Brief

The Russian and Italian mobs have allied, and only one thing stands in their way: the existence of De Lange family members. Andrei, a mob boss who owns a sex slavery club falls for one of his newest members, who happens to be a De Lange. Andrei attempts to save her in the hopes that she can help save his soul.

What We Liked

- This is a forbidden love story that pulls no punches--there are graphic torture scenes with fully detailed blood spatters and pained reactions. The characters are murderers who are irrevocably damaged by their past and actions. This is a grown up Twilight that asks the questions of "Can love save someone?" and "What will people risk for the ones they love?" It shows the humanity and the evil present in all the characters.
- Film: As a film, this would be an action-packed thriller with great side plots and characters that would leave audiences feeling an adrenaline rush as they left the theater.
- TV: This sexy thriller would be perfect for a premium streaming service--viewers would tune in every week to watch both the romance develop between Alice and Andrei and to watch as the mafia world enters the brink of war.
- Key points: Dark; Part of a larger world; Strong romance stories; Strong family stories; Sexy.

Synopsis

Andrei Petrov has pledged himself to the Italian families. An order is out to kill any De Lange left alive. Andrei runs a club that is the center of a prostitution and sex slavery ring, but he doesn't know how the women are getting in. Many women in his club are tortured and killed for the entertainment of their new owners. Andrei hates the club and considers it his prison as well as theirs. Andrei has a lot of personal issues and always wears gloves so that he doesn't have to ever accidentally touch another person.

One day, a new girl is delivered in a shipment of slaves--Alice De Lange. Andrei is immediately drawn to her, and after watching her on the camera from her prison for a few days, he brings her into his house inside of the club instead. Alice is afraid but attracted to him, as he is strikingly handsome. He tells her he wants to protect her, and lies to the other members of the mafia that she is his private whore when he brings her to a mafia family dinner. Andrei disguises Alice as his wife and re-enrolls her in her college, but is unable to contain his jealousy and soon beats up her lab partner for putting his arm around her. Andrei and Alice grow closer and closer together, slowly learning to trust each other. Andrei promises Alice that all she has to do is ask and he will kill her quickly, rather than the torture he normally bestows on his victims.

A new shipment of women comes in, and Andrei recognizes one of them as Elena, his stepmother who tried to rape him before he was even a teenager. He tortures her until she reveals that the De Lange family is responsible for capturing and bringing the women. Andrei fears for Alice's life. Phoenix, Andrei's mentor, offers Alice a choice, a way to escape and never see Andrei again but be safe, but Alice chooses Andrei. Alice and Andrei lose their virginity together. The next day, the head of the Italian mafia, the Sinacores, comes to America and Andrei is warned he has to get rid of Alice. Andrei's bodyguard, Ax, drives Alice to a jet plane waiting with a man called Dr. Death and offers her a new life, with riches and safety, but she refuses to get in and chooses Andrei instead. The group goes back to the club just as the Italians meet up with Andrei and tell him that he is the true Sinacore heir and he is the new boss of the Sinacores. When Alice enters the club, Andrei is forced by Chase Abandonato to whip her, as Chase and the others have known all along that she is a De Lange. He whips her until she begs him to kill her and finally Chase and the others allow it to stop and tell him he can take her place instead. Andrei is tortured by each of the other mafia members until he passes out from the pain. In the morning, Alice and Andrei reunite and begin to plan their marriage together.

About The Author

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. Rachel lives in Idaho with her husband, son, and two boxers.