Page 19 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“You’re all supposed to do what I say, aren’t you?”

Goran tipped his sunglasses down just enough for me to see the challenging look in his hazel eyes.

“Our job, Ms. Mikhailov…” The growl in his voice as he spoke my name made me bite my lip. “Is to protect you, not partake in a dance party.”

“But…what better way to protect us than by being right here beside us? I mean, you can’t get any closer than that, unless we were in the same clothes,” I sang, sweet as pie, while picturing Goran naked. “Come on, just one dance. All of you need to loosen up and have some fun.” I twirled, arms wide, almost spilling my drink. “It’s a gorgeous day. Enjoy it with us.”

Goran pressed his lips into a firm line but stepped forward.

“You can’t be serious,” Ivan said, turning to Goran.

Goran shrugged. “If we can’t beat the insanity, we might as well join it.”

“Eek! Thank you.”

I didn’t dare laugh as the men started to dance, even though they looked ridiculous. It was as if Men in Black had met a flash mob. I had asked for only one dance, but they stayed for another. Before I knew it, they were talking and laughing like normal guys rather than the stone-faced guards they were trained to be.

I smiled, peering over at Ren and Blake, who were kissing.

“Hey, lovebirds. Do you want to get going? We have shopping to do,” I yelled, realizing my drink was empty and it was later than I thought.

“I guess we’d better,” Ren called back.

Bang.

My body jerked, and I screamed.

Goran launched himself in my direction, driving us to the ground and shielding me.

“Stay down,” he ordered.

I nodded, unable to move anything more than my head.

My heart pounded in my chest as images of the day Savannah was shot came flooding back. I had been jumpy for months afterward and thought I was over it, but terror had sunk its teeth into my neck, making it hard to breathe.

“Where did that come from?”

The guards yelled back and forth, scrambling to assess for danger.

“I think it was a car backfiring in the lot,” Goran called back, but stayed where he was while he waited for confirmation.

Muffled voices filtered from his earpiece.

“Yeah, I was right. False alarm. It was just a car,” Goran said, bracing himself to stand.

His hands were steady as he helped me sit up. But I couldn’t stop the shaking or the tears that pricked my eyes and slowly began to fall.

“Kaylani, breathe,” he ordered, cupping my face.

“C…can’t,” I gasped.

“I’m getting you out of here.”

I wanted to yell no, but knew he was right.

“Ivan, you’re in charge. You and the other guards stay here with Fiona, Ren, and Blake. Take them wherever they want to go.”

My legs trembled beneath me as I stood.