The Doll and the Dragon

Scarlett Dubois: "Aleksei Drakonov", she spat, the name a curse on her lips, "challenged me like no man ever had. As shrewd and calculating as I am, that's probably why we always clashed. I craved his downfall, to see him suffer and understand the true meaning of 'Scarlett The Doll' Dubois. But marriage? Now that, was never part of the goddamn plan, especially not to a man with those infuriatingly captivating gray eyes."

Aleksei Drakonov: "The name Scarlett Dubois used to grate on me. Everywhere I turned, it was whispers and fear, the whole damn underworld kowtowing to a porcelain doll. My pride got the better of me, figured I'd give her a taste of her own medicine. Hit one of her casinos, thought it'd be a message, a power play. But that woman... she didn't play nice. Retaliated with a raid so brutal it left chills down my spine. Broken bones everywhere, and a goddamn Queen of Spades pinned to my Casino manager's chest. Right then, I understood. People weren't just scared of her, they were... enthralled. Scarlett Dubois took no prisoners, and that, twisted as it may be, was something I admired. Maybe even craved. One way or another, I had to have her in my game."