Chapter 24
Chapter
Twenty-Four
GORAN
Last night had been the most relaxed I’d felt in a long time. But like every horse show I’d attended, the morning was complete chaos.
Atlas was fed, washed, and walked. His stall had to be cleaned. Kaylani ran around getting herself ready. I had learned very quickly that my job was to stay the hell out of her way until she needed me. So there I stood, watching.
Kaylani and Coach Ehren walked the course, mapping out strides, reviewing strategies for each obstacle, and sharing whatever other words of wisdom he wanted to impart.
It wasn’t even eleven, and it felt like it had been twenty hours out in this sticky and unforgiving heat.
The morning had been so busy that I almost missed the suits standing near the pavilion. At first glance, they could have been anyone’s guards. Security wasn’t unusual at an event like this.
The Florida qualifier had wealth and prestige.
Sponsors. Politicians. Bluebloods mixed with new money and influence.
Security normally blended in with the crowd.
But not these men. They stood as if they had never been to a horse show before.
Scanning the crowd like they were evaluating rather than protecting. That I clocked immediately.
I didn’t stare. I adjusted my angle closer to the rail and kept them in my peripheral vision. Then I pulled out my phone and snapped photos of them while pretending to text.
When Kaylani entered the warm-up area with Atlas, I followed slowly, pretending not to have seen them at all.
The ring was a blur of motion. Riders circled in every direction, coaches yelled instructions, and I still had no idea how no one collided. It looked like a swarm of bees. If bees were two-thousand pounds of muscle.
Kaylani’s eyes were hard and determined as she cantered past me. Atlas’s ears were forward and focused. The steady rhythm of his hooves sent faint vibrations through my feet, making me smile.
The steward performed a tack check and told Kaylani she was on deck. She glanced over and gave me a wink.
My heart slammed against my ribs, and I rubbed the ring on my finger.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a sympathetic murmur, as a rail fell for the rider in the ring.
I made my way back to the competition arena just in time to see the top rail of the final vertical come down as well.
The rider shook his head but reached forward to pat his horse.
Kaylani entered through the in-gate. Atlas flared his nostrils as he passed the exiting horse, as if he was issuing a challenge. He was full of himself today and looked like a fire-breathing dragon coiled to spring beneath her. Lani sat steady and composed, completely in control.
She nodded to the judges, then the bell rang, and she was off.
My heart hammered as tension filled me. With every jump, my muscles tightened as if I had any control over the outcome.
Today’s course was technical and difficult. It had an oxer, three tight strides, and a climb up a short incline, before descending to a vertical.
I held my breath as Kaylani rode through the section.
The two of them moved in perfect harmony, every jump smooth and effortless as Atlas sailed over them. I clapped along with the crowd as Kaylani rode clean and crossed the finish line. Every distance was correct. No rails. No hesitation. But she wasn’t quite as fast as yesterday.
Despite the time putting her in second she smiled wide and gave the reins to Atlas, patting him on their way out, I caught the disappointment in her eyes. She was always her harshest critic.
She hadn’t ridden to win. She had ridden to secure a top-three finish. Which, at this level, was still extraordinary.
I stood by the exit while Kaylani laughed with Corey and Ehren. She was glowing as she dismounted, burying her face into Atlas’s neck. They were truly special together.
For a moment, I just watched her.
“Did you see that last combination? Oh my God, it felt incredible. We were soaring. It was like he had wings. I thought the castle wall was going to give him pause, but he didn’t even look at it. He just trusted me. What a rush.” Her voice was energized as she talked a mile a minute.
Kaylani, Corey, and Ehren broke down the course stride by stride. I had nothing constructive to add, so I searched for the suits I had spotted earlier. They were nowhere to be found. I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse.
The next few hours passed in a blur as Kaylani took care of Atlas and got ready for the banquet. I straightened my suit jacket while I waited outside the trailer.
Ehren stepped up beside me and nodded. “You seem tense.”
The corner of my mouth turned up. “When am I not?”
“Good point.”
Corey bounded over in a light summer dress and sneakers.
“Is Kaylani still getting ready? We’re going to be late.”
“You two go ahead and find our table. We’ll be along shortly.”
Ehren offered Corey his arm, and they left.
The trailer door opened just as I glanced down at my watch.
Kaylani stepped out wearing a deep emerald dress that stopped just above her knees.
The neckline dipped modestly, fitted, but elegant.
She looked dangerous and refined all at once.
Her hair flowed around her shoulders in loose waves.
The only jewelry she wore was the gold necklace with her wedding band and horse charm.
“You look incredible,” I whispered as she stepped up to me.
“You don’t look half bad yourself,” she teased, smoothing down the lapel on my jacket. She rose onto her toes and kissed my cheek.
Normally, I would have left it at that. But not today. My hand curved around the back of her neck as I kissed her like I had been wanting to all day.
She moaned into my mouth as the world around us faded for a second.
When I moved back, Kaylani’s eyes were glossy and her lips slightly swollen.
“Shall we,” I asked, holding out my arm.
“Why, Goran, this is very public of you.”
I smirked. “I’m trying it on for size.”
“It looks good.”
We stepped into the pavilion, where the banquet hall buzzed with laughter and polished smiles. Riders congratulated one another with effortless grace, but underneath it all was calculation. The unspoken promise of “I’ll beat you next time,” lingered in the air.
I released Kaylani’s arm when I spotted the suits. To anyone else, it would look like I had just been helping her stay steady.
She felt the change immediately and turned her head to me.
“New eyes are watching,” I whispered.
She gave a single nod and continued forward as I followed like an accessory to her outfit.
Corey and Ehren were already seated at our table with two other riders, a groom, and a coach I recognized.
I didn’t like one of the riders, Dylan, who had been hovering around Kaylani the past few shows. Today, he kept finding excuses to come around Atlas’s stall, flashing those golden boy dimples.
He was perfect in that wealthy, annoying way that clung to most of the people in this room. Tall. Blond. Effortlessly charming. Always had something interesting to say. Always leaning a little too close.
He set my teeth on edge.
Right on cue, Dylan stood with an easy smile and leaned in to give Kaylani two air kisses.
“Kaylani, your beauty matches your fierceness in the ring. I’ll have to watch my back tomorrow.”
She played along, laughing politely.
As used to this as I was, tonight, I struggled to keep the rage off my face. It wasn’t her fault. It was this world. But it was clear just how tired of it I had become.
I didn’t bother holding back my glare when Dylan pushed in Kaylani’s chair, then sat down beside her.
Annoyance simmered beneath my skin. Needing a moment to collect myself, I walked over to the bar.
“A whiskey neat and a vodka and cranberry,” I said.
With drinks in hand, I returned to our table and set Kaylani’s glass down in front of her.
“Thank you,” she said, her fingers brushing mine briefly.
Detaching myself before I strangled Dylan, I half-listened to the conversation while I tracked the suits as they left the meal one at a time.
None of them stood out, and I hadn’t seen anyone important leave.
I pulled out my phone and fired off a text to Ivan.
G: Do you recognize any of these guys?
I: Two of them, no. But the one on the far right looks like Alfi. He’s one of Dimitri’s guys. I haven’t seen him in a while, so maybe he’s working for someone else now.
I doubted that. No one left Dimitri’s service. Not unless it was in a body bag.
Great, so he’s sending spies.
Glancing at Kaylani, I decided not to tell her yet. She was relaxed, laughing, and talking about horses. She was in her element, and I couldn’t destroy that, not before the Grand Prix class tomorrow.
If Dimitri wants to play games, fine. But I’ll be ready if they come at Kaylani.
“You ended up second today,” Dylan said, his voice low and impressed. “Behind me of course. You could’ve pushed harder. Why didn’t you? You were on pace to beat me. I watched your round.”
“I didn’t need to,” she said with a smile. “I just wanted to make sure I was in the hunt tomorrow.”
“Is that fear I hear?”
Kaylani bristled, and so did I.
“No,” she shot back. “It’s called a calculated risk.” Kaylani pushed back her chair and stood. “I’m going to get dessert. Would you like anything, Goran?”
“No, thank you. I’m good.”
Dylan watched her walk away. The second she was out of earshot, I took the opportunity to slide into the chair she had just vacated.
The dessert table was tucked near the back of the room under warm lighting. Kaylani was studying a tray of miniature cheesecakes when I spoke.
“I should be clear,” I spoke low enough for only him to hear. He stiffened. “I don’t interfere with harmless attention.”
He swallowed.
“But I do remove problems. Don’t become one.”
It wasn’t loud or a threat, but it landed.
Dylan looked at me, and I held his gaze before returning to my seat once more.
“Right,” he muttered. “Of course.”