Chapter 27
Elora
"Put some muscle into it, kid. Your snowball's not packed tight enough."
The teasing voice came from behind me. I was trying to yank Leo's snow-covered mittens off when my spine went rigid.
The blizzard in Sturgis had stopped, and some man with more nerve than shame had shown up right outside my yard fence.
I shot to my feet, blocking Leo. Those gray eyes cut through the blinding snow glare, straight past me to my son.
"Are you ever going to quit?" I stepped forward, voice low. "Stay out of my life."
"I'm not in your life." Lucien pointed outside the fence. "This road's public property. I'm just taking a walk."
"Could you stop camping outside my cabin like some homeless vagrant?"
"If it gets you to talk to me for two extra minutes, I'll pitch a tent."
"You—"
"Lucien!"
Before I could fire back, Leo dodged around my legs, clutching a snowball bigger than his head, stumbling toward Lucien.
"Look! Is this big enough?" Leo held up his prize like treasure.
Lucien bent his tall frame down, dropped to one knee in the snow, took the snowball, and pinched Leo's flushed cheek.
"Very big. But you need to pack the base tighter, or it'll collapse when the enemy charges. Got it?"
"Then teach me!" Leo grabbed his sleeve, excited. "Mommy's snow walls always lean, and Julian's doorways always cave in."
"Of course. I'll teach you to build a fortress even bombs can't break."
"Lucien!" I cut him off sharply, pulling Leo back. "We need to go inside for his nap."
"I don't wanna!" Leo squirmed in my arms like a slippery eel. "I want Lucien to play with me!"
"Leo Vance! Listen!"
Leo's eyes instantly reddened at my yell. His mouth trembled.
"Elora, don't be so hard on him." Lucien stood. "It's just playing in the snow. What exactly are you afraid of?"
My breath caught. The way he looked at Leo wasn't normal—not how you'd look at some unrelated kid. He knew something. If he knew Leo was his biological son, would he just take him?
"None of your business." I held Leo tighter, fingers shaking. "Leave now, or I'm calling the cops."
He laughed helplessly. "Elora, Leo's your child. I won't hurt him."
"I don't believe you!" But Leo had already broken free, launching himself into Lucien's arms.
"I'll bring him back safe!" Lucien bounced him, and Leo giggled, waving at me. "See you soon, Mommy!"
I ran after them. By the time I caught up at the little square, gasping, Lucien had already built a snow fort with Leo. Seeing Leo unharmed, my heart finally dropped back into my chest. I marched over and grabbed Leo's arm.
"Leo, time to go home. The wind's picking up. You'll catch a cold."
Leo looked reluctantly at the fort, then at Lucien, then grabbed Lucien's hand. "Your hands are freezing! Mommy, can Lucien come have hot cocoa before he goes?"
Let Lucien into my home? Absolutely not.
"No. He's busy. Right?"
I shot him a warning look. But Lucien shivered, shameless.
"Actually, my schedule's clear today." His eyes went innocent. "The Sturgis wind really is cold. I'd be very grateful for some hot cocoa."
My eyes went wide. I couldn't believe this act. That coat could withstand Siberian winters. How could he possibly be cold?
"Yay! Lucien's coming to our house!"
Leo was already bouncing ahead, tugging us toward the cabin. Watching my son's flushed, excited face, I gritted my teeth and followed, face tight.
"Shoes off. Coat on the hook by the door." I gave orders without looking at him.
Lucien obeyed. But his size made the cabin feel cramped. His scent—wind and snow mixed with faint tobacco—invaded my space like a conqueror.
"Leo, wash your hands." I steered Leo into the bathroom, then buried myself in the kitchen.
I added cocoa powder to milk absently, thoughts tangled. What did he want?
"Nervous?"
The low, rough voice exploded in my ear. I jumped, nearly dumping the entire cocoa tin into the pot. Lucien leaned against the island, arms crossed, gray eyes locked on me.
"I'm not." I steadied my shaking hands, grabbed two mugs. "I just think Mr. Genovese stooping to squeeze into my dump of a cabin is beneath you."
"If it's for you, I don't mind."
Panic flared. I slammed the hot cocoa down. "Drink and go."
"Lucien! Come see my dinosaur castle!" Leo yelled from the living room.
Lucien carried his mug toward the noise. Soon Leo's giggles mixed with his deep laughter.
I stood in the kitchen doorway, staring.
Lucien sat sprawled on the carpet, building Legos with Leo, pants covered in cracker crumbs, not even frowning. Leo climbed on his knee to reach toys, and he steadied his back without missing a beat.
Strange blood. They'd never acknowledged each other, yet it was like they'd never been apart. Leo would never drop crumbs on Julian's clothes, but he was draped all over Lucien.
My nose stung. Maybe Leo really did need a father? And Lucien was exactly what he wanted.
No! I couldn't be separated from Leo. God, forgive my selfishness!
I retreated to the kitchen.
After a while, the living room went quiet. My heart lurched. I rushed out. Leo had melted into Lucien's arms, breathing steady. Lucien held him with something close to reverence, nuzzling his hair, eyes flashing red for a split second.
"I'll carry him in."
"I've got him." He dodged my hands. "I'm stronger."
I followed them into the bedroom. Lucien laid Leo gently on the small bed, staring at that sleeping face for a full three minutes before reluctantly rising and backing out.
The bedroom door clicked shut. The living room atmosphere plunged to freezing.
"You can go now." I didn't soften the dismissal.
But Lucien didn't move. He stood in the center of the room, spine straight, looking at me with eyes churning with ash and pain.
"Give me ten minutes, Elora." He grabbed my hand. "Please. Just ten. Hear me out. If you still want me gone, I'll go."
I yanked my hand back. Suddenly, fury, grievance, resentment—every emotion hit at once.
"Who do you think you are?" I kept my voice low but fierce. "You think you can lock me up when you want, find a docile toy to come crawling back, and I'll just listen? Lucien, get out!"
"Go! Just go!" I shoved him.
The next second, a thud.
Lucien Genovese—the man who never bowed—dropped to his knees, hard.
My brain buzzed. I froze.
"Are you insane?" I moved to pull him up. "Get up!"
"I am insane. I went completely insane the night you disappeared."
His tears hit the floor. "Elora, Natalie recovered her memory six months after waking up.
She told me—that day in the garage, you just happened to walk there.
Serena cut the surveillance lines. Called off the guards.
The blood in your car was staged. She faked you fleeing with luggage, all to make me stop believing you. "
He clenched his fists, knuckles white. "And I believed that poisonous bitch's tears like a complete pig. I didn't give you one chance to explain."
"Elora, I invited the wolf in. I'm the one who pushed the best person in the world into hell with my own hands."
He slapped himself hard. I grabbed his hand in panic, but he caught mine, pressing it against his tear-stained face.
"You can kill me. If it makes you feel better, my life is yours."
Four years. Four whole years. I thought I'd carry those false accusations forever. But now this man who'd thrown me into hell knelt at my feet, returning my innocence intact.
My tears broke free.
"Do you know what these four years were like for me... What makes you think telling me the truth now means I'll forgive you?"
"I don't dare hope for that." Lucien pulled out his phone. "I just wanted you to know—you're clean. You never did anything wrong."
His phone rang. Video call from Natalie. I moved to leave, but Lucien gripped my hand and answered.
"Lucien, did you find Elora yet? You—" Natalie stopped. A second later, her eyes reddened. She reached out trembling, touching the screen, murmuring "Elora... child..."
I looked at Natalie on screen. She was propped up in bed, hair completely white, face weak, eyes brimming with tears. Seeing this woman who'd once been the only elder kind to me, I finally broke down.
"Mrs. Genovese... You're okay... Thank God..." I couldn't stop crying.
"I'm fine, sweet girl. I remember everything..." Natalie wiped her tears. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have forced you to apologize because I worried about Serena. It was my fault. You suffered so much. Four years! What you must have gone through! It's all my fault..."
"Natalie..." I couldn't breathe through my sobs.
We cried together for who knows how long.
"Sweet girl, stop crying." Natalie finally calmed, voice thick. "Elora, I know that bastard Lucien hurt you too deeply. He doesn't deserve forgiveness. But... I still have to ask—don't sentence him to death immediately. Give him a chance to make it up to you. Please?"
Natalie's tone was earnest. I didn't know what to say.
"That's enough, Mother." Lucien turned the video to himself. "I'll do everything to bring Elora back."
I looked at his face—too thin, eyes sunken, dark circles heavy beneath them, fine scars scattered across his face and hands. He'd been living in hell these years too.
My heart softened. I straightened to pull him up. "Lucien, get up. I think we—"
Sharp pain shot through my lower back. After barely surviving Leo's birth without proper recovery, I'd developed chronic back pain.
"Elora?"
"My back... hurts..." Cold sweat broke out. Lucien scrambled to ease me onto the couch, hand sliding to my lower back, fingers probing briefly before finding the spot and rubbing gently.
His palm was warm. The pressure perfect. I closed my eyes. When the pain faded and I opened them again, I was leaning completely against him.
We were so close. His scent filled my nose. Beneath my palm was his hard, taut muscle. My heartbeat went wild, pounding like drums.
I should've pushed him away. But in that instant, my mind flashed to four years ago—curled in that cell corner waiting three days and nights for him, and when he finally walked through that door, even though I hated the entire world, I'd still thrown myself at him.
Part of me would never learn to guard against him. I didn't even think. My body moved first.
His breathing roughened. His warm lips crashed down on mine. I froze, then clutched his shirt like a drowning person grabbing driftwood. He kissed me deep and fierce, palm covering my chest—and I snapped awake, shoving him back, gasping.
"Lucien... I don't hate you anymore." My voice still trembled. "But the scars are real. I can't pretend nothing happened."
Disappointment flickered in his eyes. His throat worked.
"I just kissed you. I couldn't control it. That scares me. So I need you to stay away from me—not because I hate you, but because I can't think straight when you're close. Maybe—we could go back to being just friends."
Lucien went still. Silent for a long time. Then he stepped back.
He stood, walked to the door, put on his coat. Before pushing it open, he looked back at me. Voice rough but certain.
"I accept. I'll wait in Sturgis until you're ready to let me back in."