Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
KAYLANI
My father didn’t stand when I stormed into his office and slammed the door. He didn’t look surprised either, which enraged me more.
He sat behind his desk with his jacket off and sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, as if this were a business meeting and not like he’d decided to detonate my life. A crystal glass rested in his hand. Ice shifted softly as he took a slow sip.
I had spent the entire flight back fuming and barely holding myself together, and here he was, looking smug, like this was a game. It wasn’t a game. It was my life.
My mother stood near the window, her fingers twisted together so tightly her knuckles were white.
Marching to the desk, I leaned on it and stared him in the eyes.
“Give him back. You had no right to take Atlas.”
Dimitri set the glass down carefully.
“Good evening, Kaylani.”
“Don’t,” I snapped, smacking my hand against the wood. I refused to sound hysterical and forced myself to breathe. “Atlas is not leverage. He is not a toy for you to play with. He is a living, breathing creature, and he is my partner. What you did was cruel.”
He leaned back in his chair. “You mistake control for cruelty.”
My chest tightened. “You stole my horse.”
“I relocated an asset that I purchased,” he drawled.
Mom inhaled sharply. “Dimitri—”
“No,” I cut in. “You didn’t take something you bought. You tried to crush my spirit.”
“Daughter, you are being dramatic. No harm has come to the animal.”
My fists balled. “You bought him as a gift. Then you use him like a knife when I don’t jump to your command. That is vicious and manipulative. You are not the father I used to know.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You are not a child anymore. Yet you behave like one. Careless public displays. Striking a suitor with whom we have business ties. Ignoring arrangements that benefit this family. What has become of you?”
“Benefiting the family is not the same as benefiting me,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm building under my ribs. “You are forcing me into a life that I don’t want.”
His expression did not change.
“You were born into this life.”
Silence filled the room.
I stepped back from his desk and shook my head.
“You cannot punish me into obedience. That’s not leadership. That’s fear.”
“Fear,” he repeated coolly, “is sometimes a necessary tool. Especially when dealing with petulant daughters that have forgotten their place.” He stood and glared at me. “You will do what is right for this family. That is your duty.”
My mother moved. “Dimitri, this is uncalled for. Taking Atlas—”
He shot her a hard glare. “She needs to understand that her actions have consequences.”
I laughed once, disbelieving what I was hearing.
“Consequences for what? Riding well? Living my life? Refusing to let you marry me off to some creep that will abuse me if given a chance. All for what? A larger bank account?”
His jaw flexed.
“Daughter, I told you when you turned eighteen that this day would come, and you said you understood.”
“I was a child,” I yelled. “And you were my hero. I never thought you would put me in harms way and call it a good business deal.”
“You are behaving like a dramatic child throwing a tantrum. You confuse independence with defiance. You can be independent and do what is right. Instead, you reject your responsibilities. And Julian wouldn’t be the way he is with you if you showed him respect.”
I shook my head. “And you are confusing being a father with ownership.”
The words hung between us, even the air going still.
Mom tried again. “Dimitri, please. Kaylani is our daughter, not a business transaction.”
He walked over to the bar and poured himself another drink.
“Enough, woman. I do not even know why you are in here,” Father said.
“Don’t talk to me like I’m an ill-behaved dog,” Mom snarled. I had never seen her so angry. “Or you might find I am the next one who moves out.”
My jaw dropped.
Father turned and glared between us.
“Well, it seems I know where you’ve suddenly developed your insolent streak. You will not compete. If you ever want to set foot in that stable again, you will meet the candidates I approve of with serious consideration, or that horse will be on a plane out of this country.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
“I won’t,” I growled.
His gaze hardened into steel. “You overestimate your leverage.”
“And you underestimate me.”
For a fraction of a second, something passed between us. Recognition. Maybe even respect. Then it was gone.
“From this moment until I say otherwise, you will have no contact with Atlas. I will have guards stationed at the stable to ensure you do not step one foot onto the property. Until you learn to behave like a woman who understands her position, you will be treated as your behavior dictates.”
The finality in his tone burned. I stepped back as if he had struck me. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
“Then we’re done. You claim to love me, but it’s obvious you only love what I can do for you and your bank account. That’s not love. And that means I no longer have a father.”
He sucked in a deep breath, but I didn’t wait to hear whatever threat came as I marched for the door.
If I stayed another second, I would either beg or break something. I refused to do either.
“I hope you’re happy with yourself, Dimitri. For someone who claims all he wants is his family to be united, you seem determined to destroy what’s left. Maybe you should try looking in a mirror for the reason,” Mom said, following me out.
The only thing I needed right now was a room where I could cry unseen. After that, it was time to make a plan. I had to find a way to get my horse back and keep Goran in my life. There was no real choice. I needed both, or my heart would never be whole.
GORAN
Kaylani marched out of the office with as much flair as she had going in. The door slammed against the wall, shaking the pictures. Fury and pain laced her features. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but her chin remained high.
“I hope you’re happy with yourself, Dimitri. For someone who claims all he wants is his family to be united, you seem determined to destroy what’s left. Maybe you should try looking in a mirror for the reason,” Helena said, and followed Kaylani out.
Dimitri didn’t respond, and I turned to go after Kaylani.
“Goran,” Dimitri barked, stopping me in my tracks.
I stepped into the doorway, and he waved me inside.
Shit.
“Close the door,” he ordered.
I did as he asked, and just like that, it was the two of us.
He crossed the office and stared out the window for a long time, long enough that I started looking around for a trap.
“My daughter feels safe with you, and you’ve been loyal to Nathaniel for a very long time,” he said, finally turning to face me.
“That is correct,” I said, keeping my tone casual.
“You are privy to more information than I am as her father. So, tell me honestly. Do you know who she is seeing?”
The question came out smoothly, but his eyes searched my face. It felt like a trap. I kept my expression neutral, refusing to give anything away.
“I don’t believe she’s seeing anyone seriously.”
He smiled faintly.
“You are either a fool or a liar. Neither is appealing.”
I didn’t react.
“She wouldn’t be this defiant without her heart and hormones pointing her toward someone else. And since she has not told me who it is, it can only mean I will not approve of this man.”
“Kaylani has always valued her independence, sir. She doesn’t like having decisions made for her. She may simply be unwilling to sacrifice her beliefs.”
“Independence. Spare me. She is a Mikhailov princess and has known what her role in this family will be since she was eight years old,” he replied smoothly. “No. There is a change in my daughter. Her defiance feels encouraged.”
He sipped his drink as he stalked toward me, stopping close enough that I could see the calculating look in his cold, calculating eyes.
“Get closer to my daughter. I want her to trust you with her deepest secrets. Follow her and find him.”
The irony of this moment hit like a fist to the face.
“Bring him to me.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Or remove him from the equation altogether.”
“To be clear, you are telling me to remove this person permanently?”
“Yes. Only if they are not worthy of my daughter.”
I cocked my brow. “You want me to make that judgement call?”
“Goran, do not speak to me with the same tone my son uses. You are not Nathaniel.” He rolled his shoulders. “Do as you’re instructed.”
My jaw ticked as I clenched it, but inclined my head slightly.
“Understood.” Was what I said. Fuck you, was what I wanted to say.
Dimitri’s phone rang. He checked the screen and dismissed me with a flick of his fingers before answering.
I stepped out of the office, closing the door behind me. The hallway suddenly felt smaller. He suspected a stranger. Or at least he made it seem that way. You never really knew with Dimitri.
He had just tasked me with my own execution. A warning, perhaps. A threat, maybe.
I could pretend to hunt myself for her father.
I would kill anyone who looked to harm Kaylani.
But I could never be the reason she lost her dream, the one thing that kept her heart beating and her soul free.