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

Understandably, Justin was confused by my behavior - my random fingertips brushing his skin. Perhaps he thought I was coming onto him again, just like the night before. With apprehension I watched his eyebrows angle in frustration.  


"Stop it, Katerina. That's enough." He tried to pull away from me but I kept my thumb and forefinger linked to his thick wrist, tight enough to feel his pulse. It thumped in a metered, steady rhythm but was slowly increasing. The warmth between us instantly brought me back to our kiss. 


But there was no time for that stuff. After dropping my hand, he turned to walk away but I couldn't let him go without knowing more. I reached out once more, touching his shoulder. Surprisingly, he turned around.  


“What do you want?” he asked, he said with a twisted grimace.  


"Where were you last night?" I blurted out. Holding my hands over my mouth, I watched his scowl change. He squinted in confusion as though he was trying to read my mind.  


Chapter 21: My Father’s Cases