Dangerous Liaisons (Crimson Legion MC #1)

3. CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

“ W hat you did was reckless.”

Reading glasses perched on the edge of her nose, Isabella looked up from her laptop. Kira stood in the doorway of her office, hands on her hips as she glared at her. She looked down and refocused on typing. “I don’t desire to hear a lecture.”

“Tough shit,” Kira stomped toward her. “I oversee keeping you safe, so you will listen. At any time, that man could have killed you! You do not put yourself in that position again. I will not allow it.”

“It would have been foolish for him to attempt such a thing; we both know it.”

“It will not happen again.”

Slamming the laptop closed, Isabella rose to her feet and ripped off her glasses. “You forget your place! You do not tell me what to do, nor do you speak out of turn. I have let your insolence go for too long.”

“I only wish to-”

“I am the one who pays you! I decide, and you obey! Do you understand?”

Kira took a step back from the desk. “I only wish to keep you safe.”

Seeing an almost broken look flash across the woman’s face, Isabella blinked away the tears that appeared in the corner of her eyes. She sunk back into her desk chair. “I am aware.”

“I failed you once. I will not do so again.”

“That was...” She took a deep breath and shook her head. “You did not fail me, but I am the head of this family now. You must trust me when I say I can handle Hunter Collins and the MC, but I will not stand for you second guessing my motives in front of them.”

“I understand, Moya Koroleva.”

“And I dislike being called that, you know this.” Isabella tossed her glasses onto the desk. “I am no one’s queen.”

“Isa…”

“I wish to be alone now.”

The Russian took another step back from the desk. “I will step out for the evening.”

“Take Viktor with you.”

“I do not need an escort. He will remain to watch over you with the others outside.”

She wanted to argue, but she knew Kira was turning once again to her vices. “I do not have to remind you to be careful,” she hesitated, “and I do not have to remind you that certain things are off limits.”

“I remember.”

“Good. You may go.” She waited until the office door shut before she felt tears gather at her eyelashes. She allowed herself only a few minutes before she pulled herself together and wiped her face.

When she was certain she was alone in the house, she entered the kitchen and poured herself a vodka on ice. When first dating Nikolai, she hated liquor. It had often been a routine to come home and enjoy it during the few quiet moments together. He had teased her relentlessly over the facial expressions of disgust that she would make while drinking. It was an acquired taste that, over time, she found pleasing. Now she drank to forget, but the curse of remembering haunted her. Her nightmares were punishment enough. Kira dealt with the pain by numbing it with alcohol and sex. She couldn’t afford such luxuries, nor could she afford to let down her guard.

She lost count of how long she had sat in the sitting room. She would not see Kira until the next morning, the woman returning long after she went to bed. While the rest of her security ran round the clock, the Russian had refused to live outside of the home. While large enough at five thousand square feet to give her the privacy she needed, she was grateful for her friend to be within reach.

A knock in a pattern she recognized made her venture toward the front door, and she paused as she grabbed the handle.

“Mrs. Romanov, it is Ivan. Zelenyy.”

Recognizing the voice and code word for green, she swung open the door, eyes widening at Xavier standing beside her bodyguard.

“Do you wish for me to remove him from the premises?”

She shook her head. “It is okay. Do come in, Mr. Wilson.”

“Would you like me to come inside as well, ma’am?”

“That won’t be necessary, thank you.”

As soon as Xavier crossed the doorway, he closed the door behind him. Isabella held her glass close, aware of her attire–a camisole top, trouser pajamas, and a robe thrown over her shoulders.

She pulled her robe tighter with one hand. “May I ask for the reason behind such a late visit?”

“Saw your shadow at the clubhouse,” he grumbled. “She seemed rather hellbent on causing chaos, so I thought...” He paused as if suddenly not so confident about his reason for being there. His gaze zeroed in on her face. “Have you been crying?”

Lowering the glass to her side, she was mortified that he noticed. “I ask again, Mr. Wilson, why are you here?”

“Fuck if I know.” He glanced around with a grunt. “You mafia bosses sure live in a different world.”

“If you came only to insult me, you can leave.”

His gaze shot back to hers. “I came by to make sure you were okay at the request of my president. Kira stormed in like her ass was on fire and started a fight with one of our regulars after kissing his girlfriend.”

Stunned, she opened her mouth to speak.

“And my damn name is Xavier. You can knock it off with that stuck up shit.”

“I am not stuck up! You will not speak to me that way.” She hesitated. “Is Kira okay?”

“When I left, she was heading to the back with Eddie, so yeah, I’d say she’s okay.”

With a long sigh, she motioned him to follow her toward the kitchen. “My apologies. I told her to stay away from your club. ”

“She doesn’t listen to you very well.”

“No, she doesn’t,” she mumbled. She pulled open the freezer door to retrieve a bottle of Stoli. “Interest you in a drink since you’re here?”

“I don’t drink vodka.”

“I think the words you’re looking for are no, thank you.” She shot him a look before dropping ice into the glass and pouring in the liquid.

Xavier casually leaned against the opposite counter. “No, thanks.”

She sipped the vodka as she echoed his stance, readjusting her robe. “I’m fine.”

“You’re a fucking liar. You’ve been crying, and while you’re good at hiding it, I can tell you’ve also had a little too much of that vodka already.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not asking your opinion on the matter.” She sipped the liquor longer this time. “Why I’m crying is no concern of yours. While I appreciate the kind gesture, you can leave now if that’s the extent of your business.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” He pushed away from the counter. “You’re a spoiled brat, you know that?”

“That’s rich coming from a moody, overgrown lackey.”

“Not to act childish, but you fucking started it, lady. All I did was ask you a question; you’re the one getting defensive about it.”

“You do not come into my home unannounced and insult me.” She slammed the glass down on the counter so violently it was a shock that it didn’t shatter. “I don’t care if you are with the MC or not!”

“Hunter told me that your husband was murdered. How?”

Shocked, she stared at him. “You do not get to ask me that!”

Xavier stepped closer until they were inches away, towering over her by a foot. “How did he die, Isabella?”

“What does it matter?”

“You come into my town and demand shit from my club. Act like we should be grateful the fucking Russian cartel hands us crumbs. You want us to trust you? Answer my damn question.”

“I-”

“Answer my question!”

“A rival cartel shot him! They broke into our house in the middle of the night and shot him in right front of me.”

His hard expression shifted, his furrowed eyebrows relaxing from surprise at the answer. “Where was Kira?”

“She was protecting my son.” She fought to control her breathing as she pressed back against the counter to put distance between them, despite knowing there was none. His arms had trapped her there, hands pressed flat against the cold marble. “I made her take him away as soon as the attack started, and I went looking for my husband.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Please don’t ask me these things.”

His gaze studied her face, not allowing her the chance to breathe. “Why?”

“Because I loved him! I thought I could protect him!” she screamed, moving to push him away. He didn’t budge, and with a cry of frustration, she hit him until he grabbed her hands and pressed them against his chest. Her entire body heaved. She fought back tears, and a wave of shame crashed over her as she rested her face against his chest.

Xavier released her hands to wrap his arms around her. “My wife was shot during a robbery where she worked a few years ago.” His voice echoed softly through the kitchen. “She died on the way to the hospital.”

She wanted to look at him, but she remained where she was. “Did you find who did it?”

“The men responsible paid for their mistake.”

She wasn’t sure he was aware he was stroking her back as he spoke. She said nothing, and after a few minutes had passed, he released her to take a few steps away to place distance between them.

“I’m sorry.”

She avoided eye contact and retrieved her glass, chasing the contents before lowering it onto the counter. “Please leave.”

“Getting drunk won’t get rid of the nightmares.”

“Are you speaking from experience, Mr. Wilson? ”

With a shake of his head, he said nothing and walked out of the kitchen. She sagged against the counter, flinching as the slamming of the front door echoed through the entire house.