When Sullivan witnesses her parents being brutally murdered by Justin Lowell, her father's best friend and colleague, her entire world is shattered.
She swears to make Justin pay price for what he did and applies for law school to become a lawyer. It is not easy because she doesn’t want any money from Justin, who is also her legal guardian.
As she navigates the challenges of college life, Katerina keeps a secret: her part-time job at Penthouse Club as an exotic dancer to pay her way through school. But one fateful night, her double life is threatened to be revealed when Justin Lowell walks into the club with Victor Skrovonski, a notorious mafia boss.
Katerina's reality spins out of control as she becomes entangled in the dark crime underworld. A terrible mistake leaves her in dire need of help, and it's only Justin who steps forward to offer support. But their relationship is complicated; he can be cold and distant one moment, then unexpectedly kind the next, leaving Katerina questioning everything about him.
As they grow closer despite the danger surrounding them, a forbidden attraction blooms. Katerina begins to wonder: Does Justin have two personalities or is what she’s believed for the past six years a lie?

Claimed by My Dark Guardian by Lyra TaleSmith, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Claimed by My Dark Guardian

I thought for sure he wanted to kill me.


I thought for sure he thought I was a witch. Didn’t he call me one?


Roxy left after that, leaving me to deal with this mess. What was the mafia boss doing here again, anyway?


Lee nodded. “I take it you’ve heard the news?”


“I told you, Kat,” he lit a cigarette and watched my face. “A lot of people think you’re charming and beautiful… A lot of influential, powerful people.”


I didn’t know what to say. What did that mean? Was it a threat? Did I have to live this life for the rest of my life, even if I didn’t want to, didn’t need to?


“I don’t think I want to entertain him, Lee,” I’d always called him Mr. Lee. Today was different. “I told you that I want out.”


“You did say that. Plans change, don’t they?”


I walked back to the door. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”


I looked at Lee. That definitely sounded like a threat. “Why’s that?”


Chapter 10: Reckoning