Chapter 1

Caroline Salvatore's outward simplicity masked a labyrinth of secrets, woven so deftly that even her best friend remained oblivious to the trembling vulnerability hidden beneath her poised demeanour. Her strength was a facade, unyielding and impenetrable to the world, until the fateful moment when everything shifted.

Nick Hayes, the reigning monarch of the underworld, commanded a legion of men who quivered at the mere mention of his name. His reputation for ruthless brutality preceded him, casting a shadow over even the darkest corners of the criminal empire, until...