Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Gia
The cabin smelled like cookies and pine needles.
Well, mostly cookies. The pine was courtesy of a garland I’d strung across the mantle.
I’d laid everything out on the table: lights, garland, tinsel, stockings and a box of ornaments; nothing fancy, but they sparkled in the low light from the fire.
It felt good to do something. To make the place look like more than a safe house.
Something homey; something warm.
I hummed quietly as I worked — a Christmas tune I didn’t even realize I remembered — and threaded a string of lights throughout the garland. The storm outside glowed white in the reflection, flakes swirling thick and soft.
“Getting festive, are we?”
Enzo’s voice came from behind me, low and amused. He leaned against the door frame, sleeves rolled up, a faint smudge of grease on his wrist from whatever he’d been fixing this time.
I turned back to the garland. “Someone has to make this place feel less like a bunker.”
“It’s supposed to be a bunker; to keep you safe.”
I ignored that, balancing on my toes to add tinsel to the garland on the fireplace. “You could help, you know. There’s lights that need to be hung up.”
He crossed the room and picked up a string of lights off the table. “You really think this changes anything?”
“It changes how it feels.”
He looked at me for a moment, then at the table of decorations again. “Fair point. Where do I put these?”
“Around the window,” I instructed.
He did as I asked, securing lights around the window.
I smiled. “You’re a natural.”
Frowning, he arched a brow at me. “Don’t push it.”
We worked in silence for a while — me untangling lights, him pretending not to help while definitely helping. The quiet between us wasn’t awkward anymore. It was something… softer.
Then I stepped back to look at the room, hands on my hips, and froze.
Something was wrong.
The lights glowed, stockings were hung, the tinsel shimmered faintly, candles flickered on the table. It should’ve looked like Christmas. But it didn’t.
“What?” Enzo asked.
I bit my lip. “Something was missing.”
He scanned the room. “What could possibly be missing?”
I turned slowly toward the corner where it should’ve been obvious all along.
“Oh, no,” I whimpered.
He frowned. “What?”
“I forgot a tree.”
He blinked. “You what?”
“I forgot to get a Christmas tree!” I threw my hands up. “I bought lights, ornaments, cookies—but not the one thing that actually makes it Christmas.”
His mouth twitched, just barely. “You’re kidding.”
Covering my face with my hands, I sat on the couch. “I wish I was.”
He looked at me, then at the empty corner again, and laughed, low in his throat.
I was so upset I didn’t even want to look at him. “It’s not funny.”
“It kinda is,” he replied with a chuckle.
“It’s not Christmas without a tree,” I said, feeling my face heat and my eyes fill with tears.
I didn’t want Enzo to see me cry over something so stupid, so I ran to my room and locked the door behind me.
A few seconds later, he knocked on it. “Hey, kid, don’t be upset. It looks great out here, you don’t even need a tree.”
I laid down on the bed. “It’s not Christmas without a tree,” I sobbed. The reality of the situation, including being without my family over the holidays and the danger that had been looming over us since we’d arrived.
I started crying into my pillow, wishing it was my own. Homesickness crept in, especially since I didn’t know when I’d be able to go home or see my family again.
I could hear Enzo talking, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. All I could focus on was how sad I was about Christmas, my family, and the danger I’d put everybody in.
I must’ve drifted off to sleep because I woke up to the sound of something breaking. Panic gripped me and I hopped out of bed and rushed out of the room. “Enzo?”
The scene I walked into wasn’t what I’d expected. My jaw dropped as I took in the sight of a huge Christmas tree, fully decorated with lights and ornaments.
I darted my eyes to Enzo, who knelt down to sweep up the broken pieces of an ornament. “I wanted it to be finished before you came out here; thought it would be a nice surprise.”
My stomach fluttered. “What? How?”
He laughed at my stuttered questions. “Did you not see the trees around here? They’re everywhere.”
“No. I was asleep on the way up and didn’t really pay attention when we’ve been outside.” I looked back at the tree, noticing that snow still dusted some of the branches.
“Wait…” My brows furrowed as I pieced together what Enzo had done. “Did you cut down this tree yourself?”
He smirked. “Yeah. We have some on the property so I went to chop one down.”
I scoffed in disbelief. “No big deal, huh?” Warmth filled me, and my chest tightened at the gesture. “You didn’t have to do this for me.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away as he cleared his throat. “I know, but I wanted to. It’s bad enough I had to drag you out here away from your family.” He went over to the table and grabbed the star topper and held it out to me. “Do you want to do the honors?”
Taking the topper from him, I couldn’t help but smile. I knew my cheeks were pink from the heat I felt in them. “I’d love to.”
Enzo pulled a chair over to the side of the tall evergreen, then helped me step up on it. Then, I reached up and placed the star on top of the tree. When I got down, I plugged in the lights, then took a couple steps back and appraised the finished product. “Now it looks perfect in here.”
I looked up at Enzo in a combination of disbelief and glee. “Thank you. This really means a lot to me.”
Smiling back at me, he put his arm around my shoulder and hugged me against his side. “No problem, kid. I’m glad you like it.”
Even though I’d been spoiled my whole life, I couldn’t remember a time where someone had gone out of their way to do something like this for me. Of course, my parents bought me whatever I wanted but it wasn’t anything like this.
We stood in comfortable silence for several seconds before Enzo removed his arm from around my shoulders and cleared his throat. “I’m starving. I’m going to make dinner.”
“Okay.”
After dinner, I sat in my favorite chair and sketched the outside. The snow had stopped falling and the wind didn’t whistle as loud. Enzo was standing at the window, watching outside like always.
Uncertainty started to creep in as it usually did when things were quiet. “Do you think we’ll make it out of this?” I whispered.
His jaw tensed, but he didn’t look at me. “Doesn’t matter.”
My chest tightened. “Why not?”
“Because we’re already in it.”
That didn’t make me feel better. I stood and walked the few feet between us to grab his hand, lacing my fingers through his. He didn’t pull away.
The firelight danced on his face, softening the sharpness in his jaw, the tight set of his mouth. For once, he looked… human. Not the man sent to clean up messes. Not the shadow who followed blood.
Just Enzo.
My protector.
My only comfort in a world that would never let us be.
And that made me want him more.
There were so many things I wanted to say; that I wanted him to say.
Even though I hadn’t known him long, I knew he was a man of duty.
He took his role seriously, and I didn’t think he would act out on the feelings I knew he had for me.
And I wasn’t ready to put myself out there and make the first move.
Because I knew once I did, there was no turning back.
When I woke up, the silence was the first thing I noticed. Not the kind that meant danger; not that tense, listening kind I’d grown used to, the real kind. The peaceful kind. The kind that comes after days of roaring wind and snow hammering the roof, when the world finally decides to exhale.
The light spilling through the cabin window was soft, golden in places where it hit the frost.
Enzo was already up making breakfast. I wasn’t sure he ever slept. “Do you think the storm is over?” I questioned.
“For now.” He glanced over his shoulder from the stove, the faintest hint of a grin ghosting his mouth. “We’ve got twenty-four hours before Mother Nature remembers she hates us.”
“Twenty-four hours, huh?” I slipped my sweatshirt over my head. “What are we supposed to do with that miracle?”
He smirked as he brought a plate of biscuits and gravy over. “I had something in mind.”
I arched a brow, intrigued. “What?”
He shrugged. “It’s a surprise.”
My stomach flip-flopped as giddiness bubbled inside me. “Tell me.”
Enzo shook his head, fighting a smile. “Not a chance.”
I smacked my teeth then groaned. “Please,” I said, giving him my best puppy dog eyes and pout.
He chuckled. “That’s not going to work on me.”
If it worked on my dad, it would work on anyone. “Please,” I repeated, holding his gaze.
“Finish eating, then we’ll go.” My jaw dropped slightly as he walked away. Scoffing, I couldn’t believe his audacity. I was used to getting my way, and it felt weird to be denied.
I kind of liked it.
Even though I wanted to be a brat and not comply, I was too intrigued and excited about what Enzo had planned to be stubborn and not go.
“Dress warm; heavy coat, gloves, scarf, beanie. And put on those thick socks and boots we bought at the store.”
I finished eating and got dressed, wondering the whole time where we were going. I couldn’t believe Enzo was actually taking me away from the cabin, and I couldn’t deny the slight fear nagging me at the back of my mind.
Enzo will keep you safe.
I barely knew the man, but I trusted him with my life. I knew he’d protect me, even if it was just because his life was tied to mine.
I wanted to believe it was because he was starting to care for me like I was him, but that would be naive. We’d just met, and I was a job. Once it was over, he’d take me back to my father and we’d go our separate ways.
And I hated how much that bothered me.