Page 51 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“I know.”

“I swear to you, Goran, if you hadn’t been there. If it had been a different place, different time…” She shivered. “He’s dangerous.”

“I know.”

I yanked open the car door for her.

Kaylani climbed in, and the driver looked back at us.

“Charles, up the glass, get us out of here, and take us to Nathaniel’s house.”

“Yes, sir,” he said without hesitation.

As soon as the privacy glass was in place, I pulled Kaylani into my side and kissed the top of her head.

Behind us, the ballet continued. But ahead of us, a war waited.

And Dimitri Mikhailov was not going to let this insult pass quietly.

Chapter

Sixteen

KAYLANI

Nathaniel had done the smart thing by moving out on his own. He and Titus were both free of Father’s meddling, and I envied them.

The massive gates came into view, and I exhaled. This place felt like a safe zone, like the one spot Father wouldn’t dare to take me from or hurt Goran. Father was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them. Attacking Nathaniel or his family again would cause a rupture even he didn’t want.

Unlike at home, this place always looked serene from the outside, as if it didn’t need millions of guards or cameras. But that was part of the illusion.

The house itself was large but unpretentious, with stone and steel rather than marble and excess. No show. No wasted shine. Not like our father.

The calm was earned. Nathaniel had been through a lot with Father, most of it before I was born. The rest I learned by listening to whispered conversations. I wanted to understand how the father who had treated me like a princess could also be so cold and cruel.

I wished I had never asked the question.

Guards waved us through the gate, and my body relaxed as I took a slow breath.

“You ready,” Goran asked.

I nodded.

Charlie got out of the driver’s seat and opened the door for us.

“Thanks, Charlie,” I said and kissed him on the cheek.

“You’re welcome, Ms. Mikhailov,” he replied with a nod. He climbed back into the limo and drove away. The enormous gates clanged shut behind him.

Holding up the front of my dress so I didn’t take a nosedive on the stone stairs, I marched up the path with Goran right behind me. The other soldiers nodded and smiled at him. I sensed the respect they had for the man who commanded them.

Biometric locks blinked as Goran placed his thumb on the pad to let us in. Hidden cameras tracked our movements without a sound or visible indication of their location.

The lights were on when we entered and found Nathaniel in the kitchen. He sat at the island, looking completely chill. Bare feet, jeans, and a black T-shirt with a lowball glass beside his laptop.

“Hey, Nate,” I said, stepping into the room.

“Nate? You haven’t called me that since you were like ten.” Nathaniel stood and walked toward me. “I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything alright?”