Page 173 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

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.