Daniel leaned his head back against the car seat, closing his eyes for a moment to push away the headache pulsing at his temples after the intense meeting with Olivia. He started the engine and drove toward home. But just as he turned into the residential neighborhood, something caught his eye, forcing him to slam on the brakes.
A little girl was walking alone by the side of the road. Her hair was messy, her clothes wrinkled, and her steps were unsteady, as if she’d been walking for quite a while.
“Eliana?” Daniel muttered in disbelief. He pulled over, quickly opened the door, and stepped out.
“Eliana!” he called, jogging toward the girl. “What are you doing out here at this hour? It’s nearly midnight!”
Eliana stopped walking. Her usually bright, round eyes were swollen from crying, he
