Chapter 26
Ella
I couldn’t bear it any longer. Without waiting for Jake’s signal, I stepped into the study.
“Alexei,” I called, my voice steadier than I expected.
His head snapped toward me, and for a split second, his iron grip on Nora loosened. His face went slack with shock, color draining as though he’d seen a ghost.
“Irina?” he whispered, the name falling from his lips like a curse.
I took another step forward, hands raised to show I wasn’t armed. “No. It’s Ella.”
Recognition dawned in his eyes, followed by something like pain. “Eleanora,” he said, recovering quickly, though his voice remained unsteady. “You have your mother’s face.”
The mention of my mother—his wife, the woman who’d betrayed him with Tomas MacGallan—seemed to harden something in him. His jaw tightened as his gaze traveled over my features, no doubt seeing the echoes of her there.
“Let my daughter go,” I said, inching closer. “Please.”
Nora’s eyes were wide, fixed on me with desperate hope. “Mom,” she whimpered.
Alexei’s momentary shock had given Jake and Mikhail time to reposition themselves, but they still had no clear shot with Nora in the way.
“You were just a child when I last saw you,” Alexei said, his accent thickening with emotion. “Three years old. Before that bastard MacGallan took you, and I killed your mother.”
“I remember,” I lied, trying to keep him talking. “I remember you, Alexei.”
His expression flickered between suspicion and something almost like longing. “You cannot possibly—”
“The wooden horse,” I interrupted, pulling from my hazy childhood memories. “You carved it for me. It had a red saddle.”
The memory seemed to hit him like a physical blow. His grip on Nora slackened further, and she seized the opportunity, stomping hard on his foot. He cursed, loosening his hold just enough for her to wrench free.
“Nora, run!” I screamed.
She bolted toward me as Jake and Mikhail both surged forward. I caught Nora in my arms, clutching her to my chest as I backed toward the door.
“You’re okay, you’re okay,” I murmured into her hair, my heart pounding so hard I could barely hear. “I’ve got you, baby.”
“I knew you’d come,” she sobbed against my shoulder.
Behind us, chaos erupted. Alexei lunged for the panic room, but Mikhail tackled him before he could reach it. They crashed into a side table, sending an antique lamp shattering to the floor. Jake was there in an instant, his gun trained on Alexei as Mikhail pinned him down.
“Get her out of here,” Jake called to me, never taking his eyes off the struggling men.
I didn’t need to be told twice. With Nora still clinging to me, I backed out of the study and into the hallway, fumbling for the comm in my ear.
“Declan,” I gasped. “We have Nora. We need extraction now.”
“On our way,” came his terse reply. “South entrance, two minutes.”
I carried Nora down the corridor, her face buried against my neck. She was trembling violently, but her arms around me were strong, desperate.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” she whispered. “I went to see the kittens. I didn’t mean to—”
“Shh, it’s not your fault,” I soothed, moving as quickly as I dared through the unfamiliar house. “None of this is your fault.”
The sound of a gunshot froze me in my tracks. It had come from the direction of the study. Nora flinched in my arms, a small cry escaping her.
“Jake,” she whimpered.
I hesitated, torn between running for safety and going back. Before I could decide, footsteps pounded down the corridor behind us. I pressed Nora against the wall, shielding her with my body, ready to fight with everything I had.
But it was Jake who rounded the corner, his face grim but unharmed. Relief flooded through me.
“Mikhail has him secured,” he said, slightly out of breath. “Let’s go.”
We moved swiftly through the house, Jake leading the way, checking corners before waving us forward. The diversion at the front gate was still keeping most of Alexei’s security force occupied, but we could hear shouting and orders in Russian as they realized something was wrong.
“Almost there,” Jake murmured as we reached the service corridor that led to the wine cellar. “Stay close.”
We had just reached the cellar door when a burst of gunfire erupted somewhere behind us. Jake pushed us through the door, slamming it shut behind him.
“Down to the tunnel, now,” he ordered, already moving to barricade the door.
I carried Nora down the spiral staircase, my legs shaking with adrenaline and exhaustion. The wine cellar was as we’d left it, dimly lit and silent.
“Jake,” Nora said, looking back up the stairs. “He’s coming, right?”
“Right behind us,” I assured her, though fear clawed at my throat. “He’s making sure no one follows.”
We reached the tunnel entrance just as Jake appeared at the top of the stairs. He descended quickly, helping me maneuver Nora through the door we’d unhinged earlier.
“Declan’s at the extraction point,” he said, pulling the door closed behind us as best he could. “Mikhail will meet us there.”
The tunnel seemed longer on the way out, darker and more oppressive. Nora clung to my hand, stumbling occasionally in the near darkness. Jake brought up the rear, constantly checking behind us for pursuit.
“Almost there,” I encouraged Nora. “Just a little further.”
We reached the outer door, pushing through into the blinding whiteness of the storm. The wind hit us like a wall, snow driving horizontally into our faces. Through the swirling flakes, I could make out the silhouette of an SUV, its headlights dimmed.
“There,” Jake pointed, his arm around us both as we fought against the wind.
Declan appeared out of the storm, moving to help us. “Quickly,” he shouted over the howling wind. “More of Petrova’s men are coming around from the east side.”
We stumbled toward the vehicle, the snow nearly knee-deep in places. Nora was shivering violently now, her small body not built for this kind of cold.
“Where’s Mikhail?” I asked as we reached the SUV.
“Not here yet,” Declan replied, helping Nora into the backseat. “Kane’s watching for him.”
I climbed in beside Nora, pulling her close to share warmth. Jake hesitated by the door.
“I’m going back for him,” he said, his expression resolute.
“Jake, no,” I protested. “It’s too dangerous. The storm—”
“I’m not leaving him behind,” he cut me off, his eyes meeting mine. “Get Nora to safety. I’ll be right behind you.”
Before I could argue further, he closed the door and disappeared back into the swirling snow. Declan slid into the driver’s seat, glancing back at us.
“He’ll be fine,” he assured me, though his voice lacked conviction. “Jake knows what he’s doing.”
Nora pressed closer to me, her small body still trembling. “Is Jake going to get my dad?” she asked in a small voice.
“Yes, baby,” I said, smoothing her tangled hair. “They’ll both be right behind us.”
The minutes stretched like hours as we waited in the idling SUV, the storm intensifying around us. Kane stood watch outside, a dark silhouette against the driving snow. Declan kept checking his watch, his expression growing more tense with each passing minute.
“We can’t wait much longer,” he said finally. “The road will be impassable soon.”
“We’re not leaving without them,” I said firmly, though dread was building in my chest.
Just then, Kane signaled from outside. Two figures emerged from the whiteout, supporting each other as they fought through the deepening snow. Jake and Mikhail.
Relief swept through me, so powerful it left me lightheaded. Kane rushed to help them the last few yards to the vehicle.
“Go, go!” Jake shouted as they piled into the SUV, bringing a swirl of snow and bitter cold with them.
Declan didn’t need to be told twice. He threw the vehicle into drive, tires spinning before finding purchase in the snow. We lurched forward, away from the compound and into the raging storm.
“Dad!” Nora cried, reaching across me toward Mikhail, who looked battered but conscious.
“I’m here, little one,” he managed, his voice rough. “I’m here.”
Jake collapsed into the seat beside me, his face pale with cold and exertion. I reached for his hand, needing the reassurance of his touch.
“Alexei?” I asked quietly.
“Secured,” Mikhail answered before Jake could. “My father won’t be following us. Or anyone else.”
There was something in his voice that made me not want to ask for details. Not in front of Nora.
“The authorities?” I asked instead.
“Anonymous tip,” Jake said, squeezing my hand. “Local police and Interpol will find him when the storm clears. Along with all the evidence they need.”
I nodded, a complex mix of emotions washing through me—relief, exhaustion, lingering fear, and overwhelming gratitude. Nora was safe. We were all safe. It was over.
As if reading my thoughts, Jake leaned closer. “It’s done, Ella,” he murmured. “He can’t hurt either of you ever again.”
I rested my head on his shoulder, and Nora nestled securely between us. Outside, the storm raged on, but in here, in this moment, we had found our shelter. Our safety. Our family.
“Let’s go home,” I whispered.