“Stop challenging me.” “Or what?” “Or you’ll regret it.” He says, his blue eyes turning dark. “You don’t control me. I’m not one of your employees, and I don’t need a babysitter.” I provoke, trying to walk past him. He grabs me, pressing my back against his chest. His hand wraps around my neck, forcing me to tilt my head up. “Are you all pissy because I didn’t give you my cock?” he whispers in my ear, making my skin shiver. “Or are you so desperate for it you’re doing this just so I’ll punish you with it?” he continues, brushing his nose against my neck. “Is that what you want, sweetheart? You want to be punished?” I close my eyes, feeling his tongue slide across my skin, my nipples hardening, heat spreading between my legs. “You know you deserve it for challenging me.” ✽ ✽ ✽ She swore to hate him. Now, he’s the only one who can save her… Sophia Dempsey never imagined love and danger could walk hand in hand, until a bloodied stranger crashes into her life and changes everything. Heiress to a billion-dollar empire, she’s forced to follow her parents’ will and marry a complete stranger to take over the family business. But the man she blindly marries turns out to be the person she swore to hate — the ruthless head of the mafia family behind her parents’ deaths. Dragged into a marriage built on secrets, blood, and lies, Sophia begins to question everything, especially herself. Because the more she tries to hate him, the more drawn she feels to the cruel, seductive, and dangerously irresistible man. Between passion and vengeance, loyalty and betrayal, she’ll have to choose: run from the man she swore to hate or become the queen of his dark empire.