Leo sat quietly outside the small shop, his legs swinging as he clutched his backpack. His mother was never late. Not once. A sinking feeling twisted in his stomach as he glanced at the setting sun. Had something happened to her? Was she okay?
Alessio stood a few feet away, watching the boy with an unreadable expression. He didn’t understand why he was still here. He should have walked away after scaring off the bullies. He wasn’t the kind of man to care about strangers, let alone a child. And yet, something about the boy’s solemn expression, the way he was trying to be strong despite his obvious worry, made Alessio hesitate.
Before he could stop himself, he stepped forward. “Where’s your mother?”
Leo looked up, hesitating. “She’s coming,” he said firmly, though his voice held a slight
