“That’s a long time, honey,” I say gently.
“Not long enough,” Maverick says from behind me.
His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me back against his chest.
I let myself lean into him.
“Email has been checked,DonLivy,” he says. “No need to feed anyone to the fish today.”
“Well, shoot.” Livy sighs. “Wait. We only feed bad people to the fishies, right?”
“Only very bad people,” Maverick says.
I look around the room again.
Something pulls tight in my chest.
“Why do you have this room in your suite?” I ask. “Stefano said most of the children live in some of the homes on the property, and the ones who live in this building have rooms on the other side of the house.”
“I think it was his daughter’s room, Mama,” Livy says.
Maverick’s body jolts.
Had he not been holding me so closely, I might have missed it.
“Your daughter’s?” I ask softly, looking back at him.
His eyes are closed.
Pain rolls through him so strongly I can practically see it roll off him in waves.
“Sabrina said she never met her because she lives in heaven with her mama,” Livy says.
Again, Maverick reacts.
“Livy, honey,” I say gently, rubbing my hands over Maverick’s arms where they’ve tightened around me. “You need to be careful with your words.”
Livy’s face falls. “What? Why?”
“Because some words hurt people, even when we don’t mean them to.”
“Oh no.” Her eyes fill with tears. “I’m sorry, Mav. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
For a moment, Maverick doesn’t move.
Then he releases me and crouches down, holding open his arms.
“Come here,piccola.”
Livy runs into his arms.
He holds her carefully, one hand cupping the back of her head.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he says, his voice rough.
“But I hurt your feelings.”
“Your words didn’t hurt me,” he admits. “The memory your words gave me is what made me sad. However, this was never her room.”
