Nikolas Petrov stood at the edge of the ballroom, his presence impossible to ignore. At 6'5", with dark, curly hair and piercing green-gray eyes, he seemed to command the room without even trying. His tattoos—scattered across his hands, arms, back, and hip—spoke of a life in the shadows, a life that few dared to tread. Rich, ruthless, and untouchable, he had everything. Except for one thing.

Her.

He’d spent five years watching her—his best friend’s fiancée’s best friend—observing the way she moved, the way she smiled. She was simple, working-class, and unaware of the storm she’d ignited in him. But tonight, as she stood by the altar, he couldn’t tear his eyes away. She was everything he never allowed himself to want—and yet, he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone.

As the wedding went on, women flocked to him, but his attention remained fixed on her. One of them, a woman in a sparkling gown, approached, her voice dripping with intention.

“You must be bored, Nikolas,” she said, placing a hand on his arm. “How about a little company?”

Nikolas didn’t even glance at her. “Not interested,” he replied in a low, gravelly voice that made her step back in a hurry.

His gaze flickered back to the woman he’d been watching for years, but the moment was interrupted when it was time for the toast.

Raising his glass, he stood tall and commanded the room with a voice that could melt anyone’s defenses. “To love, loyalty, and prosperity,” he said, eyes briefly meeting hers. “And to those who know what it means to possess everything.”

The room fell silent as glasses clinked, but his mind was elsewhere, consumed with thoughts of her. As the crowd murmured, the same woman in the gown returned, leaning closer.

“You really don’t enjoy the company of women, do you?” she teased.

Nikolas smirked, leaning in just enough for her to hear his words. “I don’t need to enjoy what I already own.”