Chapter 44
Chapter
Forty-Four
GORAN
It had been five whole days, and still no word as to where Dimitri had taken Kaylani.
How does a fucking private plane just disappear?
Nathaniel’s office smelled like coffee, takeout, and desperation. The blinds were half-drawn, slicing the afternoon sun into sharp lines across the floor. Papers covered the desk. Flight manifests. Financial transfers. Stills from security footage.
There were dozens of possibilities, but nothing confirmed.
Dimitri could not have vanished without leaving footprints. It was impossible in this day and age. We would find something, but my patience was worn thin. Every second Kaylani remained out of reach was another second of torture.
Fuck.
Titus stood by the window, arms crossed, watching the courtyard as if he expected Dimitri to walk through the gates.
Nathaniel sat behind the desk, composed as always. People underestimated Nathaniel, but that worked in his favor. They never saw him coming until it was too late.
“That’s not good enough,” Nathaniel growled into the phone.
He had been on and off it so many times that I no longer knew who he was threatening.
“I want answers in one hour, or else.”
He tossed his cell on the desk, swearing.
“She only did this to save me. Dimitri exploited her feelings. She shouldn’t be forced to marry some asshole,” I reiterated, more to myself than anyone else.
“No,” Titus said evenly. “She shouldn’t.”
Silence settled heavily among us. I had called in every favor I could with Dimitri’s guards, but either they didn’t know anything, or their cells had been switched off.
The door opened without a knock.
We turned, instantly alert.
Helena Mikhailov entered as though she owned the room.
Her black dress was simple. No diamonds or flash. Just quiet authority. Her heels clicked against the marble before she closed the door behind her.
“Why did I hear from a third party that my daughter is missing?”
Her tone was even, but the fire in her eyes could have burned through walls.
I glanced at Nathaniel.
He stood immediately.
Nathaniel sighed. “Mother—”
She cut in, lifting one manicured hand.
“Do not start with that tone. You are not too old for me to tan that arrogant ass of yours.”
“Mom, I’m sorry. Let me explain.”
“In a minute.”
Three grown men fidgeted like naughty schoolboys as she cast her eyes over the room. I felt like I was back in Dean Henry’s office at Wayward.
Helena’s gaze landed on me.
“You were with her?”
“Yes.”
“So, you know for sure that it was Dimitri who took her?”
“Yes.”
Silence stretched as she drew in a deep breath, like she was preparing to breathe fire.
Nathaniel exhaled slowly.
“We are handling it.”
Helena’s eyes snapped back to him.
“Handling it?”
“I—we didn’t want you to worry. I planned to tell you everything as soon as I knew more.”
Her laugh was quiet and cold.
“You didn’t want me to worry. That’s so sweet,” she drawled, sarcasm dripping from every word. “As if I’m not used to drama in this family. I worry about every one of you whenever you leave the house.”
“This is my fault.” Titus stepped forward. “Nathaniel said we should tell you right away, but I suggested we wait.”
“I don’t care whose fault it is. You aren’t toddlers pointing fingers. As a collective, you kept me in the dark,” she said, her glare landing on Titus.
Helena smoothed a hand down the front of her dress as if she were attending a luncheon rather than a confrontation.
“Sons, and I do mean both of you, you must stop trying to protect me.”
Nathaniel’s shoulders tensed.
“That’s impossible. It’s in my DNA to want to keep my family safe.”
“I am your mother. It is my job to look after my children, not the other way around.” Her words weren’t loud, but they landed like a command.
Helena looked down her voice softening. “Something that I have failed at too many times. I won’t fail again.”
I stepped forward.
“Mrs. Mikhailov, I’m deeply sorry that I wasn’t able to keep Kaylani safe, and that she is missing.”
She came closer and cupped my cheek.
“Don’t. It’s not fair to put that on your shoulders. She was not stolen by thugs, but by her father. The son of a bitch. I told him he would regret doing this, but the man refuses to listen to reason.”
Nathaniel snorted.
“Did he ever?”
She turned to him, hands clasped in front of her like a queen.
“Once upon a time, your father was a decent man. Flawed? Yes. Always has been. But he was not close-minded or cruel like he can be now. I don’t know what has become of him, but I will not stand for it.
First, Savannah was shot. Then, he tried to have Fawn sold off to a gang. Now this. The man is despicable.”
Helena approached the desk covered with flight records, money transfer statements, and private airfields flagged on a map.
“You think your father would kidnap your sister and not expect you to track him?”
Her tone implied that she thought we were very foolish.
Nathaniel’s jaw cracked. “We’re…working on it.”
“Of course you are.”
I marveled at how she commanded the space without an ounce of violence. Kaylani was so much like her mother.
She picked up one of the manifests.
“He doesn’t use the obvious routes when he wants to disappear,” Helena said, with a smug expression on her face.
“Mother, do you know something?”
She set the paper down.
“I don’t know for certain, but I suspect.”
Titus finally spoke. “Suspect what?”
Her eyes met ours, sorrow in their blue depths.
“I learned long ago how to track his flights, back when I used to get upset and angry about his indiscretions. Your father has a second plane. He doesn’t think anyone knows about it. It’s the one he uses to sneak away with his lovers.”
Nathaniel stilled.
“Are you serious?”
She nodded and crossed the room to the window.
“It was an accidental discovery. He claimed he was going to Moscow for business, but I couldn’t reach him there. It wasn’t the first time. He never allowed me to go with him, even though I wanted to visit my family. I caught his secretaries lying so many times that I lost count.”
She pivoted back toward us, her presence magnetic.
“He wouldn’t take the Mikhailov jet, and manifests mean nothing if you’re tracking the wrong aircraft.” She smiled. “He has always underestimated me. You want tail number AC1221.”
Nathaniel snatched his phone from the desk and made a call.
Titus walked to his mother and wrapped her up in a hug.
“He is a fool,” Titus said, his voice soft.
I looked away to give them the moment without prying eyes.
When he released her, she wiped away tears, then regarded me quietly.
“If my daughter is being used as a pawn, we need to act quickly to get her back. Especially since she is hopelessly in love with someone else.”
My voice remained steady.
“You know?”
Helena gave a small nod.
“She told me without giving a name, but I knew. I have seen the love you have for my daughter shining in your eyes for a very long time.”
“I…I’m sorry,” I began, but she raised a hand.
“Stop. I don’t want your sorry. I don’t care that you’re a soldier, Goran. I care that my daughter is happy. You make her happy.”
She came toward me, and my heart pounded so loudly I was sure the entire room could hear it.
“Thank you…that means a lot.”
Helena looked down at the band on my right hand and clucked her tongue at it.
“I think it’s time you wear that ring on the correct finger with pride. Don’t you?”
I grinned and moved my wedding ring. It felt perfect, right where it was always meant to be.
With a smile, she turned toward the door.
“Helena…”
She stopped and glanced over her shoulder.
“Kaylani is pregnant. I thought you should be the first to know.”
The matriarch of the Mikhailov family squealed and practically jumped on me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“This is the most incredible news. Goran…oh God, I’m going to start crying. Find our girl and bring her home.”
“I will. I promise.”
“And Nathaniel?”
He spun around, phone to his ear. “Yes, Mother?”
“Next time, do not treat me as your father does. I’m not fragile,” she ordered, marching out and closing the door behind her.
“Well…I didn’t know Mom had it in her.” Titus laughed.
Nathaniel ran a hand down his face.
“She is the scarier one. I’m telling you.”
He held up his finger.
“Yes, I’m still here,” he said to whoever was on the line.
I felt the subtle shift. We weren’t just three men reacting anymore. Helena had given us the key to finding my wife.
Nathaniel looked at me.
“Get the teams ready. I want them set to move.”
“How many?”
“Everyone that can be spared.”
I pulled out my phone. We were no longer chasing shadows. The hunt had finally begun.
Dimitri thought I would bow at his feet and back down. He was about to find out that for Kaylani, I would do anything.