(Trigger-warning! Proceed with caution)
A laugh tore through Rosalie as she ran behind the two little children who giggled hysterically, both of them scurrying away from her. Their footsteps and joy echoing off the walls of the barely inhabited estate.
Christmas was just a couple of days away and Arcangelo had given most - if not all - of his staff a holiday to go and enjoy the occasion with their families. She can remember the unease that had overcome every face as they were informed that the Boss wanted to meet with them in the gardens. It was frigid, everyone was bundled in jackets and scarves and mittens as their shuffled to keep warm, all of them amassed and standing shoulder to shoulder, reveling in the heat radiated by everyone.
She can even recall the shock and joy the men and w
