JAYDEN
Catriona pulled away from me gently, lifting her eyes with a faint smile.
“That’s not a bad idea,” she said, “but I’m not going anywhere. I can’t keep running like I’m some kind of criminal. It’s exhausting. And my brother… he’s still struggling with being uprooted to a place he’s barely even seen. I’m still sensitive about his health.”
I exhaled slowly, trying to balance logic with the weight of my heart. “I know how much you care about your brother—just as much as I care about you, him, and your grandmother. But I’ve already made up my mind, baby. I can’t risk it anymore. Your safety is everything to me.”
“And so is my brother’s,” she said firmly, her gaze never faltering.
“Please,” I whispered, brushing her cheek. “Just give me twelve months. Let me take you away. I’ll brin
