Page 53 of Blindsided
“The border regions have their own rules,” Kat adds cryptically.
“We’ll explain on the way,” Rory promises,heading toward his car. “But we should get moving.”
I toss my bag into the backseat of Rory’s rental and climb in after it. Kane takes the passenger seat, twisting to look at me as Rory starts the engine.
“Last chance to back out, Airplane Girl,” he says, his expression serious despite the lightness in his tone.
I buckle my seatbelt and meet his gaze steadily. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Something shifts in his eyes—relief, maybe, or gratitude. He nods once, then turns to face forward as Rory pulls away from the cottage.
As we drive away from Wavecrest, following a different route than Declan’s car, I can’t help but feel like I’m leaving something behind—not just the physical sanctuary of the cottage, but something more intangible. The woman who fled here, broken and betrayed, isn’t quite the same one who’s now willingly heading toward an abandoned castle and potential danger.
I’m not sure who this new version of me is yet, but I’m curious to find out. And somehow, sitting in this car with Kane and Rory, I feel more like myself than I have in years.
Chapter 20
Kori
Rory takes us on a circuitous route, avoiding main roads and occasionally checking his rearview mirror with a vigilance that makes my stomach tighten. I’ve never been followed before—at least not that I know of—and I find myself glancing over my shoulder at passing cars, wondering if any of them contain Russians looking for Kane’s mysterious sister.
“So,” I say, breaking the tense silence that’s fallen over us, “is someone going to explain what exactly we’re walking into?”
Kane and Rory exchange a look that does nothing to calm my nerves.
“The border regions are... complicated,” Rory begins, his eyes never leaving the road. “During the Troubles, a lot of properties changed hands. Some officially, some not.”
“And Dragon Castle?” I prompt.
“It belonged to the MacGallan family forgenerations,” Kane explains, twisting in his seat to face me. “Then, during the height of the conflict, it was abandoned. At least, that’s the official story.”
“And the unofficial story?”
Kane’s expression darkens. “That’s what we’re trying to find out.”
“The castle has a reputation,” Rory adds. “Local legend says it’s haunted, which has kept most people away. But there have always been rumors about what actually goes on there.”
“What kind of rumors?” I ask, though I’m not entirely sure I want to know.
“Smuggling,” Kane says bluntly. “Arms dealing. The usual border activities during a conflict. And after.”
I absorb this information, trying to reconcile it with the family I’ve spent the last day with. They seem normal enough—dysfunctional, certainly, but not like international criminals.
“And your father—I mean, Tomas—was involved in this?”
Kane shrugs, but the casualness of the gesture feels forced. “Maybe. Probably. The MacGallans have always operated in gray areas.”
“We’re legitimate businesspeople now,” Rory protests, sounding genuinely offended.
“With occasionally illegitimate side ventures,”Kane adds dryly.
Rory doesn’t contradict him, which I find more concerning than if he’d denied it.
“And the Russians?” I press. “What do they have to do with all this?”
“According to the letter, Tomas ‘stole’ something from them thirty-three years ago,” Kane says. “My sister is all that we know of. Which means either she’s Russian, or she was somehow important to them.”
“A hostage?” I suggest that the word feels melodramatic as it leaves my lips.
