“Dr. Marco Bellini,” he says to me, not Stefano. “You are?”
“Maya.”
“The aunt?”
My eyes cut to Stefano.
He says nothing.
“Yes,” I say.
“Good. Stay close if he knows you.”
“If?”
Bellini’s mouth tightens in a way I like immediately. “Children in distress decide that, not adults.”
I step aside enough to let him work but stay within Heath’s line of sight. Erin tries to follow me, and Stefano intercepts her without touching, simply shifting his body into the space near the foot of the bed.
“Erin,” he says.
She looks up at him, her face wet and blotchy.
“Come here.”
She hesitates.
So do I.
Stefano holds out one hand.
Not commanding. Offered.
Erin stares at it like it might bite.
Then Heath makes another small sound, and she starts crying again. Stefano lowers his hand, adjusts immediately, and instead reaches for the stuffed rabbit on the chair beside the bed.
“Mr. Buttons,” he says.
Erin sniffles hard. “That’s his name.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“I was informed.”
“By who?”
“Omar.”
Omar’s face goes blank in the doorway.
Erin looks at him through tears. “You told him about Mr. Buttons?”
“It was in the security report,” Omar says flatly.
I almost laugh.
