She faints in a grocery store—but the mafia boss who catches her notices hidden bruises and uncovers a truth that changes everything

she was ready.

Nikolai had already spoken with the library’s board and quietly funded long-overdue security upgrades.

“You threatened my workplace, didn’t you?” Allara asked over dinner one evening.

“I made a donation.”

“With menace?”

“With clarity.”

She laughed.

It caught them both off guard.

After that, dinner became a ritual.

They sat at one end of Nikolai’s continue reading …