Chapter 51: Riley

The moment we step inside, Sofia shivers from the cold, her cheeks flushed pink from being out in the snow for so long. I nudge her gently as she looks at us with curiosity in her eyes.

"Go ahead and change into something warm and dry," I say, my voice light but firm. "We’ve got a little surprise for you."

Her face lights up with a mix of curiosity and excitement, though she tries to hide it by biting her lip. “A surprise? What is it?”

“You’ll see,” Danny grins, crossing his arms. “Just trust us.”

She hesitates for a second, eyes flicking between all of us, then nods and heads upstairs. We watch her go before exchanging quick, knowing glances. We’ve been planning this for days, and now that it’s finally happening, we can’t wait to see her reaction.

When she comes back down, she’s dressed in a cozy sweater, thick leggings, and boots, her hair tied back in a loose bun. She looks so effortlessly beautiful, and I can't help but smile as she joins us by the door, eyes still sparkling with curiosity.

“You’re gonna love this,” Nate says, opening the door and motioning for her to step outside.

We lead her to the back of the cabin, and as soon as she sees the snowmobiles, her jaw drops.

“They’re all yours?” She says, waving toward the sleek black machines.

We nod, and her eyes are wide as she takes in the sight of the snowmobiles, lined up in perfect formation. “You guys… these are amazing!”

“They are, aren’t they?” Leo laughs, adjusting his jacket. He hands her a helmet, which she puts on, still looking around at everything in awe. “Hop on behind me, and hold on tight.”

She doesn’t hesitate this time, hopping onto the snowmobile behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist. I can feel the warmth of her breath against my back as she nestles closer, and I grin beneath my helmet as I rev the engine.

“Ready?” I call out, my voice loud enough to cut through the roar of the snowmobile.

“Yeah!” she shouts back, her excitement palpable.

I don’t wait any longer—I gun the engine, and we shoot forward through the snow-covered forest, the wind whipping around us. The ride is fast, and the adrenaline rushes through me as we go up and down small hills, winding through trees. Sofia holds on tight, laughing as we take a few sharp turns, but she’s clearly enjoying every second of it.

We drive for what feels like a long while until we finally crest a hill, revealing a small village below. From up here, it looks like a Christmas wonderland, twinkling lights in the windows, snow on the rooftops, and pine trees dotting the landscape like something out of a holiday movie.

Sofia gasps. “It looks like a Christmas village!”

I pull to a stop, and the other guys follow, parking their snowmobiles next to mine. We all take off our helmets, and Sofia looks around in awe.

“But Christmas is still a while away,” she says, almost confused, but her voice is filled with wonder.

Nate grins and steps up beside her. “Up here, it’s pretty much Christmas all year round. This little village keeps the theme going. They love it up here, even in the off-season.”

She smiles at that, though it falters slightly. Her voice is softer when she says, “I’ve always loved Christmas. My parents… they knew that, and for the last five years, they made sure to leave me alone during Christmas. It was their way of punishing me.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. She says it so casually, like it’s just a fact, but the weight of it hangs in the air. All of us exchange quick looks, feeling a surge of anger at what her parents put her through. But we don’t say anything. Instead, I step closer, placing a hand on her back.

“Well, let’s change that,” I say, my voice firm but warm. “We can make today your Christmas before Christmas. What do you think?”

She looks up at me, her eyes softening as she takes in the offer, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I see hope in her expression.

“Really?” she whispers.

“Really,” I say, nodding. “We’ll make today all about you.”

The other guys nod in agreement, each of them stepping forward as if to seal the promise. Sofia’s smile returns, brighter than before, and it lights up the whole moment.

We step into the village, the snow crunching beneath our boots as Sofia looks around, her eyes wide with wonder. Twinkling lights hang from every storefront, wreaths decorate the doors, and soft Christmas music plays in the background. It’s like stepping into a storybook, with the faint smell of gingerbread and pine lingering in the cold air.

We follow her as she leads us toward a small farm tucked to the side of the village. Reindeer graze in a fenced area, their large antlers adorned with little bells that jingle every time they move. Sofia gasps, her face lighting up like a child seeing magic for the first time.

“They have reindeer,” she whispers, as if not to break the spell of the moment.

“They do,” Leo chuckles, his hand resting lightly on her back. “You want to feed them?”

Sofia’s eyes shine as she nods eagerly. We walk over to the small stand where an older woman hands out small bags of feed. Sofia takes one, and I can’t help but watch as she kneels in the snow, holding her hand out gently toward one of the reindeer. It sniffs at her hand before stepping forward, nuzzling into her palm as it eats the food.

The scene is surreal. She looks like a winter princess, her blonde hair falling in soft waves around her face, her delicate features glowing against the backdrop of snow and Christmas lights. The reindeer trust her instantly, flocking around her as if they know she’s kind and gentle.

“Wow,” Danny mutters next to me, shaking his head. “She's like a dream.”

Nate smirks, grabbing a handful of feed and stepping toward one of the reindeer. He tries to mimic Sofia’s gentle approach, but the reindeer looks at him suspiciously, then suddenly bites his hand, startling him.

“Ow!” Nate yells, jumping back.

We all burst out laughing, Sofia included. She looks up at Nate with a teasing grin.

“I guess they think you look too much like a villain,” Leo jokes, slapping Nate on the back as he glares at the reindeer. “Stick to the tough guy routine. Leave the reindeer to Sofia.”

Nate grumbles but can’t help cracking a smile as Sofia giggles, getting back to her feet and brushing off the snow.

After a while, we leave the reindeer farm and head toward a small café, the scent of warm food inviting us in from the cold. The café is cozy, with wood-paneled walls, a fireplace crackling in the corner, and Christmas decorations strung all over. We settle at a table near the window, and soon enough, steaming bowls of soup, eggnog, and slices of Christmas log cake are brought out.

Sofia takes a sip of her eggnog, her hands wrapped around the warm cup. She glances around the table, watching us as we dig into our food.

“This place… it’s so peaceful,” she says softly, looking out the window at the snow falling gently outside. “Is this what you guys envision when you say you want out of your lifestyle? A life like this?”

Her question hangs in the air, and I can feel the weight of it settle over us. She’s been getting closer to us, peeling back the layers of who we are, but I know there’s still so much about us that she doesn’t fully understand. We’re trying to protect her from it, but at the same time, she deserves to know the truth.

Nate is the first to answer. “It’s complicated, Sof. We’ve been in this life for so long that it’s become part of us. We can’t deny that. But yeah… something like this, something easygoing, peaceful—that’s what we’re hoping for.”

Danny nods, his voice a bit softer than usual. “We’ve seen and done a lot of things that… well, they don’t exactly fit with this picture. But that doesn’t mean we can’t want something better for ourselves, and for you.”

Sofia looks down at her cup, her expression thoughtful. “It’s just… the more time I spend with you guys, the more you seem like the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I can’t picture you being part of something like the mafia.”

Leo chuckles darkly, shaking his head. “We’re both, Sofia. We can’t pretend that the years of doing what we’ve done haven’t shaped us into who we are now. There’s a part of us that’s hardened from all of it, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to leave it behind.”

“It’s true,” I add, leaning forward. “We’ve done things we’re not proud of, but that doesn’t change how we feel about you, or what we want for the future.”

Sofia’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, there’s a flicker of uncertainty in them. I can’t blame her. We’ve dragged her into a world she never asked to be part of, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure she’s safe, to make sure she knows we’d never hurt her.

“I guess I just…” She hesitates, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. “I don’t want you guys to feel like you have to choose between me and the life you want.”

“We’re not choosing,” Nate says firmly. “We want both. You, and a better life. And we’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

The table falls into a comfortable silence as we finish our meal, and I can see the wheels turning in Sofia’s mind. She’s thinking, processing everything we’ve told her, and I know it’s a lot to take in.

But she smiles, a small but genuine smile, and that’s enough to reassure me that maybe, just maybe, she’s starting to believe that we can have the life we want. A life where we’re not constantly looking over our shoulders, a life where we’re not trapped in a cycle of violence and fear.

And, most importantly, a life where we can keep her safe, where she can be part of our future.