Chapter 49
Chapter
Forty-Nine
GORAN
Even when we reached the airfield, we remained tense. No wasted motion. No unnecessary words. We got out of the car and moved straight into the hangar. Our biggest concern, aside from the police, was ensuring that no one had followed us.
I pointed to the far building.
“Check over there.”
My men swept the perimeter in coordinated arcs, clearing blind spots and scanning rooftops as the pilot checked the jet. He reported that everything had been quiet, but that didn’t mean we were clear of danger.
Julian had vanished with his father. And we had no inkling as to why the DeLucas had targeted Kaylani. Nathaniel had mentioned hearing some rumblings concerning the Mikhailov/Harrington union, but nothing concrete.
Titus stayed within arm’s reach of Kaylani like a wall of muscle. I had only ever seen him in a business suit, and he was certainly the kind of force that you wanted on your side.
I kept her hand in mine and never loosened my grip.
The smell of smoke had followed us out of the restaurant like a ghost. It clung to her hair and skin. The beautiful blue dress she wore was now streaked in dirt, wine, and blood.
She had stopped shaking, but Kaylani’s eyes were haunted. Her pulse still raced beneath my thumb. She had seen a side of me that I never wanted her to witness. Violence wasn’t in my nature, but I would kill without hesitation if the situation demanded it.
The jet idled under the hangar lights, engines rumbling, wings blinking in slow intervals as the pilot completed his checks. The smell of jet fuel hung in the air, strong enough to cut through everything else.
Nathaniel marched toward Dimitri, who stood at the base of the stairs, posture rigid, hands laced behind his back.
Sven remained at his side, arm bandaged, face pale but controlled. He glanced at Kaylani and gave a subtle nod that spoke volumes.
I felt Kaylani tense beside me as her brother and father squared off.
“Let them.” I kept my voice low. “You will get a chance to say what you need to, but right now let your brother handle it.”
Kaylani narrowed her eyes at me.
“This is about de-escalation.”
Her eyes flashed. “I hate that they are making decisions about my life.”
“I know. But if you corner your father, he will push back harder. Let Nathaniel work, he has an ace up his sleeve.”
This was an heir, a son, speaking to the head of the family.
Nathaniel stopped a few feet from his father. Close enough to be heard but not close enough to turn this into a spectacle.
“We need to talk.”
Dimitri didn’t glance at the men still moving around us or raise his voice.
“Is this really the time and place for this conversation?”
Nathaniel held his gaze.
“You’re done with all of this. I thought you would have learned your lesson about trying to control our lives when I walked away from you and the company, but then again, you never really cared about me.
You went on to make the same mistake with Titus, and now he stands at my side.
And still, you insisted on trying again with Kaylani, and look where that ended.
If we hadn’t been on our way, both of you would be dead. ”
Dimitri flinched, but his face remained as cool as stone.
“Careful, son.”
“No. You be careful.”
Silence stretched between them. There was no shouting. No dramatic gestures. Just two men who understood power and what could be decided in quiet moments.
“You tried to secure an alliance. I understand that, whether I agree with it or not. So, I will make you a deal instead.”
Dimitri’s expression flickered with confusion.
“I will give you a list of five of my companies. You can choose one. I will sign it over to Mikhailov Enterprises, and I won’t block any new deals. But…you don’t get to use my sister as a bargaining chip again.”
Dimitri’s eye twitched like he was in pain.
“This family survives because I make difficult decisions.”
“This family survives because we adapt to the chaos you bring into our lives.” Nathaniel took a step closer.
“You saw what happened tonight. The DeLucas attacked and tried to kill Kaylani, and Julian ran. His men scattered. His mother and brother died. You were going to tie her to a man who left her vulnerable to protect himself.”
Dimitri didn’t bother to interrupt. He knew Nathaniel was right.
“We are stronger together. So, I am offering you an olive branch. It is a one-time only deal.”
It was a peace treaty with Kaylani at the center.
Dimitri exhaled slowly.
“Are you saying that Mikhailov Enterprises is weak?”
“You know that is not what I’m saying.” Nathaniel remained calm.
In the old days, fists would have already been flying.
“It is a strategic offer that helps all of us get what we want. Stability, peace, and Kaylani is free to choose who she marries.” Nathaniel rolled his shoulders and dragged a hand through his hair. “Our quarrel is affecting too many people. This is a chance to build a better future.”
“I suspect there is a hidden agenda in this offer.”
Nathaniel shook his head.
“No tricks. No hidden agendas. But if you try something like this again…” Nathaniel continued, voice lowering. “I will intervene, and I’ll destroy you and take what is left of Mikhailov Enterprises.”
Dimitri studied him like he was weighing every word.
Like a leader measuring a successor.
“And you believe you’re ready for that?”
Nathaniel didn’t blink. “Yes.”
The hangar hummed with activity as all our gear was loaded into the cargo hold.
No one else spoke.
Finally, Dimitri inclined his head a fraction.
“You think this resolves something between us?”
“It does if you let it.”
“It is a good deal, Father.” Titus stepped forward, voice steady. “Ego has never been a strategy. You taught us that.”
“Fine, but I want two businesses.”
Nathaniel chuckled. I could tell he was irritated, but he kept it together.
“Alright. Two.” He extended his hand, and Dimitri reluctantly shook it.
“I flew into a different airfield. I require a car and some of your men to accompany me.”
“No need. I took the liberty of sending half my men to the other airfield, and I’ve notified your pilot to be ready. Your not so secret plane will follow us home.”
Nathaniel was clearly loving the little dig at his father’s expense.
Dimitri held his gaze another second. You could see the question forming. But he didn’t voice it.
His expression gave nothing away as he turned and started up the jet’s stairs.
I had to admit I was shocked that Dimitri conceded. We hadn’t resorted to public humiliation, which had been plan B.
Kaylani slipped her hand from mine.
“Father.”
Dimitri paused and glanced over his shoulder. For the first time tonight, he didn’t look like a general. He looked like a father.
She walked toward him, and he stepped down and waited.
Kaylani stopped in front of him and did something none of us expected. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
It was rare to see Dimitri show affection, but his hand lifted slowly and settled between her shoulder blades.
The moment was brief and controlled. But it was real.
Dimitri gave a single nod when she stepped back. Then he climbed the stairs.
He had made a choice that finally put his family first.
I was stunned. It had been so long since I had seen him do something like this that I was left speechless.
Nathaniel looked at me, the corner of his mouth turning up.
I pressed my fist to my heart.
When Dimitri reached the top, I stepped forward automatically, placing myself half a step in front of Kaylani.
Habit. Instinct. Protection. All things that would never change, no matter what happened to our public status.
She tipped her head up toward me. The adrenaline was finally draining from her body. Her shoulders sagged slightly as the jet engines hummed.
“It’s over,” she said softly.
“No.” I shook my head. “Not completely.”
She stepped closer, her hand sliding back into mine again.
“But it’s different now. Right?”
“Yes.”
Her chin lifted, and steel returned to her spine as she rolled her shoulders.
I reached up and brushed my thumb along her jaw. Even looking like she had crawled through a war zone, she was the most stunning woman I had ever known. My heart pounded hard, coming back to life now that she was safe.
“So, you survived without me.”
“Barely,” I admitted.
That earned a laugh before she gripped my arms, expression turning serious.
“How’s Atlas? Please tell me he is somewhere safe?”
“Nathaniel and I found a great place for him. I made sure he was settled before I ever left California.”
She sagged with relief. “Thank you.”
Everyone filed up the stairs, their boots loud against the metal. A reminder that we were not out of the woods yet.
“Let’s go.” Nathaniel’s voice carried down from the cabin. “We’re ready to roll.”
Kaylani squeezed my hand, and this time we climbed the steps together.
The jet door sealed behind us, and we were taxied out of the hangar. Only after we were safely in the air and cruising toward home did I finally draw a deep breath.
Kaylani had already fallen asleep with her head on my shoulder, our fingers entwined. I kissed the top of her head and glanced up.
Dimitri sat near the front of the plane, watching.
He turned away a moment later, but I knew this was not truly finished. Despite the deal Nathaniel had made, Dimitri and I still had things to settle.
I was never leaving Kaylani again, and I wouldn’t allow him to come between us.
I brought her fingers to my lips and kissed them.
We were forever.