Blood on His Hands

Twelve years ago, Maximo "Max" DiMarco wakes up next to the lifeless body of Fiona Delgado, a young woman he doesn't remember killing. His best friends, Dante and Lorenzo Moretti, help him cover up the death, convincing him it was an accident. Max, a man who thrives on control, is shattered by the idea that he could have killed someone in a blackout. This trauma becomes a defining moment, shaping his need for control, his self-loathing, and his belief that he is unworthy of love—especially from Joey Moretti, the little sister of his best friends.

Forbidden Training Sessions

Twelve years later, Joey Moretti is a fiercely independent woman, chafing under the protection of her mafia family. Her brothers assign Max to train her in self-defense, and their chemistry is electric. Joey's crush on Max is an open secret, but he's off-limits—her brothers' best friend, a feared enforcer, and a man haunted by his past. Their training sessions are a battleground of flirtation, discipline, and unspoken longing, with Max struggling to maintain boundaries as Joey pushes them.

Gilded Cage, Restless Heart

Despite her wealth and status as a "Mafia princess," Joey feels trapped. Her brothers' overprotection, the constant presence of guards, and the weight of family expectations suffocate her. Her friendships are fraught with jealousy and competition, and her attempts at normalcy—nights out, dating—are always shadowed by her family's reputation. Joey's restlessness is both a rebellion and a cry for agency in a world that wants to keep her safe but powerless.

Mafia Alliances and Secrets

The Moretti family is embroiled in a power struggle with the Russian Bratva. Dante and Lorenzo back Dmitri Varkov's bid to take over the Bratva, pinning their own father's murder on the outgoing Russian boss, Pushkin. But the truth is darker: Dante killed their father to stop his sex trafficking operation. Meanwhile, Max is drawn into a web of secrets involving his estranged uncle Vito, a missing video recording, and a pregnant teenager named Kristin who claims to be his sister.

Waffles, Warnings, and Wounds

Joey reconnects with Toby, a childhood friend, and tries to date him, but her heart isn't in it. Max's jealousy flares, revealing his possessiveness. Meanwhile, Max is tasked with protecting Kristin, who is hiding from dangerous men. The family's enemies close in, and the lines between business and personal become dangerously blurred.

Family Business, Family Tensions

Tired of being sidelined, Joey insists on joining the family business. Her brothers reluctantly agree, but Max is torn between supporting her independence and fearing for her safety. The family's internal dynamics shift as Joey proves herself capable, but her growing involvement also makes her a target.

Obsession and Protection

Max's feelings for Joey intensify, manifesting as both fierce protection and sexual obsession. He tracks her movements, intervenes when she's threatened, and struggles to reconcile his desire with his loyalty to her brothers. Their mutual longing finally explodes in a moment of passion, crossing the line they both swore never to breach.

Crossing the Line

Max and Joey's relationship turns physical in a charged, forbidden encounter. The sex is intense, raw, and cathartic, but it's also fraught with guilt and fear. Max is tormented by the belief that he's corrupting Joey, while she is exhilarated by finally claiming what she wants. Their secret is short-lived, as the family soon discovers the truth, leading to violence, heartbreak, and a temporary separation.

Aftermath and Regret

The fallout is immediate and brutal. Dante and Lorenzo feel betrayed by Max, their surrogate brother. Joey is torn between her love for Max and her loyalty to her family. Max, wracked with guilt over his past and present actions, distances himself, believing he's unworthy of Joey. Meanwhile, the family's enemies exploit their vulnerability, and the threat to Joey becomes existential.

Princess in Chains

Joey is kidnapped by Viktor Pushkin, the Russian mobster to whom her father once promised her in marriage. The betrayal cuts deep—her best friend Monique is complicit, motivated by jealousy and greed. Joey's captivity is a crucible, forcing her to rely on her wits, courage, and the training Max gave her. She escapes, but not before exacting bloody revenge on her captor.

The Truth About Kristin

Kristin's true identity as Max's half-sister is revealed, and her presence forces the family to confront old wounds. The mystery of Fiona Delgado's death is finally solved: Salvatore Moretti, not Max, was the killer. This revelation frees Max from his self-imposed prison of guilt, allowing him to fully embrace his love for Joey.

Betrayal and Abduction

Joey's abduction galvanizes the family. Max, Dante, and Lorenzo put aside their differences to rescue her, tearing through the city's underworld with ruthless efficiency. The rescue is a turning point, cementing Joey's place as an equal in the family and solidifying her bond with Max.

Escape and Vengeance

No longer a damsel in distress, Joey takes an active role in her own rescue and in punishing those who wronged her. She confronts Viktor, inflicting pain and humiliation before Max delivers the final blow. The act is both vengeance and catharsis, marking Joey's transformation from protected princess to powerful queen.

Reunions and Reckonings

The family reunites, old grievances are aired, and forgiveness is granted. Max and Joey's relationship is accepted, and the family's internal dynamics are forever changed. Kristin finds love with Jakob, a Bratva heir, further strengthening the alliance between the families.

Power, Love, and Legacy

Joey takes over the family's casino business, proving herself as a shrewd and compassionate leader. Max, freed from his past, becomes her partner in every sense. Their love is passionate, equal, and unbreakable, built on mutual respect and hard-won trust.

The Queen's Ascendancy

No longer content to be a pawn, Joey becomes a queen in her own right. She demands—and receives—respect from her brothers, her husband, and the criminal world. Her leadership style is fierce but fair, and she is determined to create a legacy that is both powerful and just.

New Beginnings, Old Scars

The family celebrates new beginnings—weddings, births, and business successes—but the scars of the past linger. Anya's illness, the memory of lost friends, and the ever-present threat of violence are reminders that happiness in their world is always hard-won.

Happily Ever After, Mafia Style

Max and Joey marry, blending passion, dominance, and equality in a relationship that defies convention. Their love is messy, intense, and deeply satisfying. Together, they rule their world, rewriting the rules of what it means to be a Mafia couple—partners in power, in bed, and in life.

Characters

Joey Moretti

Joey is the youngest Moretti sibling, raised in luxury but suffocated by overprotection. Her journey is one of self-actualization: from a restless, rebellious "princess" to a powerful, respected leader. Joey is fiercely intelligent, stubborn, and passionate, with a deep need for agency and respect. Her relationship with Max is the crucible in which she claims her power—she refuses to be anyone's possession, even as she revels in the consensual power dynamics of their love. Joey's arc is about breaking free from the roles others assign her and becoming the architect of her own destiny.

Maximo "Max" DiMarco

Max is the Moretti brothers' best friend and right-hand man—a feared enforcer with a dark past. His defining trauma is the belief that he killed a woman in a drunken blackout, a guilt that makes him both hyper-controlling and self-loathing. Max's love for Joey is both his salvation and his greatest fear; he believes he's too damaged to deserve her. His arc is about confronting the truth, forgiving himself, and allowing himself to be loved. Max's dominance is rooted in a desperate need for control, but with Joey, he learns to share power and vulnerability.

Dante Moretti

Dante is the head of the Moretti family, a man torn between tradition and progress. He is fiercely protective of Joey, often to the point of suffocation, but his love is genuine. Dante's journey is about learning to trust Joey's strength and accept her as an equal. His relationship with Kat softens him, revealing a capacity for tenderness beneath his hard exterior.

Lorenzo Moretti

Lorenzo is the family's strategist, more reserved than Dante but equally devoted. He struggles with the legacy of their father's crimes and the burden of leadership. Lorenzo's arc is about letting go of the past and embracing change, especially as Joey steps into a leadership role.

Kristin DiMarco

Kristin is Max's half-sister, a pregnant teenager whose arrival forces the family to confront old secrets. Her innocence and vulnerability contrast with the hardened world of the Morettis, but she proves to be resilient and resourceful. Kristin's presence is a catalyst for healing, bringing closure to Max's past and forging new alliances.

Vito DiMarco

Vito is Max's uncle and Kristin's father, a man whose betrayals and secrets have far-reaching consequences. He is both a victim and a perpetrator, driven by survival and guilt. Vito's arc is about seeking redemption and reconciling with the family he abandoned.

Monique

Monique is Joey's best friend, whose envy and insecurity lead her to betray Joey for personal gain. Her arc is a cautionary tale about the corrosive power of jealousy and the dangers of underestimating those closest to us.

Viktor Pushkin

Viktor is the Russian mobster who believes Joey is his by right, a relic of old-world misogyny and violence. His obsession with control and purity is a dark mirror to Max's more nuanced dominance. Viktor's defeat is both personal and symbolic—a rejection of the idea that women are property.

Kat and Anya

Kat and Anya are the wives of Dante and Lorenzo, respectively. They provide emotional ballast for Joey, offering wisdom, solidarity, and a model of female strength within the mafia world. Anya's illness is a poignant reminder of the fragility of happiness.

Dmitri Varkov

Dmitri is the Russian ally whose rise to power is intertwined with the Morettis. He represents the possibility of change and cooperation in a world defined by violence and betrayal.

Plot Devices

Dual POV and Time Jumps

The novel alternates between Joey and Max's points of view, allowing readers to experience both the vulnerability and the power dynamics of their relationship. Flashbacks to pivotal moments—especially the night of Fiona's death—provide context and emotional resonance, gradually revealing the truth and its impact on the present.

Forbidden Love and Power Dynamics

The central romance is built on forbidden desire, age gap, and power imbalance. The narrative uses BDSM and dominance/submission not just for eroticism, but as a metaphor for trust, healing, and the negotiation of agency. The tension between protection and control is explored through both plot and character psychology.

Family Secrets and Revelations

The plot is driven by secrets—murders, betrayals, hidden siblings, and old alliances. Each revelation forces the characters to confront their assumptions, forgive themselves and each other, and redefine what family means.

Abduction and Escape

Joey's kidnapping is both a literal and symbolic crucible. Her escape is not just a rescue by others, but a demonstration of her own resourcefulness and strength. The violence is graphic but purposeful, underscoring the stakes of the world they inhabit.

Female Empowerment and Subversion

Joey's arc subverts the "mafia princess" trope. She claims power not by rejecting her femininity, but by embracing it on her own terms. The narrative challenges the idea that protection equals control, and that love requires submission.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The St. Christopher pendant, the training sessions, the casino, and the wedding ring all serve as symbols of Joey's journey from protected child to powerful woman. The recurring motif of "ownership" is interrogated and ultimately redefined as mutual devotion rather than possession.

Analysis

is a dark, erotic, and emotionally charged mafia romance that uses the conventions of the genre—violence, forbidden love, family loyalty—to explore deeper questions of agency, trauma, and empowerment. At its core, the novel is about breaking free from the roles others assign us and claiming the right to define ourselves. Joey's journey from caged princess to mafia queen is both a personal and political act, challenging the patriarchal structures of her world and demanding respect on her own terms.

The relationship between Joey and Max is the heart of the story, a tempest of desire, guilt, and healing. Their dynamic is fraught with power struggles, but it is also a space of radical honesty and mutual growth. The novel does not shy away from the darkness—violence, betrayal, and loss are ever-present—but it insists that love, when built on trust and equality, can be both redemptive and transformative.

For modern readers, Joey