I’m not a girl who expects to be saved.

I gave up on fairytales a long time ago.

So when my knight in shining Armani stalks into town and delivers me from my tragic fate, I’m grateful.

Darius Prince shouldn’t be in the seedy strip club where I’m paying off my mother’s debts, one piece of my soul at a time. And he definitely shouldn’t be the one who claims me in exchange for a suitcase full of trust fund cash and a deal inked in blood.

His dark eyes shine with a hatred so deadly, I wonder why he wants me at all. Especially when I find out he thinks I’m somehow connected to his twin sister’s disappearance.

Darius doesn’t rescue me. Instead, he drags me into his web of tragic secrets and forbidden desires. He binds me so tight, I can’t find my way out of his grasp. Not that it would make a difference. Escaping my fate isn’t an option.

They say every ending is a new beginning. I just didn’t expect my beginning to be so cruel.

Proceed with caution: This isn’t just an enemies-to-lovers dark romance. Listener's discretion is advised. Cruel Beginnings features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. For all content warnings, check the author's websites. Cruel Beginnings is book one of Darius and Birdie's story. It is a trilogy, and the books must be heard in order.