She never imagined love would find her. Not after everything she'd been through. But sometimes, life has its own plans. What started as a simple deal between her and Nathaniel slowly turned into something neither of them expected. He cared for her in ways that felt too real to ignore, and she found herself falling too. They tried to hold on, to make it work despite the cracks. But love isn't always enough. But how long can two people keep holding on til one breaks ?

Cairus Music was the only thing that ever listened back. Every note I played held control, precision-something my life never gave me after my parents were taken in a mafia raid. I built myself from silence into perfection, a name people respected, a sound they couldn't forget. But at this university, something feels wrong. Eyes linger too long. Footsteps echo when no one's there. The past I buried is breathing down my neck. And then there's Vance. Loud where I'm quiet. Reckless where I'm controlled. Dangerous in ways I can't read. He watches me like he already knows something I don't. Like I'm part of a rhythm I never chose. I don't trust him. But somehow, I can't ignore him either. Vance I don't fail. I just don't care-about classes, rules, or anything this place pretends matters. But I need Adrian to pass, so I play along. Show up. Pretend. Then I hear him. Caius. Every note he plays feels too perfect, too controlled-like he's hiding something under all that precision. And I know secrets when I see them. I've lived in them. He thinks he's untouchable. Untamed. He's wrong. Because I see the cracks-the way he looks over his shoulder, the tension in his hands. Someone's already hunting him. And the worst part? I don't know if I want to protect him... or be the one who breaks him.

#BOOK 1 of The Deadly Series In a world where trust is a luxury, secrets are deadly, and love is the most dangerous weapon of all... Avery Caine thought she was just another orphan with a quiet life-until the brutal murder of her guardian shatters everything she knows. Now, hunted and tangled in a past she doesn't remember, she has only one choice: trust him. Rick Conrad. Cold. Dangerous. A man with too many demons and not enough patience. He works in the shadows, fueled by vengeance, but when his path collides with Avery's, the last thing he expects is her-defiant, tempting, and completely off-limits. But danger has a way of pulling people together. And sometimes, the line between hate and desire is razor-thin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 🔥 "Piccola," he murmured, tilting his head slightly. His voice was smooth-dangerous in the way it sent a shiver down my spine. "Even when I've warned you a million times about rolling your eyes at me... you still make the same mistake." My throat dried. He leaned in, his lips ghosting over the shell of my ear. His next words were a slow, deliberate whisper. "Or maybe..." His fingers trailed up my arm, featherlight. "You do it on purpose." I swallowed hard. "Maybe you want to make the same mistake again and again... just to be punished." My breath hitched. I bit my lip, and the moment I did, his gaze dropped-straight to my mouth. Something in his eyes flickered. Darkened. Before I could even think, his lips crashed against mine-hard, demanding, leaving no room for hesitation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As enemies close in and the past refuses to stay buried, Avery and Rick must decide-survive apart or burn together. One thing's for sure. They were never meant to fall in love. But it's far too late for that.