Page 20 of Dangerous Liaisons

“Moya Koroleva means my queen.”

“Is that what you are to them?”

“You’re aware of who I am, Xavier,” she sighed. “I cannot change that, nor do I wish to do so. It is my responsibility to uphold the Romanov name and sometimes that requires me to do things I would rather not. These other families look to me to be strong; any sign of weakness would have them challenging my place at their table.”

“Is that why you wanted our help, and why you recruited the Spartans? Were you not going to tell us about that?”

“I don’t have to tell you or Hunter anything. That is my business and mine alone. My dealings with them have no impact on your club or your goal of a legitimate business.”

“You know the history between our clubs. Everyone’s playing nice now, but if shit was to go south again…”

“I would suggest you make sure that does not happen.”

He sighed, rubbing a hand against his black beanie. “This Alexander guy…”

“He is an old friend of Nikolai's and the family. He has been very supportive of us and has continued to be useful. Until he proves otherwise, I will take him at his word.” She hesitated. “I don’t want to fight. Please understand what I must do.”

He glanced toward the door before taking a step closer to her. “And the other thing he called you?”

“Malen’kiy zayka?”

“You didn’t like it.”

“It means little bunny. It is a nickname Nikolai gave me when we first met.”

Xavier felt the electricity in the air as he leaned closer to her. The way she looked up at him, wide-eyed and breathless, sent his heart racing. He couldn’t remember the last time he was this drawn to someone, and it both thrilled and terrified him.

“Little bunny.” It suited her in a way he couldn’t quite put into words—innocent yet full of strength. But as he brushed his fingers along the curve of her elbow, the heat radiated between them, and the world around them faded into thebackground.

“Xavier…” Her voice was soft, almost pleading, and it stirred something protective within him. He wanted to shield her from whatever burdens weighed on her mind, to offer her a moment of escape.

The words spilling out before he could filter them. “I want to see you again.” He didn’t want a fleeting connection; he wanted to dive deeper, to understand who she was beyond the business facade she wore.

She hesitated, her gaze flickering away. “We shouldn’t do this,” she whispered.

“Tonight, Isa,” he urged, stepping closer, wanting to close the distance between them. Her breath hitched, and the conflict shown in her eyes as she battled with her instincts.

When she nodded, a rush of triumph surged through him, but he was careful not to overwhelm her. He had to take things slowly to gain her trust. As he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, her warmth enveloped him, and it was everything he’d been craving. She chased after him, a soft smile breaking across his face as he pulled back. It was a game, playful yet loaded with tension, and he enjoyed every moment.

“Soon as I can get away, I’ll be there.” He wanted to make it happen, to carve out a space in his chaotic life for her. The club, the fights, the unpredictability — it was all there, but she was different. She was abreath of fresh air, a way to escape the darkness that sometimes loomed over his past.

As he stepped back, he watched her for a moment, taking in her beauty and the spark of something more in her eyes. The world around them buzzed with life, but in that moment, it was the two of them, connected by something undeniable. He let the weight of his gaze linger on her for a heartbeat longer before he turned to join the others, his mind still buzzing with the possibilities.

CHAPTER NINE

He leaned against the bar, scanning the lively crowd. Laughter and cheers filled the air, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Isabella. He was so deep in thought that he barely noticed Ava approaching until she tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey, Zay,” she said, her tone casual but her expression serious. “Can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure,” he replied, pushing himself off the bar. “What’s up?”

“You and Isabellahave been getting pretty close.”

He felt a flush creeping up his neck. “I mean, she’s interesting.”

Ava shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Come on, Zay. You can’t deny there’s something more. I can see it when you look at her.” Her tone changed, becoming more serious. “Whatever is going on there, I want to make sure you don’t get hurt. You mean a lot to us.”

“How much of this did you tell Hunter?”