Page 61 of Sanctuary

“You and Kat will be in the panic room,” Declan replied, his voice softening as he addressed his wife. “It’s the most secure location on the property.”

“No,” Wren said firmly, surprising everyone. “I’m not hiding while my family fights. I can handle a shotgun, and Kat’s a better fighter without a weapon than half your men.”

Kat nodded in agreement, her quiet determination evident in her stance.

Declan opened his mouth to argue, but Rory cut him off. “They’re right. We need every advantage. Wren can monitor the security cameras, coordinate our movements. Kat you come with us.”

After a moment’s consideration, Declan nodded reluctantly. “Alright.” He looked at Wren then at his sister. “But at the first sign that things are going south, you both get to the panic room. No heroics.”

Wren’s eyes briefly met mine, and I saw a flicker of something—not forgiveness, not yet, but perhaps understanding. She gave me a small nod before turning her attention back to Declan.

As the meeting continued, we finalized positions, communications protocols, and contingency plans. By mid-morning, the reinforcements had arrived— ten grim-faced men who greeted Declan and Connor with respect bordering on reverence. They barely glanced at me, taking their cues from their leaders.

Around noon, we took a break to eat and rest before the final preparations. I found myself alone in the kitchen, staring out the window at the peaceful grounds that would soon become a battlefield. The weight of what was coming—what I had brought to this family’s doorstep—pressed down on me like a physical burden.

“It’s not your fault,” a quiet voice said behind me.

I turned to find Wren standing in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. It was the first time she’d directly addressed me since learning the truth.

“Isn’t it?” I asked, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. “Matheson is coming because of me. Because I failed my mission.”

“No,” she said, stepping into the room. “He’s coming because of what Tomas had on him. You’re just the weapon he chose to use.” She moved to the counter, maintaining a careful distance between us. “That’s what you were to him, right? A weapon.”

I nodded slowly. “That’s what we all were. Weapons to be aimed and fired.”

Silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Wren took a deep breath.

“I don’t know if I can forgive you,” she said, her voice steady despite the pain evident in her eyes. “Not yet. But I understand why you did what you did. To protect Lily.”

“And you,” I added softly. “I couldn’t bear to hurt you Wren by taking Declan from you.”

“If we survive today,” she said carefully, “maybe we can try to... I don’t know. Start over, somehow.”

It wasn’t forgiveness, but it was more than I deserved. “I’d like that,” I whispered.

The sound of footsteps approaching broke the moment. Connor appeared in the doorway, his expression softening as he took in the scene before him.

“Everything okay?” he asked, looking between us.

Wren nodded, straightening her shoulders. “Yes. I was just telling my sister that we have work to do.” She moved past him, pausing briefly at the door. “Declan wants everyone ready in twenty.”

As she disappeared down the hall, Connor crossed the room to stand beside me. “That looked... promising.”

“It was,” I admitted, a small flicker of hope kindling in my chest. “More than I expected.”

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face with a gentleness that made my heart ache. “Whatever happens tonight, we’ll face it together.”

I leaned into his touch, savoring what might be our last moment of peace. “Promise me something,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Anything.”

“If things go wrong—if I don’t make it through this—promise me you’ll find Lily. That you’ll protect her.”

His expression grew serious. “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

“Promise me,” I insisted, needing to hear the words.

“I promise,” he said finally, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheek. “But it won’t come to that. We’re going to survive this, Mia. All of us.”

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