Page 10 of A Dangerous Proposal

Sergei’s face went cold, shadows deepening under his high cheekbones. “There’s more. Mikhail wants to open offshore accounts under your real estate division. He’s got a major deal coming, and he needs to move the money.”

“That’s not an option, Sergei,” Alex snapped. “We agreed the legal business stays clean. No exceptions.”

“It’s only in the planning stages, Alexei. But Mikhail wanted you to know. Just a heads up, that’s all.”

Sergei lifted his cup, taking a sip as if they’d been discussing the weather, but Alex saw the way his gaze lingered… calculating.

Waiting to see how Alex would react.

What could he do? Ripping his uncle’s head off wouldn’t help.

He needed to stay calm. And plan.

After a moment, Sergei stood, brushing nonexistent crumbs from his suit. “Think about what I said, Alexei. Eventually, you’ll have to play the role Mikhail needs.”

“You couldn’t have given me a warning?” Alex bit out, when his uncle walked away.

Liev shifted his eyes from where he’d been following his father’s exit back to Alex. “You know he’s right. Mikhail doesn’t take no for an answer. He always gets what he wants.”

Alex scoffed.

Liev leaned in, his tone measured. “Look. You’re going to have to give him something. Getting married, or at least making it appear like you are actively pursuing a wife, is your simplest way out. Give Mikhail the win.”

Alex shot his cousin a withering look.

Liev put his hands up and rose to his feet. “It will buy you some time. Just pick someone happy to spend your money and leave you in peace.” He gazed shrewdly at Alex. “We both know the only thing you’ve ever cared about is that company. You need time to figure out your next move.”

“Fuck you.” But there was no heat behind the words because he knew his cousin was right.

Liev’s words were more than a suggestion—They were a warning.

Chapter Three

Jax whimpered and then dive bombed her chest, leaving an unpleasant damp streak across her long-sleeved T-shirt and a bruised sternum.

“It’s okay, buddy. It’s almost our turn.” Madison pressed a kiss to the top of his head and kept swaying without pause—the only thing, it seemed, preventing him from screaming loud enough to bring the roof down.

The older woman, who had been side-eyeing Madison disapprovingly for the last ten minutes as the line crept forward at a snail’s pace, pursed her lips and made a clucking noise of disapproval.

Madison forced herself to swallow back the snarky comment on the tip of her tongue. Frankly, with the sleep deprivation and frustration at not being able to make Jax feel better—on top of everything else—She was just as likely to start bawling as deliver an insult.

“You shouldn’t have him out in this weather if he’s sick,” the woman accused.

“Really? I thought he’d enjoy it.” Madison held up the boxes of pediatric cold medicine in her hand.

The woman shook her head with a scowl. “You could have sent his father.”

Madison’s throat tightened with anger. There was no father. Or at least no father she wanted anywhere near Jax. They were on their own.

The woman tutted, and with another sour look, turned back to face the line, saying to the man with her, “This generation is so selfish. Imagine taking a sick baby out in this weather.”

Tears sprang to Madison’s eyes even as the man patted the woman on the shoulder and gave Madison an apologetic look over his shoulder.

Would I be better at this if I were actually Jax’s biological mom?

Jax huffed another angry sound as the line moved forward again, blowing a bubble from his nose, and his tiny fists rose to rub at his red, watery eyes. Madison leaned her cheek into his warm one and wondered how much trouble she would get in if she opened the packages right here and just gave him the medicine?

She felt helpless watching his discomfort. Jax had had colds before, but this one seemed worse than normal.

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