My ex downgraded to my conniving ex–best friend. His older brother upgraded to me… and promised to end anyone who tries me next. Fifteen seconds. That’s all it takes for my former best friend to gut me under the chandeliers of New York’s most elite. It takes Julian Volkov five more to make her regret ever trying. Silver hair. Gunmetal stare. The monster the Volkov empire keeps hidden. And my ex's older brother. “Pick your words carefully. They might be your last.” The whole gala goes silent. And I finally understand why grown men fear him. His hand finds the small of my back, and he faces my ex like a king starting a war. "She's mine now." Julian Volkov doesn't ask. He takes. But standing beside him, I feel the room recalibrate. The girl they laughed at becomes the woman they bow to. Except nothing with a Volkov is free. Now his ruin has my name on it. My life. My body. My soul. I ran from one Volkov brother. I won't survive running from this one.