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Then we see her. Lou is huddled in the corner of the living room, looking exhausted and terrified. Her clothes are dirty, and her cheeks are streaked with tears. Relief floods through me, but it’s quickly replaced by concern.
What happened to her?
7
SOFIA
My heart leaps into my throat when I see Lou, huddled in the corner of the living room, her small body shaking with fear.
“Lou!” I scream, rushing toward her. I drop to my knees, pulling her into my arms, holding her as tightly as I can without hurting her. “Oh, my God, baby, are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Lou clings to me, burying her face in my shoulder. Her small hands grip the fabric of my shirt, and I can feel her trembling. “Mom, there was a man. A scary man. I ran away, but he chased me.”
My heart seizes, cold fear spreading through my chest. I pull back just enough to look at her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “A man? Where did you see him, Lou?”
Before she can answer, Angelo crouches down beside us, his voice calm and gentle. His cologne envelopes me like a hug. “Lou, can you tell me what the man looked like? Anything you remember?”
Lou sniffles, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “He was tall, with blond hair and blue eyes.”
A gasp almost escapes my lips, but I manage to stifle it. I can feel Angelo’s eyes on me, curious and concerned, but I can’t explain. Not here, not now, and not in front of Lou. I shake my head slightly, silently pleading with him to let it go for now.
His gaze lingers on me for a moment before he nods, turning his attention back to Lou. He doesn’t press me, but I know he’s not going to forget this.
Shawn, standing nearby, catches my eye. Our silent communication is immediate. I nod ever so slightly, and her eyes widen as she slowly sinks into a chair. She understands what I’m trying to tell her, even without words.
Jonah.
Angelo’s voice breaks the tense silence, his tone firm. “We need to call the police. This man needs to be found.”
Shawn quickly interjects, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of urgency. “The school already did, Angelo. They were on their way to Perfezione when we left. They should be here any minute.”
Lou clings tighter to me, her little body still trembling. I hold her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. The mere thought of Jonah being anywhere near my daughter fills me with a fear I haven’t felt in years. But I can’t let that fear control me now.
“Lou, it’s going to be okay,” I whisper into her hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Mommy’s here, and Angelo and Shawn are here too. You’re safe now, sweetheart. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
The door bursts open, and Zip rushes into the apartment, his eyes wild with worry. “Is Lou okay?” he asks, breathless.
Lou’s head snaps up, and before I can say anything, she’s already out of my arms, sprinting toward her great-grandfather. “Nonno!” she cries, throwing herself into his embrace.
Relief washes over Zip’s face as he holds Lou close, but his eyes quickly narrow as he scans the room, taking in the tension still hanging thick in the air.
Angelo, arms crossed, watches with a raised eyebrow. “How did you get through the security system?” he asks in disbelief.
Zip scoffs, waving a hand dismissively. “Your silly alarm system can’t stop me,bambino. I was cracking safes before you were out of diapers.”
Shawn and I burst out laughing as Angelo’s irritation deepens. His expression is priceless—caught between admiration and annoyance, trying not to let Zip’s comment get to him. But it’s hard not to be impressed by Zip’s audacity.
Zip crouches down, his voice softening as he gently talks to Lou. “Did that man hurt you,cara mia?”
Lou shakes her head, her voice small. “No, Nonno. I ran away, just like Mom taught me.”
“That’s my girl,” Zip says, planting a kiss on her forehead. He holds her for a moment longer before standing, his demeanor shifting instantly. The gentle, worried great-grandfather is gone, replaced by a man whose face is thunderous with anger. He straightens, and despite his small stature, there’s an imposing presence about him.
“We’re going to make sure this man is brought to justice,” he says, his voice low and deadly serious. “No one scares my little girl and gets away with it.”
I place a hand on his arm, trying to soothe him. “Nonno, the police are on their way. Let’s not do anything rash.”
But Zip isn’t about to be soothed. He shakes off my hand, his eyes blazing with fury. “Rash? Sofia, this is our family. No one messes with us. Especially not some creep chasing my great-granddaughter.”
