All Chapters of A Home For Christmas: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

JuliaBy some miracle, I managed to find some supplies and get them back to the cottage without getting caught and without Nina noticing what I was doing. I made up a game that involved her finding certain color stones that kept her distracted, it helps that although she may be smart for her age she's still only 4 years old and doesn't put much thought into where her food comes from and for that I'm grateful. I also manage to find some more clothes for Nina and I can't wait to get her changed, she's been in her clothes for a while and I hate it.We get back into the cottage with ease and I secure the doors once more but for some reason, it feels different in here now which is stupid. I checked to make sure the place was still empty when we got back so I'm not sure why I'm feeling this paranoia but I decide to shake it off and just put it down to our situation."Are we going to live here forever, Mommy?" Nina's cute little voice drags me from my disturbed mind and I'm relieved. I look o

JuliaI open my eyes groaning in pain. I don't know what that fucker hit me with but I swear there's still ringing in my head. Within a few seconds, my senses come back and I drag my ass up from the floor. I'm in a world of pain but none of that matters as I push my body as hard as I can. "NINA!" I scream my little girl's name as loud as I can but there's no reply.I know there won't be a reply but still, I keep calling her. I start looking around the house for her even though I already know that she's gone. My heart is pounding, my whole body is shaking and sweating and I know for a fact that I have never felt this scared in my entire life!"FUCK!" The tears that I have been fighting to hold back fall free hard and fast and I fall to the floor while I scream and cry out all of my pain. What am I going to do? I have no idea where to even start looking for her. I know Mario Deluca's name of course, but I have no idea what he even looks like, never mind where to find him. I've never met

Julia I feel like the ground falls from beneath my feet. What the fuck is going on?" I can hear Riley talking on the phone but I can't take in a single word instead, I just keep repeating the last words that I heard. I think I may be Nina's dad. Fuck, I feel sick! I pull my hand out of Riley's and put it over my mouth, thankfully Josh is quick to realize what's happening and takes hold of my shoulders and quickly leads me to a side room that turns out to be a bathroom where I proceed to throw up all I have in my stomach. Once I'm done I sit on the floor trying to catch my breath while sweating like a demon. There's a knock on the door but I ignore it. "Julia?" Riley's voice is gentle and so are his steps, it's like he's approaching a tiger, not a woman over a foot shorter than him and half his weight size. "Julia?" he comes to a stand in front of me then gets down on his knees so that we are face to face. "Stupid question I know but are you ok, sweetheart?" Part of me wants to laugh

Julia I believe him, as much as I hate to admit it, I do believe him. I don't think he had anything to do with Nina's death after all but for now, I'll keep that to myself. I want to see how this plays out and if it is right then I will apologize, of course, I will. "I believe you, Julia. So tell me, which one of my men killed Nina?" Mario has a look in his eyes that I can't begin to describe but it is terrifying and yet, I don't feel like it's aimed at me. "I don't know his name. I wish I did but Nina never mentioned a name so I'm not sure if she knew his name or if she just didn't want me to know." "You said that you saw him so you would recognise him if you saw him again, yes?" I nod feeling myself relax a little as Riley rubs gentle circles on my back. I know I shouldn't have allowed him to pull me onto his lap, even protested a little but the truth is that I'm drained and talking about Nina has me feeling that all-familiar feeling of heartbreak once again and his comfort is muc

Riley My head feels like it's going to explored. Why the fuck did he do this to her? He's had her scared for Nina's life for the last 4 years and for what? I know he said that he felt that Nina was controlling Mario or whatever bullshit he said but Mario didn't even know about little Nina so why did he do this to Julia? Hearing what he's done to Julia and seeing the raw pain in her eyes and hearing it in her voice as she speaks to me both kills me and angers me. I wish I could have been around to have stopped it from happening and I wish I could personally end that prick but I can't change either although I have a feeling that Mario is going to make him suffer and I couldn't think of anything better. Julia's tears are starting to slow down a little and I'm grateful for it but she looks completely exhausted, drained and just plain defeated. She has spent the last four years raising her best friend's little girl while homeless and pretty much either hiding out or running for their li