Dangerous Liaisons (Crimson Legion MC #1)

17. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I t was the sound of her son’s laughter that directed her attention away from her laptop. Sliding off her reading glasses, Isabella rose to her feet, her footsteps taking her to the window to stare out into the backyard. Mikhail was shrieking with delight as Xavier pushed him higher in the swing.

“You should be outside with them.”

She glanced over her shoulder at Kira, surprised she wasn’t alone, Eddie standing there with her. He shifted as if uncomfortable, but raised his hand in a friendly wave. “Hello. ”

“Hello,” she echoed, turning to face them. “Are you here for your friend?”

“I was… Well… I left my wallet?”

“I don’t imagine I need to explain the purpose of the wallet chain you wear.”

“We did not expect for you to be here.”

“And what, dear Kira, did you plan to do if I was not?”

“I can go,” Eddie whispered.

“You will stay,” Kira chuckled. “She is having a good time at your expense. Perhaps we will stay and use the pool.”

Smiling, Isabella dropped her glasses onto her desk before closing her laptop. “You are welcome to stay as long as you like, Eddie, but you will both keep in mind that my son is very impressionable at his young age.”

“Yes, Mother.”

She wanted to laugh when Kira rolled her eyes, but smothered the urge, shooting them another scolding look. The second they disappeared down the hallway, she let out a bark of laughter. Out of habit and the knowledge that another Crimson Legion member was in her home, she locked the office door. She took a moment to grab a bottle of water from the fridge before making her way to the backyard, smiling at her son running circles around the tall biker .

Xavier smiled as he caught sight of her, nodding his thanks when she handed the bottle to him. “I was thinking you were going to stay inside that office all day.”

“And I was thinking you had made yourself at home.”

Cocking an eyebrow, he sipped the cold water. “Is that a hint I’ve overstayed my welcome, Isa?”

A wave of indecisiveness hit her, and for a brief second, she wondered what it would be like to always have him there. She was unsettled by the panic it caused, yet a deeper part of her welcomed the warmth that filled her body. “You have done no so thing.” She bent down to catch Mikhail as he catapulted himself toward her. Swinging him in a quick circle, his laughter again filling the air, she squeezed him tight before placing a quick kiss on his cheek and lowering him. “You are having fun, little one?”

“Mamushka, Xavier pushed me so high! I touched the sky!”

“I am glad you’re having fun. Go play. I need to talk to Xavier alone.”

With a happy yell, he ran to the large swing set, and she returned her attention to Xavier taking steps closer to her, the move bringing them inches apart.

“What do you need to talk to me about, baby?”

“Xavier…” She blushed.

“Are you about to tell me you don’t like me calling you that?” he smiled. “Something tells me you don’t mind.”

She couldn’t help but return the smile, wanting nothing more than to touch him. “You are unbearably cocky.”

“You like that, too.”

She didn’t stop him as he wrapped an arm around her waist, his other hand stroking the hair from her face.

“Is this okay?” He nudged his head in Mikhail’s direction. “I don’t want to do anything you’re uncomfortable with him seeing.”

Gazing up at him, another piece of the wall crumbled around her heart. “It’s okay.”

He bent his head, and she melted into him as their lips met. He kept the caress light, and while she wasn’t sure if he was trying not to spook her son or her, it didn’t matter. She never wanted the moment to end.

“Sergei, stop!”

Isabella broke away at the sound of Kira’s panicked voice. She stepped back in time to see the Russian marching toward them, a look of pure anger on his face. Her immediate attempt to place herself between them was stopped as Xavier pushed her out of the way at the exact second Sergei lunged for him.

He dodged the punch and shoved Sergei; the man stumbling only to regain his footing within seconds.

“Sergei!” Kira grabbed her arm and jerked her backwards. “Let go!”

“No, you must not intervene.” Kira pushed her behind Eddie as he came jogging from the house. She moved around the men to scoop up Mikhail, who was staring wide-eyed at them.

“Why are they fighting, Kiki?”

“When men have arguments, little prince, sometimes they must work things out this way. Let us go inside.”

Isabella kept her eyes on Sergei and Xavier as Kira carried Mikhail past her into the house. Eddie remained beside her, still maintaining a respectful distance, but able to grab her if she moved.

Sergei reeled back as Xavier connected a clean punch to his jaw. He shrugged off his jacket, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows and smirked at Xavier tossing his black beanie to the grass followed by his tank top.

“Stop this!”

“I would let them duke it out if I were you.”

She was frantic as the two men circled each other. She didn’t fear for Xavier’s safety, but Sergei was ruthless, and sometimes stopping him took every man she had on her payroll. There was only one time, back when Nikolai had been killed, that it had been impossible to stop him in his madness. They continued to trade punches, Xavier connecting a solid hit to Sergei’s ribs. He grunted as two punches to his face sent him stumbling back. Both men were bleeding, breathing hard, and it was obvious the constant trade of blows was wearing them out.

Wiping his mouth, Xavier glared at the other man, but she didn’t miss how his gaze flickered toward her. It was a move that caused anger to flash across Sergei’s face, but his move forward stopped as Isabella broke free from Eddie and maneuvered herself between them. She looked between them, hands up, as if it would do anything to stop them from continuing their fight.

She turned her back to Xavier and focused on Sergei. She glanced at his hands, his knuckles bloody. “Explain yourself, now.”

“I will not allow this man to dishonor my brother’s memory and take advantage of you.”

“He is doing no such thing!”

“You’re blinded by lust!”

“And you’re blinded by your hate,” she spat. “You’re consumed by it, and it has caused you to lash out at those that would help you, those that are devoted to you!”

Sergei shoved a hand through his hair, spitting blood onto the grass. “If you insist on showcasing your ignorance in front of Mikhail, I will take him back to Russia.”

Her eyes flashed at him. “Touch him, and I will cut off your hands.”

“Mark my words, Isabella, you will lose all that Nikolai built, and all you fight for should you continue to trust men such as this. ”

She ignored the way Xavier grunted at the veiled insult. “I am the head of this family. You will obey my instructions, and those instructions are for you to leave back to Russia. You will not interfere in my business, nor will you return until I allow it.”

“Malen'kiy Krolik…”

She ignored the pain behind the endearment. “Am I clear?”

He scooped up his jacket, glaring at Xavier a final time before he nodded. “Da, I will wait for your call.”

Isabella kept her gaze on him until he disappeared from view, startling at Xavier’s hands on her shoulders. Eddie excused himself, going back into the house, and she slumped against Xavier when the door shut.

“Are you okay?”

Sighing, she faced him, unable to remove the frown from her face. “You cannot do such things at my home and not in front of my son.”

“He came at me, Isa! What was I supposed to do?”

“I will deal with Sergei on my own terms. I don’t know how things are handled at your club, but I will not allow violence in my home!” She gathered his clothes, shoving them against his chest. “I think it’s time you left.”

“You’re throwing me out?”

“I’m asking you politely to do so. If I have to call my security, this conversation will take a much different turn. Neither of us wants that. Please, just go.”

Slipping on his beanie, he gripped his shirt. She remained silent as he nodded and walked past her. Her gaze remained fixed on the sky, where dark clouds loomed ominously, a foreboding sign of what was to come.