A NEW Novel by AMBER DAULTON
Blurb
Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?
Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.
After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them.
When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?
– Book two in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.
– Scenes featuring drug distribution, violence, kidnapping, and attempted sexual assault may be uncomfortable for some readers.
– No cheating. HEA guaranteed!
Excerpt
Drina inhaled the warm air. The vast canvas of glass, concrete, and steel spread toward the harsh, craggy desert where hazy mountains melded with the horizon. Rubén ruled his empire from one of the highest mountains in the area. Rather, the land was more of a gigantic, shrub-covered hill than a true mountain, the perfect vantage point for his citadel.
“Nice view.”
“Oh!” She whipped around and glared at Rubén. “Haven’t you heard of knocking?”
“Not in my own house.” He stuffed his key ring into his pants pocket and crossed the threshold. His mouth twitched up and revealed his dimple. “The doctor says you’re in excellent health. I want you desperate for me. So needy you will say or do anything I demand.”
Excellent health—good. Though if she had a disease, Rubén would probably keep his distance. She notched up her chin. “If I refuse?”
He seized the space between them and cupped her face.
“Stop.” She jerked away and twitched her nose. The irritating stench of cloves and menthol clung to his skin and clothes as though someone had smoked around him. “I’m not your property, no matter how much money you spend.”
“You’re more than that, Drina. You’re the only woman who has ever dumped me. Now, you will never escape me again.”
She gulped, trapped between her captor and the balcony rail. If he tossed her over, the fall probably wouldn’t kill her as long as she didn’t land on a cactus or tumble down the hill. The breeze whipped at her hair, carrying the fresh aroma of sun-heated earth and desert flowers. Dogs barked from somewhere on the premises while the sounds of muted gunfire rent the air. The rumble of distant traffic reverberated in her ears.
As he stroked her blemished cheek, she bit her nails against her palms. “Why do you always touch the scarred one?”
“Because you’re a survivor. Strength turns me on,” he admitted. “When you’re ready, I want you to tell me everything that happened the night the Tronco de la Muertes grabbed you.”
“Why do you care?”
He feathered his thumb across her bottom lip. “You are mine—body and soul. Your history is mine to know.”
She swallowed hard. How would she escape this nightmare? She’d tried twice to flee the distribution center, and Soler’s thugs beat her for her efforts. Would Rubén order Calvillo or someone else to slap her around? Would he do it himself? The nuts, granola, and toast in her belly churned.
A hint of sadness dwelt in the bottomless pools of his hazel-green irises, the unusual shade a mirror to Sera’s. Then a shield fell over his face, hardening him into the beast of a man she didn’t know. Didn’t want to know. “Rubén, I—”
“No words. Kiss me.”
Add to Goodreads
Check it out on BookBub
Download Today
Download Direct from the Author Lost In His Spiderwebs Direct
Universal books2read.com
About the Author
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
Find her here: linktr.ee Amber Daulton
M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧ 