Checkmate

One night. One twisted game. One man who changed everything.

Ivan Lebedev is ruthless, brilliant, and devastatingly beautiful, the kind of danger that wears tailored suits and delivers threats like vows. He doesn't ask. He takes. And the night he chose me, my life stopped being my own.
He claimed me. Caged me. Built a lie so convincing the world believes I belong to him, ruined, untouchable, off-limits to anyone but Ivan himself.
It's the only way to keep me alive.
In a world ruled by power, blood, and men who collect women like trophies, Ivan's protection comes at a cost. To survive, we must play a dangerous game of deception, where desire is a weapon, obedience is expected, and trust is a liability neither of us can afford.
The lie is protection.
The cage is safety.
But the longer I stay, the harder it becomes to remember which side of the locked door I want to be on.
Every rule he makes, I want to break. Every crack in his control reveals something darker beneath the surface, and God help me, I want to see how deep it goes.
He says captivity keeps me alive.
I say it's killing me slowly.
We're both right.
And neither of us is letting go.

Book Two in the Monsters & Men series. A connected standalone set in the same dangerous underworld. Can be read independently.

⚠️ Content Disclaimer ⚠️
This work contains mature themes and potentially triggering content, including but not limited to: violence, death, emotional abuse, manipulation, trauma, sexual tension, and morally complex relationships.
Copyright Disclaimer
© MaryRose 2025
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and settings are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is purely coincidental. No part of this story may be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any form without the author's signed authorization.