Page 118 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“What are you doing?” Dimitri’s tone was even. Almost bored. But I knew better.

“As I said, I’m working.”

“Are you now?” He continued without raising his voice.

In this situation, it was best to keep quiet and let Dimitri do all the talking.

“My daughter has gone rogue. You haven’t been foolish enough to follow her, have you?”

“I’m not with Kaylani.” I turned my back on the ring. It wasn’t a complete lie.

“That doesn’t really answer my question, does it?”

“I don’t have information for you. If you have an issue with that, take it up with Nathaniel.”

“My son is developing a nasty habit of interfering in my affairs.”

I didn’t point out that Dimitri was the one who had started it by ordering me to escort Kaylani to lunch, spy, and hunt people down. There was no point.

Silence stretched between us like two vehicles playing chicken, waiting to see who would swerve first.

“If you hear from my disobedient daughter, tell her she has left me no choice.”

I took a steadying breath and turned to look at Kaylani once more.

“What decision have you made?”

“A drastic one.” He sounded calm, but there was a threatening undertone. “She’ll find out soon enough if she doesn’t return to my property and start behaving.”

Property. Behaving. I shook my head.

“I’ll pass the message along if I see her.”

Another pause.

“You’ve always been loyal, Goran.” He let the praise hang there like bait. “I would hate to discover that your loyalty has shifted.”

Across the arena, Kaylani took another combination.

“My loyalty has never been the problem. And I’m not a babysitter.” Anger threaded through my voice.

The conversation shifted, as if the cold air on the other end of the line had seeped through.

“I see. If I find out you’re lying to me, I will not be as understanding as I am with my family.”

He said it casually, but I didn’t care what he threatened to do to me. I would never turn Kaylani over to him.

Dimitri ended the call.

Across the arena, Kaylani laughed as she dismounted and led Atlas into the barn. I’d taken only one step when my phone buzzed again.

Ivan this time.

I opened the text.

I: He’s off his rocker and escalating.

Fuck.