Book one in a sizzling new mafia series by bestselling romance author Michelle St. James They call him the Lion. The son of a high-ranking bratva leader, Lyonya Antonov has been waiting patiently to avenge his father’s imprisonment and take his rightful place at the top of the mafia food chain. He’s just missing one piece of the puzzle - and her name is Kira Baranov. Kira Baranov is a mafia princess with no power. It might be the 21st century in the rest of the world, but in the bratva, Kira might as well be a 50s housewife. This despite the fact that her father, Viktor Baranov, has taught her everything he knows. Lyon knows Viktor is a king without an heir Kira knows she can’t keep the Baranovs in power without a partner of the male persuasion. The wolves are at the gates, vying for power in a world where one mistake can be deadly. But when an arranged marriage becomes sizzling desire, the line blurs dangerously between business and pleasure—and it may cost Lyon and Kira their lives. It's a Savage Empire - and it's not your mother’s mob.

It was supposed to be a business arrangement: marry Kira Baranov, take over the Russian mafia, live separate lives. Until Lyon Antonov fell in love. Kira Baranov had a plan: marry Lyon Antonov and find a way to claim a power of her own. Then business became pleasure and pleasure became love. When tragedy forced Kira to admit she’d gotten too close, she did the only things she could do—run. But she should have know there was no running from the Lion. When he finds her and brings her home, it’s not to revisit their passion, but to make her pay for her betrayal. Then the bratva tips into a deadly war for control, and betrayal is revealed from another corner. Now Lyon needs all the help he can get—and his most powerful ally may be the one woman he can’t afford to trust again.

Lyon Antonov knows he shouldn’t trust his wife. Their arrangement was meant to be purely business. Then he fell in love and Kira betrayed him, as he should have known she would. But calling her the enemy was easier when she was far away. Now that she’s back—in his home, in his bed—keeping her out of his heart is another matter entirely. Kira Baranov married the man they call the Lion for one reason: to gain power of her own. Her ambition cost his father her life. Falling in love with Lyon Antonov only made her more ashamed. Living in the lap of luxury with a controlling and breathtakingly gorgeous bratva boss wasn’t nearly enough to assuage her guilt—but that was before she found out she’d pregnant with the Lion’s baby. Now she doesn’t know who he is: cold-blooded monster or the one person left she can trust. As they circle each other warily, powerful enemies are revealed, including a significant one from Lyon’s past. But as the turf war escalates, the one question neither can seem to answer is whether they can truly trust each other—or whether they’re sleeping with the one person most capable of bringing about their ruin.