Maxim is ruthless and always gets what he wants and what he wants is me. He doesn’t care that I’m forced into this marriage or that our families are enemies. It wasn’t until our wedding night that I realized just how cruel destiny can be. Readers who enjoy steamy, forced marriage, and second-chance romances will consume Wicked Knight, Book Two by Diana A. Hicks, a dark mafia romance.
Blurb
From award-winning author Diana A. Hicks comes the dangerous conclusion to the Wicked Knight duet.
Destiny Can Be So Cruel…
Maxim Belov is Papa’s favorite son.
Like his father, Maxim is ruthless and always gets what he wants.
Maxim wants me.
He doesn’t even care that our families are mortal enemies, or that I’ve never seen his face.
Because of him, I’m forced into a marriage with a stranger.
On our wedding night, when I finally come face to face with my worst enemy, my entire life is turned upside down.
Authors Note: Wicked Knight is book two in the Knight Duet, set in The Society World. It’s best enjoyed if you read book one first.
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Excerpt
Copyright 2024, Diana A. Hicks
“It itches.” He grunted. “How long before I can take it off?”
“How long has it been? It usually takes about two weeks.” I squirted water on his side.
He flinched, reaching for my wrist. I froze, keeping my gaze on the stitches and the blood running down his side. And because my brain hates me, I thought of our impending wedding night. Though by now, I was sure that would not happen today. The man could barely move without wincing. As formidable as he was, and though he acted like a beast, he was still human.
His fingers slid up my arm. “This one hurts the most.”
“I bet. There was a lot of debris to clear out. I had to dig deep.” I freed my hand. “It is healing fine. I can give you something for the pain.”
“Fuck.” He made to touch his wound then stuffed his hand in the pocket of his trousers. “I don’t know if I should risk taking more drugs from you. Will you poison me this time?”
In his defense, I had considered the option. “Not tonight.”
He scoffed. “If Anatoli hadn’t come to his senses, I’d still be unconscious.”
So Anatoli was the one who foiled our plans. Coward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrugged. “Maybe you too will come to your senses soon.”
I strode to the bathroom and rummaged through the medical kit Anatoli had left for me. I went through a bunch of bottles until I found a strong pain killer. Something to knock Maxim out for the night. And every night after that, until I found a way out of this place.
“For the pain.” I offered him two pills and a glass of water.
“Am I so ugly, you can’t even look at me.” He took the meds and knocked them back. “My senses are fine by the way.”
“Right. Because kidnapping a woman for revenge is the epitome of mental health.” I turned to leave.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. “You have no idea what your family is capable of.”
“You’re wrong. I know exactly what they can do.” I jerked to free myself, but he held me tighter. I was no match for his strength. I exhaled. “One day my love will find me. He will make sure you pay.”
“Your love?” He let out a dark chuckle.
“Yes.” I panted a breath. “And when he does, he will chop you up and feed you to your dogs.”
“He sounds violent.”
Luca was an erudite, a distinguished professor despite all my efforts to corrupt him. He wasn’t a brute like Maxim, punching his way through doors. But regardless of their extreme opposites, Luca would find a way to save me. I knew he would. I just had to hang on a little longer.
“He will come for me. You can be sure of that.”
“The only thing I can be sure of, princess, is that it’s time for bed. And since Prince Charming isn’t here, I guess I would have to do.”
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About Diana A. Hicks
Diana A. Hicks is an award-winning author of steamy romantic suspense and science-fiction romance.
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband. Connect with Diana on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Praise for Diana A. Hicks:
“Hicks’ first installment of her Desert Monsoon series is confident and assured with strong storytelling, nuanced characters, and a dynamic blend of romance and suspense…A sexy and irresistible tale for fans of contemporary romance.” – Kirkus Reviews
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