Blood and Ink/Coming Soon

Honey Peony Riorson is funny and energetic, but above all, she loves writing. For her, writing is how she makes sense of the world and tells the stories she can't say aloud. Though her wealthy parents offer help, Honey refuses-she wants to earn her place on her own.

To earn a recommendation letter, she must tutor Malakai "Kai" Green, the school's star boxer. Kai is cocky and infuriating-but he's failing English. If he doesn't raise his grade to a B by a set deadline, he'll be kicked off the boxing team, one of the few constants in his life.

What nobody knows is that Kai fights in underground, illegal matches. He does it to pay for his mom, who is sick, and for other expenses he cannot explain. Growing up, he watched his mother crushed by his father's controlling nature. From that, Kai learned that people leave-and if everyone leaves, there's no reason to let anyone in.

She sees beneath his tough exterior; he sees the freedom her writing gives her, something he's never allowed himself.

"-and then he had the audacity to say my argument wasn't complete enough, which is rich coming from someone who clearly doesn't comprehend basic analysis-"

"Shut up."

"-like, did he even read the material? Because I'm starting to think-"

"I said stop."

"-he just skimmed SparkNotes and called it a day." I kept smiling, swinging my legs off the ledge.
He didn't respond, just stared out at the city and took a drag of-

"Ooh, is that weed?"

"Yeah."

"Can I try?"

"No."

"Come on, Greenie. Don't be stingy."

"You don't even smoke."

"So? There's a first time for everything."

"Please?"

"...Fine." "But be careful, ma. Don't choke on me."

"I'll be fine."

"Open your mouth."

"What?"

"You heard me. Open."

But remember, a riorson is never just a riorson. Because a riorson was once a Moretti.
Moretti mean guns.
Moretti means danger.
Moretti means war.

Not your average teen romance.
Not your average mafia romance.

But maybe something in between.