Page 171 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Julian nodded, but I caught a flash of malice in his eyes before he replied.

“Of course.”

“Thank you for the meal. The food was lovely.”

Sven fell into step beside me once we were clear of the dining room. The hallway felt longer this time as I marched back to my cage. Reaching the door, I stopped.

“Sven?” His eyes met mine. “I need to know something.”

He didn’t ask what.

I wet my lips, unsure if I was revealing too much too soon. But it felt right.

“If things escalate, where do you stand?”

He held my gaze for a long moment.

“I’m your guard. That is my duty.” His words were careful, but I noted the undertone. “And I take my assignments seriously.”

I nodded once.

“Thank you.”

The door clicked shut behind me, and for the first time since arriving in Spain, I didn’t feel completely alone. Dylan had a point that day at his family farm when he mentioned allies. I needed more of them if I was going to get out of this in one piece.

I’d walked into the lion’s den willingly to save those I loved, but men like Julian always underestimated their prey.

Out on the balcony, the air was cool. The dark ocean blended into the night sky. I pressed a hand lightly to my stomach.

“Okay,” I whispered to the stars. “We adapt. We survive. We get back to your father.”

Julian thought this was containment.

My father thought this was obedience.

They had both forgotten something.

I was a Mikhailov.

And Mikhailovs did not stay caged.

Not for long.

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.