Page 55 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

Protests rise up around me, but I block them out, my eyes focused on Gia. She’s staring up at me with a mix of admiration and hope.

A look worth dying for.

Uncle Leo clears his throat, elbowing his way closer to me. “Kid, this is nice and heroic and all, but you can’t walk in there alone.”

“Better than the entire Vitale family busting in and getting shot at,” I retort. “Besides, according to my men, they left the cabin. I’ll be fine. I just want to see if I can find tire tracks to follow them to their next location.”

“We’ll head straight to New York,” says Roman, gesturing to the men. “If you think that’s where they’re going, that is.”

Everyone disperses, running towards waiting cars. I figure Gia will follow her aunts, but she falls into step with me, marching to my SUV with determination.

“Gia…”

“No!” She spins around, almost losing her balance in the snow. “Don’t even start. I’m coming with you. You can either shut up and accept it or fight me every step of the way.”

I should say no. I should tell her to stay here, where it’s safe. But the look in her eyes tells me it’s useless to argue.

This damn woman. I just want to keep her safe, and she keeps throwing herself into every dangerous situation she can.

“Fine,” I say, unlocking the doors. “Let’s go.”

We drive down the single road out of town, heading toward an unknown destination. I glance nervously at Gia beside me. Her eyes are trained on the road ahead, her rosy lips set in a grim line.

She looks like determination personified. And strength and persistence.

All words I would describe Gia Vitale, the woman I’ve loved my entire life.

She turns then, blessing me with a soft, warm smile, and I melt inside the chilly vehicle.

This is the woman I’ll risk my life for. Die for, if I have to. Why has it taken me so long to admit this to myself?

Chapter Nineteen

Gia

The narrow road curves through the snow-covered trees like a ribbon in the night. We’ve been carefully weaving through snowdrifts and icy patches for ages. I steal another glance at Dante.

His shoulders are tense, eyes locked on the road. I note his knuckles turning white as he grips the steering wheel in his battle with the intense wind trying to run us off the road. I squirm in my seat, vibrating in the quiet discomfort that fills our vehicle.

Glancing at the eerie clock lighting up the cabin, I sigh and run my fingers through my hair in frustration. We’ve been driving for at least an hour—in better conditions, we would have arrived already. The soft flurries that began back in town have now escalated to a full-blown snowstorm.

It feels like the universe is thwarting our every move, conspiring against us.

“Careful,” I warn, my voice cracking, pointing out a clump of fallen branches on the road.

“I know, Gia. I have eyes.”

His voice is dark, sharp. I shrink back in my seat, slipping my fingers under my thighs to stop myself from coming apart.He’s tense,I remind myself. We’re both tense.

The anticipation of arriving at the cabin, not knowing what we’ll find, is making both of us snappy. We creep forward in silence, but I can feel him casting sidelong glances at me when he should be looking at the road.

“I’m sorry…”

“Dante, I’m sorry…”

We pause and the tension evaporates. He chuckles, patting my thigh absentmindedly, and I smile, despite the circumstances. The GPS cuts in, ruining the moment and informing us the turn-off is coming up in half a mile.

I lean forward, straining my eyes to catch a glimpse of any kind of sign of the turn we need to take. A veil of white surrounds us, with dark pines peeking through on either side of the road. Hell, I can’t even see the road anymore.

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