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Her e oncethis charade to go on for so long It wasn’t fair to the little boy or to the hopeful orphanage staff She needed to explain herself and give the

She could see Luca one last time

Before she’d even realized what she was doing, she’d picked up her car keys and was powering up the cobbled driveway in her Porsche She could be at the orphanage within the hour, and back well before lunchtione anywhere

The fae was like a balm to the uncomfortable ache in her chest Dara knocked on the door and stepped back when it swung open to reveal the kind-faced head of the orphanage—Matron Anna

‘Signora Valente, I’ht you were in Palermo this week?’

‘What would make you think that?’ Dara ser woman take her jacket

‘Signor Valente said that you were so busy this week’

‘He did? When were you speaking with hihter came from the nearby common room A familiar voice drifted down the hallway—a deep hter

Dara moved silently towards the doorway of the co uncoathered in the centre of the roo up at the man who stood in the centre of their circle Leo stood poised with a red yo-yo in his hand His posture was like that of a ician about tohis crowd

‘And now fora moment as the children shouted loudly for him to continue ‘This one is called the lindy loop Are you ready?’

The excitement in the air was palpable, and every eye in the room was trained on Leo as he set the red object on an intricate ht several ti up into the air and down to the ground and then landing safely back into its master’s hand

The children clapped loudly, shouting multiple requests for new tricks at their entertainer Leo was cal easily to the crowd of little people in a way Dara had never seeain the confidence of these kids, and thelunch at the same table

Luca always stayed by her side, though

Her thoughts back on the present moment, she suddenly absorbed the fact that her husband was here In the orphanage He had lied to her, and for that she should be furious