Dangerous Liaisons (Crimson Legion MC #1)

20. CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY

A s the front door creaked open, her heart skipped a beat. Sergei stepped inside first, his imposing presence filling the room, with her son following closely behind him.

“Mamushka!” Mikhail exclaimed, his face lighting up. He dashed across the room, throwing his arms around her in an enthusiastic hug.

It had been a month since she had last held him, and she returned the embrace, splattering kisses all over his face as he giggled, before lowering him onto his feet. “I have missed you, little prince.” She ran a quick hand over his hair. “Say hello to Xavier.”

He didn’t even hesitate, running towards the tall biker, and Xavier chuckled as her son leapt for him with his arms stretched out.

“Hey, buddy!”

He lifted Mikhail off the ground. The warmth between them was clear, and Isabella was relieved at her son’s joy. She didn’t miss the way Sergei’s expression darkened, his gaze narrowing at the other man.

“Sergei, it’s good to see you again. I was-”

“Busy?”

Mikhail shifted uneasily between them. He looked at his mother, then at Sergei, trying to understand the situation. “Mamushka?”

She forced a smile to reassure him. “We were just about to have lunch. Why don’t you join us?”

Sergei stepped further into the house, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were still sharp as they flickered toward Xavier. “I appreciate the invitation.”

“I thought we could have pasta. I know how much Mikhail loves it.”

Her son nodded. “Can I help, Mamushka?”

“Of course, Mishka. You can set the table while I finish up. ”

As he hurried after her into the kitchen, Sergei crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve made yourself quite at home.”

“She didn’t mind the help.”

Sergei’s jaw tightened. “Is that what you would call it?”

“I’m here to make sure Isabella is okay. She deserves to not be alone all the time.”

His eyes narrowed, a hint of irritation in his voice. “You think you know what is best for her after such a short period? You’re a stranger.”

“I’m not a stranger anymore. Isabella trusts me. That counts for something.”

Sergei stepped closer, his posture challenging. “Trust takes time. You think you can just waltz in and play the hero?”

“I’m not trying to be a hero.”

“Is that what you tell yourself? What’s your angle?”

“It’s simple. I care about them, and she wants me here. If that bothers you, then we need to talk about it like adults.”

Sergei’s challenge in his gaze softened. “Isabella and Mikhail are the only family I have left, and I want what is best for them. I need to know that you’re not overstepping boundaries.”

“I get it,” Xavier said, his tone earnest. “I want Mikhail to know he has options, people he can trust. It doesn’t diminish your role; it enhances it. ”

“You believe that? That having more people around can be a good thing?”

“The world is very complicated and dangerous. It’s better for Mikhail and Isabella to have a network of support than to isolation.”

“I’m not convinced you understand what that means in my world.”

“Maybe not,” Xavier admitted, his tone steady. “But I understand loyalty and protection.”

“This isn’t just about protection. It’s about respect. Do you honestly think you can take my brother’s place?”

“Not at all. Nikolai will always be her first love, Mikhail’s father, and nothing is going to change that. I wouldn’t do anything to erase his memory.”

A tense silence hung between them before Sergei nodded, a reluctant acknowledgment of their shared goal. “I want you to remember that I won’t hesitate to defend my family, including from you, if it comes to that.”

Xavier nodded, recognizing the underlying challenge. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. Family is everything.”

Isabella entered from the kitchen with a baking dish full of pasta, her presence a welcome distraction. “Lunch is ready! Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

Mikhail rushed in behind her, his energy infectious. “I’m starving!”

Sergei shot Xavier one last look, a silent understanding passing between them.

The house was quiet, the soft hum of Mikhail’s sound machine drifting from his bedroom. Isabella sat on the couch, bathed in the warm glow of the dim light, lost in thought. Sergei entered, a glass of bourbon in hand, and paused when he saw her.

He took a seat from across from her. “Malen’kiy zayka, you look worried.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about my role—about the family and everything that comes with it.”

His expression was one of curiosity mingling with concern. “What do you mean?”

“I want more than this. I want a life—one where Mikhail can grow up away from danger, where we can be a family without looking over our shoulders.”

Sergei studied her, sensing the depth of her conviction. “This is not a simple request. There are rules. Dangers that can arise if you are no longer in power. Even with the MC at your back, you will always have to look over your shoulder.”

“That’s why I want you to take my place.” She looked at him unflinchingly. “You deserve to be the leader of this family, of this name that you’ve inherited, not me. It was never meant to be me, Sergei. ”

“I allowed you to take the seat because it was what motivated you to stay alive. It gave you focus and the reason to move past Nikolai’s death.”

“Mikhail-”

“You were a shell of your former self when he died, and not even Mikhail could stop you from withering into nothingness. It wasn’t until I offered you retribution that I saw the woman I loved as family return.”

She wrapped her blanket tighter across her lap, gaze shifting to stare painting above the fireplace. “Revenge is a fleeting moment in time. I survived his death, but I can’t hold on to his loss forever.”

“And you believe you can find the life you desire with Xavier Wilson?”

“I do. He’s different. With him, I'm safe. I can be myself. I can be a mother without the weight of the world on my shoulders.”

“You’re willing to give up everything for him?”

“It’s not just because of him. I’m choosing to prioritize what matters. Mikhail deserves a normal childhood. He shouldn’t have to grow up in a world full of violence and uncertainty.”

Sergei sighed, the weight of her decision settling between them. “And what if it doesn’t work out? What if Xavier isn’t what you think he is?”

“I realize now that I have to take that risk. I want to believe in something better. For Mikhail, for me… for us.”

Silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken emotions.

“If this is what you want, I’ll support you.”

“Thank you,” Isabella whispered, relief flooding her. “I know it won’t be easy, but I believe we can make this work.”

“Then let’s start. For Mikhail’s future—and yours.”