Page 98 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

I’ll give him three more minutes, then I have to go.

The back country road was dark as I waited in the driver’s seat of the truck with the trailer attached. I sat up straighter when headlights cut through the darkness and rolled toward me. I knew it was Goran.

No one used this road except those who lived on the surrounding farms. This lane that connected the back of the properties was rarely used.

The SUV shut off, and Goran stepped out.

I opened my door and jumped out.

He looked me up and down.

“Lani, what the hell is going on?”

“I’m not letting my father use Atlas as a pawn against me.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” He looked at the trailer, then back at me when I didn’t answer. “Oh, no. We are not doing this. How did you even get the truck and trailer off the property?”

I shrugged. “Easy. It was already scheduled for maintenance. I just picked it up instead of Frank.”

“That’s theft.”

“He stole from me first.”

My pulse beat so hard in my throat I felt it against my teeth. I pulled the black balaclava over my head. It was made from the same spandex material as the rest of the outfit. Thankfully, I had kept it from my Catwoman Halloween costume.

“Kaylani, this is not the way to handle the situation.”

He might have been right, but it was my situation to handle. And this was the best way I knew how to fight back.

I poked him in the chest.

“This is your chance to help me and prove you will choose me. I’m doing this. I know the guard rotation. I know where all the cameras are. And I know these trails like the back of my hand. I can do this.”

“And then what? You can’t exactly stick Atlas in Nathaniel’s backyard on the beach.”

“I have a plan, but we need to go now. And I need your help.”

Goran ran a hand down his face. “You’re going to get me killed.”

“No. I’m taking back my life. I will not let him do this to me, to you, or to Atlas. The only question is whether you’re standing beside me or watching from the sidelines.”

“I spoke to Nathaniel last night. He’s going to help.”

“Good. He can help afterward. Me doing this does not mean the fight is over.” I pulled on the black gloves.

“No. It’s probably going to make it worse.”

“I’m not arguing with you about this. Are you going to help or not?”

I crossed my arms and cocked my hip.

“Fuck. What do you need me to do?”

I pointed toward the fence line half a mile out.

“There’s a guard who patrols the back of the property twice a night. I’ve seen him when I stayed overnight before a show. He should be passing by in about twenty minutes. I need you to take care of him.”

“I’m not killing him.”