Page 59 of Christmas Mafia Prince
“Of course you did. You sealed our position in this family, and I will forever be grateful, even if I’d have understood if you refused to.”
“And it’s not fake, right? You’re mine?” I ask and slide my legs over his lap to be closer.
I have it bad for this man, but I’m done running from it.
Damen pulls me in for a kiss. His tongue breaches my mouth so deliciously my toes curl, and I crawl all the way into his lap, desperate for the comfort only he can provide.
“I’m yours. I promise. You can trust me,” he whispers, holding me firmly in his arms.
I might ask him to record those words so I can have them on loop as my lullaby on nights he’s not there.
“Can we stay like this for a bit?”
I don’t even want sex right now. Only cuddles.
“Oui, mon chéri.”
Chapter 22
Killian
I’vedoneit.I’vekilled someone. Sure, he was supposedly a bad guy, and I did it for the sake of my husband’s dream, but I’m still shaken. I’ve sometimes wondered if I could make myself hit someone really hard, or pull the trigger if someone dangerous became a threat, but in real life, my preferred response is to run. Come to think of it, I’ve always outsourced my safety to others.Even Damen is someone I approached for help when Happy got wind of my trail.
Today, I executed a cuffed man with a shot to the head.
I didn’t have to do it—Damen wasn’t trying to manipulate me. I could see it in his eyes that he was ready to give up this lifelong dream of his for my sake. I couldn’t let him down.
But I also couldn’t prove myself unworthy of the Van der Horn family. I am a part of it now, and what threatens them, threatens me also. I will no longer hide behind someone’s back.
“Are you sure you’re fine?” Damen asks as we all stand in front of the mansion, waiting for Karl to blow the horn signaling the start of the hunt. Like all the other participants, my man is wearing a white outfit dappled with irregular blots of dark green, and armed with a crossbow, and I step closer to adjust the hat on his head. I know he’s proficient, smart, and strong. Not to mention that, unlike the prey, the hunters are armed, but I still worry for him
“It’s more of a… stage fright. Might get awkward fast without you around,” I whisper, noting that Victor is already stepping away from Alexandra with a goodbye wave. Titus stands a bit farther away, and while I’m sure he’s glad to be out of the ugly blazer, he hasn’t forgiven us yet for the indignity of needing to wear it for a week. He looks away when my eyes settle on him.
He still doesn’t like me? Not my problem.
Damen kisses my cheek, which has already gone numb from the cold. A new layer of snow has covered everything around us overnight, which should make the tracking easier, but all I can see is beautiful scenery. It’s hard to believe people will be hunted down in this postcard-perfect landscape, but I am here to support my man nevertheless.
“Good luck. Bring me as many trophies as you can carry,” I tell him with a playful smile. “And if you come empty-handed, I will be there to make you feel better.”
Damen chuckles and pinches my icy nose with his gloved hand. “That is not going to happen. Watch me squash Titus like a bug yet again.”
“Damen?”
“What is it, baby?”
I smile as my chest melts. “I love you too.”
“Ready?” Karl shouts from up on a large rock rising off the ground between the woodland and gardens.
Uncle Roger whistles and waves at Damen. “May the best one win.”
Damen keeps looking back at me as he joins the hunters and sends me a kiss through the air.
Several other members of the Van der Horn family are making their final preparations, but then Damen’s father blows into the antique horn, and the hunters bolt toward the trees like a pack of dogs catching a whiff of prey.
I practically smell danger in the air and hope the former prisoners haven’t gotten any stupid ideas about hiding close by and trying to take out the Van der Horns one by one. I want to warn Damen about such a possibility, but the snow camo does its job, and soon enough, tracks in the snow are the only evidence that he was at my side not that long ago. Who am I to give him advice anyway? He was born to do this while I’ve killed for the first time today.
People around me chat, familiar with each other, but I’m adrift without my prince. Still, if Damen wants me to be a part of this family, I can’t let him put in all the effort, so I focus on his father and walk toward him, determined to bury the hatchet and show him that I can be the perfect partner for his son. I’m halfway there when Bree steps in front of me with her sourest face yet. I wonder if she’s one of those people who refrains from smiling in order to avoid causing premature wrinkles, but she doesn’t give me much time to consider that question.
