The Assassins Kiss

Chapter 32

Ezra's POV

"That was fun, guys," Roman says, a grin tugging at his lips.

"We almost died, but hey, it was fun," he continues, his voice light, as if he's been on some sort of vacation instead of, well, nearly dying.

I raise an eyebrow.

"How did you manage to get covered in blood? You look like you bathed in it." He looks me.

"Why do you guys look clean?" I ask, genuinely curious. "It's because we're not psychotic," Killian deadpans, eyeing my bloody clothes.

"Ezra, just open the door, I want to go to sleep," Leo yawns, clearly done with the night.

I fumble for the keys in my pocket, eventually finding them and trying to unlock the door. But, of course, I drop them.

"Oh my god," Leo sighs, exasperated.

"If our lives depend on Ezra opening a door... we're all dead," Roman mutters under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Do you not know how to open a door?" Killian asks, staring at me like I'm some kind of idiot.

"Shut up," I mutter.

"Could one of you guys shine a light? It's pitch black, and I can't find the hole," I ask, feeling my frustration rise.

Roman laughs softly, "be mature" Killian takes out his phone without a word, casting a dim light on the lock.

"Thank you," I sing.

I finally manage to get the key in the lock and try turning it, but the door doesn't budge. "The door's jammed," I mutter, shaking my head in annoyance.

Without missing a beat, Killian reaches over me, effortlessly unlocking the door. "The door's jammed," he scoffs, like I'm the one making things difficult.

"Never again am I asking you to open a door," he grumbles, stepping inside.

"Agreed," Roman adds, his voice laced with amusement. "Goodnight," he says, waving as he walks away.

"Wait, where am I going?" Leo asks, stopping mid-step, suddenly realizing he has no clue where to go.

"No clue," I answer, watching him stand there, still half asleep and confused.

I glance over at the couch, where Luca and Lily are both passed out, their bodies tangled together in a peaceful, exhausted heap.

I let out a quiet sigh and walk over to them, quietly lowering myself onto the armrest of the couch. It's strange, seeing them like this after everything we've been through, after all the bloodshed, the danger... the fear.

They look so damn calm.

I don't know how to feel right now. A part of me is relieved because he's here, staying up with Lily. But another part of me is furious because he shouldn't be here.

He has a family, a real family, and here he is, playing the role of the dutiful parent for her. She's going to get her hopes up again.

She's going to believe that he's actually going to stick around, that he's going to be there for her. But I know he won't. He never does.

I stand there for a moment, torn, watching him quietly next to her on the couch. The silence hangs thick in the air, the weight of everything unresolved pressing down on my chest. Finally, I can't take it anymore.

I march over to him, irritation bubbling inside me, and I tap him repeatedly on the shoulder, until his eyes flutter open.

He blinks, startled, and jerks back, his face twisted in confusion. "What?" His voice is hoarse, his gaze clouded with sleep, but the instant he sees me standing there, he straightens, a flicker of recognition flashing in his eyes.