writtenbykenna
Twenty-two-year-old Anastasia "Ana" Volkov has spent most of her life learning how to survive her father. Stay quiet. Don't argue. Don't give him another reason to be angry.
But when Viktor Volkov's debts finally catch up with him, Ana discovers there is one thing left he is willing to trade.
Her.
Nikolai Morozov, twenty-four-year-old heir to one of New York's most powerful Russian Bratva families, never wanted Anastasia. As far as he's concerned, she is another complication created by her father-and he intends to keep his distance until the debt between their families is settled.
There's only one problem.
Ana isn't anything like the spoiled, willing participant Nikolai expected.
The longer they're forced together, the more he notices the things she tries desperately to hide: the fear behind her stubbornness, the way she flinches at raised voices, and the strength it takes for her to keep fighting for control of a life everyone else keeps trying to decide for her.
Hatred becomes understanding.
Understanding becomes protection.
And somewhere between late-night arguments, dangerous enemies, forced proximity, and one very inconvenient bed, Nikolai realizes he's already fallen.
Hard.
But in their world, loving someone gives your enemies something to take.
And when Ana becomes a target in a war much bigger than her father's debt, Nikolai is prepared to tear apart everything he was raised to protect to keep her safe.
The problem is, Ana doesn't want another man deciding her future-even if that man would burn New York to the ground for her.
This time, she intends to choose for herself.