"Thank you, Anna," I say with a small, putting the plate in the dishwasher. That had to be the best breakfast I ever had.

She sends me a smile in return. She's so lovely. I just love when old women are nice.

"She makes the best food, right?" Elena whispers. Best food is an understatement. That's how good it was.

I open my mouth to reply but Niccolo walks in before I could. "I'm heading to the base," he announces. "Get ready, Azaría."

Ugh. Work.

I wish I could just be a millionaire, relax on an island, and not have to work.

If you think about it, I'm even doing double work. Work for MI6 and work for Niccolo.

"Can I come too?" Elena asks. I already know he's going to say yes. I'm pretty sure he quite literally can't say the word no to her.

"I'm going to be busy, Elena," he says. "So you can't follow me around, got it?"

"Yes, okay!" she exclaims. "But chillax and relax Nico because who said I'm trying to follow your moody ass around."

A laugh escapes my lips but once I meet with Niccolo's glare, I try hide it with a cough which fails miserably.

This is my sign to leave. "Yeah.. I'm going to get ready," I say awkwardly, exiting the kitchen.

Maybe I am an undercover agent but I'm still not trying to be in awkward situations. Those are not my strong suit.

As I'm going up the stairs, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around to see none other than Niccolo Alvera.

"Stranger danger," I mutter under my breath as I glance at him. He clearly doesn't find my comment funny since he scoffs in response.

"I just wanted to tell you that we may be staying in Italy longer than I thought," he tells me. You're kidding.

"For how long?" I ask, keeping my voice neutral so he doesn't sense anything.

"I have no idea," he replies with a shrug, "but I know it's going to be for a while."

Fuck. My team and I only planned for me to be here for a month max and now he's telling me I'm staying for way longer?

I definitely need to talk to them as soon as possible. The thing is, this house has cameras quite literally everywhere.

I need Niccolo to trust me. Once he does, everything will be much easier. I think he might be starting to trust me. I mean, I did save his life and then his sister's life.

"I know you didn't pack much," he speaks up. "Once I have stuff sorted out, you can go buy whatever you want at the mall or something."

Okay, I'm not broke but I'm not dumb with my money. I'm not really trying to buy a full closet of clothes when I already have that in England.

I don't know but anytime I think about wasting money, I just think about kids that don't have any and it changes my mind real quick.

"With my card, princess. Don't worry," he chuckles lightly. Card? Princess? What?

"I'm good," I scoff, opening the door to my room. "And stop with that nickname. I have no idea where you even got it from."

"You got all upset when a splatter of blood got on your clothes," he explains with a shrug. Okay, and? That shit doesn't wash off. I think my reaction was fair.

I give him an annoyed look before entering the walk in closet and closing the doors. I change out of my sweatpants into black, low waisted jeans and match it with a black top. I quickly put on a pair of socks and slide my feet into my shoes.

I showered this morning and thank God today is a good hair day. I also did some light makeup so all I needed to do was get changed and I'm ready.

"You done?" I hear his annoying voice call out as if I'm taking ten years.

Okay, now I'm just lying. He's annoying but his voice is... Whatever.

I open the door and don't bother to look at him as I try to leave my room. Before I could, he grabs my wrist and turns me back around to face him.

"What's with the attitude?" he asks, looking down at me.

"To be honest with you," I admit, "you just piss me off."

"Yeah?" he lets out a light chuckle, not taking me seriously. "That's too bad, princess. Suck it up. I don't need your attitude today."

I'm silent. But I was silenced. Because what the fuck?

Now I'm mad because why did he actually get me there.

"Tão dramático," I mutter under breath as I walk out of my room. {So dramatic}

At this point, he's basically asking me to have the shittiest attitude all day long just to piss him off.

"Calling me dramatic, huh?" he chuckles as he walks beside me. Please go away.

"Learning Portuguese just for me, huh?" I repeat his words teasingly and he responds with a single shrug. Wait? Is he actually? That was supposed to be a joke.

"Hmm, eu não esperava isso para você," I say skeptically, glancing at him. {Hmm, I didn't expect this from you}

"Alright princess, I don't know that much," he scoffs, crossing his arms.

Niccolò nods his head at the guards, in response they open the large, front doors for us and we step out.

"Guess I can talk all the shit I want," I smile teasingly at him.

"Ooo, we talking shit about Niccolò?" Elena grins. Her back is leaning on one of the columns with her arms crossed as she was waiting for us.

"Fuck no," he huffs, walking down the stairs, leaving Elena and I. Yep, like I said so dramatic.

"He secretly likes us, don't worry," she chuckles. Girl, I'm not worrying. I'm going to be arresting him soon enough anyways.

"Just you," I correct her. "I happily piss him off."

"Trust me, if that was anyone else he'd shoot them or something," she tells me as we start walking down the stairs.

"Guess I'm just a valuable asset," I say jokingly. Being the assassin he thinks I am is a great asset to be fair.

"Yeah, we definitely can't lose you," she replies. "The movie night was way too much fun, we need to do it again please!"

Her words made me happy for a slight second before I realised that I might end up ruining her life.

I can't get attached.

I also can't let anything happen to a sixteen year old girl. She's going to hate me for what I'm going to do to Niccolò but I can't and won't do anything to her.

"Of course we can," I tell her and she instantly smiles. "We have to watch fast and furious next though, it's my favourite."

"Those are like the only movies Niccolò watched in his life," she laughs. He has watched movies? I'm actually surprised.

It seems like he lives under a rock.

I look at the car and it's a matte black Rolls-Royce with black rims and tinted windows. Why can't men be as sexy as cars?

I get into the passenger seat and Elena gets into the back. He's waiting for us in the drivers seat with his sunglasses on. His window is rolled all the way with his left arm resting on the door and the right hand on the steering wheel.

"Niccolò what the fuck is wrong with you?" Elena asks out of nowhere. Oh, boy. Sibling drama is about to happen.

"Elena," he warns as he starts the car. Ooh.

"Pardon me for the swear words," she clears her throat and I hold back my laughter. "But you can't open the door for a lady, huh?"

"You're not a lady, you're my little sister," he scoffs, driving out of the gates. Niccolò, please use your thinking cap because I even knew what she meant.

"Not me," she huffs in frustration.

His brows furrow for a second before he glances at me, his eyes meeting my gaze. My lips slightly tilt up at how funny this situation is.

He doesn't reply but his eyes go back onto the road. I turn my head slightly to look at Elena who mouths, "I got you." This girl, oh my God.

"Let me put something on," she mutters, leaning into the front of the car to put on spotify on carplay.

She leans back proudly once she chooses a song. After hearing the familiar beat, I realise that it's 'Aston Martin Music'.

I gotta give it to her, this girl has good taste.

The song matches with today. I love when that happens. It's sunny, the windows are rolled down. Its matches perfectly.

"Vibin' to the music," Elena sings along and I can't help but smile as she does. "This is how we do it, all night," I sing along with her.

I had to. I couldn't help it. This song is just too good.

Niccolò turns his head slightly, glancing at me and I can see his lips tilting up until he stops and faces the road again.

"Breezin' down the freeway, just me and my baby in our ride. Just me and my boss, no worries at all." Just me and my boss... Well, my fake boss but still.



"What are you gonna do?" I ask him as we walk into the building.

"Talk to the kidnappers that we managed not to kill," he replies.

"Talk?" I repeat his words. Definitely just talking. Wait? That sounds so freaky.

"Among other painful stuff," he shrugs carelessly. "But Pietro and I are gonna be handling that. I'm not tryna put you on babysitting duty but can you hang with Elena for a bit?"

"Sure but just so you know, I charge hourly," I tell him teasingly. "She's a good kid so I'll give you a discount."

He raises his brows with a light chuckle as he listens to my words. "Whatever you want, Azaría."

Does this man not care about his money? I know he's rich. But that rich not to care?

I roll my eyes at his response before walking up to Pietro who's talking to Elena and of course he's following right behind me.

"Wanna go train? I'll teach you some stuff," I tell her. I've never had a younger sibling. Or just a much younger friend in general. It feels like I have a responsibility when I'm with her by myself, you know?

"Hell yeah," she instantly replies. "Please, I need to know how to kick Pietro's ass."

At her words, Pietro gasps dramatically. "Why me?" he mutters with a sad tone.

"Because you're annoying," she huffs. I agree with you, Elena. Very much.

"Elena go," Niccolò orders and she throws him an annoyed look before heading down the hallway.

"Take it easy with her, yeah?" he mumbles quietly to me so only I can hear.

"Of course, don't worry," I tell him. He nods his head with a slight smile before walking off with Pietro.

I head down the hallway, trying to catch up with Elena. Damn, she walks fast.

"Hey," I smile at her. She goes on to rant about the stuff she wants to learn, as shes doing that, I take a quick glance back. My eyes meet with Niccolò's before he turns to Pietro. Weird.

"First up, knives," I announce as we step into the training room. It looks almost the exact same as the one in England.

"Niccolò taught me a bit," she tells me. "So I know a good amount, just not assassin amount."

"Niccolò taught you, huh?" I say teasingly. "Well don't worry, you have an actual teacher now."

She laughs at my words. "It was good bonding time though because he always leaves for England. I mean we grew up there but I had to come here for safety or something."

"How was it growing up with little Niccolò?" I ask. "Every time I try to picture it, I just image boss baby, you know? A kid in a suit, all serious."

"He was kind of like that to be fair," she chuckles. "But he was still the best brother ever; I'd never admit that to him though."

"I can tell he cares about you a lot." He never seemed like the older brother type but seeing him with her is completely different than I thought.

She smiles at my words. "Yeah, he practically raised me."

He did? We were told that his mother died in a mission and his dad is MIA. Niccolò doesn't talk about them so I wouldn't know either way.

"Do you have any embarrassing moments that he did?" I ask. "I need to know."

I had to ask. The opportunity is right in front of me. It would be such a waste.

"Lots," she smirks.

Oh, today is gonna be good.



AZARÍA AND ELENA BONDING TIME🙈

guys i love this book and i really want to finish it but tell me why i just get the worst writers block ever

like ugh i cba writing i js want someone to write my book ideas they too goated😓

word count | 2208