Page 132 of A Dangerous Proposal

“This wife of yours has?—”

“What would you have done—if your wife, a Kovalyov—was cornered and being threatened in a dark hallway? What will it mean to other people when they hear about it? The wider world may not know who I am for certain, but the people in our world definitely do. What message do you think it sends to them when Armstrong is allowed to disrespect my wife?”

Mikhail’s jaw ground back and forth. “Did he touch her?”

“Not that I saw,” Alex managed, barely holding onto his temper.

This was bullshit. If it were anyone else, Mikhail would have helped kill the man himself. Respect meant everything to him, and while Alex and Mikhail might not be close, that had never stood in the way of Mikhail’s devotion to the family name and reputation.

“If he had?” He refused to let it go. Let his brother sayout loudthat Alex wasn’t supposed to avenge his wife.

Mikhail’s expression hardened. “I may not be happy with your choice of bride, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be treated with every bit of respect due the Kovalyov name. I know you are pissed about this thing with Armstrong.” His brother’s icy eyes met his in the dim light. “And I recognize the loyalty you are showing by not putting a bullet in all of them. If he touches her… be discreet.”

His expression shifted, and he looked every inch thepakhanof a powerful bratva that he was.

“Your time will come, and you can make the man bleed for days. For now, keep your wife away from him.”

Now, as Alex climbed the steps, he only had one thing on his mind. His family—check on Jax and hold Madison in his arms. She was his light, his reward for surviving the darkness.

Pushing their bedroom door open quietly, he saw her curled on her side, covers pulled up to her chin. Something deep inside him eased at the sight of her breathing peaceful and even.

Sliding into bed next to her, he tucked her body snugly against him and buried his face in her neck. Drinking in her scent, he let it banish the last of the burning anger in his veins. It still simmered beneath his skin, but with her in his arms, he could relax.

Alex didn't sleep well, and soon after dawn broke through the windows, he gave up any pretense of trying. Feeling Madison wiggle her ass against him, he smiled, already tugging at the waistband of his boxer briefs. He coasted a hand over her breast, and she stretched her arm over her head.

He froze. A dark ring encircled her delicate wrist, the telltale outline of fingerprints. Attempting to keep his anger at bay, his gaze rapidly scanned over the rest of her exposed skin just as his brain registered that she was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt he’d never seen before with her tiny pajama shorts.

The air in Alex’s lungs burned. Someone would die for touching her, but first he’d make them suffer. He didn’t give a fuck what the consequences were.

He should have known last night that her encounter with Armstrong was more than he’d seen. Madison snored softly, and Alex forced himself to leave the bed. He needed to put some distance between her and the monster howling inside of him. Plan his next move. His first instinct was to burn everyone involved alive, but he had to think strategically, and he couldn’t do that looking at the marks on her body.

Alex would keep her safe. He wouldalwayskeep her safe, and fuck what his brother thought.

Two hours later, the anger still pulsed through him, but with sweat running down his chest, he ripped the tape from his knuckles and stopped the heavy bag’s sway. His rage wasmanageable now, and Alex trusted he could stay calm for the conversation they needed to have.

Emerging from the gym, he bypassed the smell of coffee and headed straight for the shower. His heart rate was almost a regular rhythm when he found her in the kitchen cleaning the breakfast dishes.

She looked up and flashed him one of her breathtaking smiles.

“Where’s Jax?”

“Angela took him to his gymnastics class.” She frowned. “Are you okay?”

Alex didn’t speak as he crossed the distance between them and caught her forearm. Keeping a strict hold on his self-control, he flipped on the kitchen faucet with his free hand. Shoving her arm underneath the flow of water, he gently rubbed until the makeup covering the bruises gave way.

Madison’s breath hitched, and she stared at his chest rather than meet his eyes.

“Where else?”

Her eyes were enormous in her face. “Where else?—”

“Where else did thatmudaktouch you?”

Madison’s entire body stilled, and fury coursed through him so hot and fast he had to clench his teeth.

“Don’t fucking lie to me,” he growled, releasing her arm. “Show me.”

Madison’s chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, but after a few heart-stopping beats, her head bent, and her shoulders hunched. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—” She pushed up her sleeve to expose the livid marks on her arm, and Alex stopped listening.

---