Page 202 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

His eyes lit up.

“Yes. It’s a boy. Kaylani mentioned you predicted the sex.”

There it was. The smallest shift in his expression. Gone in a blink, like he was already trying to cover up the softness. But I had seen it.

“And if you and Kaylani ever find your way back to each other…well.” I shrugged slightly. “I know the pain of losing a parent. Whether she chooses to forgive you or not is between the two of you.”

I paused.

The next part of this conversation would set the tone for peace in our future, or it would explode.

I leaned forward in the chair, staring the coldest man I had ever met in the eyes.

“If you ever try something like what you did, again—” The room went very still. “I will do whatever is necessary to protect my family.” The last part came out as a growl.

He needed to understand. I wasn’t Goran the soldier or the bodyguard anymore. I was Goran, husband to Kaylani Mikhailov, the princess and heiress to the Mikhailov empire. And that changed everything.

Dimitri studied me for a long moment. Then something unexpected happened. He smiled. It wasn’t warm or friendly by any means. More of a slow, amused smirk.

“Well, that was certainly…direct.” He flipped open the lid on his box of cigars.

Dimitri took one out, clipped the end, and lit it before taking a few slow puffs. Sweet smoke drifted toward the ceiling, and I eyed the sprinkler positioned right over his head.

“I had that one disconnected. I figure that if I’m going to be struck by lightening, a sprinkler isn’t going to help,” he joked, shocking me further.

He stood and walked around the desk, stopping a few feet away from me. Leaning back against the edge, he held the cigar in one hand and his drink in the other.

For a second, I wondered if he might actually test me.

Instead, his expression softened a fraction as he gave a small, approving nod.

“I must say that it is unfortunate that you were not born into the right kind of family.”

I frowned at the insult.

He continued like he hadn’t just called me gutter trash.

“You have the steel for this world. It is rarer than most people believe.”

It was the most backhanded compliment I had ever received. But coming from Dimitri Mikhailov, it might as well have been a medal of honor.

His gaze hardened again.

“Take care of my daughter.”

“I will.”

Another small nod.

I polished off my drink and stood. Buttoning my jacket, I held out my hand. I didn’t think he was going to take it, but eventually he did.

The conversation was over. I turned and walked toward the door. But just before I reached it, Dimitri spoke again.

“Goran?”

I glanced back.

“If you ever fail her, I will hunt you down and kill you myself.”