Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
GORAN
The Mikhailov estate never slept.
The gates rolled open as we pulled in just after four in the morning.
The sky was still ink-black. The time of day when everything felt cloaked in secrecy and yet somehow felt the freest. Floodlights washed the driveway in white, and I felt Dimitri’s guards’ gaze, like hands against my spine.
I knew them all, but I wouldn’t call a single one a friend.
Not loyal in the ways that mattered when truths started bleeding out.
Stepping out of the car first, I looked around, assessing for dangers. My face remained professional, my actions controlled. Exactly who I was supposed to be.
The guards stationed near the front door straightened the moment they saw me, and I nodded to them in greeting.
“Ms Mikhailov,” one of them said, dipping his head toward Kaylani as she exited the limo.
“Morning,” she replied easily, like she hadn’t just dropped an atomic bomb into the middle of the house, and we were now waiting for it to go off.
I moved to the trunk without being asked and retrieved her luggage. Nothing more than a soldier doing his job.
The house loomed ahead of us, made of stone, silence, and inherited power.
Dimitri was away on a business trip, which was code for fucking his newest mistress.
Not that he would have been up at this hour, and it wouldn’t have mattered even if he had been.
Running into him and acting normal was going to be my new norm.
Still, his absence didn’t make the place feel safer.
I’d never been a fan of Nathaniel’s father.
He was a man who lived by how hard his hand landed and how much his threats could line his pockets.
I had seen the abuse Nathaniel suffered firsthand.
We never spoke about it, but my loyalty was to Nathaniel, and if I were forced to choose between them, I knew which way my gun would point.
I followed Kaylani inside, my steps measured, my posture stiff. Cameras tracked us through the entryway. I was always aware of them, but now…they felt like a red laser pointed at my heart. Every corner of this house was watched, and secrets never stayed buried for long.
“Would you like me to take your bags up to your room,” I asked quietly as we reached the base of the stairs.
She glanced at me, something dangerous flashing in her eyes. The perfectly cool and arrogant princess mask was in place.
“Well, I hope you don’t think I’m going to carry them,” Kaylani mused, and the corner of my mouth twitched.
She turned without batting an eye and marched up the stairs. I followed in her shadow and forced my eyes not to give away what I was feeling. I could easily remember the first day I’d recognized her as a woman and not Nathaniel’s little sister.
I was covering for Alexei, Dimitri’s head of security, the summer Kaylani turned eighteen.
She had a few people over for a birthday party, and I was guarding the pool area when she walked out in a hot pink bikini.
But it wasn’t her scantily clad body that grabbed me by the throat…
it was the look in her eyes. There was no more childish humor staring at me.
No more teenage flirtation and giggles. She was a woman, and she made sure that I knew she wanted me.
I’d tried my best to stay away from her from that moment on. But the problem with being a soldier was that you went where you were needed. Kaylani was the master at knowing exactly how to get me alone without it seeming suspicious. I fucking loved her and hated her for it all at the same time.
She opened her door, and I walked in to set the two suitcases down. Before I could retreat, she closed us in and grabbed my sleeve, pulling me further into her bedroom.
The air changed instantly.
She was on me, her hands fisting in my shirt, her mouth finding mine with intent, heat, and absolute certainty. The kiss wasn’t gentle or tentative. It was a reminder, and one word floated behind my eyes.
Mine.
No matter how angry I was with her, I couldn’t resist her. She had captured everything, but my heart had been the first to tumble over the cliff.
I kissed her back without thinking, my restraint cracking with her touch. My hands slid to her waist, muscle memory overriding sense, her body fitting against mine like it always had. The taste of her grounded and wrecked me in equal measures.
I pulled away first. “Lani,” I said, breath unsteady. “I can’t stay.”
Her eyes darkened. “He’s not here.”
“The guards will note that I didn’t leave and come looking. They will then report that I did not leave your room.”
Her jaw tightened, frustration and understanding warring across her face.
“This is your father’s house,” I continued. Us being together in this house had always been the most difficult to navigate. I’d only ever tempted fate when there was a party to keep everyone occupied and eyes off of me and Kaylani.
She stared at me for a long moment.
“You’re right,” she finally admitted, her hands dropping.
I immediately wanted to gather her back up into my arms.
“Go, before I decide I don’t care and ruin our cover.”
Unable to stop myself, I reached out and tracked my fingers softly down her cheek.
“I love you.”
Loving her was the easy part. Surviving her was the challenge.
“Even though I’m a conniving, arrogant princess of trouble who’s probably going to get you killed?”
I stepped back, straightened my jacket, and forced myself into a version of me that could walk out her door without looking like the lovesick man I was.
I locked eyes with her. “Maybe more, because of it.”
Kaylani’s cheeks reddened. She’d never been the arrogant princess, but what I knew versus what the world saw were two very different things.
Turning, Kaylani called my name, and I glanced back.
“I love you, too.”
I smirked. “I sure hope so, you just married me.”
She smiled as I slipped out, heading quickly for the exit, my face made of stone. Once outside, I jogged over to the limo, where Charles waited. Dimitri had a half-dozen drivers, but Charles had been on his service for as long as I could remember.
“Nathaniel’s house,” I stated, hopping in the back.
“Right away, sir.” We pulled through the gates, and Charles glanced at me through the mirror. “Did you have a nice trip, sir?”
“Yes. Ms. Mikhailov did extremely well at the competition. There were no issues. I call that a very good trip,” I said.
“Very good, sir,” he replied evenly, though the glimmer in his eyes suggested he wondered if there might be more going on between Kaylani and me.
We fell into a comfortable silence for the rest of the drive to Nathaniel’s.
“Thank you, Charles,” I said as we arrived.
“Always happy to help, sir.”
Guy stood outside, cigarette dangling from his fingers.
“Anyone awake,” I asked, stepping up to him.
He shook his head and took another puff of his smoke.
“Anything I should know about before Nathaniel wakes up?”
“It’s been pretty quiet. Dimitri is off on one of his business trips,” he said, rolling his eyes.
That I already knew.
“I did hear that Nathaniel’s cousin from Wayward is coming for a visit next week, something about a poker tournament.”
I didn’t know anything about that.
“I’ll look into it,” I said, walking inside.
The house was quiet, but the kitchen lights were on. I sat down at the table and stared at the napkin holder. My thumb rubbed at the black-and-gold ring, still not fully believing what Kaylani had done and unsure how to keep us safe.
It felt like moments later that Nathaniel came in, though my numb ass insisted it had been much longer. I glanced up at him. He looked sharp and put together, ready to face the day. He stopped short when he saw me sitting there.
“You look like hell,” he stated mildly. “Arizona that bad?”
“Just a very long weekend,” I replied.
He poured himself coffee, leaned against the counter, and studied me over the rim of his mug.
“The snobby horse people too much for you?”
I snorted. “Something like that.”
“You sure nothing is going on that I should know about?”
I lifted my head and rolled out my shoulders.
“No. I just need a coffee. What’s on the agenda today?” I asked, then stood up and poured myself a cup. I loved how the pot was never empty, someone always ensured there was a fresh one.
Nathaniel ran through the day. Meetings. Calls. Security adjustments. Names and times washed over me and none of them stuck. My thoughts kept pulling me back to Kaylani.
We were fucking married.
My hand shook as I stirred a splash of creamer into the mug. I’d never even contemplated getting married. In my line of work, every day could be your last. I would never saddle anyone with that, least of all Kaylani.
“And…” Nathaniel continued, “I’ve decided to get a bunch of monkeys from the circus. I’m going to train them to shit on my father’s car.”
I blinked. “What?”
“And he’s back.” He smirked.
I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Sorry, I’m really tired.”
“You want the day off? You don’t look so good.”
“No,” I said immediately. “I’m fine, promise.”
I wanted to tell him the truth but couldn’t. Not yet.
Nathaniel watched me for a second longer than necessary.
“You sure,” he asked, his onyx eyes searching my face.
I masked all my feelings and shrugged.
“Yes, I’m fine. Now stop asking me, you sound like an old hen.”
“An old hen? What the fuck? Old hen, my ass,” he grumbled, walking to the door. “I’m not old,” he snarled, making me laugh. “Come on, asshole, I’ll fill you in on the rest once we get to the office. That is, if you can stay awake that long, grandpa.”
I followed Nathaniel, but the weight in my chest didn’t ease.
I wasn’t simply tired, I was lying to my best friend.
To my boss. To the man who trusted me with his life and his family.
If my future with Kaylani stood a chance, I needed to figure out a way to tell Nathaniel and get him on my side.
Easier said than done. How the hell did you tell your best friend that you broke the oldest guy code in the book?
Hey, I not only fucked your baby sister but I married her.
I wouldn’t have to worry about Dimitri, because Nathaniel would shoot me right between the eyes.
Fuck.