Page 90 of Naughty Santa Daddy

I want to kill him. Need it.

I want to do it so slowly that I can watch the life drain from his eyes as I personally send his very soul to hell, as he deserves. While I will never be an upstanding citizen and I will never claim to abide by any law, there are lines I don’t cross.

I don’t sell people.

I don’t kill children.

And I don’t allow anyone in my organization to do either of the above.

Chapter 14

Melissa Filla

Melissa Filla

Massimo

Surrounded by heavy mahogany furniture and floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books, I sit alone in my home office. The quietness of the room has me on edge, as if all of my senses are heightened. For thefirsttime in my life, I'm uncertain of what to do. My mind keeps circling back to Hadley and all the information laid at my feet nearly a week ago that I can’t seem to stop digging into.

The realization that Hadley—no, Halona—was bought off the black market and thrust into a nightmare of a life with Colton Bernard is a punch to the gut. My chest tightens as I consider the hell she must've gone through, all without knowing her true origins, her actual family.

Pain in my chest for her turns into a burning desire for vengeance. Every fiber of my being screams for retribution, to make those responsible for her suffering pay. I crave the sight of their eyes dimming, their cries falling on deaf ears as my heart turns to stone, fueled by a seething rage that demands retribution. I will not grant them any reprieve; they were never there when Hadley needed them, so why should I show them an ounce of compassion now?

There’s movement outside of my office, and as I pick up the pistol I have in the drawer, Hadley asks, “Massimo, are you in there?”

“Come in,” I call out, tucking the gun back into the drawer now that I know it's her.

She pushes open the door, eyes wide with worry. “Is everything alright?” she asks, her voice hesitant. The golden light from the hallway frames her figure and casts a soft glow on her face. I'm struck, as I always am, by the sheer sweetness of her.

“I'm okay, Hadley. Just lost in thought,” I assure her, although my voice comes out raspier than expected.

“About what?” Her voice wavers, the curiosity evident in her eyes. She looks at me, so innocent, so pure. She has no idea of the storm that's gathering around her. It's a harsh contrast to the fury raging inside me.

But I can't tell her. Not yet, because the truth is a demon I'm not sure she's ready to face. So, instead, I leave all that out to save her… “There's nothing to worry about; I'm fine. No needfor the concerned expression on your face,” I reply, hoping it’ll satisfy her curiosity.

She takes a step closer, her expression softening with empathy that bares my soul. “You’re not fine, Massimo. I can see it in your eyes.”

Letting out a sigh, I run a hand through my hair. Damn it, she's right, but I can’t confess all to her, not yet. The truth will shatter her world, and part of me is still grappling with how best to handle this. “Sometimes the weight of the world feels heavier than usual,” I admit, offering her a half-hearted shrug, with as much truth as I can bear to share right now.

Her expression softens even further, her eyes shining with a mixture of worry and understanding. “I know,” she whispers, her voice tender. “And you don't have to carry it all alone, Massimo.”

An unexpected warmth fills my chest at her words. But the reality is too harsh, too bleak for this moment of tenderness. The world outside my office, our home—it's not a gentle place. It's a grim battlefield where one lapse could lead to disaster.

“I... appreciate that, Hadley,” I say, my eyes meeting hers. I notice a flicker of hope in them, as if she’s trying to pierce the veil of my inner turmoil and find the man beneath. The man I once was, perhaps, before life’s bitter twists and turns made me into the fortress I am now.

And just like that, the moment shatters when a knock echoes throughout the silent room. It’s Emilio, my brother, his dark expression foreboding. I asked him to get me some information on anyone directly involved with Colton and the bullshit he’s put Hadley through. It’s been a few days since I gave the order, and I’ve been white-knuckling it since, waiting on him. “Sorry to interrupt,” he mutters, barely glancing at Hadley, his attention focuses on me. “We need to talk for a moment, alone, Massimo.”

My gaze flickers to Hadley. I offer her a quick smile, a silent promise that we will continue this later. “Give us a moment, Hadley,” I instruct her gently, already turning towards Emilio.

She hesitates for an instant before nodding and quietly slipping out of the room. As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, I lose my countenance. “Did you find the information I asked for?” Annoyance and exhaustion coat my words.

Emilio's gaze softens briefly at my tone. He knows this is out of the ordinary for me, especially with how much it means to lose control over an aspect of life I've so meticulously built over the years. “I did,” he answers. He takes the folder he’s holding and tosses it on my desk. The information on it could either confirm my worst fears or offer a sliver of hope amidst the despair.

Scanning through the contents, a sense of dread gnaws deep within me. The words blur together, and for a moment, I forget to breathe, the anger rolling off me. “There is only one person that assisted with the depravities that Mr. Bernard inflicted who is still breathing?” The question hangs heavy in the air.

Emilio nods solemnly. “Yes. With the rest either being dead or vanished, he is your only remaining link to Mr. Bernard.”

“They call him ‘The Tulip,’” Emilio continues. “He lived in a cabin practically in seclusion, outside of Rodessa, Louisiana. Few people have seen him; he was a ghost.”

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