Isabella is desperate for her own independence, but her overprotective father stands in the way of her future. When she demands that she attends a University two hundred miles away from her home, her father only has one exception; a bodyguard. Elio is dedicated to his career to honour his late sister, but when he owes a favour to an ex-mafia boss, he takes body-guarding to a completely new level. Isabella is reckless and likes to push her bodyguards limits. Elio has zero patience and a desire to punish his client. When things start to get heated and unexpected feelings get in the way, their forbidden relationship becomes a distraction when Isabella's life is on the line. Elio is desperate to not let down another important woman in his life. But he can't save everyone, including his own bleeding heart. Tropes: - Mafia Romance - Bodyguard - Age-gap (8 years - FMC is 21 and MMC is 29) - Forbidden Love - Brat FMC/Grumpy MMC - Light BDSM (sub/dom vibes) - Size difference (5'4 & 6'6) - University/College Setting - Past Trauma/Healing - ANGST (so much of it)

In 1883, Klaus Mikaelson wasn't the only monster running from his past. Deep in the wild frontier, he found her-Josephine Blackwell, a sharp-tongued, golden-haired vampire who ruled the West like it was her own kingdom. Together, they burned brighter than the desert sun-until the night he left her behind to chase his curse and his freedom. A century later, he finds her again in Mystic Falls. Still wild. Still immortal. Still furious. But between bloodlines and betrayal, between destiny and desire, love this dangerous doesn't die- it waits. __________________________________________________ "I spent a century hating you." "And yet here you are, still looking at me like you did the night we met." "Don't mistake hatred for longing," she snapped. "I don't," he said, smirking faintly. "I know exactly what longing looks like."