Page 12 of Silent Snowfall

Inside my chest, my heart did a little flip…and my thighs gave a greedy, albeit quick, clench.

“You didn’t answer the question,” I pointed out. “Who the hell are you?”

He slung the backpack over his shoulder and pulled his gloves from his back pocket. If Santa came down the chimney, red coated and jolly, this man was the exact opposite. He was all black and shadows and menace.

“Since you don’t recognize me—”

“Should I?” I scoffed.

Moving across the kitchen, he chuckled, a rough, harsh sound. “I’ll keep the mystery going a little longer, carina.”

“I’m not your darling,” I snapped, scrambling back. There wasn’t room, and I bumped into the sink.

“No, and you would never choose me.” He reached out and grazed the back of his knuckles down my cheek. The leather was cool against my skin.

A silly little part of me wished he wasn’t wearing gloves.

“Go back to sleep. You and your family are safe here in San Pietro Cove.”

I narrowed my eyes, hating the flutter his words caused in my chest.

“How can you possibly know that?” I retorted, frustrated at the rush of emotions and choosing to be combative rather than surrender to his touch.

“Because….” He leaned forward. Close enough that I saw how the dark browns of his irises bled into the black of his pupils. His breath was hot against my lips as he exhaled through the cloth. “In a town of monsters, I’m the worst of them. If I say you’re safe, you’re safe.”

An incredulous laugh barked out of my throat. “Forgive me for not trusting the word of a nightmare!”

“I honor my word.” There was definitely a smile in his words, but it wasn’t the friendly kind. “Sleep tight, Rose.”

He pulled away, and I gasped at the sudden loss of his presence. What was wrong with me? This wasn’t normal! I shouldn’t be feeling all these things. I was a widow. He’d technically broken into the house, even if he did have a key. I glared at his back as he strode to the front door. He didn’t look back, slipping on his boots and opening the door. And then he was gone, leaving me questioning everything.

Chapter 5 – Lucian

Itucked the basket under my arm and stepped through the door. A sleepy silence hummed through the old house. The whirr of the heat system pumped through the vents, mimicking the soft breaths from the inhabitants upstairs. I held my own and stepped into the kitchen.

It was empty.

The sigh that escaped my lips sounded…sad. There was no frying pan or pissed off mama bear to greet me tonight. I’d been looking forward to our interaction. For the first time I could remember, someone saw me. While my face had been covered, Rosetta hadn’t cowered in fear that the Killer King was standing in front of her. I was just another man.

I didn’t want her to find out it was me.

Not until we got to know each other.

It didn’t matter if she was locked in her room, fast asleep. I was going to use this as an opportunity to do a little recon on the feisty, gorgeous woman who’d bludgeoned me with a steel disc. I needed to know everything about her. The plan was simple. While her sons had an elf a piece, Loki was coming to play with Mama Bear. He just hadn’t shown up in the Amazon package today.

So, I included Rose’s present in with the twin’s. After tonight, if it was fitting, Rose and Uliva would have gifts with the twins. But Rose was going to have a special elf all on her own.

Tonight’s concept wasn’t complicated. From the information I’d gathered on this holiday tradition, many parents were stressed about setting up these demonic-looking red dolls with silly ears. I didn’t understand the frustration—probably because the kids weren’t my own, and I didn’t have to deal with the aftermath. Staging the scenes, however, was almost fun.

Not that I was capable of that emotion.

Still, I didn’t mind doing the research. I was good at that. Breaking into the house? Easy. Setting up the elves to do ridiculous stunts was almost like assassinating someone. There were details in the staging. Who knew the skills used to be a killer for hire could translate into holiday cheer?

Or maybe tonight I was looking forward to this because I had a different target in mind….

I set the gift basket on the kitchen table, containing a brand-new mug nested with gourmet hot cocoa for each of the family members. The Signora’s said Nonna, while the twins had some sci-fi movie characters from a galaxy far-far away. I’d been torn which to buy for the object of my thoughts, however. The navy-blue mug peppered with white snowflakes seemed too plain. Which was why I’d scrapped that mug.

A madness possessed me earlier today, and I’d rush ordered a custom mug that had vines and rosebuds climbing around the mug and handle. It was beautiful. Just like her.