Epilogue
KAYLANI
The morning was bright and sunny, but not unbearably hot.
It was perfect. The wind rustled my hair as I glanced around the farm that had once belonged to my father.
It had been my wedding gift from him. He hadn’t come to see me.
He just sent me an envelope with the deed in my name. No note. No card. So like my father.
“How are you feeling,” Coach Ehren asked as we watched Corey go through the final combination of the course.
“Jealous that they look that great together,” I teased.
“It’s not forever.”
He squeezed my shoulder and slipped through the fence rail, stepping into the ring to work with Corey and Atlas.
After days of agonizing, I had finally decided not to ride again until after the baby was born. Plenty of women did it, and my heart knew Atlas would take care of me. But for once, I wasn’t going to let my fearless attitude take the lead.
I would never forgive myself if something happened.
Still, I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to take a back seat and watch someone else ride Atlas, even when I knew it was the right choice.
“So, this is what you do?”
I grinned at Yakov Rostov, Goran’s father, as he slowly shuffled over from the picnic table.
Goran had told me what my father did when Yakov got sick, and it still made me nauseous that he could be so callous with someone who had been unshakably loyal.
It had taken some convincing—and my refusal to take no for an answer—but Yakov had agreed to move in with us once the addition was complete.
“It is. What do you think?”
He leaned heavily on his cane but stood stubbornly straight as he watched Atlas fly over a jump.
“It suits you.” He slowly turned his head toward me. “You were always fearless. You had all the guards terrified about where they were going to find you or what you would be doing.” He chuckled.
“I didn’t know that.”
He nodded. “You tried to jump off the balcony into the pool when you were seven. Everyone was afraid they would be blamed, then shot, for not keeping you safe.”
My cheeks heated with a blush.
“I was a terror.”
Yakov laughed hard.
“A little. But you were so cute. Those big blue eyes and blonde hair whipping out behind you as you ran full speed into the next adventure. You had everyone wrapped around your finger.”
“Hopefully this little one takes after Goran then,” I said, rubbing my small bump.
“Yes,” he said, his voice heavy with sadness. “Goran had to grow up too fast. I don’t remember him ever being much of a child. I wish that I’d noticed it sooner. I regret working so much. I missed many birthdays…holidays. I only got to see one of his football games.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder.
“You’ll be part of all those things now, with your grandchild.”
“Thank you.” His voice cracked. “For loving my boy. He’s a good son, and you make him so happy. I couldn’t have wished for anyone better for Goran than you, Kaylani.”
Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them. I didn’t dare look up at him, or it would turn into full-on waterworks.
“Thank you for raising such an incredible man.”
We stood there in silence, listening to the wind and the distant sounds of the arena, until the crunch of tires on gravel drew our attention. A shiny black limo rolled to a stop.
“My mom is here. Are you ready?”
“I’m only coming for the food.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “I’ll let you and your mother handle the wedding stuff.”
“Oh no, you don’t get off that easy. You at least have to help pick the desserts.”
He laughed. “I think I can handle that.”
I took his arm as we ambled toward the waiting vehicle.
“Is Goran joining us?”
“He had a meeting, but he’ll be at the next one. He better be, anyway.”
Yakov smiled.
“He will if he knows what’s good for him. I won’t let him make my mistakes.”
As we reached the car, I glanced back at the outdoor arena. Corey laughed and patted Atlas. Standing on this side of the ring was a change, but seeing how happy Corey was and how Atlas thrived gave me peace of mind.
I only hoped that Goran’s day was going this well.
GORAN
Some vendettas were not worth the risk. But this one…this one I couldn’t let go.
I reclined into the red leather chair, sipping my drink as I waited.
Guy stood behind the door, ready to pounce.
The VIP room of the strip club Dylan frequented was nothing like Nathaniel’s clubs.
This place reeked of desperation and loneliness.
It was probably why the owner had so easily taken a bribe to look the other way.
The door handle turned, and a petite blonde led Dylan inside. He was so focused on the stripper that he failed to notice the trap until Guy slammed the door shut.
Dylan jumped and whipped around, eyes landing on Guy.
“Thank you for your help.”
Dylan’s head snapped in my direction, and he started to scream. One punch from Guy sent him to the floor.
“Anytime.” The stripper flashed me a smile. “If you change your mind and I can be of any assistance, just let me know.”
Guy handed her a thick wad of cash that she counted happily on her way out. Dylan began to stir as Guy positioned himself back in front of the door.
“You can’t do this,” Dylan spat. “I’ll sue you. My father has the best lawyers.”
“You assume that you’re leaving this room alive,” I drawled, polishing off my drink. I set the glass aside and slowly stood.
“Whoa…you can’t kill me…that’s murder.” Panic crept into his voice.
“You don’t say?” My tone was laced with sarcasm. “I always forget how that works.”
The tension thickened, blending with the sickly-sweet scent lingering in the room. I cocked an eyebrow, peeled off my suit jacket, and hung it on the lone hook.
“Tell me, Dylan…who exactly do you think I work for?”
“The Mikhailov family,” he stammered, scrambling to his feet.
He grabbed the back of the leather chair, presumably to put a barrier between us. I stalked toward him, and he stumbled backward, landing on the couch.
“Do you know who the Mikhailovs are,” I asked, shifting the chair to the middle of the room.
“Who they are doesn’t matter. You can’t keep me in here. You can’t touch me,” he snarled even as he cowered on the couch.
I rolled up my sleeves, revealing the tattoos I normally kept hidden.
“You really should know who your father’s business associates are…and their reputations. Not very smart of you, Dylan.”
Guy stepped forward with a lift of my finger. He knew the signal well. We had done this dance before. Sometimes with more men, sometimes with Nathaniel leading. There was a familiarity to how this would go.
“Don’t. Get your hands off me,” Dylan snapped as Guy grabbed him.
He reminded me of a little dog that thought they were a wolf. Guy punched him again, and blood bloomed at the corner of his mouth. Dylan groaned as Guy hauled his ass up and unceremoniously tossed him into the chair.
“You can’t…do this.”
“And yet here I am.”
I slid the brass knuckles on and flexed my fingers.
“I’m calling my father,” Dylan said, still trying to sound tough. He dug into his pants pocket.
“Yes, you’ll definitely need to call your daddy,” I mocked, and Guy snorted.
Before he had his phone free, my fist connected with the side of his face. Dylan landed in a heap on the floor when the chair toppled over.
“Pick him up. Tie his hands. Make sure he doesn’t move again.”
I set the chair upright as Dylan struggled against Guy. It was obvious he had never been in a real fight and had zero training. His body sagged when Guy forced him down.
“I always knew you were a piece of shit. A disgrace of a man. But I didn’t think you’d stoop so low.” My voice was calm and controlled as I bent over him, watching the blood trickle from his mouth and nose. “Calling and reporting Kaylani was despicable. Don’t bother denying it. I know it was you.”
My fist gripped his hair and forced his head up to look at me.
Dylan whimpered. “Please….”
“Please, what?”
His bottom lip trembled, but he didn’t answer. His eyes were wide with the kind fear he had probably never known before. Unfortunately for him, it was about to get a whole lot worse.
“Come on. Tell me. What exactly are you begging for? Do you even know?”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure you are.” I leaned closer, letting him see the part of me that would kill for those I loved. For those I had sworn to protect. For those who made my life worth living.
“I promise…I promise to be better,” he stammered.
A laugh erupted from deep in my chest. I glanced at Guy, and he smiled knowingly.
“I’m not your fucking conscience, Dylan. I’m not here to make you a better man.” I released his head and stepped back. “I’m here to teach you a lesson. One that your father failed to impart. Never fuck with another man’s woman unless you’re prepared to face the consequences.”
“I’ve learned my lesson. I swear. I’ll never do anything like that again. I’ll never talk to Kaylani again. I won’t even look her way. Please just let me go.”
“I know you won’t. But it wouldn’t be much of a lesson if I let you go, would it?”
“Please no…please,” he blubbered, shrinking into himself.
“I promise you, Dylan, that by the time you leave this room, you’ll be a whole new man. One with a new appreciation for life, and you’ll know the difference between right and wrong.”
He flinched and closed his eyes, bracing for the next hit. The whimpers escaping him were pathetic.
I wasn’t sure I had met a man who needed this more than him.
“And in case it’s not already clear…if you even think about calling the cops, the last thing you’ll see is the inside of a pine box as you sink to the bottom of the ocean.”
“Oh God…oh God.”
This was going to be fun.