I reach out impulsively, launch, and lasso myself around his neck, crying into his chest as his arms come around me tightly. He pulls me into his lap as he securely buries his face in my hair and cradles my head against him protectively.

“I’m sorry, baby. So fucking sorry… I will never scare you like that again. I don’t know what I was thinking… Forgive me, Mimmo. I love you so much, Sophie. I would never do anything like that to you. I couldn’t hurt you that way for ...