ella

n the house w

kids who refused to listen. But Matteo Romano was different. He wasn't just distant;

hadn't spoken another word. Instead, he spent h

cing at the ti

lled softly, "

espo

"I was thinking of making some grilled

, didn't even ackn

stration building inside me. This wasn't goi

anything else, th

re

He wasn't dressed in a suit today, just a black sweater and dark j

Matteo and sighed.

my arms. "

eo and crouched beside him.

ed but still

h his hair before standing again. He turned to

ned. "

ow

tteo, but the boy didn't ev

e room and down the hall. He didn't speak

id, his voice low but firm. "If you

t an employee, Lorenzo. He's

htened. "I

sitting in that room alone while you throw ord

nce settled

hey left my mouth, but I didn't ta

rubbing his temple. "Y

teo needs patience, not just commands. If you want

ed her, his g

ever speak to me like that again, Is

but I held my gr

nt?-crossed his face, but it w

what had just happened, a lou

toward the sound, his e

mach t

tt

, they both ran