Part 2: “Too loud,” Mia said into his shoulder. “The lady helped me.”

Lorenzo looked over Mia’s head.

At Karen.

His stare was intense enough to make her forget how to breathe.

“She did?” he asked.

Mia nodded. “She made it dark. She gave me soft.”

Karen clasped her hands in front of her, suddenly aware of her torn stockings, her cheap shoes, her name tag hanging crooked from her blouse.

Lorenzo stood, Mia still in his arms.

Then his gaze shifted to Brenda.

The warmth disappeared.

“I heard yelling from outside,” he said.

His voice was soft.

That made it worse.

Brenda swallowed. “Mr. Rossi, I’m terribly sorry. Your daughter wandered in and caused a disturbance. My associate behaved completely against company policy.”

Lorenzo tilted his head. “Company policy.”

“Yes,” Brenda said, gaining a little strength. “She damaged merchandise and interfered with store procedure. I had no choice but to terminate her.”

“You fired her.”

“Yes.”

“For helping my daughter.”

Brenda’s lips trembled. “For violating protocol.”

Lorenzo turned to Karen. “Is that true?”

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