The Assassins Kiss

Chapter 39

Luca's POV

"This is so exciting!" Lily claps her hands, practically bouncing on her toes.

"I missed it there," she sighs dreamily.

"You were literally there a few months ago," Ezra replies, raising a brow.

"A few months too long," Lily shoots back, placing her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes. Ezra rolls hers in return.

"You'll get to see my pony," Lily continues, undeterred. "The horses, the goats—oh! And the chickens. Can't forget those." Her grin is so wide it's contagious.

We're heading out to their family's farmhouse, if you're wondering. Ezra asked if I wanted to spend a few days at their cottage, and of course, I said yes.

The thought of spending time alone with her again, even if it's just in a cozy countryside setting with livestock running around, makes something in my chest loosen.

Our time away from each other was brutal, I missed her so much. And now that she's back in front of me, laughing with Lily, I can't stop watching her. I love watching her smile and joke around.

"You guys just have a whole-ass farm?" I ask Ezra, half-joking.

"Basically," she shrugs. "Oh—and we have fish, too."

"Yeah, don't forget about them fish," Lily groans dramatically.

Before I can respond, Iris walks into the living room with Killian behind her. "You're still here?" she asks, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah... leave already," Killian adds, waving us off with mock impatience.

"This is my house, you can't shoo me out," Ezra snaps, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Do you pay the bills, though?" Killian teases.

"She actually does," Iris says, folding her arms.

"Well then—never mind." Killian throws his hands up in surrender.

Ezra flashes a smug grin. "Ha."

We say our goodbyes and step outside.

As the door closes behind us, I steal a glance at Ezra. The way the sunlight catches in her hair, the way her lips twitch into a small smile as she helps Lily into the car—it all just hits me.

She's here, right next to me, and I still can't shake that fear that she'll slip away again. I never want to feel that distance between us again. Not after how much it tore at me.

I slide into the passenger seat beside her, trying to act normal, trying not to look like I'm holding on too tight to something I almost lost. But the truth is, I don't ever want to let go of her again.

About an hour later, we pull into the long gravel driveway that winds up to the farmhouse.

The place looks like something out of a storybook—white wood siding, a wraparound porch, a weathered barn in the distance, and pastures stretching out in every direction.

"I'll get dinner started," Ezra says as we step inside. "You two can head out back, see the animals." She tosses a soft smile over her shoulder before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Come forth," Lily declares dramatically, striding to the back door like she owns the entire property. I follow, half amused.

Stepping outside, the air is fresh and a little cooler than I expected. Everything smells like hay, wildflowers, and the faintest hint of something sweet baking inside.

"This is the farm," Lily announces, sweeping her arms out like she's unveiling a grand estate.

"Ooooh—and this is my horse. Her name is Hershey." She beams and strokes the dark brown mare standing near the fence, who gives a soft whinny in greeting.