Page 111 of Blindsided
“He won’t,” I say with a certainty that surprises me. “Find out, I mean. We’ll make sure of it.”
Ella’s eyes widen slightly, hope and warinessbattling in her expression. “Does that mean you’re staying? At least for a while?”
I look out at the ranch—at the mountains and lake, the forests and fields that supposedly belong to me now. Then, at Kori, whose presence has somehow become my touchstone in this storm of revelations.
“I don’t know about permanently,” I say honestly. “But yes, I’m staying for now. We all are. We need to get to know each other, figure out what all this means.”
Relief floods Ella’s face. “That’s all I’m asking for. A chance.”
Inside, Nora laughs at something, the sound carrying through the glass. It’s a pure sound, untainted by the complicated legacy she’s been born into.
“She doesn’t know, does she?” I ask. “About her father. About any of this.”
Ella shakes her head. “She knows Tomas was her grandfather, that he’s gone now. She knows you’re all her aunts and uncles coming to visit. But the rest...” She sighs. “She’s too young for the whole truth.”
I nod, understanding. Some truths are too heavy for kids’ shoulders to bear. I should know—I carried the weight of being unwanted for most of my life.
The door slides open again, and Declan stepsout. “We should discuss security,” he says without preamble. “If this Mikhail is as dangerous as you say, we need a plan.”
“Always the strategist,” I mutter, but there’s no real heat in it. For once, I’m grateful for Declan’s practicality.
“We can talk over dinner,” Ella suggests. “I had the staff prepare something. And... Tomas’s ashes, you brought them here?” I nod, and she continues. “I thought we might discuss what to do with them.”
“Dinner sounds good,” I agree, suddenly aware of how hungry I am. “And then maybe... maybe you could show me the ranch? The parts that are safe, at least.”
“I’d like that.” Ella smiles, then turns to head back inside. “I’ll check on dinner,” she says over her shoulder. “Take your time out here.”
As the door slides closed behind her, I’m left alone with Kori on the deck. The last light of day paints the mountains in purple shadows, and the surface of the lake shimmers like hammered copper. It’s breathtaking—wild and pristine in a way Toronto could never be.
I turn to face Kori, studying her profile as she gazes out at the view. The mountain air has brought color to her cheeks, and the breeze tugs at strands of her hair. Something tightens in my chest at the sight of her.
“Stay with me,” I say, the words tumbling out before I can second-guess them.
She turns, surprise flickering across her face. “What?”
“Here. At Wolfcreek.” I step closer, taking her hands in mine. “I know it’s fast, and I know we barely know each other, but these weeks have been the most real thing in my life in years.”
“Kane...” Her voice holds a note of hesitation that makes my stomach drop.
“Just to see where this goes,” I clarify quickly. “No pressure, no expectations. Just... us, figuring things out together.”
She bites her lip, glancing back toward the house. “I can’t just abandon Lana. She needs me right now.”
“Lana can stay too,” I say immediately. “There’s plenty of room. She’d be safe here, away from Mark, away from Toronto. You both would.”
Kori’s eyes widen slightly. “You’d do that? Let her stay too?”
“Of course I would.” I squeeze her hands gently. “She’s your sister. She’s important to you.”
“But this place is your inheritance,” she argues. “Your chance to connect with your family. I don’t want to intrude on that.”
I laugh, the sound surprisingly free. “Kori, I just found out I have a sister I thought was fictional anda niece I never knew existed. My definition of family is pretty flexible right now.”
She smiles at that, but uncertainty still shadows her eyes. “What about Toronto? Your job, your life there?”
“My job was just a job,” I shrug. “And my life... well, it hasn’t felt much like living lately. Not until I met you.”
The admission hangs between us, more honest than I intended but true, nonetheless. Before Kori—before this wild journey across continents and family secrets—I was going through the motions, numbed by a whisky bottle, grief, and aimlessness.
