He idly runs a knuckle along her side as she talks, slow and soothing, but his attention is solely on what she’s talking about. It hurts his heart to think of all the ways she has struggled and suffered, and it makes him want to spoil her even more.

Ezio cups her cheek gently.

“You’ve had a difficult time, dolcezza,” he says. “I can promise you, your mother will be glad to see her daughter treated so well.”