A wild boy. A sly girl. Cross Donati defines trouble. He does what he wants because he's never known anything different. He's unapologetic, and he owns it. Catherine Marcello is every bit a good girl . . . on the outside. Her entire world is a legacy, and she lives it. She's curious, and she's exploring it. She chases bad things. He never learned to be good. There are late nights, stolen cars, first times, fist fights, leather jackets, beaches, bloody smiles, and life. They are vicious and precious, dangerous and harmless, innocence and sin. They are love. Love is killing for someone.

Fabiano was raised to follow in his father’s footsteps as Consigliere of the Chicago outfit - until the man abandons him. Left to fend for himself, Fabiano is forced to fight for a place in the mafia world. As a ruthless street fighter, he quickly earns his place as the new Enforcer of the Las Vegas Camorra - a man to fear. Leona wants to build a decent life for herself, away from her drug-addicted mother. But soon she catches the attention of a dangerous man - Fabiano Scuderi. Staying out of trouble and living a normal life are near impossible with a man like him.

I was born a monster. Cruelty ran in my veins like poison. Raised to break others. When Aria was given to me in marriage, everyone waited with baited breath to see how fast I’d break her like my father broke his women. Breaking her would have taken little effort. It came naturally to me. I was gladly the monster everyone feared. Until her.

Taking her is my right. Breaking her, my duty. I was always going to choose Helena. I knew it the instant I saw her. She’s different than the others. There’s a darkness about her. Something wild inside her. And it calls to the beast inside me. But she isn’t what I expected. With every word and every touch, she pushes me, burrowing deep under my skin, challenging the rules, and upending history. And all the while, I see how my brother watches her. He wants her, and as the rules stand, she’ll become his in one year’s time. Except that I have no intention of giving her up.

What happened on that island didn’t break me. It twisted me. Corrupted me. Made me into a monster. Although, I guess, it’s true what she says. You can’t become something that wasn’t inside you all along. This was always going to happen. I was always going to take Amelia Willow. History and destiny sealed her fate. Sealed both of ours. For months, I’ve been waiting. Watching. Preparing.