The Assassins Kiss

Chapter 8

Ezra's POV

After Aurora handed me the pastries with that forced smile of hers, I didn't say a word. I just took them and walked upstairs, my footsteps heavier than usual on the creaky wooden steps.

Does she seriously think I'm that stupid? That a few sweet treats are going to buy my trust? I see right through them—all of them. This is just another move in their little game, and I'm the prize.

If anything, I'm angrier than I was this morning. That fake kindness? That fake peace offering? It just added fuel to the fire.

It reminded me of everything I hate about the mafia, I hate everything about it. I've been looking for an out my whole life.

I slammed my bedroom door shut, hard enough to rattle the frame, and locked it without hesitation.

Then, the sharp vibration of my phone broke through the silence.

I glanced down. Iris's name lit up the screen. My chest eased, just a little. I answered.

"Momma!" Lily's tiny voice burst through the speaker, full of joy and innocence.

A genuine smile tugged at my lips. For the first time all day, something felt right.

"Guess what happened today!"

"What happened today, mi amore?" I asked softly.

"I rode a horsey!" she squealed.

I chuckled, the sound soft and bittersweet. "That sounds like so much fun. I wish I was there with you."

"I do too," she said, her tone dipping for a second. "I miss you, Momma."

My heart clenched. "I miss you more, baby."

"Oooh! Oooh! My birthday's coming up!" she added, suddenly giddy again.

I laughed, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye. "It is. Two more months, and you'll be six already."

"You're growing up too fast," I whispered more to myself than to her.

"Soon I'll be strong and brave just like you!" she giggled.

That was it. The tears came, silent but steady. I didn't even try to stop them.

"Aww, thank you, baby," I murmured, choking back emotion.

"I'm tired, Momma. Good night. I love you," she yawned.

"I love you more," I whispered.

There was a pause, and then Iris's voice chimed in, bright and teasing. "Hi, bestie."

I let out a breath and laughed softly. "Hey, you."

"Just a heads-up," she said, "Lil wants a pony for her birthday now."

"A pony?" I raised an eyebrow, amused. "I thought she just liked riding horses."

"She does like riding them," Iris said, laughing, "but for some reason, she's convinced a pony is different. And that she needs one."

I shook my head, still smiling. "Well, at least she's dreaming big."

We exchanged a few more words, something light and comforting, and then we said our goodbyes and hung up.

The room fell quiet again, but this time... it didn't feel so empty.

I let out a long sigh, wiping the last trace of a tear from my cheek. The room felt too quiet again, too heavy. I needed something—anything—to distract my mind from spiraling.

I grabbed the remote off the nightstand, flicked on the TV, and started scrolling. After a few seconds, I settled on a movie—something familiar, something that wouldn't demand too much attention.