—Ellie— Only one week until Christmas. The mansion was decorated beautifully with red baubles, golden tinsel, and sprigs of mistletoe. Luckily Isabella and Samuel weren’t mobile yet or the greenery would have had to go. I’d sent Mateo a few messages, telling him I was safe and asking if he was okay. He hadn’t replied yet but I knew he’d read the messages. Maybe his hurt was still too fresh. Five days weren’t enough to come to terms with the fact that your sister betrayed you for a man you hated more than anything in the world. My messages to Mom and Arianna hadn’t even been received. I suspected Dad had gotten new phones for them so I couldn’t contact them. I approached Kate as she stirred a new batch of baby food, a sweet potato puree. “Do you get Christmas presents for each other?” Damian had given me a credit card from one of the Russo bank accounts yesterday, and while I’d wanted to decline at first, I took the card. Tristan see

—Ellie— He sat up stiffly. “Straddle me with your ass facing me.” “What?” “Do it,” he ordered. I didn’t question him, could barely think straight from the throbbing between my legs. I pushed up and climbed over Tristan, careful not to ram my knees into his ribs. My palms rested beside his knees as I knelt over him, my ass pushing out. Tristan lifted up my dress until I was exposed and my core tightened in anticipation. “Fuck,” hr murmured, causing me to shiver again. I gasped when he pushed two fingers into me, my back arching at the delicious sensation of my walls gripping him. He let out a low groan, and I almost came hearing it. I could see the proof of his own need straining against his sweatpants. “The sight of your pussy taking my fingers is the fucking best.” I whimpered in response and began to meet his thrusts, needing his fingers deeper, faster, harder. “Yes, Querido, take them,” he rasped. More wetness pooled between my legs. I t