Page 80 of Naughty Santa Daddy

Once we are inside, warming up next to the fireplace, the front door opens and Massimo strolls in. His cloudy expression makes it seem like he’s in a bad fucking mood. What catches my attention is one of the guys behind him. Something about him is familiar, but he was a lot older...

It’s like I’m having a déjàvumoment. I can’t describe the exact sensation but it’s making my skin crawl. Why am I feeling like this? Do I know a relative of his?

“What’s wrong?” I shake my head. Massimo opens his mouth to say more, but Amos cuts in to tell him about our day. I hand him my phone so he can see the pictures. He sits next to his son, and they look at the pictures together. My heart hurts watching this scene because I didn’t have this growing up. I’d giveanythingto have a family to call my own. “Seems you had a fun day.”

“We did, and now Hadley is going to teach me how to make a couple of different ornaments for the tree. I can’t wait. Greta even made me my favorite cookies.”

“Sounds like this is the best day ever.” Massimo smiles down at his son. “I have some things I need to do, but I’ll try to help.” He rises from the couch and begins to walk away. “Hadley, come here for a minute.” I stand and follow him into an office area.

“What’s wrong?” Massimo repeats while grabbing the back of my neck and pulling me into him, kissing me hard.

“What was that for?” I ask after we break apart, breathing heavily.

“Just needed to feel your lips on mine.” He lays his forehead on mine. “What was wrong when I saw you? You were pale.”

Do I tell him? I bite my lower lip, debating if I should open up. I stare up into those beautiful eyes of his, which makes me want to fall to my knees and share all of my fears, secrets, wants, and desires. “The man who came in with you earlier,” I swallow hard. “He looks familiar. Nothim,but someone older with hisfeatures. I can’t explain how or why I even know him.” His eyes flash with something like regret, but it’s so quick, I can’t be one hundred percent sure.

“You better get back to Amos. I have work to do.” And the cold man from the diner is back...

What did I say this time?

Chapter 10

D.M. Earl

D.M. Earl

Hadley

I feel so bad because I’m not giving my full attention to Amos, and I know for a fact Greta can sense it. Her eyes have been on me since I walked back in from the ‘meeting’ with Massimo. Not sure what his fucking problem is, but this hot-cold shit is really starting to get under my skin. A perfect example is what just happened. He asked me a question, and when I gave him ananswer, he turns into the cold dick from the diner yet again. I’m beyond tired of his cat-and-mouse bullshit.

Shaking my head to try and clear it of him, Amos jumps up from the table holding his very first ornament he made all by himself. His pure and innocent excitement at his accomplishment brings a smile to my face. That and the cute little dance he’s doing throughout the dining area. I could love this boy so easily if his father wasn’t the asshole I know as Massimo.

“He’s a hard man to understand,figlia.But I can tell you from the bottom of my soul that there is good in him; just look at that preciousbambino.”

My eyes shoot to where Greta is sitting across from me. She’s watching me closely, not sure for what, with her cup of hot chocolate in her hands. Maybe I can get some insight into this whole mess I’ve found myself in. But before I can even ask some questions, she shakes her head.

“As much as I’d like to help you, that is not my place. Massimo saved my life many years ago, and the only way I can repay his kindness is by being loyal to his family, which includes Amos and Emilio. I will share with you that he carries a heavy burden. Once, many years ago, someone told a story about a Native American proverb regarding howthe black wolf is everything that is bad like anger, greed, and arrogance, while the white wolf carries all the good like peace, courage, and compassion.Open your eyes, Hadley, as I just described Massimo. He walks that line between both, depending on whatever is thrown his way.”

Her words call to me in a way nothing has before. I can envision this black wolf and white wolf as if part of my own world.

Greta gets up to go after Amos while I try to straighten all the mess on the table. So deep in my own thoughts, I don’t hear himcome in until he speaks and scares the shit out of me. He’s so close I swing my arm out as I turn, landing a punch on his face. When he screeches in pain, I know it’s not Massimo. He’d never show weakness in any way.

“Son of a bitch, my head. What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s me, Emilio. I’m Massimo’s brother, for Christ’s sake, you she-devil. Did no one tell you I was here?” He shakes his head still working off my blow. “Obviously not, so let me introduce myself. I’m Emilio. Which flavor of the month are you?”

Seeing the bruises on his face and the way he’s holding his body, I’d say he was pretty fucked up. And from the blood dripping down the side of his face, I guess my punch opened something up. I was just about to say I was sorry for what I did until he opened his asshole mouth.

“Emilio, you say? Well, let me tell you I’m no one’s flavor of the month, especially Massimo, that bastard. I didn’t ask to be dragged here or kept hostage. The only good here is Amos, so stay out of my way if you know what’s good for you.”

I turn to go to the kitchen to see Amos at the doorway holding his ornament to his chest with tears in his eyes. “Hadley, you don’t like my zio? Why? He likes to have fun and always plays with me when he’s here. Did he do something to make you mad?” I feel horrible because this poor kid has no idea who or what his father is into, and I have a feeling that this big jag bag is also involved. Amos is the only one who can get the ice around my heart to crack a little towards Emilio, so I walk over and kneel down in front of him. “No, sweetie, I like your‘zio.’It’s just he scared me, and I got mad. Didn’t hear him come in when you went to hang your ornament. Why didn’t you hang it up, Amos?”

The resiliency of children, as he bounces back as if he wasn’t concerned for me being angry at his uncle not mere seconds ago. “I wanted you to help me. Oh, we always play a game with Dad andZiowhen we are up here to see who can get aroundwithout making any noise. Dad is usually the winner; maybe he can teach you too, Hadley. Can we hang my ornament now and then maybe make another one?” Before a word comes out of my mouth, I can feelhimwhen he enters the room. He has some kind of pull that attracts me to him even though I don’t want to. When his hands touch my shoulders, I immediately pull away. I hear him growl, and that brings a smile to my face as I turn to him. His eyes are burning, but something is wrong, not sure how I know, but I do. He’s trying to hide it from his son. Amos walks up to Massimo, holding his ornament out.

“Dad, look what Hadley and Greta helped me make. Thought you were going to come and make them with us. Is that why you’re here?”

Feeling something pouring off of Massimo, I don’t know why, but for some reason, I feel like I need to protect him. “Amos, your dad came to find your zio. Give them a little time, and then both of them will come and make ornaments with us. Okay?”

The boy nods and then runs into the other room where Greta is. I look at Massimo, who looks confused, but he glances between Emilio and then me, tilting his head. He gives me a small smile which I return. When my eyes turn to Emilio he mouths‘bitch’to me. Before I can say a word, Massimo cracks him across the back of his head hard. “Goddamn it, Mass, my head. Did you forget I was in an accident?”

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