Page 148 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“My loyalty was secured a long time ago.”

His gaze narrowed.

“Is that so?”

“It is.”

Silence filled the space between us, a dangerous energy building. It felt like a loaded gun, daring both of us to flinch and fire the killing shot.

“You disappoint me.”

That almost made me laugh.

“Sir, I have never strived for your approval.”

Dimitri’s eyes narrowed further, his calm surface beginning to crack.

“You’re well aware that my loyalty has always been to Nathaniel.”

“And not to this family?”

“I serve the family. I do not answer to you.”

His jaw flexed, muscles twitching. If there was one thing in this world Dimitri hated, it was being denied obedience. The insult only compounded when Nathaniel was involved.

“You assisted in the theft of property that belongs to Mikhailov Enterprises.”

“I assisted your daughter, who is part of the Mikhailov family and Enterprises,” I corrected.

“You enabled her rebellion.”

“I prevented you from crushing her spirit. You don’t seem to understand what your demands are doing to your daughter. Or maybe you simply don’t care.”

His eyes turned glacial.

“You have courage, Goran, I’ll give you that. But this is not some romantic movie. You don’t get to run off and take my daughter.”

He stepped closer, and it felt like he was goading me into attacking him.

“Technically, she ran off and took me. But either way, she’s an adult and can make her own decisions. I didn’t force her to do anything.” My head tilted slightly. “Why don’t you just say what’s really on your mind?”

“And what is that?”

“You hate that your control over Kaylani is slipping. She no longer sees you as the hero and more like the villain in her story. Your grip on the family has crumbled. You’re hanging on by a thread, and this is a desperate attempt to cling to some semblance of what you think you’re still owed.”

The insult landed and his eyes flared with anger.

“How dare you!” He growled, stepping closer.

“How dare I speak the truth?”

“She is my daughter.”

“But you treat her like a thing. You had her dragged through dirt. Physically, mentally, and publicly. You humiliated her and treated her like property, rather than someone you’re supposed to love.” I shook my head. “What shocks me most is that you’re blind to what you’re doing.”

If he was going to kill me, I was going to get out what I wanted to say.

“She forced my hand.”