Something similar has happened to me, and I hate to see it happen to someone else.I recall the words of the stranger. Something similar….it means he’s probably been in the same shoes before. Was it this mafia? Another?

What’s his….connection with Ezra? Is there even any? No. Of course, there must be….which is why I need to tell him.

I won’t leave. Despite the dangers lurking in the shadows, I won’t run. I want to be with Ezra…

So he needs to know about the stranger.

“No more secrets,” I say out loud to myself.

I must speak with Ezra.

Like I conjured him, the door clicks open, and I turn, my heart skipping as Ezra steps into the room. He looks... tired.

His collar is unbuttoned, his hair a tousled mess like he’s been running his hands through it all morning. The moment his eyes meet mine, the tightness in my chest loosens just a little.

“You’re awake,” he says, his voice rough like he’s been talking all morning, but there’s a warmth beneath it that soothes the worry inside me. “I thought you’d still be asleep. Did I wake you when I got up?”

I shake my head, a smile lifting my face. “No. I woke up a few minutes ago.”

He crosses the room in a few strides and wraps his arms around me, burying his face in the curve of my neck. His breath is warm against my skin.

“I missed you,” he murmurs, his voice muffled.

The smile on my face widens as I run a hand down his back. “I missed you, too.”

I let out a quiet exhale, sinking into his comforting embrace. The warmth radiating from his body envelops me, and for a moment, everything else fades away. As he rocks me slightly, I steal glances at him.

His hair falls across his forehead, and the contours of his strong jawline catch the light. My man is so effortlessly good looking. It feels good to say that… It feels good to finally acknowledge it…my man.

We stay like that for a few seconds, neither of us moving. When Ezra eventually pulls back, I know I have to tell him---about the stranger, about my decision to stay.

“Ezra, there’s something I need to tell you.” My voice comes out in a whisper.

“What is it?” he inquires softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

But before I say another word, his phone buzzes. He glances down at his pocket briefly, then hesitates, keeping his hand in place instead of reaching for it. His eyes linger on me, and for a second, I think he’ll ignore it.

But the buzzing sound doesn't relent. His jaw clenches. With a reluctant sigh, he finally reaches into his pocket and pulls out the device. One look at the screen, and a flicker of frustration crosses his face.

He lets out a breath, running a hand over his jaw. “It’s Elio…work.”

I nod, swallowing the words that I’d been ready to spill. “Go ahead,” I manage, though every fiber of my being screams for him to stay, to just listen.

He leans forward, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead. “We’ll talk when I get back,” he promises, already halfway to the door.

I watch him slip out, the door clicking shut behind him. I sink back into the bed, drawing my knees to my chest as I settle into the soft sheets beneath me. My arms wrap loosely around my legs, and I let out a slow breath, resting my chin on my knees.

Maybe this is a sign. Maybe now isn’t the right time.

Ezra has enough on his plate. He probably has threats I can’t even begin to comprehend. He doesn’t need one more thing to worry about right now.

With a sigh, I place my hand on my stomach, rubbing slow circles.

I’ll tell him when he returns.

Chapter twenty-six

Ezra