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

Glass shattered against his forehead, a horrific cracking sound. Jumping in fright, I watched in relief as he dropped to the floor. Turning on my heel, I raced away toward the elevator, but before I could get there, I collided with someone.  


I was shocked with who it was. Where did he come from? I thought he'd left out the elevator when he excused himself.  


"Justin?" I asked, through skipping breaths. "I thought you were gone. You gotta help me!"


"Katerina," he said in surprise. "What happened? Why are you leaving so soon?" He leaned toward me to hear what I had to say. I was a lot shorter than him.  


"Please, professor! I'm begging. He attacked me. I have the marks to prove it. You saw him hit me, right? Well, he did much worse."


I pointed to my cheek, arm and ribs where Victor had struck me. As Justin was studying the bruises on my skin, I realized he was examining me in detail. Then I wilted in shame at my bare body being exposed to him.  


Chapter 14: Down for the Count