Kidnapped as a child and raised within an Ohio-based Russian mafia post, Erik Pavel has been honed to a razor's edge-ruthless and deadly. Yet, at age fifteen, the head of his brigade deems Erik weak and murders his surrogate mother, fueling him to live for only one thing-revenge. Now closer than ever to the vengeance he seeks, Erik will allow no one to stand in his way. Nicki Nobles fought her way out of a life where survival was key. Now strong and independent, she refuses to let her past dictate her future. After Nicki helps him gather information on his nemesis, Erik is forced to work with her again. Fearing for her safety while fighting an attraction to her, Erik would prefer to keep Nicki out of his life. Seeing so much of herself in the broken man, Nicki agrees to Erik's plan only to discover she's falling for someone who will never believe she can be more than her past. As Erik's plan unfolds, he must learn to rely on Nicki and realize that families aren't always bound by blood and that trusting another doesn't make you weak.