Christmas Vows with the Devil: A Dark Mafia Enemies to Lovers Romance by Demi Ryder
Author:Demi Ryder [Ryder, Demi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-11-21T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Twenty
Dante
Soft morning light filters through the cracks in the old barnâs ceiling. My body aches not just from the cold, but from the tension of everything thatâs happened. I glance down at Gia wrapped around me, her breathing soft and steady.
For a moment, the world outside fades, and all that exists is her warmth beside me. Her dark hair spills over the hay, her face peaceful in sleep. I canât help but brush a strand away from her cheek. She stirs but doesnât wake.
Last night changed everything for me. Not just because of what happened between usâalthough I canât stop thinking about itâbut because of what we said. Sheâs right, I can be different. I can be a better father than my own was to me.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, a soft buzz that snaps me back to reality. The signal dropped last night, and I havenât been able to contact anyone, but I guess the storm finally let up.
I slip out of the barn quietly, stepping into the crisp morning air. The sky is still overcast, angry and gray, and thereâs a chill that settles deep in my bones.
I glance at the missed call on the screen. Rocco. Maybe they found something. I quickly hit the call back button.
âBoss, weâve got something.â Roccoâs voice crackles through the line, which is filled with static. âThe kid was spotted in New York a couple of hours ago. Weâre trying to track down the source, but itâs solid. The kid is definitely in the city.â
My grip tightens on the phone, a wave of relief and panic hitting me at the same time. âWhere exactly?â
âWe donât have an exact location yet. Somewhere near Little Italy. But the sighting, it came from a credible source. Weâve got eyes on the streets now.â
I curse under my breath, running a hand through my hair. This isnât enough. We need more. But itâs the first real lead weâve had since Matteo was taken. And now, every second counts.
âKeep me updated,â I say, ending the call.
I stand there for a moment, staring out at the snow-covered trees, my mind racing. Matteo is in New York. Someone in that city has him, and theyâre using him to get to me. But why?
This whole thing feels off. The attacks, the kidnappingâit doesnât fit. The rival family I suspected earlier wouldnât pull moves like this. Theyâre brutal, sure, but they donât play games with kids.
Thereâs more going on here. I can feel it in my gut.
I quickly call Giancarlo to update the family. I learn the snowstorm forced them all back to the Vitale lodge last night. So many precious hours lost to this fucking snow.
He assures me the family and his men are on standby, ready for my instructions. As much as I want the Vitales backing me here, the entire clan showing up in New York would be too noticeable. I promise updates as soon as I have them and head back inside the barn, where Gia is already awake.
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