Page 41 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

I can feel my face heat up. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh, darling, it’s always like that.” Aunt Carla leans in conspiratorially. “But you better figure it out, and soon. This tension isn’t good for anyone—especially not Matteo. Kids notice more than you think.”

I stand abruptly, unable to handle any more of her nosiness. “I need some air.”

“Now?” She looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. “In this cold?”

“I’ll be back soon,” I say, grabbing my jacket. “Just a short walk.”

I can’t stay here. The walls are closing in, and my thoughts are too loud. I need to get out, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

“We’ll send a search party if you’re not back in twenty minutes,” Aunt Rosa says. “Take a guard with you.”

I slink out of the house, ignoring the order to bring a guard with me, the icy morning air like a punch to the face. It feels good, grounding. A walk would do me good, get the nervous energy out, and allow me to collect my messy thoughts. I head down the steps, but an unexpected warm front has turned all the beautiful snow to dirty grey slush.

Knowing my Converse wouldn’t survive a walk, I double back toward the garage. Maybe a drive instead. I walk into the ten-car garage to a jumble of vehicles belonging to random family members.

Shit, of course my SUV is blocked in all the way in the back. Frustrated, I try to form another plan. My eyes land on my father’s prized possession. A vintage 1969 Mustang, dark blue and polished to perfection. No one touches this car. It’s his baby, and everyone in the family knows it.

But I need it right now. I know I shouldn’t, but I grab the keys from the hook and slip into the driver’s seat. The leather is cold against my skin as I turn the ignition, the engine purring to life.

As I carefully pull out of the driveway, my thoughts drift back to Dante. To last night. The heat of his hands, the way he made me feel like no time had passed between us.

I’m happy in a way. I had missed his touch more than I’ll ever admit to anyone. We might not be kids anymore, we’ve both changed, for better or worse, but that connection—it’s still there, stronger than ever.

Yet, with that happiness comes fear. Dante is dangerous. His world is dangerous. I promised myself that I would protect Matteo from all of it.

What if Dante finds out about Matteo? Will he try to claim him? Take him from me?

My head spins as I head down the winding road toward town. The scenery, as beautiful as it is with white-capped pines and gingerbread-like cottages nestled in snowy fields, does little to calm me down.

I shake my head, trying to focus on the road, but it’s hard. Everything feels blurry, distant. The winding mountain road is slick with slushy ice. I tighten my grip on the wheel.

Deep breaths. Focus on the road.

Suddenly, a deer darts in front of me from a clump of pines on my left. I panic, slamming my foot down on the brakes, knowing I’m going to spin out. But the brakes feel wrong—soft, like they’re giving out.

I press harder, but nothing happens. The car picks up speed, barreling down on the animal. Panic surges through me. I slam my foot on the brake pedal, but it sinks uselessly to the floor.

“No, no, no,” I mutter, jerking the wheel as I try to control the car. The doe makes her escape as I narrowly miss colliding with her. But it’s too late for me. The car skids on the ice, spinning out of control.

I see the edge of the road ahead of me, trees blurring by as the car rushes toward the guardrail. Time slows. My heart pounds like a hammer in my chest.

I’m going to crash. I’m going to die out here.

I brace myself for the impact, gripping the wheel with white knuckles and ducking my head. The car slams into the guardrail with a sickening crunch, metal bending and screeching. My body jerks forward, the seatbelt digging into my chest.

And then I’m flying.

For a moment, everything is silent. I wonder if I’m dead and this is what heaven feels like. Not a second later, the car slams into a snowbank, knocking the air from my lungs.

My head spins as I struggle to breathe, and everything goes white.

***

I slowly come to, the cold of my driver’s seat window pressing against my forehead pushing me out of my daze. Shivering, I lift my head and look around. The world around me is pure white.

What the hell?

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