A muffled groan jolted her from sleep.

Azzurra shot upright, heart pounding, her first instinct to check Cesario. Her gaze darted to the small boy curled beside her, his face relaxed in slumber. She exhaled, relieved. For a terrifying second, she thought someone had come to steal him away.

She reached out and gently brushed his hair back, placing a tender kiss on his chubby cheek. He looked like a cherub when he slept so utterly innocent it made her heart ache.

Just as she was about to lie ...