The sight filling the wide windshield melted the last remnants of fear. A log-style home lay at the end of a curved drive. The wraparound porch was protected by Plexiglas and held two different sitting areas marked by rattan chairs with fluffy pads clustered around low coffee tables. A layer of foot-thick snow blanketed the high-peaked roof and icicles stretched from the eaves. A curl of smoke rose from a chimney near the back, warm light glowed from the windows, and everything was so . . . still.
She stared for a moment, soaking in the same sense of tranquility she often found on the lake in the bitter early morning hours, or when she went for a five a.m. row on the weekends when everyone else was still warm in bed.
Cravings stirred deep within her. She recognized the achy sensation of longing for a different kind of life. For companionship, friendship, love. Yes, she wanted passion too. The kind of passion she’d never found with anyone but Mitch. But having passion without the rest was like having icing without the cake.
A door closed and the car shook. Halina’s gaze came into sharp focus and she found herself alone with Mitch; Nelson was strolling toward two of the other guys.
She avoided looking at Mitch. He’d want to get out of the car in a few seconds. Want to go inside with the others. Her shoulder muscles tightened. Her heart rate sped.
“I have no idea what to expect in there.” She had to pull harder to get air. Sweat filmed her face and neck. “I know one person out of how many? Twelve?”
“Counting the kids,” he said, “yeah, twelve.”
“How much have you told them?” Halina asked, pressing a hand to her suddenly dizzy head.
“Most.”
She swore under her breath. “They’re going to hate me. How long are we staying?”
Mitch’s hand squeezed her knee again. “Hali, they are not going to hate you.”
“They should.”
“For them, this is about Schaeffer, not you. Teague escaped prison and took Alyssa hostage. Dragged her around the state, put her life at risk several times. Yes, Teague did those things himself, but we all know Schaeffer drove him to it.”
Hope sparked in the shadows of her heart. If he could see Teague’s actions as justified . . . maybe he could expand that view to include hers. “Even you?”
He held her gaze. Silence grew.
A smile lifted his lips—a dry, forced smile. “Extenuating circumstances, right?”
His hand left her knee and he turned to exit the car. The slam of the door felt like a fist to her heart. He could forgive Teague. But not her.
He pulled open her door and stood aside as Dex hesitated. Her dog glanced down at the snow, back up at Halina, down at the snow, and whined.
“Come on, boy,” Mitch said and Dex jumped down and sniffed the snow.
Halina climbed out and breathed deep. The air was sharp, crisp. Knowing what waited inside took the fairy-tale feel away from the beautiful home. She crossed her arms tight and just stood. Her feet seemed stuck.
Dex stood next to her, lifting his paws and setting them back down, looking at the snow with another whine.
“I don’t think he likes it,” Mitch said.
“He doesn’t know what it is.”
“Come on, Dex.” Mitch started for the house and gestured to the dog. “Inside.”
Dex bounded ahead and Mitch grinned. When he looked beside him and Halina wasn’t there, he turned and started back.
“You’re in good company here, Hali.” He put an arm around her shoulders and urged her forward. “These are people who understand you. Who’ve been through the same hardships—or worse.”
They climbed the stairs and he paused in front of the heavy wood and glass doors. He turned her toward him and took the collar of the faux-fur-lined parka Christy had picked up for her. His expression was serious, confident.
He’d relaxed since they’d deplaned, and while Halina had grown more tense as they’d approached this new confrontation, Mitch had grown almost peaceful. She didn’t know if anything she’d said on the plane had made a positive difference in his opinion of her. If anything, it had seemed to anger him more. Hurt him more. She’d hoped the truth—or partial truth—would have alleviated some of the pain she’d caused him.
“Together, we’re strong,” he said, conviction in his voice. “Together we cleared Teague of murder, took Mateo away from Rostov, and rescued Cash and Quaid from the Castle. Now that I’ve found you, we’ve got everyone back. We’re so close. Focus on making Schaeffer pay, Hali.”
There was that need for revenge again. She’d been a fool to think he could forgive her—even for only what he knew, which wasn’t the worst of it.
“You’re going to close the circle,” he whispered urgently, begging her to jump on board. “I’m sure of it.”
She lowered her gaze, unable to hold his when she knew she wouldn’t be the link he was hoping for. The link he thought he needed. That they all thought they needed.
A baby’s fussy complaints sounded through the doors. Halina tensed, glancing toward the glass, then back at Mitch. All the seriousness had vanished from his face, replaced by a huge grin as he turned toward the entry.
“God, I can’t wait to get ahold of that kid,” he murmured, more to himself than to Halina as he bent to pet Dex. “Tikhiy, boy.”
When Mitch opened the door, a soft ding sounded deeper in the house. Halina had a similar security system to signal an open door or window. She stepped into the house after Mitch, immediately focusing on the voices and laughter coming from somewhere to the left. The scents of burning wood and lavender would have made any normal guest feel instantly at home.
Halina stayed by the door while Mitch walked deeper into the foyer.
The joyous—and loud—scream of a little girl immediately filled the halls, echoing off the slate floors and making Halina wince.
“Uncle Miiitch . . .” She drew out his name as she ran down the hall toward him. She looked big for six, but Halina didn’t know much about kids. Her dark curls flew out behind her and a grin cut across her face.
Mitch leaned down to catch her just as she flung herself at him. Kat locked her arms around his neck, and Mitch closed his eyes in a look of complete joy.
“This is my favorite part of coming here,” he murmured, rocking her side to side. “I swear I leave just to come back for this.”
Unexpected memories slammed Halina. Memories of the way Mitch used to greet her at the airport after coming home from a business trip. The way his face lit up the moment his eyes met hers. The way he’d drop his bags, wrap her in his arms, and pull her off her feet. The way he’d kiss her like he hadn’t seen her in two months instead of two days. So much love . . . so much happiness . . .
The memories rattled her weakened barriers. Tears prickled Halina’s nose and rose to her eyes. She looked away, blinked fast, and focused on controlling her breathing.
Just as Mitch straightened with Kat’s arms still circled around his shoulders, his name echoed down the hall again. This voice was younger, less polished, “Uncle Miiitch . . .”
He dropped back to one knee to catch another child. Smaller than Kat. With a head of wild brown curls. It had to be Mateo. The momentum behind the child’s slight weight tipped Mitch backward. He caught himself with one hand, while both kids clung to him like chimpanzees. Mitch’s laugh echoed off the walls.
Halina smiled as she watched the cluster of joy at her feet. Mitch had enough happiness in his life for both of them. That was good. That was what she’d wanted. What she still wanted when she went deep, past all the superficial issues this situation brought up between them.
“What took you so long?” Kat asked.
“I picked up a friend.” He tipped his head toward Halina.
Halina tensed again as two sets of big brown eyes turned on her. She was going to say hello, but Kat gasped and pushed off Mitch like he no longer existed.