Page 111 of Cole

I understand. I’ll follow your lead on this. But please don’t keep Annie in the dark too long. We’ve promised honesty with each other.

Duncan’s reply was immediate.

I appreciate your concern for my daughter. Let me handle this first. See you in a few hours.

The finality of the message was clear. This discussion was over—for now.

Cole finished his meal, his excitement about seeing Annie now tempered with the weight of this secret. He tried to focus on the positive—in just a few hours, he’d be holding her in his arms again.

The remainder of the flight passed in a blur of restless thoughts. When they finally touched down at the airport in Coeur d’Alene, Cole quickly gathered his belongings and exited the plane after thanking the attendants and the pilots.

A man dressed in a black suit waited at the bottom of the staircase.

“Mr. Halverson, I’m Thomas,” he said as he held out his hand. “I’m to drive you to the estate.”

Cole shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Please let me help you with your bags.”

It felt weird to have someone do something for him that he was perfectly capable of doing, but rather than argue, he handed over the small suitcase and garment bag containing a suit that he’d had prepared and left in his car for the trip.

“We’re parked just over here,” the man said as he led the way to where a large black SUV waited.

Thomas opened the door of the rear passenger seat, leaving Cole with no option but to settle himself there instead of the front seat. He might have money, but he had rarely used a chauffeured car.

Clearly, Duncan Burke didn’t have the same desire to drive himself around.

As the car left the tarmac, Cole stared out the window. The sun had set already, and even though Christmas was over, lighted decor was still visible on the street posts and houses they passed.

As they left the city behind, the winter landscape looked peaceful under the moon that was nearly full. However, Cole’s mind was anything but serene. The weight of what he’d learned pressed on him.

If this woman truly was Annie’s sister, it would change everything for her and her family. Twenty-four years of searching, of wondering, of grief—possibly coming to an end.

“First time in Serenity, sir?” Thomas asked, his eyes briefly meeting Cole’s in the rearview mirror.

“No,” Cole replied, grateful for the distraction. “I grew up here, actually. I’ve missed it though. It’s beautiful here.”

“That it is. Especially in winter.” Thomas navigated a curve in the road with practiced ease.

The man was more than happy to carry on a conversation, sharing a bit about how he’d come to work for Duncan Burke. It wasn’t a surprise to hear that he wasn’t just a driver, but that he was also part of Duncan’s security team.

Soon, they drove past the town limits for Serenity, but rather than stop, Thomas kept driving through the town and eventually exited out the other side.

Cole saw many familiar places as they drove, but pretty much all the businesses were dark. With it being New Year’s Eve, people were either at home or at one of the parties that were held throughout Serenity.

When Thomas finally slowed, the driveway seemed to appear out of nowhere. As he pulled up to an imposing wrought-iron gate, Cole saw a gatehouse on the left side of the road.

He was a bit surprised when a guard exited the building and approached the driver’s side of the SUV.

“Hey, Dave,” Thomas said after he rolled down his window and the rear driver’s side window. “I’m back with Cole Halverson.”

The guard bent and shone his flashlight in the back seat, catching Cole in its beam. He resisted the urge to lift his hand to shield his eyes.

Once the man was satisfied, he tapped his hand on the roof and stepped back. The gate slowly opened, and Thomas accelerated through it.

The driveway stretched ahead, lined with tall evergreens dusted with snow. As they rounded a bend, Cole caught his first glimpse of the main house—an impressive structure of glass and stone that somehow managed to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings.

“You’ll be staying at the main house with the family,” Thomas said as he guided the SUV around the circular driveway.

---