Chapter 3

"Who are you?" I asked, my instincts immediately on alert. My body still felt painful from last night's attack, and I would not let anyone hurt me again.

One of the men stepped forward. He was around forty years old, with hair combed neatly back and a sharp gaze.

"We are here for the child," he said while pointing towards the little boy who was still asleep in my arms.

Reflexively, my arms hugged the child tighter. "What do you mean?"

"That child ran away from home yesterday. His family is very worried. We were assigned to bring him home."

The little boy started to move, opening his still sleepy eyes. When he saw the men in black suits in front of him, his face immediately turned pale. He crawled backward, hiding behind my body, his hands gripping my clothes tightly.

"No! I don't want to go!" he cried hysterically.

One of the men stepped forward, his hand reaching out to grab the child.

"Come on, young master. Come with us."

"Don't touch him!"

I stood up, placing myself between the child and the men.

"You can't just come to this place and take a child who is clearly terrified!" I said.

The man who had spoken earlier raised his hand, signaling the others to back off.

"Ma'am, we are only carrying out our duty. This child is the son of Mr. Nicola Conti. He ran away from home yesterday, and his family is very worried."

"I don't care who his father is! Can't you see this child? He is scared to death! You can't force him to go!"

The child was still crying behind me, his small body trembling violently. I turned and knelt in front of him, holding his small hands.

"Hey, it's okay. I won't let anyone hurt you," I said.

He looked at me with wet eyes, and for a moment, his crying subsided but when he glanced towards the men, he cried again and hugged me tightly.

I stood up again and stared at the men.

"Get out of here now! You are scaring this child!"

"Ma'am, we can't..."

"I said get out!"

Several shelter residents began to notice the commotion. A volunteer approached, trying to calm the situation. The men looked at each other, appearing hesitant.

"Fine, we will wait outside but we won't leave without that child," said the man.

They turned and walked out of the shelter. I let out a sigh of relief, then knelt again in front of the little boy.

"They're gone, you're safe now," I said.

"Won't you let them take me?"

"I won't let anyone take you away," I answered.

He hugged me again, I stroked him and tried to calm his still trembling body.

After a while, I brought him to the common area of the shelter. I sat on a long bench, with the child on my lap. He still refused to let go of me, his hands gripping my clothes tightly.

Not long after, the men came back in, this time with another man in front of them.

That man was tall, with black hair, his face firm with a strong jaw and gray eyes. He wore an expensive black suit, and the way he walked showed an authority that needed no questioning.

When the little boy saw that man, his eyes widened. He released his hug and ran towards the man.

"Dad!"

The man knelt and caught his son in a hug.

"You made me so worried."

The child cried again. "Dad! I was scared! I got lost! I didn't know the way home!"

The man stood up, carrying Elio in his arms. His eyes found me, and for a moment, our gazes met.

He walked towards me, and I could feel the aura of power surrounding him. This man was not just anyone.

"Are you the one who found my son?" he asked.

"I didn't find him, he was already here when I arrived. He took the bed above mine."

Nicola nodded. "He ran away yesterday. My stupid men failed to watch him."

He glanced towards the men in black suits behind him, and his gaze was enough to make them bow their heads in shame.

"I am grateful," said Nicola, looking at me again. He reached for something from his pocket and took out a check. "As a reward, however much you want. Name the amount."

I stared at the check, then stared at Nicola's face. I could ask for enough for my treatment, for my younger sister's education and to repay everything Ray had done but...

"No," I said.

Nicola raised his eyebrow. "No?"

"I didn't do this for money. I just couldn't let a child freeze and be scared alone."

Nicola looked at me for a long time, as if trying to read something behind my words then, he nodded and put the check back.

"Alright. I respect your decision."

He turned to leave, followed by his men. Elio was still in his arms, his head resting on his father's shoulder. But when they reached the door, Elio suddenly lifted his head and turned towards me.

"No!" he suddenly cried. He struggled in his father's arms, trying to get down. "I want Anne! Dad, I want Anne!"

Nicola stopped his steps, looking at his son with confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I want Anne!" Elio cried again, his hands reaching out towards me. "I don't want to go without Anne!"

I was stunned. Nicola looked at his son, then looked at me. He walked back towards me, still carrying Elio who was now sobbing.

"It seems my son has become attached to you," he said.

I didn't know what to say. I looked at Elio who was still crying, his hands reaching out towards me.

"I have an offer for you," said Nicola.

"An offer?"

"As you can see, my son needs someone he can trust. Someone who can take care of him when I can't." He looked around the chaotic shelter. "And it seems you also need a place to stay."

I swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

"I am offering you a job as my son's caregiver. You will live in my house, get a place to stay and a salary of thirty thousand dollars per month. Your only duty is one, to take care of Elio."

Thirty thousand dollars per month. That was more than enough to pay for my treatment and my younger sibling's education.

I glanced towards the shelter around me, a place full of people who had no home, sex workers, and addicts. A place that was not safe for me, let alone for a child.

"I don't know if I can," I said hesitantly.

Nicola nodded, as if understanding. "I won't force you but my offer still stands."

Elio started struggling again. "Anne! Anne, please! Don't leave me!"

This little boy who I hadn't even known for a day already trusted me so much.

I looked at Nicola, a man who clearly had everything then I looked at myself, a woman who had nothing, who might die in a few months if not treated immediately.

"Alright, I accept your offer," I said.