Christmas Rivals

She blames me for his death.

She should.

While my brother loved her, I worshipped Camila in silence.

Now she’s mine—by contract, by blood, by force.

I’ve watched her for a year.

Every breath. Every lip bite.

Every night through the wall between us, imagining what I’d do if she were finally mine.

She thinks I’m the monster who let Mikhail die.

She doesn’t know I’d burn the world to keep her breathing.

Every look is a war.

Every touch, a betrayal.

Every night in this penthouse, I’m one locked door away from claiming what’s forbidden.

I can control the bratva.

I can control a city.

But I can’t control the way she looks at me—like I’m her ruin.

Or the way I want her anyway.

When she learns what I’ve been hiding, she’ll have to choose:

Hate the monster who failed her once.

Or love the man who’ll never fail her again.