"Beautiful as always, Mia," Dad smiled at me. I’d been the one to take a hold of Christmas in our house ever since I was in double digits.
"Thanks, Dad," I called from the dishwasher. When I turned around, Stefan was standing behind me with a handful of plates and I could feel Luc watching us. Taking the plates from his hands I said, "Thanks."
"Mia, don't go with him."
Back at the table, Luc was speaking to Dad and I itched to be back in my seat so I could keep an eye on the conversation and steer it if it wandered into choppy waters.
"Stef, it's none of your business," I said, bringing my focus back to him for a second.
"If Luc puts a foot wrong with Moretti, he'll kill you."
"Xavier’s his godfather and Luc's not going to do anything that puts me in danger.”
"Jesus!" Stef exclaimed. "He really has brainwashed you."
I pushed past Stefan to make my way back to the table, but he grabbed my arm.
"Get off," I hissed at him.
The sound of a chair scraping the floor filled the room as Luc stood up. "Let go of her."
Stefan didn't release his grip. "Mia, listen to me. You're going to get yourself in too deep."
"This is nothing to do with you," I told him.
Luc walked over to us. "I'm warning you, Stefan. Take your hand off her and sit your ass back down at the table."
"What? Because you're worried she might actually listen to me?" Stefan shot back. He dropped my arm to square up to Luc with me in between them. "Let her talk to me, Lucas. Or are you scared she's going to change her mind? Scared she might not have bought into you as deeply as you think."
"Shut up," Luc said through gritted teeth.
"When you lose her, I hope it lies on you conscious for the rest of your life."
Luc gave Stefan a hard shove and I stumbled slightly as his body pressed against mine.
"Luc! Please, just stop," I pleaded, standing in front of him with both of my palms on his chest. Luc was livid and I could see the red mist that settled over him. We did not need a full blown fight today.
"Mia! Move!" Luc ordered.
"No." I stood firm. "Please calm down." My hands moved up to his face and pulled it down to look at me. "Please, babe."
It took a moment before Luc rested his forehead against mine and I let out a breath before kissing him. That had been defused more easily that I thought it would.
"Mia, what is going on?"
I pulled away from Luc to see that Dad was standing there, staring at us. "Mia?" he asked, waiting for an explanation.
"Isn't it obvious, Mr Griffin?" Stefan asked.
I looked over my shoulder. "Stefan, don't."
"My big brother," he continued. "Has decided he loves your daughter."
"Is this true?" Dad asked us.
The power of speech fled as panic arrived so all I was capable of was nodding in response. There was no way to deny it. Dad looked alarmed at the revelation, but a sense of comfort filled me as Luc took my hand in his.
"Hector," he began calmly.
