Dimitri Sokolov was a man who owned the world.

Born into nothing, forged in blood, and risen through fire, he had built an empire that stretched across continents. His name was whispered in dark corridors, feared in boardrooms, and worshipped in underground circles. A man of war before he became a man of crime, Dimitri had served in the military, honing his body and mind into a lethal weapon. He had been a soldier, a ghost in the shadows, the kind of man who could walk into hell and come out untouched.

But war had only been the beginning.

When the world of uniforms and orders no longer served him, he carved his own path—one paved in power, violence, and unimaginable wealth. Now, he was untouchable. A billionaire many times over, he owned private islands, luxury penthouses, fleets of cars, and a syndicate that controlled everything from arms deals to high-stakes heists. There was nothing he couldn’t buy. No one he couldn’t break.

And yet, boredom had begun to creep in.

Power was intoxicating, but even he had grown tired of predictable victories. That was until his men brought her in.

The girl was bound, hands tied in front of her, eyes flashing with fury as she was dragged into the center of the dimly lit room. Dimitri took a slow sip of whiskey, his deep voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

“Who is she?”

His second-in-command, Luka, shrugged. “We intercepted the convoy. High-profile target. Ransom will be huge.”

Dimitri stood, towering over her, his tailored suit fitting his powerful frame like a second skin. He moved closer, his presence suffocating, commanding.

She glared up at him, her chin lifting, refusing to cower.

Interesting.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He liked fighters. They made things more… fun.

He reached out, tilting her face up with two fingers. Smooth skin, lips too soft for someone who had just been dragged from a hostage situation. The silk of her dress, the diamond earrings—she wasn’t just some rich man’s daughter. There was something more.