Maria’s voice was suddenly sharp. “Why bring me here? Why lie to me? What do you want?”
Valerio met her gaze. “I want to stop them.”
She flinched.
“I want to find out who these men are,” he said. “I want to learn how they operate—so I can stop them hurting kids. I was hoping you could help me.”
“It’s my choice.” Her voice was louder now, slack expression starting to reanimate. “How I choose to live my life is my decision.”
“You’ve found a way to survive what happened to you,” he said carefully. “You must be very strong. But it wasn’t your choice when you were thirteen, was it?”
She glared.
“This is still happening, isn’t it?” he pressed. “To other little girls.”
No response.
“Can I ask you some questions?” he asked.
She shook her head. “It won’t matter what I tell you,” she said. “Or what you do.”
“Why not?”
“Because you can’t stop them.”
“What makes you say that?”
Her words were bitter. “Because the men at those parties? They’re like Alfeo. Lawyers. Politicians. Police. Celebrities. Businessmen. They’re powerful. What do you think you can do? Arrest them?”
“Everyone has a weakness,” said Valerio. “I just need to find it.”
She studied him for a long moment. Then she pushed back from the table and stood.
“I can’t think,” she said. “Not here.”
Valerio stood, too.
“May I come with you?” he asked.
She hesitated. Then nodded.
He signaled the waiter for the bill.
—
Outside, the air was crisp and cool.
Tense, agitated, wordlessly, Maria set a fast pace, heels clipping on the cobblestones.
Valerio let her lead, moving silently alongside.
Now that he knew what she was—what had happened to her—he saw the child in the woman. He understood the little details he’d noticed in their first meeting: the vulnerability, the polished aura of sophistication masking her fear.
She needed respect and care.
She needed to be in control right now.
He let her have that control.
