[actively editing] With her nose in books and his brawn getting him nowhere on or off the ice, they find themselves drawn together, sharing their baggage and learning what it might mean for each of them to love again. Jake Bryers is no stranger to the pressures of being a professional hockey player. It's something that he's dealt with consistently for the past fifteen years. Throughout his career, he's experienced it all-the electric thrill of winning divisions and conference titles, and even making it to the Stanley Cup Finals on more than one occasion. His dream was always to skate the cup at least once, but as he enters the late stage of his long, tumultuous career, he finds himself struggling to perform like he once had as a younger, inspired player. Harper Clark has been proficient at one thing throughout her life-constantly moving forward without really going anywhere. After having moved to the Big Apple to pursue a better life outside of the dangerous one she found herself leading in the Midwest, she finds herself stagnating after getting her degree from Columbia. She quietly enjoys her job at the public library, treading water while the undeniable feeling of discontent grows stronger within her. It's nothing short of fate when Jake and Harper happen to cross paths at the library, and though their lives couldn't be any more different, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another as they try to navigate mending each other's wounded hearts.

Kaya Emerson has spent her entire life being made to feel like she's too much, too big, too emotional, too unlovable. Raised in a house of cruelty where her stepmother's venom runs deeper than blood, Kaya's only goal is to survive the day, shrink herself, and never be seen. Until she witnesses a man being murdered. And the killer turns to look at her. Cold. Dangerous. Beautiful in a way the devil himself would envy. 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙤 - mafia king, calculated killer, a man who turns bloodshed into an art. She runs. But he hunts. And when he finds her... he doesn't kill her. He keeps her. "You think I'll let you walk away, tesero? After you saw me at my worst? No. Now I need you to see me at my darkest... and still beg for more." Locked in his penthouse with secrets, diamonds, and demons, Kaya finds herself fighting not just for her freedom, but for her sanity. Because the man who should terrify her makes her feel seen. Wanted. Desired. Protected. Worshipped. Even as he drags her deeper into a world of violence and obsession. "I'll ruin you for anyone else, Kaya. They'll look at you, and you'll still be dripping with my name." He's possessive. Ruthless. Addicted to her curves. She's broken, insecure, and dangerously close to falling for her captor. And the scariest part? She's starting to like the way it feels to be his. 𝙈𝘼𝙁𝙄𝘼'𝙎 𝘾𝙐𝙍𝙑𝘼𝘾𝙀𝙊𝙐𝙎 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 [18+] 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 : this book contain body shaming, verbal abuse, mention of suicidal thoughts, graphic violence and murder, NSFW/smut/explicit scenes etc. So read on your own risk. If you don't like it then kindly click off the story than sounding stupid in my comment box.