Chapter 10 - THE MERRY CHRISTMAS WE ALWAYS WANTED
The heavy iron gates of the mountain estate closed with a solid, echoing thud, sealing out the cold, the wind, and the ghosts of my past once and for all.
Inside the grand living room, the roaring fire cast a warm, golden glow across the polished stone floors and the towering Christmas tree that Mrs. Gable had finished decorating while we were downstairs. Dozens of warm white lights twinkled softly against the dark green pine branches, reflecting off glass ornaments and the giant raffle doll sitting proudly underneath like a centerpiece.
I stood by the window, watching the tail lights of Marcus’s luxury sedan disappear down the winding mountain road, swallowed completely by the snowy wilderness.
For the first time in two years, the tight, suffocating knot in my chest was gone. My lungs felt expansive. My shoulders didn't ache. The constant, gnawing terror that had dictated every breath I took was simply... erased.
A pair of warm arms wrapped gently around my waist from behind, pulling me back against a solid, familiar chest.
"He's gone," Luca whispered against my hair, his breath warm and steady. "He's never coming back, Vanessa. I give you my word."
I leaned back into him, closing my eyes as I let out a long, trembling breath that felt like shedding an entire lifetime of armor.
"I don't even know how to thank you, Luca," I murmured, turning around in his arms to look up into his dark, steady eyes. "You gave us safety. You gave us peace. You gave my daughter a Christmas."
"I didn't give you anything you hadn't already earned," Luca said softly, his hand rising to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin with an infinite, aching tenderness. "You saved me in the mud behind the gym ten years ago when I had nobody. Letting me protect you and Lily now... that isn't a debt. That's my life's work."
Footsteps sounded softly on the wooden gallery stairs.
We both turned to see Lily walking down into the living room, rubbing her sleepy eyes, still wearing the oversized cashmere sweater, dragging her giant raffle doll behind her by its arm.
She stopped at the edge of the rug, looking up at the towering Christmas tree sparkling with lights, and then at Luca and me standing close together by the fire.
"Mommy?" she whispered, her voice full of wonder. "Is Santa finished?"
May you like
I smiled, tears of pure, unadulterated joy finally spilling over my lashes, and knelt down to pull my little girl into my arms, burying my face in her soft hair.
"Yes, sweetie," I choked out, looking over her shoulder at Luca, who had dropped to one knee beside us, his dark eyes shining with a warmth that melted the last of the winter chill. "Santa is finished. And we're home."
