The Assassins Kiss

Chapter 22

Luca's POV

It's been five days.
Five long, silent days.

Neither Ezra nor Rocco have woken up.

I step out of my office and head down the hall, rubbing the tension out of the back of my neck. My mind's spinning—too many unanswered questions, too many moving parts.

"Where are you going?"

I stop and look down.

Lily's standing there, arms crossed, face tilted up like she's some tiny guard dog trying to block the path of a tank.

Right. And this little shadow hasn't left my side since. Not that I'm complaining.

"To my warehouse," I answer flatly.

"I come with you," she says, puffing up proudly.

"Yeah, no." I don't even hesitate. "That's not happening."

I'm not dragging a six-year-old into a place that smells like gunpowder, dried blood, and bad decisions. There are weapons, torture rooms, and at least three guys named after animals who'd terrify me if I hadn't grown up around them.

"Why?" she demands.

"Because your mom would actually kill me if I did," I say honestly. And she would—Ezra would murder me in a heartbeat, probably using something poetic like piano wire or a garden spade. "No warehouse."

"I protect you," Lily says, flexing her skinny arms like she's built for war.

I snort. "That's cute."

"So we're going," she replies confidently and takes my hand like the matter's settled. She starts tugging me toward the stairs like she has the strength of ten men. "We can get gelato after."

"You're not coming, Lily."

Her lip starts to tremble. Big eyes. Wobbling chin. Goddamn it.

I sigh heavily. "Fine. You can come."

Her entire face lights up like Christmas, and she bounces along beside me.

Yeah. I hate her.

"First, I have to make a few phone calls," I mutter, turning around and heading back into my office.

She trots in behind me and hops onto the couch like she owns the place.

I unlock my phone and press the call button. My voice drops, sharp and cold. "I want all the men out of there. Now. Move any hostages we've got to another site. I want it cleared before I arrive."

There's a pause on the other end of the line.

"I'm not repeating myself," I add.

Then I glance over at the couch.
Lily's sitting there swinging her legs, completely unfazed.

Yeah, this is my life now.

I walk over to Lily, who's sitting on the couch, her little fingers twisting and turning as if she's deep in thought.

"Ready?" I ask, my voice low, but she doesn't need much prompting. She looks up at me, nodding enthusiastically.

Without a word, she springs up on the couch and faces me with a mischievous grin.

"Catch me!" she declares, taking a tiny, daring step toward the edge of the cushion.

Before I can even brace myself, she leaps.

I catch her without thinking—her weight light in my arms, her little arms winding around my neck instinctively, holding on like she knows I won't let her fall.