She swallowed hard, torn between the desire to spill the whole story a genuine fear of what doing so might unleash.Could Max really stop Enzo?Could anyone?This wasn’t just about physical safety—this was her entire life.Her career, her students, everything she’d worked so hard to build…all of it would be destroyed if Enzo released those videos.
“I’m fine,” she said at last, her voice trembling as she forced herself to meet Max’s gaze.Her mind flickered back to her plan to hire a hacker, to take control of the situation herself.She couldn’t risk dragging Max into this—no matter how much she wanted to.
The disappointment in Max’s eyes cut deeper than she expected.It wasn’t anger or frustration, but something far worse: a quiet disappointment, a knowing look that told her he saw through the lie and hated that she felt she couldn’t trust him.It was almost enough to break her resolve.
“Fine,” he said sharply, though his fingers lingered on hers for a moment longer, their grip firm but gentle.“When you’re ready, I’ll be here to help you.”
The words were calm, but they carried a weight that settled heavily on her chest.He was giving her space, waiting for her to come to him on her own terms, but she knew the offer wouldn’t last forever.The tension between them crackled, and as he stepped back, she felt its absence like a sudden drop in temperature.
Lexie opened her mouth to say something—anything—but the words wouldn’t come.Max gave her one last look, his expression unreadable, before turning away, leaving her to wrestle with the storm raging inside her.
Again, Lexie hesitated, torn by the desire to reach out for help and the crushing weight of her pride.For a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to imagine it—Max stepping in, taking control, and making everything in her life right again.He was powerful enough to handle Enzo, to make the threats and blackmail disappear as though they’d never existed.She knew it in her heart.If anyone could fix this mess, it was Max.
But no.
Her jaw tightened as she forced the thought away.She couldn’t rely on Max.She couldn’t rely on anyone but herself.Life had taught her that painful lesson time and time again—trusting others came with a price she wasn’t willing to pay anymore.And Max?He was dangerous in ways that went far beyond Enzo.Dangerous because she’d trusted him once, and she’d let herself believe that he might be her safe haven.Dangerous because she’d rejected him a year ago, shattering whatever fragile bond they’d built.
How could she come back to him now, after all that?After walking away, after telling herself she couldn’t be with someone like him—someone who wielded so much power?It wasn’t fair.Not to him, and not to herself.The last thing she could do was crawl back into his life when she needed help, knowing she’d been the one to push him away in the first place.
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as she struggled against the storm of emotions within her.She wanted to step closer, to let Max pull her into his arms like he used to, to feel the safety and warmth of his broad, muscular chest.But that wasn’t a possibility anymore.She’d burned that bridge the day she’d left him, and she refused to rebuild it out of desperation.
So instead, Lexie turned and walked away, retracing her steps back the way she’d come.This time, she kept her head down, her eyes fixed on the polished marble floor, refusing to meet the curious gazes of the crowd.If they were still watching her, she didn’t notice, or maybe she was beyond caring.
Each step felt heavier than the last, and the distance between her and Max stretched like an insurmountable chasm.Her heart screamed at her to turn back, to at least tell him the truth, but her mind was resolute.She couldn’t go to him now, not like this.Not when she’d already convinced herself that she didn’t belong in his world.
When she reached the edge of the room, the noise of the party swirled around her like static, meaningless and distant.She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.This was her mess to handle, and she would find a way out of it—alone.She had no other choice.
Chapter 5
Maxgrittedhisteethas he watched another man put his hands onhiswoman.Yes, Lexie had rejected him a year ago, walking away from the life they could have had together.And yes, by all rights, he should have moved on.But no other woman had even caught his eye in passing since.How could they?Lexie had gotten under his skin in a way no one else ever had.
He was the head of the entire “family” here in Seattle—the undisputed leader of the Pacific Northwest.His power stretched across state lines, controlling the flow of money, influence, and allegiance throughout the region.Men twice his age bowed to him; politicians called him when they wanted a deal brokered.And yet, the one thing he truly wanted was the one thing he couldn’t have: Lexie.
Again, she’d rejected him.Again, she’d walked away.
The memory of the bruise forming on her cheek made his blood boil.It took every ounce of restraint he had not to march across the room, grab Enzo by the throat, and make an example of him in front of every guest at this godforsaken party.But Max’s control was renowned.It was the reason he’d risen to power, why every corner of his territory operated as smoothly as a well-oiled machine.
And so he stayed back.Not away—he’d never truly be away from her—but back, watching, waiting.Lexie was stubborn as hell, and she’d never accept his help unless she asked for it.Until she admitted that she needed him, he’d bide his time.He had to.
He glanced at his second-in-command, Ramone, who stood silently nearby.“Find out what’s going on,” Max ordered quietly.
Ramone didn’t hesitate.“Got it,” he replied with a brief nod, melting into the crowd with a grace that always impressed Max.Ramone wasn’t a small man; his imposing frame and steely gaze were usually enough to stop trouble before it started.But somehow, when the situation called for it, Ramone could fade into the shadows, invisible to all but those he chose to confront.It was a skill Max respected but had never needed to cultivate himself.
No, Max’s strength lay in commanding attention, not avoiding it.He understood people—what they wanted, what they feared, and what they needed to hear to fall in line.Whether it was an ambitious underling or a rival looking to make a move, Max knew exactly how to bend them to his will.It was why the “family” thrived under his leadership.Disloyalty was dealt with swiftly, loyalty was rewarded generously, and no one dared to challenge his rule.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, Max didn’t just control the family; he controlled the game.He had a finger in every pot—construction, imports, logistics, even politics.Drugs were carefully controlled to keep the insane designer garbage out of his city.He despised drug use, but understood that some people sought solace in that destructive crutch.Rather than allow chaos to fester, he ensured that every aspect of the drug trade within his territory was tightly controlled, with all profits funneled into drug rehabilitation centers.It wasn’t just about power—it was about maintaining order.The kind of order that kept people in line, minimized harm, and ensured the family’s survival.
But none of it meant anything as he watched Lexie retreat back across the ballroom.The dress she wore clung to her curves, making her look both stunning and vulnerable, and it made his chest tighten with equal parts desire and frustration.She didn’t belong with Enzo.She didn’t belong in that ridiculous dress.She belonged with him.
And yet, he knew he couldn’t force her hand.Not now.Not after everything that had happened.So he’d wait.He’d figure out what was going on, dismantle the problem piece by piece, and make sure Lexie knew that he’d always be there for her—whether she could admit she needed him or not.
For now, patience.But if anyone hurt her again, patience would no longer be an option.Max would burn down the entire Pacific Northwest if that was what it took to keep her safe.
Chapter 6
Therewasasmallstir by the door, but Max didn’t so much as glance in that direction.Whatever minor commotion was happening there wasn’t enough to distract him from the real problem at hand: Lexie.She stood stiffly next to Enzo Santorini, the man she’d arrived with, radiating discomfort.Her rigid posture and averted gaze only heightened Max’s simmering frustration.She was so clearly out of place here, and Max couldn’t shake the outraged questions clawing at him about why she’d even agreed to show up on that thug’s arm.
Enzo was an ambitious but low-level operative, little more than a blunt instrument in a world that required precision.Max had no patience for men like him—hammers when the job called for a needle and thread.Subtlety was a weapon far more powerful than brute force, something Enzo had clearly never grasped.The man reacted to immediate situations without thought for the long game, making him more of a liability than an asset.
