The next several hours pass in a blur of cleaning, organizing, and rearranging furniture to maximize space. Kori orchestrates everything with military precision, crossing items off her massive checklist as we complete them. By noon, the lodge has been transformed—every available space prepped for our incoming guests, the pantry and refrigerators stocked with a grocery delivery that brought enough food to feed a small army, which is exactly what we’re expecting.
“That’s it,” Kori announces finally, surveying our work with satisfaction. “Kane, you should head to the airport. The rest of us will go to Jake’s to brief him on the situation.”
I ride with Kori to Jake’s farm, using the time to check my messages. There’s one from Caleb: “Looking forward to seeing you today. Sleep well?”
I smile, typing back: “Until my sister woke me at 5 AM to clean. The lodge is now prepared for an invasion. See you soon.”
His response comes quickly: “Sounds intense. Coffee waiting for you when you get here.”
“You’re grinning like an idiot at your phone,” Kori observes, not taking her eyes off the road. “It’s disturbing.”
“Says the woman who practically floats when Kane walks into a room,” I counter.
“Fair point,” she concedes. “But seriously, I’m happy for you. Caleb seems... solid.”
“He is,” I say softly, thinking of the way he’d insisted on walking me to the door, how he’d pulled back when things heated up between us. “He’s different from anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Good. Because your past relationship was with an asshole.”
I look at her, and she looks at me over her sunglasses. Together, we burst out laughing, knowing full well the only relationship I ever had was with her ex.
888
When we arrive at Jake’s, I spot Caleb immediately. He’s on the porch, deep in conversation with Connor, but his eyes find mine the moment I step out of the car. The smile that spreads across his face makes my heart flutter embarrassingly.
“Coffee, as promised,” he says when I reach him, handing me a steaming mug prepared exactly how I like it.
“My hero,” I say dramatically, taking a grateful sip.
Inside, Jake has cleared the dining room table to make space for a large map of his property. Ella is setting out snacks while Julia—who apparently arrived earlier—is helping Nora with what looks like homework at the kitchen counter. She looks up when I walk in, and she rushes over to hug me as she squeals, “I couldn’t keep myself away!”
“I’m glad you’re here!”
She takes my hand as Jake calls out, “Everyone’s here?” We all gather around the table. “Good. Caleb was filling me in on our impending security detail.”
“Fifty men,” Kori confirms. “Kane’s picking them up now.”
Jake whistles. “That’s... substantial. Declan must be taking this seriously.”
“With good reason,” Richard says from the corner where he’s examining documents with Margret. “If NTM gets wind of what we found, they won’t hesitate to take extreme measures.”
“Which is why we need to establish a secure perimeter,” Caleb explains, pointing to the map. “Kane and I discussed this last night. We’ll need teams covering the main access points—here, here, and here.” His finger traces roads and trails leading to the property. “Plus, regular patrols along the boundary, especially where it meets the provincial park.”
As Caleb outlines the security plan, I watch him transform before my eyes. Gone is the gentle man who held my hand across a candlelit table—in his place stands a tactical expert, confident and commanding. It’s a startling reminder of his background, of the skills that made him so valuable to special forces.
“The men arriving today are all ex-military,” Jake adds. “Most have worked with Declan before on high-risk security operations. They know what they’re doing.”
“And they’re all staying at the lodge?” Ella asks, looking concerned. “That seems like putting all our eggs in one basket.”
“No, they’ll be divided,” Caleb explains. “Twenty at the lodge, twenty here at the farm, and ten at strategic positions around the perimeter.” I look over at Kori and see her relax. The thought of so many men staying at the lodge had her really frazzled. She shoots me a thumbs-up as I turn back to listen to Caleb. “Kane is bringing communications equipment so all teams can stay in contact.”
“What about the documents?” I ask, gesturing to where Richard and Margret are working. “Are they secure?”
“Connor arranged for a safety deposit box in Pinecrest,” Jake says. “We’ll keep digital copies here and physical copies in the bank. The originals will be moved to a secure location in Toronto once Declan’s team arrives.”
The sound of vehicles approaching draws our attention. Through the window, I see a caravan of black SUVs pulling up, followed by a small bus.
“Looks like the cavalry has arrived,” Caleb remarks.
