“I think we need to be prepared for anything,” Jake said, his voice gentle but firm. “Which means no one goes anywhere alone for now.”
Caleb stood, adjusting the bandage on his hand. “I’ll take first watch. You two should get some rest while you can.”
I wanted to protest that it was barely afternoon, but exhaustion hit me suddenly, a bone-deep weariness that made even standing feel like too much effort. The adrenaline crash from the confrontation at the bakery left me shaky and drained.
“Come on,” Jake said, noticing. “You look dead on your feet.”
He guided me to the living room couch, his hand warm and steadying on my elbow. I sank into the cushions gratefully. From down the hall, I could hear Nora talking to her stuffed animals, weaving some elaborate story about brave foxes and evil wizards. The normalcy of it made my throat tight with emotion.
“She doesn’t deserve this,” I whispered as Jake sat beside me. “Any of it.”
“No, she doesn’t,” he agreed. “But she has you. And you’re stronger than you think.”
I turned to look at him, studying the lines of his face, the stubble darkening his jaw, the way his eyes held mine without flinching. “Why are you doing this, Jake? Really. You barely know me.”
He was quiet for a long moment, considering. “Maybe I see something of myself in you,” he finally said. “Someone who’s lost a lot and is trying to build something new. Or maybe...” He hesitated, then reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Maybe I just can’t walk away from someone who needs help. Not again.”
The touch of his fingers against my skin sent warmth spreading through me, chasing away some of the fear. I leaned into his hand without thinking, seeking comfort.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I admitted. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t walked into the bakery when you did.”
His smile was slight but genuine. “You’d have handled it. As I said, you’re stronger than you think.”
Before I could respond, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket, heart racing when I saw the bakery’s number on the screen.
“Frank?” I answered, trying to keep the panicfrom my voice.
“Ella.” His voice was strained, urgent. “That man who was here earlier—he came back. He was asking all kinds of questions about you and Nora. Where you live, how long you’ve been here.”
My blood turned to ice. “What did you tell him?”
Chapter 10
Jake
Imoved closer to Ella, every muscle in my body tightening as I watched the color drain from her face. She gripped the phone so hard her knuckles turned white. Whatever Frank was saying terrified her.
“Just tell me what you told him,” she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper.
I could hear Frank’s tinny voice through the receiver, but couldn’t make out the words. Ella’s eyes met mine, wide with fear.
“Okay. Thank you for calling,” she said finally, then ended the call.
“What happened?” I asked, already reaching for my jacket.
“He went back to the bakery,” she said, her hands shaking as she set the phone down. “Started asking Frank questions about us—where we live, how long I’ve worked there, whether Nora is my biological daughter.” She swallowed hard. “Frank told him hedidn’t know anything, but...”
“But Kozlov didn’t believe him,” I finished for her.
She nodded. “Frank said he looked around the bakery like he was memorizing everything. Took pictures of the staff photos on the wall.”
Caleb appeared in the doorway, alerted by our voices. “We have a problem?”
“The PI went back to the bakery,” I said. “He’s digging.”
My brother’s expression hardened. “Time to dig back, then.”
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t used in years. After three rings, a gruff voice answered.
