Chapter 33
Chapter
Thirty-Three
KAYLANI
As soon as I got off the phone with Nathaniel, I went straight for Dylan. Goran wanted to come, but after my last discussion with the jerk, I decided it was best if he stayed back and let me handle this alone. Him killing Dylan was a real possibility.
The Winterton house was too quiet for a place so large. I was so used to guards and other staff wandering the property twenty-four-seven. It felt more like a mausoleum than a home.
The sun was just beginning to set, and the vibrant red sky promised a fabulous day tomorrow.
I pressed the doorbell and waited. A woman I didn’t recognize opened the door
“Hello, how can I help you?”
“Hi. Sorry to bother you. I need to speak to Dylan.”
“Please wait here, I will fetch him for you,” she said with a curt nod. Leaving the door open she walked away.
Stepping inside, I didn’t bother closing the door and stood awkwardly for him to arrive. The light from the chandelier glittered on the walls. I waited a solid two minutes before I heard footsteps approaching.
Dylan turned the corner, wearing an unsettling smirk on his face that made my skin crawl.
“Are you not coming in? The guest room has been cleaned for you.”
“No. Not tonight.”
Confusion flickered across his features, and his eyes narrowed.
He waved a hand toward the sitting area. “Would you like a drink?”
I shook my head, staying firmly on the threshold. Close enough to feel polite, but far enough to remind him I wasn’t prey.
“No, I’m fine. I won’t be long. I wanted to let you know that we’ll be leaving tomorrow at first light, so we’ll stay in the trailer tonight.” I held out a white envelope with the rest of the agreed-upon cash. “Here is what I owe you.”
His brow lifted slightly.
“That’s sudden.”
“Not really. You’ve been generous. I appreciate it, but I was always looking for a long-term arrangement. One that I control.”
“This feels more like you’re running again.”
His voice stayed even as he took the envelope from my hand, but the dig was clear.
“I don’t run,” I said, folding my arms.
“You stole a horse in the middle of the night. That’s running. So is this.”
My teeth ground together as an icy fear slid down my spine. I’m not sure how he found out what happened, but it didn’t matter. He just proved why I had to leave.
“No. I retrieved what was mine.”
A corner of his mouth twitched.
“Your father doesn’t see it the same way.”
I crossed my arms. “You spoke to my father?”
Dylan snorted. “No, but I hear things. Kaylani, you’re making this harder than it needs to be. You can stay. Train here. Represent Winterton. My father has a good deal of influence.”
I shook my head.
“I told you, I don’t want doors opened for me. I want to open them for myself, and that pertains to all areas of my life.”
He snorted.
“It’s obvious you don’t understand how this world works. But I guess I should be thankful that you’re not just running off in the middle of the night.”
He rolled his eyes, his tone condescending.
I wanted to smack the arrogance right off his face.
“I understand perfectly. I dare say that I understand better than you do, but that doesn’t mean that I will allow anyone to control or own me.”
He stepped closer, crowding me.
“You’re being foolish. I can help you and not just with the sponsorship. We would be good together.”
I swallowed the bile that rose in the back of my throat at the thought of Dylan touching me.
“I don’t need your help. I acknowledge what you and your family brings to the table, professionally and personally, but I want to do this on my own.”
“So childish.”
“Do not insult me. I’m not a clueless child.”
“That’s yet to be determined.”
I sucked in a deep breath, as it took everything not to hit him.
“Well, this is unfortunate,” he drawled, like he was bored.
“For whom?”
“For you.” His tone didn’t shift. “Most people would kill to be in your position. You’re choosing financial instability and emotional ruin over a very lucrative business arrangement. I hadn’t realized your ego was so impressive.”
“No,” I said calmly. “I think it’s your ego that won’t let you see that purchasing my family name was never an option.”
I took a step closer.
“My father and I may be at odds, but make no mistake, I am a Mikhailov. I know my worth. Don’t cheapen me with promises of money and doors you think only you can open. I’m not some desperate rider you can dazzle with influence and expect me to fold.”
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“You think you’re superior, don’t you? You’re not and you’ll regret not choosing me. No one turns me down.”
A chill ran through me, but I didn’t break eye contact.
“I don’t do regrets,” I said evenly.
Silence stretched between us.
He studied me, like an animal stalking prey, but wasn’t so sure it had the advantage.
“Be careful, no one is completely immune.”
“Are you threatening me, Dylan?”
A ghost of a grin tugged at his lips, but his eyes stayed cold.
“No, of course not. Just stating the obvious.”
I stepped back toward the door, wanting to get out of here. We couldn’t leave fast enough.
“Thank you for the stall.”
He didn’t follow me outside, but I felt his eyes on my back long after I left the house. I didn’t exhale until I reached the bottom of the steps and refused to glance over my shoulder. I wouldn’t give him that kind of satisfaction.
GORAN
The next morning, I knew something was wrong before I even bent down to take a closer look in the dim light. One of the truck tires was sunk into the gravel at an unnatural angle.
Running my thumb along the rubber, I felt the clean slice. No nail, no road damage. Only the unmistakable mark of a blade. It had to have been done while we were asleep, then slowly leaked overnight.
I glanced toward the main house. No one was openly watching. But that didn’t mean there weren’t eyes on us.
“Everything okay?” Kaylani called from inside the trailer.
“Yeah,” I replied evenly. “Looks like a slow leak.”
Lani would hate that I was shielding her from the truth, but protecting her was my job. Not just as her bodyguard, but now as her husband. I would be damned if some fucker scared her.
She stepped down the metal stairs, brushing her hands off on her breeches.
“Of course. Because why would anything be easy?”
I kept my expression neutral.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it changed as quickly as possible. Lucky for us, we’ve got a full spare.”
She crouched beside me, studying the tire with her lips puckered like her annoyance would solve the problem.
“Do you need help?”
“No, just need to unhook the trailer. I’ve got it.”
She tilted her head. “You sure?”
“Lani.”
“Fine. I’ll let you handle it and go spend time with my horse.”
She stepped back and flicked her hair over her shoulder.
I watched her walk away and allowed myself a moment to appreciate my wife’s sexy ass before turning back to the problem at hand.
The tire wasn’t my only concern. Who had done it, and what was their motive?
I unhooked the trailer to release the weight on the truck bed, then loosened the lug nuts and jacked it up. Sweat gathered at the base of my neck.
Kaylani returned twenty minutes later and leaned against the trailer, arms folded, watching me like I was here for her entertainment.
“Yes?” I muttered.
“You’re very manly right now. It’s hot.”
I shot her a look.
“Changing a tire? Me walking around armed and ready to kill is not manly enough for you, but changing a tire is?”
“Men in suits and scary, scowling expressions I’m used to. But this…mmm-hmm.” Her eyes roamed over my arms, heating me more than the sun ever could.
“That’s what you’re focused on?”
“I’m allowed to ogle my husband when he’s working hard and glistening.”
“Glistening? I’m no vampire,” I teased and pulled my shirt over my head.
“That was sparkling, not glistening,” she baited me, as I wiped the sweat from my face slowly.
“I see. How could I forget?”
I smiled and loved how her eyes dropped to my abs. I flexed them for her benefit and her pupils dilated. That was my favorite part.
“You better be careful looking at me like that,” I warned, wrapping the T-shirt around the back of my neck.
“Or what?”
“Or you’ll make this entire process…longer.” I took a step toward her. “Harder. And it will make you want to scream,” I whispered, stopping a foot away, wishing I could touch her.
She bit her lip, and that nearly destroyed my restraint.
“Oh, really?” She breathed. “You’re the one who took your shirt off.”
“It’s hot.”
“So am I,” she whispered. “And I’m really craving my husband.”
Kaylani looked up at me from under her thick lashes.
“I guess I didn’t work you hard enough last night.”
A deep blush crept across her cheeks, turning them a bright pink, which was sexy as hell.
“I guess not,” she teased, and I was tempted to drag her into the trailer despite the possible eyes watching.
She stepped closer and brushed dust off my shoulder.
“You’re trouble.”
“I know,” she cooed with a devilish grin that would make any man fall to his knees.
“We’re in broad daylight.”
She leaned in just enough for her breath to caress my neck.
“Then hurry up so we can get to where we’re going, and I can ravage you, husband.”
God help me.
Forcing myself to step away, I sucked in a deep breath and got back to work. Someone had deliberately slashed our tire as a calculated warning. It was imperative that my focus remained on the issue at hand, and not on my very tempting and devious wife.
I lowered the spare tire, rolled it into position, mounted it, and tightened the lug nuts in a star pattern.
“See,” I said, using my shirt like a rag to wipe my hands. “Minor inconvenience.”
She crossed her arms.
“Will we be able to get that one fixed in Nevada?” She nodded toward the flat.
“Yeah. Probably pick something up on the road.”
“Okay, I’ll go get the boy.”
Kaylani walked back to the barn, while I hooked the trailer up and stowed the slashed tire. I felt the rig shift with Atlas’s weight as I was locking the fifth wheel.
“You ready?”
I hopped down from the bed of the truck.
“Always.”
We were on our final signal check when I heard the crunch of gravel. I looked up to see Dylan coming our way.
Great.
He approached like he owned the air around him. Which he probably believed he did.
“Leaving without saying goodbye?”
“I thought we covered that last night,” Kaylani replied.
“You did.” He shrugged, but I could tell he was pissed that we were leaving and that she wasn’t begging to stay. Men like him thrived on being wanted.
Dylan’s gaze shifted to me. “You sure this is wise?”
“We’re sure.”
I included Kaylani in my response, since he had so easily dismissed her.
“I saw you working on the truck. Did you have some trouble?”
“Probably picked up a nail somewhere.”
For a second, something passed between us. Dylan knew he was my top suspect, but neither of us said it out loud.
“Be careful out there. It’s not as safe as you think.”
“Safety is an illusion,” Kaylani countered.
His smile thinned. “You’re bold.”
“She’s decisive,” I corrected.
He stepped closer.
“You’re protective. Maybe too much.”
“Maybe. Maybe, not,” I drawled, sizing Dylan up just in case he decided to do something stupid.
“And what happens when you fail?”
I didn’t blink.
“I don’t.”
Predatory energy flowed off him, but he didn’t intimidate me.
Kaylani shifted.
“We appreciate your hospitality. We won’t forget it.”
I loved that she could be diplomatic when all I wanted to do was knock his teeth out.
“Oh. I’m sure you won’t.”
Dylan turned and walked away without another word.
Kaylani watched him go, then gave me a look that needed no explanation. She was relieved to be leaving, and so was I.
I opened the door, and she climbed into the driver’s seat, excitement already bubbling back to the surface.
“I’ll give you a kiss once we stop for fuel.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said with a smile.
Once I was in the SUV behind her, I surveyed the property one last time. There was no movement beyond riders and horses exercising. No visible threat, but that didn’t mean the board was clear. Dylan was still an active piece, and I didn’t trust him.
As we pulled out, Kaylani’s voice crackled through the open line between the vehicles.
“Nevada. We’re actually doing this?”
“Yeah, let’s go get you qualified.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
My gaze tracked her trailer as my fingers flexed around the steering wheel.
Every day felt like a deadly game, and we had just moved pieces without knowing who else was playing.
Up ahead, Kaylani’s truck merged onto the highway. Sunlight hit the trailer, turning it gold. She thought this was the beginning of something great. Freedom. Momentum. Maybe even escape.
Maybe it was.
But as the miles rolled beneath us, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we hadn’t escaped. We had only delayed the inevitable.
Danger was closing in. I sensed it like a wolf nipping at our heels. Our list of enemies was growing, and that included whoever had sliced her tire.