Our Flame

LXVII

pretty please read note at the end
NADIA

I move further into Ezra's arms as the bright sun shines into the room. His hands rub up my bare back while he chuckles. This same routine has been occurring for the past hour.

I'll groan, moving closer to Ezra when the sun seemingly gets brighter and he'll chuckle knowing the sun is as bright as it was before.

"Do you want to go on a date?" I mumble into his chest. "Where are you taking me?" His hands continue their movements. I sit up with a smile on my face, "It's a surprise."

I move to pull away from him only for him to gently grab my arm. "I want to meet your mother."

Then it happens, I tear up. I tear up at the fact that Ezra willingly wants to see my mother's gravesite. I tear up because that's exactly where I wanted to go.

"Please don't cry." Ezra pulls me onto his chest. "I'm not." I wipe my eyes. "I just don't know how I got so lucky." I finally look at him.

"I'm the lucky one, Nadia." Ezra speaks. I nod, Ezra and I are both lucky. We came together in the mist of something unfortunate and we both made it out.

**

I take slow, small steps to my mother's grave, Ezra insisted on buying flowers. Another reason why I believe my mother sent him to me, he's perfect.

Ezra stops behind me, when I stop at the top of a hill. I look back and forth, my eyes find Ezra then staring back at my mother's grave. I lean down brushing my hand against the stone.

"Hi, Mama." I sniffle. I've been here numerous times, I sit and talk to my mother. Yet, it never seems to get any easier. The person who should be here isn't, I don't think that's meant to get any easier.

"I wish I could've met you face to face." Ezra kneels next to me. I look up at the sky in hopes of stopping a tear from leaving my eyes. "Your daughter is the strongest woman I've ever met."

I let out a shaky breath but Ezra doesn't stop there, "And I'm going to take care of your daughter, I swear."

Ezra's arm reaches around me, rubbing my back. "Thank you." I whisper to him. Ezra shakes his head, "Thank you for letting me meet her." A soft smile takes over my face as I nod my head.

"She would've loved you." I stare at him, "You both have a smile that could light up a room." Ezra chuckles, showing me the exact smile I was talking about.

"Tell me more about her." Ezra continues to hold me in his arms. "She loved to paint, and so does Alek." I start to speak. "She loved to cook and bake."

For once, I don't feel sad talking about my mother. It feels normal, almost as if talking about her fills a little bit of the growing void in me.

I'm content speaking about her right now, her memory lives trough me and that has to be enough. All I have is the memory of her, and everyone I love will know everything she stood for.

"She was a great dancer." I continue to talk about her.
"I would, put on her heels and twirl in circle. She would just laugh and chase after me." A laugh escapes my lips.

I look over at Ezra to already see him smiling back at me. "Thank you, for sharing her memory."

In that moment, I realized that I'd share anything with Ezra. "Thanks for letting me." I speak before resting my head on his shoulder.

"Ezra Blaine." A voice from behind us calls out. My hand quickly wraps around the gun tucked in my pants. Ezra stands turning around, I do the same.

"And who are you?" Ezra shouts back. I stare at the man, he's a cop- dressed in uniform. "Let go of the gun." He stares at me. "We haven't done anything wrong." I finally speak.

"The murder of your father, I have a few questions."

If I was an amateur, my heart would've dropped but instead I said- "I could've sworn he was alive."

The cop shakes his head, "I know all about you Nadia." His heavy accent starts to show. "Yet, I know nothing about you." I shrug.

"And, you're trespassing." I tell the officer. He looks confused until I speak again, "Private property." I explain.

I move closer to him, "Guess we'll just have to talk about this another time." I'm not surprised when the officer steps closer to me, I see my father in him.

I think I'll see my father in every pathetic man I meet.

"And what do you want from us?" Ezra finally speaks up. "A confession." The officer walks even closer. "For what? My wife just lost her father."

"Your wife also attempted to pull a gun on me, that could be viewed as assault." He speaks, "Is that your vehicle?" The officer then points.

Ezra and I don't reply, "Illegal tags. I'll have to bring you both to the station." I scoff at his statement. "Hands behind your back."

"Of course, you're one of those corrupted ones." I shake my head. "Daddy's dead, how are you getting paid?"

"Oh wait, you aren't." I chuckle. "You're a broke man, doing someone else's dirty work. How embarrassing." I continue to taunt.

"Hands behind your back." He speaks through his teeth. "Fuck you." I mumble before turning around. "Your brothers can't get you out of this one."

That's where he's wrong, I watch as he puts the cuffs on Ezra. My brothers can get me out of just about any situation I put myself in.

Yes, I could break out of these cuffs and get out of this situation myself- but where's the fun in that? I want to hear the theory this officer has.

"I hope you're ready for my brothers to get me out of this." I walk towards the cop car.

**
word count- 1018
friends, i have been so busy lately between school and extracurricular activities. with that being said, my updates will be slow.
anyway,
this book is coming to an end😢 which makes writing it so much harder. i know how i want it to end but i don't want to rush it.
i hope you've all had an amazing september!