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

” he said.

“Yes, you do. You just call it something else.”

He was the first to look away.

By the third week, the bruising on her throat had faded. She had gained enough weight that her face no longer looked hollowed out. She stopped waking every hour to check the lock.

And every evening, Nikolai was there.

Never pressing.

Never touching without permission.continue reading …