Mara
My brother sent me to an Italian castle to disappear. To protect me from the war he started. His plan to protect me? Hide me with a man twice my age—a man carved from ice and discipline. Nicolo Esposito doesn’t bend. Doesn’t feel. Doesn’t fall…especially not for someone they tried to break. But I don’t care. Freedom is the only thing I want, and I’ll burn every rule he gives me to get it. Except every ruthless part of him makes me want something else entirely. Emiliano took my choices. Nicolo steals every inch of my soul—without permission, without remorse. And I swear I’ll make him lose the control he worships. But when his enemies put a target on my back, the truth becomes lethal.
Will he give me back to the life that destroyed me… Or will he risk his empire, his deal, and his life to keep me?
Nicolo
My ward.
My responsibility.
My ruin.
Discipline built my empire. So, when the Capo of the Camorra offers a deal. Protect his sister in exchange for the woman who ruined me—I accept. Hide Mara. Guard her. Don’t touch her. But Mara Folonari is a problem I can’t ignore—too defiant, too tempting, too innocent for a monster like me. I was meant to protect her. Not want her. Not claim her. Yet the moment she enters my home…my rules break. The moment she pushes too far…my control snaps. Now the Camorra wants her back. Her brother demands I hand her over. And I face the only choice that’s ever mattered.
Obey the order that built my kingdom… Or let the flames consume everything to keep the woman I was never meant to touch.
My brother sent me to an Italian castle to disappear. To protect me from the war he started. His plan to protect me? Hide me with a man twice my age—a man carved from ice and discipline. Nicolo Esposito doesn’t bend. Doesn’t feel. Doesn’t fall…especially not for someone they tried to break. But I don’t care. Freedom is the only thing I want, and I’ll burn every rule he gives me to get it. Except every ruthless part of him makes me want something else entirely. Emiliano took my choices. Nicolo steals every inch of my soul—without permission, without remorse. And I swear I’ll make him lose the control he worships. But when his enemies put a target on my back, the truth becomes lethal.
Will he give me back to the life that destroyed me… Or will he risk his empire, his deal, and his life to keep me?
Nicolo
My ward.
My responsibility.
My ruin.
Discipline built my empire. So, when the Capo of the Camorra offers a deal. Protect his sister in exchange for the woman who ruined me—I accept. Hide Mara. Guard her. Don’t touch her. But Mara Folonari is a problem I can’t ignore—too defiant, too tempting, too innocent for a monster like me. I was meant to protect her. Not want her. Not claim her. Yet the moment she enters my home…my rules break. The moment she pushes too far…my control snaps. Now the Camorra wants her back. Her brother demands I hand her over. And I face the only choice that’s ever mattered.
Obey the order that built my kingdom… Or let the flames consume everything to keep the woman I was never meant to touch.