Page 43 of Step-Santa

I cock my head wondering what’s coming.

Lucy drops her head for a moment on a deep breath, then looks me in the eye. “ I’m annoyed because I held back on my own happiness while you two were cavorting like foals in the meadow.”

I snort a laugh and she shoots me a glare.

“You think my happiness is a joke?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Lucy, what happiness have you held back on? Because if I can give it to you, I will. Just name it. You’re still my granddaughter and you always will be, no matter what happens.”

“Okay, first,sheis never going to be my… my… step-grandmother.That’s just weird. I’m older than she is.” She grips her forehead, fingers massaging her temples. “Carrie, if youevertry to make me call you grandma I swear to God—”

“I won’t,” Carina says on a snort. “I promise.”

“Now, second,” she looks at me, “I want you both to come with me.”

She turns on her heel and marches away. I’m not a following sort of guy, but this situation isn’t going to be fixed by my stubborn streak rearing it’s head.

I grab Carina’s hand, threading our fingers together as we go through the mansion, up the stairs and toward the bedrooms where Lucy is headed.

At the entry to her bedroom, she waves us forward and when we follow her into her room, we both stand frozen in place.

Sitting on her bed is fucking Sully Pugliesi looking like the fucking Cheshire Cat.

He stands and sticks out a hand. “Don Sabato.” His dark hair is pulled back, that scar by the corner of his nose glinting white.

I don’t like being ambushed. But I hold back the urge to start making demands and throwing punches and instead, I shake his hand.

For Lucy’s sake.

“What are you doing here?” I ask. It’s still my fucking house.

My question is answered when Lucy throws her arms around his neck and plants a open mouth kiss on his lips.

“What the fuck?” Carina says, bent over laughing. “What the fuck? Jesus.”

“Stop cursing.” Mama says from the doorway. “All of you with your secrets and sneaking around. It’s not what family does. Besides, you weren’t fooling anyone. At least not me.” She crosses her arms, pursing her lips.

“My happiness,” Lucy says, “is with Sully. And if you two are going to be together, then I want this.”

I grind my teeth wishing we were on the streets in Chicago right now and give him a lesson in respect.

“You should have come to me.” I square off with Sully. “This is my home. My family. You ever go behind my back again, you ever hurt her, I’ll mail your body parts home to your mother. How did this happen? I barely let her out of my sight.”

Sully swallows, Lucy looking at me, then him.

“We met when you were away.” Sully starts with a nervous tick in his cheek. “Before you came here. Before they did. When she was fourteen.”

“And you were how old?” I sneer, he’s older, not by much but enough.

“Nineteen. But, we were just friends. For years. Then, it became more. Emails, calls. You can fall in love with someone that way. I wouldn’t have believed it, but it’s true.”

“Hmm.” I sniff as Lusy rests her hand on his chest.

“I love him, Papa. He understands our life. Our world. But, he’s old school, like you.”

“That so?” Carina chimes in with an edge to her voice. “We protect our family above all else.”

“I’ll protect her. With my life and as many as I have to take.” Sully sets his jaw, cradling Lucy’s head in his hand then extends his hand with a nod of contrition. “But, you are right. I should have come to you. When I was sent here, it was complicated. A deal with the DA and I need to spend a few years here until Chicago settles down. I didn’t want to put her in danger before…before we could come to an agreement with my father. He’s stubborn.”

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