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only slightly smaller. It was all very clean, very contemporary.
    My past was quickly forgotten when Giano opened the oven, revealing the cinnamon rolls I had been smelling. My stomach growled loudly in appreciation, and Giano smiled at me. Together, we spread the cream cheese frosting meticulously over each of the pastries before he served me mine then made a plate for himself.
    Unsure of my place, I made a move to exit and retire to my room, but Giano surprised me.
    “Stay,” he requested, and my heart raced.
    I nodded and followed him to the table where we ate in silence other than my groan in delight at the deliciousness of the warm cinnamon bun. When we finished, I took both plates to the sink. I began to wash them, feeling like I needed to give back in any way I could, but Giano’s arm brushed mine as he stood beside me to rinse and dry.
    He looked down at me, drawing my attention. “You are not alone, angel, even if it seems that way sometimes.”
    That statement alone was the best Christmas present anyone could have ever given me.
     

Chapter Five
    Eight Months Later
     
    We spent each evening going over lesson after lesson, sometimes lasting late into the night. I was as prepared as I was going to be in order to attend school as an eighth grader. My stranger said I would have a tutor at my new school to help me catch up should I need it. He said I could do this, and his confidence encouraged me to press on.
    The last year had passed in what felt like time speeding up and slowing down in intervals. We took field trips out to the zoo to study the animals for science. For physical education, we hiked, and Giano had gotten me a few workout videos that we did together. The man clearly wasn’t afraid to get a little sweaty—when he was home, that is.
    Giano didn’t keep regular work hours. He was home more than he was not. The weekend coming up, however, he was leaving. According to the prep he had given me, his friend Alanzo would be staying with me while he was away on business. Until then, we’d had little to no interaction with other people outside of the few times we went out, and that was never with anyone who knew Giano.
    Watching him pack his suitcase, anxiety spiraled through on me before I could blink.
    “Breathe, angel,” he whispered. “He won’t have a key to your room. I wouldn’t do that to you. Alanzo will keep you safe and not disturb you. Should you wish to come out, you are free to roam the house as this is your home. However, he cannot and will not enter your room without your permission.”
    I nodded my head yet avoided looking into his eyes. “How can you be so sure?”
    “Alanzo is family,” Giano answered, as though that was supposed to solve everything. Didn’t he realize it was family who hurt me?
    As if the light turned on, Giano reached out and pulled me to him. “Angel, I wouldn’t put you in that situation. I have a contract. I cannot skip this job. Alanzo would lay down his life before he let any harm come to you from himself or anyone else.”
    Breathing him in, I relaxed. Really, what choice did I have except to trust this man and the decisions he made? For over a year, my life had been safe in his hands, so I had to believe it would stay that way. Rather than continue to dwell, I did what I felt any dutiful daughter would do and helped him finish packing.
    Alanzo arrived on Friday morning, just after I finished a breakfast of crepes made by Giano.
    “Did you save some for me?” Alanzo asked as he entered the kitchen like it was something he had done every day.
    “Of course. I can’t have you hungry on the job.” Giano laughed as he looked to me to ensure I was okay.
    I nodded so he wouldn’t worry, but all the while, my insides churned in anticipation of the unknown future once he left.
    Alanzo was a short, bald man with dark eyes and extremely huge, hairy arms. Looking at him, I could swear his forearms were as big as my thigh, and his biceps seemed to be the size