Istared at him, startled by his directness. I was going to deny it, to protect this fragile thing that had been growing between Jake and me. But lying to Mikhail felt wrong after everything we’d been through.
“I don’t know what I am,” I said finally. “A few days ago, I thought you were dead. I thought I’d killed you.”
He winced at that, guilt flashing across his face. “I never meant for you to carry that burden.”
“But I did carry it. For eight years.” I looked down at my hands, pale against the hospital blanket. “I built a life around that truth—that I was capable of taking a life to protect my child.”
“And now?” he asked quietly.
I met his gaze again. “Now I don’t know what’s true anymore. Who I am. What I want.”
Mikhail leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I meant what I said at the cabin, Ella. I want us to try again. To be a family—you, me, and Nora.”
“You can’t just walk back into our lives and expect everything to fall into place,” I said, frustration building despite my exhaustion. “Nora doesn’t even know you’re her father. I’ve spent years building a home for us. A safe place.”
“A place you’ll have to leave now, regardless,” he pointed out. “My father knows where you are. Wolf Creek isn’t safe anymore.”
I closed my eyes, fighting back tears of frustration. He was right, and I hated it. Everything I’d built was crumbling around me.
“I need time,” I said finally. “Time to process all of this. To figure out what’s best for Nora.”
“And for yourself?” he asked, his voice gentle.
I opened my eyes to find him watching me with an intensity that was all too familiar. Once, that look had made my heart race. Now, it just made me feel tired and annoyed.
“Yes,” I said. “For myself too.”
He nodded, accepting this for now. “I have safe houses arranged. Places my father doesn’t know about. Once you’re discharged, we can—”
“I’m not making any decisions right now,” I interrupted. “Not until I’ve talked to Jake.”
Something hardened in his expression. “JakeBrennen is a good man. I can see that. But he doesn’t understand what we’re dealing with. My father—”
“Has been looking for us for years,” I finished for him. “And Jake has been protecting us without even knowing the full story. He deserves to be part of this conversation.”
Mikhail studied me for a long moment, then stood. “Very well. But remember, Eleanora, time is not on our side. My father will realize soon enough that his men are dead. When he does, he’ll send others—more dangerous ones.”
He moved toward the door, then paused, turning back to me. “For what it’s worth, I truly am sorry. For everything I put you through. Everything you’re still going through because of me.”
Before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the steady beeping of the machines.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, the room was darker and someone was holding my hand. I opened my eyes to find Jake sitting beside the bed, his thumb tracing absent patterns on my skin as he stared out the window at the falling snow.
“Hey,” I said softly.
He turned, relief washing over his face when he saw me awake. “Hey, yourself. How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said, and it was true. The rawness inmy throat had eased, and the bone-deep cold seemed to have finally receded. “Where’s Nora?”
“Declan and Rory took her to the lodge,” he explained, squeezing my hand gently. “She was exhausted but didn’t want to leave you. I promised we’d call the second anything changed.”
I nodded, relief washing through me at knowing she was safe with my brother. “And Mikhail?”
His expression tightened slightly. “He went with them. Said he needed to make some calls, set up security at the lodge.”
I knew that was just an excuse, as Declan had the place wired to the teeth already. An awkward silence fell between us. There were too many things to say, too many unresolved questions hanging in the air. I wasn’t sure where to begin.
“You saved my life,” I said finally. “You went into that water after me.”
