She didn’t question how I knew, but I assumed that she reasoned it away. Her mother’s death was public knowledge; the information was readily available to anyone who did even a cursory internet search for Ron Fitzgerald.
“I get why you’re so fiercely protective of your father,” I said, my tone gentling in the face of her grief. “Keep being naïve, Bambi. You’ll be happier that way. Leave all this alone, and I’ll leave you alone. And I won’t hurt your dad.”
Instead of relaxing, she stiffened with renewed indignation. “Stop telling me I’m naïve. I’m not stupid, Max. And I’m not weak. I’m not dropping this until you do.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I didn’t say you’re stupid. And I’m starting to get that you’re not weak, no matter how delicate you look. But you have to keep your pretty nose out of this. The Bratva is far more dangerous to you than I am, and if you keep digging, they’ll eventually take notice.”
I would never hurt her, but I knew what those animals could do to an innocent woman. I’d never allow them anywhere near Alexandra.
She scoffed, oblivious to the threat they posed. “You don’t get it, do you? There is no Bratva conspiracy. I know my dad. He’s a good person.”
I pressed my lips together, holding in more argumentative words. Clearly, they would get me nowhere.
“I’m sorry I brought this into your life.” I didn’t bother repeating that she was naïve. That would only piss her off, and I needed her to listen. “What can I say to make you steer clear of all this? I told you I wouldn’t let you get hurt, and if you go digging up dirt on the Russians—or even if my own family finds out about your little investigation—you’ll have a target on your back.”
She met me squarely in the eye, defiant no matter how I tried to reason with her. “You can’t make me drop this. Not until you do. You’re the threat here, Max. No one else. My dad isn’t safe until I convince you to let this go.”
I grimaced. “I already told you I’m not going to attack him. Why are you being so difficult?”
She shook her head. “You think you’re protecting your family. I’m protecting mine. I’ll do whatever I have to do in order to keep my father safe.”
I ignored the flutter of fear in my gut and fixed her with a cool stare. “Are you thinking of going to the cops again, Alexandra?” My tone was as cold as steel, but there was no edge to the threat. I’d already showed my hand, and I didn’t have much leverage to keep her in line anymore.
Her calm expression didn’t betray even a hint of fear in the face of my menace. Why wasn’t she afraid of me? It was unbelievably frustrating that she wasn’t at all intimidated into cooperating with my demands. Hardened criminals pissed themselves when I scowled in their direction. Alexandra simply flipped her long, shining hair over her shoulder and looked directly into my ruined face.
“No, I won’t go to the cops. Because despite what you did to me, I don’t think you deserve to go to jail. Whatever awful thing happened to you, I believe it’s driven you to this madness. Jail won’t help you.”
Shock punched me, but I kept my face carefully blank. “You really think I’m insane?”
“I think you’re troubled,” she countered gently. “And I think your family told you lies about my dad. You know what?” Her eyes brightened with sudden understanding. “You can keep looking for proof that my father colluded with the Bratva. As long as you’re not planning on hurting him, you can investigate to your heart’s content. Because you won’t find anything to use against him. But I’m still asking you to drop it, for your own sake. Stalking my dad isn’t safe. If you’re caught, you will go to jail, and I’ll have nothing to do with it.”
Something swelled at the center of my chest, and I resisted the urge to rub my sternum. Her concern did something weird to me. I wasn’t at all comfortable with the sensation.
I blew out a long sigh. At least she’d agreed to walk away from all this. At least she would be safe.
“Okay. That’s fine. You just stay out of it, and I’ll do what I have to do.”
Her eyes tightened with some emotion I couldn’t quite identify, and suddenly her hand closed around mine. I stared at her slender fingers where they clutched at me, utterly baffled and a little unnerved.
She was touching me. Willingly. Urgently.
The heat of her tender touch sent a pulse of insidious warmth into my skin. I couldn’t bring myself to pull away.
“You don’t have to do this,” she said softly. “You have a choice, Max.”