I never wanted to join the family mafia business but they needed me, so I went to law school to protect my brothers from the blood they shed and the investigations they were under. I watched out for everyone. Thought I saw everything. Except her. Delaney was beautiful and my boss's daughter at the firm where I worked. She was off limits and I couldn’t afford to be distracted. I should never have touched her. One taste and I couldn’t let her go. She stole the heart I never knew I had but our lives were about to collide. Her father vowed to take down organized crime. My brothers were in his crosshairs. And as much as I wanted her, there could be no happy ending for us. Especially once my father gives me a command that could only end one way — with her despising me.

It was supposed to be a basic undercover op. Perform in a strip club, get close to my mark, and do whatever it took to coax him into spilling family secrets. Enticing him was simple. Made men like Marco Russo were more interested in seduction than marriage. Not to mention he was dark, dangerous and easy on the eyes. Our attraction was instant. Undeniable. Establishing a relationship with him was the easy part. Enticing him to share sensitive information took more finesse. But during all those steamy nights together I learned enough to take down his family. Too bad I fell in love with him, too. I ended up with a choice: My job or the man I loved. But maybe what I decided wouldn’t matter. Because once Marco realized who I was and how I’d deceived him, he’d have a choice to make as well. To let me live… or kill me to prove his loyalty to his family. Nobody ever said life was fair.

Growing up, I had sworn never to join the family mafia business. Still, I knew too much and I had to, at the very least, be an associate for the Russo family. In the end, I was sent to law school. In an underworld of criminals, I was a necessary commodity-especially when my brothers had recently spilled so much blood and were currently under investigation. I found myself watching out for everyone. Only, I never saw Delaney coming. She was the beautiful daughter of one of the partners at the firm where I worked. She was strictly off limits during a time when I couldn't afford to be distracted. She was also driven, determined, and refused to accept no for an answer. I never should have touched her, but once I had my first taste, I couldn't let her go. Delaney stole my heart and I didn't even know I had one. But things were about to get ugly. Her father was running for Attorney General, his goal to take down organized crime and end the mafia reign once and for all. And, my father and brothers were in his crosshairs. There was no way Delaney and I would get a happy ending. No way we'd come out unscathed, especially when my father gives me a very specific job to do that could only end one way. . . with Delaney hating me.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1860.