Jillian Hart didn’t belong in our world. She was an innocent, blinded to our ways and seduced by the charm of the mafia. I was a capo in the Marchetti Family, groomed to take control one day, and my father was the Boss, the Don. Damon Marchetti was a well-known name in the mafiosi. We never would’ve crossed paths if not for a fender bender with the wrong truck on the expressway. After escorting her to the emergency room as a precaution, I discovered she had business ties to a rival family. Simply being seen with me put her in jeopardy, so I kept her close for her own safety. But one thing led to another, and she became more than my charge. I gave her one warning about my life. One chance to decide to stay or leave. She chose to stay. Until all hell broke loose. Then I pushed too hard, and my ever-present alter ego took control. If she thought I gave up easily when the chips were down, she had another warning coming.

Jillian didn’t heed my warning . . . but then, neither did I. She didn’t know her life was still in danger or that her every move was being watched. Convincing her that she needed my protection required all my resources. Even then, she didn’t want me around. Making her fall in love with me again would be nearly impossible. But I’m Damon Marchetti, and I don’t know how or when to quit.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, life blew up in my face without warning. The missing pieces of the puzzle weren’t clear, and the stakes were too high to merely hope for the best. Absolute facts I’d believed my entire life turned out to be lies and the truth was harder to accept than the family ever realized. Protecting my loved ones was my only priority. Any threat had to be eliminated—no matter the consequences. How deep did the treachery go? Only one way to find out.