Velvet Chains

ROMAN

She was supposed to be collateral. A contract. A means to an end.

Then she beat me at chess, refused to flinch when I drew blood, and made me want things a man like me doesn’t deserve.

I’m the heir to Moscow’s most dangerous syndicate. I don’t do mercy. I don’t do love. I do leverage.

But Anya Morozova isn’t leverage anymore.

She’s mine.

ANYA

I signed a marriage contract to save my brother’s life. I expected a monster.

I didn’t expect Roman Volkov to play violin at 3 a.m. like his hands were bleeding. I didn’t expect his rules to feel like safety. I didn’t expect to want this.

He’s a killer. A liar. The most dangerous man in any room.

And I’m starting to think I’d burn beside him if he asked.