Jace Marino has mastered control. By day, he’s the brilliant, untouchable criminal law professor at Brooklyn Law. By night, he’s the eldest son of New York’s most powerful crime family — a man whose word still commands the streets, even if he claims to have left that life behind.

Julian Pole never wanted law school. Sensitive and artistic, he’s far more comfortable with a sketchpad than statutes. But with a detective father and a nurse mother pushing him, quitting isn’t an option — even as his grades begin to slip.

When Jace calls on him unexpectedly in class, Julian’s stammered answer and shy, uncertain eyes spark something Jace doesn’t want to name. He should look away. Instead, he finds himself watching.

As rivals close in on Marino territory, Jace’s two worlds are on a collision course — and the quiet, blue-eyed student might be the one thing he can’t protect from the fallout.

The elevator doors slid open with a sharp ding, and I bolted out like the world was on fire. My chest ached from running, but all of that burned away the moment I saw him.


He was sitting on the floor by my door, knees pulled up to his chest, my jacket—the one I gave him—draped over his small frame. God. He looked like he belonged there. My heart stopped, then hammered harder than it should.


When he lifted his head and caught me staring, he scrambled to his feet, fumbling at his sleeves, tugging at his clothes like he didn't know what to do with his hands.


Thirty five years old, and here I am, wrecked by one boy.


His face is carved like someone had taken their time with him, shaping every angle until it hurt to look.


And those eyes—blue, with a ring of black, so impossibly pure it made me want to shield him from the world. To claim him. To never let go.


Chapter 12 - POSSESSIVE