Page 59 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

She’s sitting up on the pile of hay, rubbing her wrist. Her eyes meet mine, and the unspoken tension from last night is still there, lingering between us.

“We need to go,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “Matteo was spotted in New York.”

Her face goes pale, and she jumps to her feet. “What? How? Is he okay?”

“I don’t know yet. But we’re about to find out.”

Gia grabs her coat, her movements sharp and focused, but I can see the fear in her eyes. I can feel it too. Matteo is more than just a piece in a chess game between rival families.He’s our son.

We climb over snow drifts and ice until we’re back on the road. I spot my car, buried under a thick layer of snow, the headlights still on.Fuck.

Confirming that the car is pretty much totaled, we stand on the snow-covered road, light flurries of snow circling us. Gia looks at me helplessly. It’ll take hours for my men to send another car.

The Vitales are so snowed in that they’ll likely need to call in helicopters to get them to the city.

“Dante!” Gia points excitedly behind me. “Someone’s coming!”

My heart starts up a nervous drumbeat, imagining the SUV from last night coming back to finish the job. I spin around to find a snow plow up ahead, slowly crawling toward us. I flag down the driver, and he agrees to drop us off at the next nearest town.

“Moose Lake should be dug out,” he says, his face jolly and red. “You should be able to rent a car there to get to the city.”

I note his fluffy white hair and thick beard.Not another St. Nick moment. I can’t handle any more of this Christmas shit.

We drive along for thirty minutes in silence. The tension between Gia and me is thick, weighed down by the uncertainty of what’s to come. She doesn’t ask any questions because she knows that neither of us has any answers.

***

By the time we are heading toward New York in our shitty little rental car, the city is already buzzing with life. The late morning traffic is snarled with people trying to get to work. It feels like hours before we finally reach my men at the small café on the edge of Little Italy.

It’s an unassuming place, perfect for blending in while we figure out our next move.

As soon as we step inside, I spot Rocco, surrounded by my guys, sitting in the corner with a cup of coffee. He stands as we approach, his face grim.

“Any updates?” I ask, not bothering with pleasantries.

Rocco shakes his head. “Nothing concrete yet. But we’ve been tracking some movements in the area. There’s been unusual activity near one of the warehouses on the docks. Could be connected.”

I nod, my mind already working through the possibilities. If they’ve got Matteo, they’ll want to keep him somewhere quiet, out of sight. The docks would be a good spot. They are isolated, and it is easy to hide someone there.

“Let’s check it out,” I say, turning to Gia. “Stay close.”

She nods, her eyes wide but determined. I can see the fear in her, but she’s holding it together. She’s strong. Stronger than I ever gave her credit for.

We head to the docks, moving quietly through the narrow streets. My men fan out, keeping a low profile, while Gia and I stick close to the shadows. The warehouse Rocco pointedout looms ahead. It’s a massive, dark structure that looks abandoned, but I know better.

It’s the perfect place to hide someone.

I signal to Rocco, and he moves ahead, checking the perimeter. A few minutes later, he returns, shaking his head.

“Nothing. Place is completely empty.”

My frustration boils over. I slam my fist against the side of the building, the sound echoing through the alley. Fuck!

Gia flinches beside me, her face pale. “Can I look inside?”

Everyone stares at her, confused. I start shaking my head, already pulling her away, but she escapes my hold.

“I just want to see if I can…” she stops, taking a deep breath, “if I can feel him there.”

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