13. Vera
Chapter 13
Vera
M assimo doesn't go back to his own room. Instead, he climbs into my bed and pulls me into his arms as we lie together beneath the heavy blankets. I feel warm and safe with him, but my heart is churning.
My son is out there somewhere.
I can't relax. I can't stop thinking about him and what he might have been through.
Sensing my discomfort, Massimo brushes his hand across my cheek, a gentle touch that pulls my attention onto him. "We will find him, Vera. I won't stop looking until we find him."
"I just - I'm so worried. I don't know if he will even know who we are."
"If he doesn't - he will have all the time in the world to get to know us. All we need to think about now is how to get to him. "
"Do you think Elio is really going to tell us?" I ask, terrified that Elio is too selfish to help us.
"Elio will do anything to survive. I can see it in his eyes. He betrayed our entire family for money or power - I am sure he will betray the Vitales to save his own life. Because I will kill him. I will not hesitate to kill him if he tries to hide my son from me tomorrow."
I gasp in horror. "You can't, Massimo. You can't kill the only man who knows where our son is."
He pulls me closer to his body.
His silence scares me. I know what Massimo is capable of.
All I can hope now is that he keeps Elio alive long enough to get what we need out of him.
I hate that man.
I hate him for framing me.
I hate him for taking my son.
I hate him for every day, every week, every year that he has kept my son from me.
But I don't want him dead. Not yet anyway.
"We will go to the Winter Ball tomorrow, as though everything is normal," Massimo says, talking more to himself than me. "Elio will be at my side and my guards will be on high alert."
"The Winter Ball is neutral territory. All the families are sworn to peace at the holiday events."
"It didn't stop them from breaching the lodge this evening." Massimo sighs.
"True. "
"Get some sleep, Vera. Tomorrow is going to be busy."
I sigh softly and close my eyes.
I do my best to focus on his arms around me instead of the thoughts in my head. His muscular body is pressed against me. His skin is hot and smooth, and I can feel his heart beating against my back where I am curled up against his chest.
Everything is going to be ok. I think to myself, just as sleep starts dragging me away.
In the morning, I wake up to find Massimo already gone, the space next to me cold. My heart sinks, feeling heavier with each passing second. He must have snuck away before anyone else woke up.
The weight of reality hits me hard—he wouldn't want to be caught sharing a bed with someone who was once exiled, someone his family still views with suspicion. It will take a long time for them to accept me again. A long time for them to trust me.
And, I guess, it will take just as long for Massimo to accept me, too.
Just because he wanted to be with me last night doesn't mean things are the way they used to be. There's still so much unresolved between us, so much history weighing us down.
But despite everything, my heart aches for him. It's always been him, and no matter what happened, I can't deny how much I still want to be with him.
I get dressed and head downstairs to where everyone is having breakfast. It's a heavy atmosphere and people are mostly just eating in silence.
The kids are still rushing around, unaware of what happened last night. The Christmas lights are still shining, and the snow is still falling softly against the window. But the atmosphere is tense and cold instead of warm with holiday spirits.
Adrian and Massimo are talking quietly between themselves. "Do we ask the rest of the family not to attend the Winter Ball?" Adrian asks.
"No, we will all attend as usual. The Winter Ball is neutral territory. They can't be stupid enough to try something there."
"Hmph." Adrian huffs, not as convinced as Massimo.
I sit down next to them. Adrian eyes me for a moment. Then he asks, "Did you get some rest?"
I frown a little, not used to him caring or being gentle towards me.
"I did, thank you," I say with caution.
"We are going to find your son, Vera," Adrian says calmly, then turns his face away from me.
I nod. "I know you will," I reply, trying to reassure myself.
By the time the sun sets and evening arrives, the temperature has dropped considerably. Some of the family has decided to skip the Winter Ball - the rest of us are ready and starting to climb into the waiting limousines to drive to the event.
Massimo looks divine, draped in his black, perfectly tailored suit. The crisp collar frames his strong jaw, and there's something undeniably powerful—almost dangerous—about the way he carries himself.
He's dark, commanding, and so fucking sexy that I'm struggling to keep my hands off him. Every glance he throws my way is like a physical touch, setting my skin on fire.
Meanwhile, I'm wrapped in a long, glittering red dress that clings to every curve. The deep slit up the front reveals flashes of my legs as I walk, and the shimmering fabric catches the light with every movement, accentuating my red stilettos. I feel his eyes on me, the tension between us electric.
Massimo's eyes are on me, tracing over my body. I can see he is as attracted to me as I am to him. But I remind myself that physical attraction is one thing - letting me back into his heart is a different story.
Massimo is holding my white faux fur coat. He slips it over my shoulders.
"You look divine." He says, leading me out of the house.
I climb into the limousine. Inside, Adrian and Elio are already seated. Adrian is partially glued to Elio's side. He is not letting him out of his site. Massimo and I sit opposite them and the drive to the Winter Ball is tense and silent.
Arriving at the event Massimo and I climb out of the limo, and he holds his arm out for me. I slip mine through his as we walk into the Winter Ball. It's like a magical Christmas wonderland inside. We drop our coats at the door and walk through an archway of glittering snowflakes made of crystals. The entire venue is glowing and shining with diamond snow. Warm fires burn in all four corners and Christmas lights twinkle all around us.
I have always loved this event.
I've missed it.
But tonight - I'm not here to enjoy the party like everyone else is. I want to know where my son is.
Adrian keeps a tight grip on Elio. We are all waiting for him to reveal the truth. He isn't speaking much though and keeps telling us to wait.
Wait for what?
The tension increases as the hours roll by.
To keep up pretenses Massimo pulls me onto the dance floor.
"Keep your eyes open," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. His toned body presses firmly against mine, the heat between us building. His hand moves slowly, sliding lower, hovering just over the curve of my back, fingers barely grazing the skin above my ass.
Every inch of him against me feels like a tease, like a promise of something more. My pulse quickens, my body aching for him to close the space between us, to take what he's been silently claiming all along.
I breathe heavily, my body responding to his touch, my mind trying to remain focused on everyone around us.
"Relax." His deep voice vibrates through me, sending shivers down my spine .
"I can't," I whisper back. He chuckles. "I know. Me either."
The music drifts around us, soft and haunting, and for just a moment— the smallest, briefest moment— I feel like I've stepped back into the past.
Seven years ago, Massimo and I stood right here, beneath this very roof, dancing together. Back then, we were in love—utterly and completely lost in each other. The world felt perfect, untouched by the darkness that would soon consume us.
But that was before everything changed. Before I lost it all.
Massimo leans a little closer to me and after a soft sigh, he confesses something that causes my heart to skip a beat.
"I never stopped loving you, Vera."
I bite my lip. What does that mean? Does he still love me now?
Is there a chance for us - do we have a future together?
Adrian steps onto the dance floor. "Elio says it's time to go."
"Go where?"
"I'm not sure." Adrian shrugs.
"Fuck." Massimo snaps. "I think he is toying with us. This is nothing but a fucking game to him."
"Keep your voice down," Adrian warns, glancing around the room.
Massimo nods. "Fine. Let's go."
He takes my hand, and I follow them out of the Winter Ball. Massimo helps me slip my coat back on. We step out of the warm building and into the cold night air.
Adrian shoves Elio into the back of the limo. Across the parking lot, I see the glint of metal. "Massimo," I shout, watching the man lift the gun towards him.
Massimo shoves me out of the way and ducks just in time. The bullet rips through the air and smacks into the side of the building behind us.
He lifts me off the ground and throws me into the bulletproof limousine. "Drive." He shouts, leaping in behind me.
The door slams and the tires scream against the tar as the driver speeds away.
Two more bullets slam into the side of the car, but none reach us.
Massimo shoots across the seat towards Elio, grabbing his throat and shaking him hard. "You're playing fucking games. That was another fucking trap to try and take me out." He slams his fist into Elio's face, and I hear his nose crack.
I grab Massimo from behind, dragging him off Elio.
He is breathing heavily, sitting in the seat next to me.
He glares at Elio.