Mikhail straightened, his face grim. “My contact in Moscow confirms that my father knows his menhave failed. He’s already mobilizing a second team.”
“How long?” Kane asked.
“Three days. Maybe four.” Mikhail ran a hand through his hair, the first sign of stress I’d seen him display. “I’m pushing my contacts to move faster with the evidence handoff, but bureaucracy moves at its own pace.”
“Four days is plenty of time to shore up defenses,” Declan said confidently. “I’ve called in backup from Toronto. Between your tech and our manpower, this place will be a fortress.”
I nodded in agreement, though a nagging worry remained. “And after? Once the evidence is delivered and your father is arrested?”
Mikhail’s eyes met mine, and I saw the unspoken challenge there. “That depends on Ella.”
The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch. Everyone present knew what he meant—once the immediate danger was past, decisions would need to be made about the future. About Nora. About the three of us and whatever triangle we’d inadvertently formed.
“One crisis at a time,” I said firmly. “For now, we focus on keeping them safe.”
Mikhail nodded. “Agreed. In which case, I suggest we establish a watch rotation. At least two people on guard in the house at all times and ten outside.”
We spent the next hour working out the details—who would be on first watch, communications, and emergency plans. By the time we finished, I felt more confident in our ability to protect Ella and Nora, at least in the short term.
As the others dispersed to their assigned tasks, Mikhail lingered in the kitchen.
“There’s something else we need to discuss,” he said quietly. “Nora.”
I stiffened, sensing where this was heading. “What about her?”
“Ella mentioned that she wants to tell her the truth. About me.” His voice remained neutral, but I could see the emotion in his eyes. “I think it would be better coming from both of us. From her parents.”
The word ‘parents’ hit me like a physical blow, a stark reminder of what I was not to Nora, would never be. But I pushed the feeling aside.
“That’s Ella’s decision,” I said evenly. “She asked me to be there, and I agreed.”
Mikhail’s jaw tightened slightly. “I understand you care for them, Brennen. But this is a family matter.Myfamily matters.”
“You’ve been dead to them for eight years,” I said, anger flaring despite my best efforts to contain it. “I’ve been here. You haven’t. So don’t talk to me about family matters.”
We stared at each other, the tension crackling between us. Finally, Mikhail nodded, a gesture ofreluctant respect.
“You’re right,” he admitted. “And I’m grateful for what you’ve done for them. But understand this—Nora is my daughter. I’ve lost eight years with her. I won’t lose any more.”
Before I could respond, Ella appeared in the doorway, steadying herself against the frame. “Everything okay in here?”
We both turned, instantly composing our expressions. “Just finalizing details,” I said, moving to her side. “You should be resting.”
“I’ve rested enough,” she said, though the pallor of her skin belied her words. “Nora’s asking questions. I think it’s time we talked to her.”
Mikhail straightened, his eyes lighting with an emotion I couldn’t quite name—hope, perhaps, or fear. “Now?”
Ella nodded. “No point in delaying. She’s already noticed your eyes, Mikhail. How they match hers.”
A flash of pride crossed his face at this. “She’s a smart one.”
“Like her mother,” I said softly, and was rewarded with a small smile from Ella.
“I thought we could sit in your study,” she suggested. “More private than the living room with everyone coming and going.”
I nodded. “I’ll get the hot chocolate ready.”
As I moved to the stove where Kori had left the pot warming, I heard Mikhail speak quietly to Ella.
