Page 7 of A Dangerous Proposal

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, too.” He leered at Madison.

Alex stared hard at the man, a muscle ticking in his jaw. But Kip appeared oblivious as he leaned closer to Madison.

Cami must have sensed the impending explosion, too, because she blurted out, “It’s too bad Jax couldn’t make it tonight.”

Huh?And then it dawned on her. The last time they had seen Kip, he had made it clear he thought Madison should be included as a perk of his investment. Cami had insinuated that Jax was her jealous boyfriend waiting at home.

At the time, Madison was thrilled at the ruse, but now… Her gaze darted to Alex only to find him watching her with an inscrutable expression. She wanted to pinch her best friend—good intentions or not.

Madison forced a smile. “He stayed home.”

“I forgot you had a boyfriend, too.” Kip pouted, looking at where Cami cuddled into James. He finally seemed to notice Alex standing just behind them, and his face paled dramatically.

“Mr. Kovalyov.” Kip swallowed hard. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

Alex didn’t bother to look at Kip when he said, “Actually, I was just leaving.” Then he nodded at James. “My regards to your family and the delectable Ms. Everton.”

Madison’s stomach knotted with disappointment as she watched him walk away. Around her, she could hear the others talking, making plans to come into the office and sign the contract for a full ad campaign, but Madison wasn’t really listening.

She was fairly certain that if Cami and James hadn’t interrupted them, Alex would have kissed her. And she would have let him. Who was she kidding? She would have probably let him do a whole lot more if he’d asked.

Madison shook herself mentally. It was for the best. She didn’t have the energy for the kind of drama Alex Kovalyov was sure to bring to her life.

Because one thing she knew for sure, any interaction with that man would be… complicated.

Later that night, hours after Jax was asleep, she lay in her bed unable to stop thinking about their exchange. When James and Cami walked her to her car, James had explained who Alex was and the rumors that surrounded him. She knew she’d had a close escape. A man like that wouldn’t just consume her body, he would consume her life, and Jax had to be her first priority.

Madison didn’t doubt the truth in what James said—even though, when pressed, James admitted there was no proof of Alex being a criminal. She’d sensed the danger in Alex. But he hadn’t felt threatening… If anything, she’d felt protected. Safe.

She flipped over and aggressively fluffed her pillow before laying her head down again.

You’re an idiot. He’s in the Russian mob.

That’s not even a red flag.

He’s a giant, flashing, neon red stop sign.

Then again, she argued with herself,James said Alex’s companies were legitimate. It’s only supposition that Alex is the face of his brother’s legal activities. So, he’s not actually criminal…

Holy shit, Madison! Are you actually trying to make excuses for why it would be okay to have sex with him?

She sighed, punching her pillow again. It didn’t matter anyway. It was unlikely their paths would ever cross again. And even if they did, with everything going on in her life, she couldn’t get involved with any man right now.

So, now the only question was… How long before Alex stopped being the face of her fantasies?

Chapter Two

The Russian teashop was warm, and the earthy scent of black tea mixed with cloves and cinnamon greeted Alex as he closed the door against the damp cold outside. He spotted his Uncle Sergei, and his cousin, Liev, easily in the empty restaurant and made his way over.

Taking his time, knowing it would irritate his uncle, Alex draped his overcoat over the back of one of the brocade upholstered chairs surrounding the small round table. He’d essentially been summoned to this tête-à-tête, and he was fucking pissed.

Over the last decade, Alex’s separation from the rest of his family and the bratva had become more pronounced. While he understood the necessity of maintaining his persona as a legitimate businessman, it still irritated him.

Alex’s connection to the Kovalyov Bratva wasn’t a secret, per se. There had always been rumors, but Kovalyov was a fairly common Russian surname. However, if someone were deeply invested in knowing, they could find the exact relationship. But what they would also find was that Alex had never been openly associated with the family’s true business.

If asked, it was a believable enough story that, as the illegitimate son of the formerpakhanand his longest running mistress, Alex had inherited wealth, which allowed him to start his global empire of businesses. Very few still living knew that, until he was twenty-three, his childhood had been just as blood-soaked as any bratva prince—legitimate or otherwise.

To the world, he was Alex Kovalyov, but deep down, he was still Alexei—trapped in a world of in-between. He was Alex, the legal face of the family. But also, he was Alexei Kovalyov, son and brother of thepakhan.

---