Love never lies… but wedding vows do.

Calista

Remember when I said I was swearing off men forever?

Well... about that.

Turns out I'm actually marrying Ronan Akov—the Bratva boss who romanced me for eight dates while he stole my company behind my back.

That's because my smart scale went off again.

At midnight. Triggered by a stranger who broke into my house while my children slept down the hall.

See, when you bring New York's most dangerous man to his knees, people notice. His enemies want the tool I built—and the woman who runs it. The FBI wants me to help them bury him. And the only shield big enough to cover two kids and their mother… is the last name of the man who broke my heart.

My terms: fake vows, separate bedrooms, zero forgiveness.

He agrees to everything. Then he ruins me anyway—one "You're beautiful" text at a time.

I have every receipt I need to hate my husband. If only my heart would stop deleting the evidence.

Ronan

I lied to the only woman I've ever loved. She caught me. Now, I'll do anything to get her back.

But my world was watching. And they realized what she is: My newest weakness.

Marrying her keeps her safe. It won't make her love me again.

That's fine. I'll sleep in the guest room. I'll wear her hate like a wedding band. Hate, I can work with. It means she still feels something.

To the men hunting my family:

Pray I find you before she does.

To my wife:

Those vows weren't fake, kotyonok.

I meant every word.

Cruel Kiss is book two of the Akov Bratva duet and the conclusion of Ronan and Calista's story. Listen to Cruel Lies first.

Tropes: marriage of convenience; fake vows, real feelings; enemies to lovers, round two; forced proximity; grovel; he falls first, he falls hardest; touch her and you-know-what-happens; protective but not controlling hero (he learns the difference the hard way); morally grey alpha hero; curvy FMC / body worship; strong female lead; scary Bratva boss, secretly soft for her kids.