Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
GORAN
The drive was quiet, heavy like a funeral procession. There was no peace, only the aftermath.
The sky was slate, the coastal air damp against my skin. A low fog hovered over everything, a physical representation of the secret we couldn’t let into the light of day. Somewhere beyond the ocean was freedom. But not here.
Kaylani sat in the back of the SUV, her expression guarded. When she stepped out of the shower earlier, it was clear she had tried to wash last night from her skin and realized trauma didn’t rinse away that easily.
We made a pit stop at the Mikhailov home so she could change while I stood outside her door, a statue in a black suit like all the others.
She wore oversized dark sunglasses, even though the sun refused to show itself.
The bruise on her cheek was hidden beneath makeup, but I knew exactly where it was.
Her hair was swept up into a messy twist. She had chosen a white pantsuit with a bright pink blouse buttoned up to hide the golden ring that hung around her neck.
I watched her through the rearview mirror. Not because she required babysitting, but because she was deathly quiet and I needed to know she was still here. Still fighting.
Kaylani had married me, but she could be ripped away at any moment. To Dimitri, an inconvenient marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper to be burned.
The knowledge settled into a dull, aching panic under my ribcage.
My phone buzzed on the console. Nathaniel.
I answered, forcing my voice to sound normal. “Boss.”
“Tell me you didn’t get a fucking call from my father ordering you to do his bidding,” Nathaniel growled.
“I did.”
A sharp exhale and string of curses filled the car. I glanced back at Kaylani. A shadow of a smirk crossed her lips.
“Of course you did. Dimitri can’t stand not being in control. He didn’t even bother to see if I needed you today. My head of security. Un-fucking-believable. If you weren’t protecting my sister, I’d make you turn around and tell him to go fuck himself.”
“Thank you,” Kaylani said from the backseat.
“Hey, sis. I hear that last night turned ugly.”
Kaylani took off her sunglasses and looked at me. She pointed to her cheek.
I shook my head. I hadn’t told Nathaniel about the slap. He would lose his mind. Although, at this point, that might be for the best.
“Yeah, it did. Now, Father has me meeting one of the vultures for lunch.”
My grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“Which one?” Nathaniel demanded.
“Julian,” I answered.
The pause on the line turned cold.
“Julian Harrington?” Nathaniel repeated, like he was tasting the name, and found it rotten. “I haven’t heard good things about him in business or his personal life. I’ll do some more digging, but be careful, sis.”
She locked eyes with me.
“I guess it’s a good thing that Father asked Goran to escort me then.”
“Fuck, don’t make me agree with one of Father’s decisions. That’s just rude,” he teased.
Kaylani and I laughed, breaking the unease that had settled in the SUV.
“Nathaniel,” I started carefully, “I wouldn’t have said yes to him but—”
“I know. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad that he thinks he holds the remote to a shock collar and leash. Like you’re another one of his dogs that comes when he whistles.”
I stared at the road ahead, jaw tense. “I’m not.”
“I know you’re not. That’s the problem. Dimitri’s trying to force you into acting like you are.”
Silence pressed in the sensation suffocating.
“I have an idea.” I took a deep breath. “Maybe I should transfer my services to Kaylani full-time. Until she hires her own detail.”
“That’s a great idea.” Kaylani’s eyes lit up. “Nathaniel, please, will you let Goran do that? I feel safe with him, and I don’t trust Father right now.”
He sighed, but I didn’t press.
“Fine, but you’re still in charge of my service. I refuse to lose you completely.”
“Understood. I’ll assign Ivan to your detail for the time being. He’s excellent and won’t talk back nearly as much.” I smirked.
“Look at that, a bonus already,” Nathaniel said, laughing. “I have to do rounds at the clubs tonight. I want you to fill me in on everything afterward. Eleven?”
“I’ll meet you at your house.”
“Alright, stay sharp. And don’t let my conniving ass of a father corner you.”
“As if I’d let that happen.” Something ugly crept into my voice. Nathaniel would pick up on it, but he wouldn’t comment.
“Goran.” Nathaniel lowered his voice. “You’re my guy. Don’t forget that.”
The call ended.
“That was smart thinking,” Kaylani said, her glasses once more firmly in place.
“Yeah, but it won’t last long.”
“I know.”
I sat with the words as the SUV rolled through the streets, the road narrowing, the world shifting from private coastline to suburbs, and finally to the glitz and glamour of the rich and famous.
The restaurant Dimitri had chosen wasn’t just expensive. It was strategic.
La Seraphine didn’t advertise. It didn’t need to with a famous, three-time Michelin-star chef. It was the hottest spot for celebrities to gather.
Set back from the main road and nestled into a private inlet on one of the most expensive stretches of property in the city.
The building was white stone and glass, clean lines, polished wood, and the kind of landscaping that screamed wealth without ever saying it out loud.
A valet waited at the front in crisp black attire, posture perfect.
Two guards I didn’t recognize stood near the entry, earpieces in, alert.
Not Dimitri’s men. The snake tattoo on their hands, said they were Julian’s.
Ignoring the valet, I parked in the private spot Dimitri had arranged and stepped out first. I checked the shadows and bushes for movement before scanning over the crowd. Nothing suspicious or dangerous lurked. Nothing visible, anyway.
Then I opened the rear door.
Kaylani climbed out like she was stepping onto an arena floor. She didn’t look shaken now. She was composed in her power suit, the fabric hugging her body.
I walked directly behind her as she marched along the path to the front doors, her head held high. She looked every inch the princess she was raised to be.
One of the guards opened the door as if he worked for the restaurant. I knew better. I sized him up as we passed, just in case.
The hostess greeted Kaylani as if she were royalty.
“Ms. Mikhailov, lovely to see you again. Mr. Harrington is expecting you,” she said with a practiced smile.
Kaylani’s mouth didn’t move. But I felt the tension rolling off her. She hated this. Not the restaurant. The setup. The way her name opened doors she wanted to burn down, but the harder she tried, the tighter her father squeezed.
We were led through a corridor lined with art that looked as if it cost more than my entire life savings.
Past couples in quiet conversation, women dripping in colored gems, men wearing watches that could pay off a mortgage.
The kind of people who thought they had invented luxury, like money was a bloodline.
The kind who buried their dirty laundry in the backyard, under the roses.
We entered a private dining room with a view of the water, floor-to-ceiling glass, and a pristine table set for two.
Julian stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, posture relaxed, like he had been born in rooms like this and would die in them. Grey suit. No tie. Dark hair neatly styled. A smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
He turned the moment Kaylani entered, his expression brightening.
“Kaylani,” he said, warm as honey.
I bristled.
He stepped forward. Too close for my comfort, but I didn’t interfere.
Shockingly, Julian didn’t reach for her hand this time.
Smart. Instead, he leaned in and air-kissed her cheeks.
Left. Right. Polite, no contact. But he lingered just a second longer than necessary, like he wanted to test how much her skin would crawl.
I took a deep breath as my muscles tensed, steadying myself so I didn’t throw him out the window and watch him plummet to his death.
Kaylani didn’t flinch. God, I loved her tenacity.
“I’m so glad you came,” Julian said.
“I didn’t come,” she replied, voice calm. “I was sent.”
Julian smirked. “Fair. Then I’m glad you were sent.”
His gaze flicked over her shoulder to me. Just a glance. Like I was a decorative object in the corner. Like acknowledging me was a waste of time.
Kaylani moved to the chair opposite the window and sat. She refused his help to push her chair in, then placed her clutch on the table. Perfect. Poised.
I took up my position, close enough to hear every word, far enough to pretend I wasn’t listening. I kept my eyes trained on the door, hands clasped, ever the perfect guard.
Julian pulled out his chair and sat like he owned the place and everything in it.
I really don’t like this guy.
I could see Julian clearly out of the corner of my eye. His stare was locked on Kaylani, like she was his lunch.
“The view is beautiful.” He nodded toward the water. “I had them reserve this room specifically because of it.”
Kaylani’s gaze didn’t move. “How thoughtful.”
“I like to do things properly.”
“I bet you do,” Kaylani quipped, picking up her water.
Julian smirked again, but his eyes remained hard.
A waiter appeared, presenting menus and pouring wine that Julian had already ordered. Julian didn’t even look at him when he spoke.
“I’ll have the seabass,” he said, tone idle. “And for the lady…the lamb. Medium.”
Kaylani didn’t even glance up from the menu.
“I’ll order for myself,” she said, voice clipped.
Julian’s eyes narrowed just a fraction, then softened again as if nothing had happened. But I caught it.
“Of course. Forgive me. Habit.”
The waiter paused, caught between them, but waited for Kaylani to order.
“I’ll have the filet mignon, rare.” She mirrored Julian’s authoritative pose. “And a glass of red. I don’t like white wine with red meat.”
It took all my self-control not to grin as my heart expanded with love.