Page 3 of Dangerous Liaisons

“All you need to do is maintain a license to sell liquor, beer, and wine from my private vineyard. We will split profits eighty-twenty, and I won’t charge you rent.”

“What are you getting out of it, Mrs. Romanov? Management of property?” Hunter chuckled. “You can hire a security detail for that.”

“I can, but again, we’re talking about trust and the fact that you would be more willing to overlook my private business transactions than a legal security business.”

Hunter and Xavier exchanged looks before he rubbed his beard thoughtfully.

“I need a legitimate business front established here, as do you, Mr. Collins. I need privacy when I require it and people that won’t ask questions. We need each other.”

“And you’ll take care of Martinez?”

“He won’t be an issue.” Glancing at her watch, Isabella slid back her chair and rose to her feet. “You have twenty-four hours to decide.”

“And then what?”

“My offer expires.”

CHAPTER TWO

Xavier looked up from his phone as the loud roar of an approaching motorcycle caught his attention. He watched Hunter roll into the club parking lot and pull up beside him. “Hey, Brother.”

Hunter slid his helmet off and ran a hand through his hair. “Is everyone here?”

“They’re ready to meet, but I won’t lie. They’re uneasy about this offer.”

“If we want out of this mess we’re in with Martinez, it may be the only option we have.” Hunter looked around with uneasy eyes. “The past few years haven’t been easy. With theeconomy and the outside interference of rival clubs, we’re not bringing in enough money without dipping into other means.”

“I’m not interested in other means, Brother. I can’t go back to prison.”

His president studied him with an understanding gaze. “I understand. When I took over this club, I promised you that wouldn’t happen again. I promised all our guys that I’d make us clean money that kept us straight, and I’m going to do that.”

“I know you’ll try.”

Hunter sighed and looked around at the bikes littering the lot. “The last thing I want is to jump into bed with another cartel, but she’s offering us something real, a chance to make good money on the right side of the lines. Once we get back on our feet, we can walk away from this shit with a clean slate.”

“What she promises and what might happen are two different things.”

“What other choice do we have?”

Xavier brushed his beard with a quick hand. He studied his friend. “What’s Ava think?”

“My wife doesn’t give her opinions on the club, Zay, you know that. With all the shit we’ve seen, the only thing she wants is me to come home in one piece at night.”

“She’s a smart woman. Probably better than you deserve.”

“She knows,” Hunter chuckled. “Come on, let’s grab a beer and gather the troops.”

With a nod, Xavier followed his president into the clubhouse, still uneasy, but he knew deep down he would follow whatever direction the man told him to go. The offer from Isabella Romanov bothered him. She bothered him. He couldn’t have imagined the reaction he had upon seeing her, the woman beautiful and dangerous at the same time. Until she proved good on her word, the last thing he was going to do was trust her.

From where she stood outside the armored G-Class SUV, she didn’t need to look at her friend to know she was unhappy. Kira had been shifting on her feet for the past twenty minutes, her head on a swivel to the point it made her nauseous.

Pressing her lips together in irritation, she directed her attention to the tablet in her hands. She readjusted the reading glasses on her nose and continued to read for several minutes, pausing only at the sound of tapping on the window.

Cutting off the tablet, she took her time packing away her glasses before sliding back on the heels she previously discarded on the floor. Against her better judgment, shehad dressed in a black blazer vest with a matching pinstripe skirt. It was one of her favorite outfits. One of the first things Nikolai had taught her when they married was the importance of presentation. To be taken seriously, one had to scream confidence and money, two things most people sadly lacked.

Kira opened the back passenger door, and the sound of a rumbling motorcycle filled the air as she slid out of the vehicle.

“There is only one.”