Page 149 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“No. She forced you to act like a father. Instead, you acted like a tyrant.”

Something dark flickered behind his eyes.

“Do you think this will make her love you? Or have you stopped caring whether she does? Does true family loyalty mean so little to you now?”

His shoes struck the floor like a slap as he closed the remaining distance between us until our noses were touching.

I didn’t flinch.

“You’re a soldier, nothing more,” he hissed. “What do you know about the inner workings of keeping a family like the Mikhailovs on top?”

“I don’t know anything about that.”

His expression faltered for a second as if he expected me to argue and list off what I knew.

“But I do have two eyes. And I can see what’s happening. I’m saying what needs to be said. You may think you’re the head of the family, but that is a lie. Your empire is crumbling, and you’re too stubborn to accept it or change so it won’t.”

Dimitri sucked in a deep breath of air, but I continued before he could say anything.

“Even if you force Kaylani to agree to your demands, she will not love you for them. She will find a way to revolt against you. You will push her into Nathaniel’s arms and move further from whatever goal you think you’re protecting.”

His nostrils flared.

“You’re so focused on destroying your son that you no longer see the bigger picture. Nathaniel is bringing you down without lifting a finger. All he has to do is let you be yourself.”

Dimitri grabbed the front of my shirt in both fists.

“I should shoot you in the head for speaking to me like this.”

“It only hurts because you know it’s true.” My voice stayed even despite the fury coiling in my chest. “But you’d rather go to your grave telling the world you were right than admit you’re wrong. Your ego will get you killed. Sir.”

“Is that a threat?”

I drew in a slow breath.

“It’s a fact.”

He shoved me back and released my shirt. I stumbled with the force but straightened immediately.

Dimitri glared at me.

“What you think is of no consequence to me. What matters is that if I choose to, you will be charged for stealing my horse, truck, trailer, and kidnapping my daughter.”

My hands balled into fists at my side.

“You know that’s a lie.”

“The truth is what I make it,” he snarled, the control on his rage slipping a little more. “And on top of that, you assaulted officers.”

“They were hurting her,” I shot back. “I was just trying to protect her.”

“That is not justification.”

“It is to me.”

We stared at each other in silence, measuring. I had always seen Dimitri as a man of immense power and influence. Someone who could destroy anything or anyone in his path if he willed it.

But right now, all I saw was an old man clutching at power with desperate fingers because he felt his reign coming to an end.