Her voice was barely audible.
Dante looked at her for a moment, apparently understanding exactly why she was frightened.
He took back most of the money and left enough for the drinks and a generous tip.
That small action unsettled me more than if he’d acted like the monster everyone expected.
Marco tugged his sleeve.
“Papa, Ellie walked in the alley even though it was dark.”
Dante’s eyes returned to me.
“I heard.”
“She found me.”
“I heard that too.”
Marco frowned, apparently dissatisfied by his father’s understatement.
“She helped me.”
Dante’s expression softened toward him.
“Yes.
She did.”
Then he faced me fully.
“Ms.
Morgan.”
I blinked.
“Ellie is fine.”
“Ellie.”
He spoke my name carefully.
“Thank you.”
It was simple.
Quiet.
No performance.
I had expected something colder from a man whose reputation could turn Maggie pale.
“Anyone would’ve helped him.”
Dante’s jaw tightened slightly.
“No.
They wouldn’t.”
That answer stayed with me.
Nicholas shifted near the door.
“Dante, we should go.”
Dante ignored him.
“How did you know whom to call?”
I pointed to the backpack.
“Marco had an emergency card.”
Nicholas stepped forward and picked it up from the table.
“You read this?”
His tone brought back the hostility from the phone.
I stared at him.
“Of course I read it.
Your nephew was lost.”
Nicholas looked at Dante.
“Her phone has my number now.”
“Because I called you,” I said.
“Nico,” Dante warned.
“I’m just saying we don’t know—”
“She found Marco alone in an alley and brought him into a public coffee shop.
She called the emergency contact printed on his card.”
Dante’s voice remained calm.
“Which part concerns you?”
Nicholas stopped.
“None.”
“Good.”
