“She’s handling it well,” Jake observed, following my gaze.
“For now,” I sighed. “Wait until the reality sets in. Her whole world just changed.”
“Not her whole world,” Jake corrected gently. “You’re still her mom. That hasn’t changed.”
I leaned against the wall, suddenly exhausted. “I just told her I’ve been lying to her for eight years, Jake. How does she trust me after that?”
“Because you’ve earned her trust in every way that matters,” he said firmly. “You’ve protected her, loved her, put her first in everything. One revelation doesn’t erase all of that.”
His faith in me was humbling. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes and blinked them back furiously.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Jake stepped closer, his hand finding mine. “You’d be fine. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
“Maybe I don’t want to be strong all the time,” I said, looking up at him. “Maybe sometimes I just want someone to lean on.”
His eyes softened. “You have that. For as long as you want it.”
The door to the study opened, and Mikhail’s footsteps echoed down the hall into the kitchen. He paused when he saw us standing close together, his eyes dropping to our joined hands. Something flashed across his face—acceptance.
“I’ll check the perimeter,” he said after a moment. “Make sure everything’s secure for the night.”
As he walked away, I felt the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future pressing down onme. But Jake’s hand in mine was a reminder that whatever came next, I didn’t have to face it alone.
“Come on,” he said, gently tugging me toward the dining room. “Let’s go see what trouble Nora’s getting into with those cookies.”
I let him lead me, grateful for his steady presence, for the simple comfort of his touch. Tomorrow would bring new challenges—answering questions Nora would surely have, preparing for whatever Mikhail’s father might throw at us.
But for now, for this moment, I could breathe. I could watch my daughter laugh over cookies. I could feel Jake’s warmth beside me. I could be simply Ella, not a fugitive, not a killer, not a pawn in someone else’s game.
Just for tonight, I could pretend that the world outside didn’t exist.
Chapter 20
Ella
The sleeping arrangements had been decided quickly after dinner. With so many people involved in our protection, space was at a premium. Connor and Mia had arrived just after sunset, with Kat and Wren. They would be joining Declan and Rory at my house next door, keeping watch from there since it offered a clear view of Jake’s property. They also brought additional supplies, food, and weapons that I tried not to think about too much. Kane, Kori, and Lana would be staying with us, camped out on the floor of the great room, along with Mikhail and a newly released Caleb from the hospital.
“You’ll take my room,” Jake had insisted, brooking no argument despite my protests. “Nora can have the guest room next door. I’ll be fine on the couch in my study.”
Now, as I settled into Jake’s bed, I couldn’t help but breathe in his scent that lingered on the pillows—cedar and bergamot. The sheets were softer thanI’d expected, the room tidier, no bachelor mess here, just simple, clean lines and practical furniture. So like him.
I heard soft voices downstairs—Jake and Kane. If I had to guess what they were talking about, it would be who was on watch first and how to keep Nora and me safe. Ever since arriving here, that’s all anyone talked about, or so it seemed.
I wanted her to sleep with me in this massive bed. To keep my mind off everything and hold my daughter while we both slept. But she had other plans, insisting that she was a big girl, she had taken the room next door, and had fallen asleep almost immediately. I’d checked on her twice already, watching her chest rise and fall, reassuring myself that she was safe, that we both were.
Despite my bone-deep exhaustion, sleep escaped me. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the ice crack beneath my feet, felt the shocking cold of the water closing over my head. I tossed and turned, trying to find a position that didn’t make my still-sore body ache.
Eventually, I must have drifted off, because suddenly I was back in the river. The ice was breaking, water rushing in, filling my lungs. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t find the surface. Nora was calling for me, but I couldn’t reach her. The current pulled me deeper, darkness closing in from all sides.
“Ella! Ella, wake up!”
I came to with a gasp, my throat raw, my body drenched in sweat. Jake was leaning over me, his hands on my shoulders, his face tight with concern. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow across his features.
“You were screaming,” he said, his voice rough with sleep. He was wearing only sweatpants, his chest bare, his hair mussed.
“Was I that loud that you heard me all the way downstairs in your study?”
