~ Niamh ~
I never thought I would see the day where I would willingly put in a good word for Massimo Valentino, not after what he did to me at El Paso, but as I approached Matteo's trembling form, it felt like the right thing to do for my son's happiness.
I squatted down beside his chair, gently tilting his seat away from the table so that he was forced to face me completely.
Matteo was sobbing from the very depths of his little heart now, his cheeks flushed and damp, his chest heaving as he rubbed his tear-stained face with his small fists, looking entirely heartbroken.
I reached out, gently holding his small shoulders to steady him. "Look at me, sweetie. Look at mommy."
Matteo sniffled, lifting his watery eyes to meet mine, and my heart broke entirely at the pure hurt reflecting in his gaze.
