In the glittering cage of a mafia empire, Layla Diren's life is a lie spun in gold and shadows. Her father, a pawn in the ruthless world of Aleksei Volkov, has traded her freedom for his own survival. Now, Layla is Volkov's prize - a defiant spark trapped in his diamond cage, where every luxury hides a chain, and every glance is a battle. Aleksei Volkov is no man - he's a force, a devil cloaked in tailored suits and Russian frost. His black eyes don't just see; they claim. His touch doesn't just burn; it brands. As the king of a blood-soaked underworld, he rules with a cold heart and iron will, and Layla is his latest obsession. But she's no damsel. With Turkish fire in her veins and a heart torn between fear and fury, Layla vows to turn the hunter into her prey. As betrayal and vengeance weave through their world, Layla must navigate a deadly game where love is a weapon and trust is a death sentence. Every step deeper into Aleksei's darkness pulls her closer to losing herself - or forging a power that could bring him to his knees. Will she shatter under his gaze, or will she wield it to burn his empire to ash? The first book in the Divine Menace series, Dawn of the Black Hearts is a seductive saga of forbidden desire, ruthless ambition, and a woman's fight to reclaim her soul from the lord of hell himself.