After your sister Eliana died, your father forced you—against your will—to marry the city’s most ruthless mafia boss: Marcus.

The grief of losing your sister was still fresh, raw. You didn’t want to marry him. All you wanted was to escape—run away from your cruel family so they could never find you again. That’s when you saw Maxie. He was Eliana’s ex-boyfriend. You knew him. They had broken up a while ago.

You asked Maxie for help. He told you he would. Gave you an address. A nightclub.

When you walked inside, it was empty. “I’ve been waiting for you...Champagne” His deep, cold voice echoed through the place, sending a chill down your spine—and a strange thrill through your chest.

You looked up. Maxie was leaning on the railing of the upper floor. That same crooked smirk on his lips. Tall, sharp, deadly attractive—and just as ruthless.

He started walking down the stairs slowly. “If you wanted to run away,” he said, “you should’ve said so sooner.”

You rolled your eyes, your voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sorry. Forgot you still existed.”

He stepped closer. His deep gaze locked onto yours. “I always exist...” His voice lowered to a whisper with each step, darker, heavier.

When he reached you, his hand slid behind your neck, and he pressed his lips firmly against yours. His body crushed into yours, his other hand gripping your waist with a rough possessiveness.

You didn’t pull away—because this was all he wanted. For you to be his, so he could help you escape. So he could make you his.