The Assassins Kiss

Chapter 2

Ezra's POV

I pull up to my father's mansion just before dawn.

The house looms in the pale light, quiet... for now. But it won't stay that way.

I waste no time. As soon as I'm inside, I slip into one of the surveillance access points I planted years ago.

My fingers fly across the keyboard, navigating through encrypted firewalls like second nature.

I wipe the last few hours from the internal system and replace them with looped footage—grainy, quiet, uneventful.

It's not perfect—he's going to know. Of course he is. His five-year-old granddaughter is gone. She didn't just vanish into thin air.

But I need time. Even if it's just a few hours. Time to disappear, time to get to Italy. Time to be ready.

I head to my room, throw the essentials into a black duffel bag—weapons, burner phones, forged documents, and enough cash to bribe half the continent.

I toss on a sleek black jacket, slide my knives into the concealed pockets, and lock the door behind me.

I move fast, no goodbyes. No second glances.

By the time the sun has barely crested over the hills, I'm at the private airstrip. My father's jet—our jet—is waiting.

The crew is minimal, silent, already paid off to keep their mouths shut and their heads down.

I climb the steps without hesitation, duck into the cabin, and sink into one of the leather seats near the back, hidden behind a row of tinted windows.

As the engines start to hum beneath me, I pull out my phone and dial Iris.

The line clicks once, then again—then I hear her voice.

"Hi!" Iris answers the call, her voice bright and buzzing with energy, as always.

"You're way too hyper," I chuckle, leaning back into the soft leather of the jet's seat.

"I'm surviving on caffeine and sarcasm. You'd be proud."

I laugh quietly and shake my head.

"You made it out?" Iris says in relief.

"Yeah. I'm on the jet. Heading to Italy now."I respond.

"How long until he realizes?" She asks.

I glance out the window. "He's probably realizing right now."

There's a long pause.

"Then you better move fast," Iris says, her voice lower, more serious. "Because when he does... he's going to burn everything in his path to find her."

"I'm aware... but—"

"Is Lily there?"

"Yep, one sec. I'll go get her."

There's a bit of muffled shuffling on the other end of the line, the sound of footsteps and a distant little voice. Then—

"Hi, Momma," Lily says, her voice soft and sleepy.

"Hi, baby," I say, and just hearing her makes something settle in my chest. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," she sighs, and I can tell it's been a long day for her. I wish I could wrap her up in my arms again, protect her from every shadow in this world.

"You with Grandpa?" she asks, her voice a little hesitant.

My jaw tightens, but I keep my tone light. "No, baby. I'm going on another mission."