Page 137 of A Dangerous Proposal

Two unfamiliar black SUVs sat parked at odd angles in the driveway, and Madison’s pulse kicked up a notch.

She walked slowly up the stone steps, her fingers tightening around her bag. Closing the door quietly behind her, she stood still for a moment to listen. Voices drifted faintly down the corridor.

“My wife is none of your fucking business.” Alex’s voice was icy cold.

Madison stopped just outside his office, breath catching in her throat.

Another gruff voice that she assumed was Mikhail’s came next. It was calm but laced with menace. “Everything in this familyismy business.”

“She ismyfamily.” Alex’s tone matched his brother’s, and a shiver ran down her spine.

Madison took another step forward, her pulse thudding almost painfully. Through the partially open door she could see two men, the backs of their necks covered in tattoos near the door, obscuring her view of the room beyond. One man shifted, taking a step toward Alex.

Her body humming with adrenaline, Madison reached into her purse, her fingers closing around her gun. She wasn’t sure what she thought she could do to help, but she wasn’t going to just stand there if one of them attacked Alex.

A low chuckle echoed through the room. “Ah, here she is now. Though I hope that’s not a gun I see.”

Madison’s cheeks heated as she caught the flat stare in the mirror watching her reflection.

The door swung open fully, exposing Madison, and she dropped the weapon she had half pulled from her purse.

“Come here.” Alex appeared calm, but she caught the blazing emotion in his eyes and immediately went to his side, her chin in the air and her eyes on her husband. She wasn’t going to give the three men glaring at her the satisfaction of looking afraid.

But she was.

She wasterrified.

With a hand on her waist, Alex positioned her behind him, effectively making his body a solid barrier between her and the others.

His hand found hers, and he squeezed it tight. Too tight. She recognized his silent warning and squeezed back that she understood, before he dropped her hand.

“Your little angel’s wings aren’t pure white, are they?” Mikhail's smile was wintry as he studied her. “I like her already.”

Madison kept her expression neutral, refusing to look away, hoping that no one noticed she was trembling.

Mikhail’s smile widened as he stepped closer, and Alex’s body coiled tight. He shifted, blocking her from view.

“Relax,bratan,” Mikhail said with a twisted grin. “I just wanted to greet my new sister properly.”

Madison couldn’t see Alex’s face, but after several tense moments, he stepped to the side. She barely suppressed a shiver when Mikhail placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed each of her cheeks slowly.

“Welcome to the family, little one.”

Her pulse was jack rabbiting in her chest, but she forced herself to stand still. When Mikhail finally pulled back and she could breathe again, her instincts screamed that the danger was far from over.

Mikhail’s attention was back on Alex. “I’ll get to the bottom of these articles.” Then his mouth lifted in a small smile, andhe turned his gaze to her once more. “I’m looking forward to meeting Alex’s new son, but for now… Perhaps we could all keep a low profile, eh?”

The door had barely closed behind Mikhail when Alex spun toward her, his dark eyes sparking with anger.

“What thefuckwere you thinking?” he raged, fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight.

Madison flinched but quickly squared her shoulders. “I wasn’t thinking. I wasn’t going to allow someone to hurt you in our home without doing something to help.”

Alex’s nostrils flared as he took a step closer, his eyes locking on hers. “Don’t ever—ever—put yourself in danger for me.”

“I wasn’t?—”

“You were!” Alex barked, his body visibly vibrating with tension. He ran a hand roughly through his hair, his breath coming fast. “If anything had happened to you…” He stopped himself, the muscles in his jaw fluttering.

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