Page 174 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“He doesn’t use the obvious routes when he wants to disappear,” Helena said, with a smug expression on her face.

“Mother, do you know something?”

She set the paper down.

“I don’t know for certain, but I suspect.”

Titus finally spoke. “Suspect what?”

Her eyes met ours, sorrow in their blue depths.

“I learned long ago how to track his flights, back when I used to get upset and angry about his indiscretions. Your father has a second plane. He doesn’t think anyone knows about it. It’s the one he uses to sneak away with his lovers.”

Nathaniel stilled.

“Are you serious?”

She nodded and crossed the room to the window.

“It was an accidental discovery. He claimed he was going to Moscow for business, but I couldn’t reach him there. It wasn’t the first time. He never allowed me to go with him, even though I wanted to visit my family. I caught his secretaries lying so many times that I lost count.”

She pivoted back toward us, her presence magnetic.

“He wouldn’t take the Mikhailov jet, and manifests mean nothing if you’re tracking the wrong aircraft.” She smiled. “He has always underestimated me. You want tail number AC1221.”

Nathaniel snatched his phone from the desk and made a call.

Titus walked to his mother and wrapped her up in a hug.

“He is a fool,” Titus said, his voice soft.

I looked away to give them the moment without prying eyes.

When he released her, she wiped away tears, then regarded me quietly.

“If my daughter is being used as a pawn, we need to act quickly to get her back. Especially since she is hopelessly in love with someone else.”

My voice remained steady.

“You know?”

Helena gave a small nod.

“She told me without giving a name, but I knew. I have seen the love you have for my daughter shining in your eyes for a very long time.”

“I…I’m sorry,” I began, but she raised a hand.

“Stop. I don’t want your sorry. I don’t care that you’re a soldier, Goran. I care that my daughter is happy. You make her happy.”

She came toward me, and my heart pounded so loudly I was sure the entire room could hear it.

“Thank you…that means a lot.”

Helena looked down at the band on my right hand and clucked her tongue at it.

“I think it’s time you wear that ring on the correct finger with pride. Don’t you?”

I grinned and moved my wedding ring. It felt perfect, right where it was always meant to be.