Chapter 7
Maya wanted to step back.
That was the honest truth.
She had helped a lost child.
She had not agreed to stand inside a circle of black suits, whispered names, and men scanning park exits.
But Matteo’s hand still held hers.
And every instinct in her body warned that abrupt withdrawal would hurt him more than help her.
So she stayed.
For now.
Lorenzo watched the conflict cross her face.
“You are regretting your kindness,” he said.
Maya looked at him.
“I’m reassessing the situation.”
This time, he did smile.
Barely.
“Smart.”
“I was not trying to impress you.”
“I know.”
The way he said it made her look away first.
That irritated her.
A third security man returned, speaking into his sleeve before approaching Lorenzo.
“No sign at the south gate. Cameras requested.”
Lorenzo nodded once.
“Keep it quiet.”
Maya caught the phrase.
Keep it quiet.
Not call police.
Not notify park security loudly.
Keep it quiet.
Her spine stiffened.
Lorenzo saw.
Before she could speak, he said, “My son is my priority.”
“Then why not ask every officer in the park to help?”
Adrian’s head turned toward her again, annoyed by her boldness.
Lorenzo’s voice remained even.
“Because attention can help or harm depending on who is watching.”
“That sounds like something powerful people say when they don’t want questions.”
“It can be.”
“And this time?”
His eyes held hers.
“This time, I do not know yet.”
That honesty disarmed her more than a polished answer would have.
Matteo leaned his head against Lorenzo’s chest, exhausted now.
Children can only hold terror for so long before their bodies demand rest.
Maya’s thumb brushed over his small hand again.
“You should get him water,” she said.
One guard immediately reached into a discreet bag and handed Lorenzo a small sealed bottle.
Maya watched the efficiency.
Everything about these men said preparedness.
Yet Matteo had been alone.
That contradiction sat heavily between them.
Lorenzo opened the bottle and offered it to Matteo.
The boy drank a little, then looked at Maya as if needing permission.
She nodded.
“Good.”
Lorenzo noticed.
His voice lowered.
“He trusts you.”
“He was scared.”
“That does not explain it.”
Maya looked at Matteo’s tear-streaked face.
“No. It explains everything.”
Lorenzo’s expression softened again, but the tension around them sharpened when another phone vibrated.
This time, Adrian answered.
May you like
His face changed.
Read Chapter 8 👉 Because another message reached Lorenzo’s security team, and the men around Maya suddenly stopped treating the moment like an accident.
