A soft knock at the door made me turn. Mikhail stood there, a pistol in his hand. “They’re surrounding the cabin,” he said quietly. “Jake sent me to help you.”
I nodded, my throat too tight for words. Mikhail entered, closing the door behind him.
“They won’t take her,” he promised, his voice low and fierce. “I won’t let them.”
For the first time since discovering he was alive, I believed him completely. Whatever else had happened between us, his love for our daughter was real.
“What’s the plan?” I asked.
“Hold them off until dawn,” he replied. “Caleb called for backup—friends from his military days who live nearby. They should be here within thehour.”
Nora sat up in bed, fully awake now. “Mom, I’m scared.”
I sat beside her, pulling her close. “It’s okay to be scared. But you’re safe with us.”
“Who’s outside?” she asked, her small voice trembling.
Mikhail and I exchanged glances. “Bad people,” I said finally. “But they can’t get in.”
“Like the wolves in my story?” she asked. “The ones who couldn’t blow down the brick house?”
I managed a smile. “Exactly like that. And we’re in the strongest house of all.”
A muffled shout came from outside, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Nora flinched, burrowing closer to me.
“They’re coming in,” Mikhail said, moving to position himself between the door and us. “Stay down.”
I pulled Nora off the bed and onto the floor, shielding her with my body. The sounds from the front of the cabin grew louder—shouting, the crack of gunfire, the splintering of wood.
“Mr. Mikhail is going to keep us safe,” I whispered to Nora, who was shaking against me. “And so is Jake. Remember how brave Jake is?”
She nodded, her face pressed against myshoulder. “Like when he saved Scout from the bad water.”
“Exactly like that.”
More gunshots, closer now. I heard Jake shouting something to Caleb, then a heavy thud like a body hitting the floor.
Mikhail tensed, his weapon raised toward the door. “If they get through,” he said without looking at me, “take Nora and go out the window in the bathroom. Run for the trees. Don’t look back.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I said.
He glanced at me then, a sad smile on his face. “Always so stubborn.” His eyes softened. “I meant what I said earlier, Ella. I never stopped loving you.”
Before I could respond, the door burst open. A man I didn’t recognize stood there, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead, a gun in his hand.
“Mikhail Petrova,” he said, his accent thick. “Your father sends his regards.”
Mikhail fired without hesitation, the sound deafening in the small room. The man crumpled to the floor, but two more appeared behind him.
I covered Nora’s eyes with my hand, my other arm pulling her tight against me. She was sobbing now, her small body convulsing with fear.
One of the men lunged forward. Mikhail met him halfway, and they crashed to the floor in a tangleof limbs and curses. The second man raised his weapon, aiming at Mikhail’s back.
“No!” I screamed.
A shot rang out—but not from the intruder’s gun. He staggered backward, clutching his chest. Behind him stood Jake, blood streaming from a gash on his arm.
“Get down!” he shouted.
