Book excerpt: Tommy Boyle is the calculating strategist of the Boyle family, fully dedicated to the family’s interests. He’s practical, loyal, and has always put family first. Maeve O’Connor is the daughter of the Irish mafia boss of a rival family. She is as headstrong as fiercely independent. Although her father expects her to take over part of her family’s business, she is resentful of being used as a political tool through arranged marriages and alliances. Tommy is tasked with negotiating an alliance between the Boyles and O’Connors. However, the deal requires him to marry Maeve to solidify the union. But she has her own agenda and is determined to carve her path in the mafia world. As they’re forced into close quarters, they realize that they share more than just a marriage of convenience—they’re both seeking a way out of the shadow of their families’ expectations. Together, they uncover a plot against both their families from a rival syndicate, leading them to work together, falling in love while navigating the dangers of their mafia life.