”

“I know enough.” My breath is coming harder now, the anger barely contained.

I should walk away.

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