Xander (Billionaire Racers Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hormones would like to take him out to play, but I need the kind of man who will take orders from me.
    I start my pitch. “We need protection.”
    “You think I am getting involved with the other Families over an old man who sent me to prison?” He sounds genuinely curious.
    “Yes.” I try that power of attraction thing, put all my hopes and beliefs (and desperation too, although I’m not telling him that) into that one word. If I want it to happen badly enough, it should. That’s how life’s supposed to work.
    Yeah.
    I’m laughing right along with you.
    He stares down at me for a long minute. Behind him, the yacht rises and falls with each soft swell of the harbor water. A ten-million-dollar yacht, custom-made for Xander Volkov, who flies boats across the ocean and brings home cups. Behind me, the muted roar of the party spills out of the yacht club, dancers moving to the primitive throb of the bass beat. The lights of the Miami downtown wink down at the marina, like ten-carat stars in Harry Winston’s best.
    “Tell me why,” he growls. He leans in, bracing his arm over my head, and for just a minute I drink in the heat and the weight of him. He’s standing between me and the rest of the world—and I like it. I still need to work a yes out of him, because even though I can’t see around him, I know what’s out there. The Banda won’t stop until they’ve got what they want.
    “We’ve got a family making a move on us. Nothing too serious, not yet, but they’re harassing me. Making threats.”
    “You are fucking kidding me?” Tension radiates from Xander’s body, and I can’t tell if he’s angry with me for being in this situation or for not coming to him from the get-go. Or maybe it’s the day, the reason, our still way-too-public position on the dock… I’ve never understood how Xander thinks, and time hasn’t solved that problem for me.

    XANDER
    If Lily believes she can waltz into the club, hit me with her demand, and then fucking walk out of my life a free woman, she is a crazy woman. I would never let her walk out of here unprotected if she has trouble dogging her heels. Her words piss me off, make me angry… and make me scared too. Not of the Banda—I’ll take care of them—but because she could have been hurt and I would have found out too late. With Lily, I am never by her side. I am watching and waiting, and it is time that ends. She is old enough now for what I want.
    “You have a problem? You come to me.” I do not care about the shit that has gone down between our families and us, or how awkward she may find it being married to a total stranger. Protecting her is my job, and it has been ever since we exchanged vows.
    “I’ve got it under control so far.” She hunches her shoulders, stilling. I do not believe her. Our world is far too dangerous for her, and she has refused to learn its rules.
    “You have names for me?”
    She looks anxious. “Don’t kill anyone.”
    “ Da .” Generally, I try to avoid murder, but looking at her face, I can see she does not believe me. I am not justifying myself to her when I can just take care of her business. I am a fixer, and I will fix this.
    “I’m serious.” She crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me. “The Petrov family has gone legal, and we’re not looking to stir shit up. I don’t have the money to pay the Banda off.”
    “I get that you want them gone, but you pay them once and they will always be back.” It is a classic shakedown. Scare the shit out of your mark, and then offer your protection in exchange for a hefty monthly fee. It is like those assholes who infect your computer with a virus only to offer to remove it if you purchase their software. Lily will have the Banda hounding her for the rest of her life unless she makes a stand.
    She knows that too. It’s why she’s here.
    She shakes her head. “I can pay them. I can confront them. Or I can I find protection.”
    “And I am this protection you