Veronica Howard's ordinary life is turned upside down when she stumbles upon a crime scene late one night. Rescued by the mysterious and alluring Avdei Volodin, her somewhat serene life will never be the same again. She has become a pawn he can use.
Avdei is no knight in shining armor—he's a man with a dark past and powerful enemies. As a Russian businessman with hidden ties to organized crime, he knows he should stay away from Veronica. But he finds himself drawn to her beauty, wit, and fiery spirit.
Veronica may be out of her depth in Avdei's world, but she's no damsel in distress. Fiercely independent and stubbornly defiant, she challenges Avdei at every turn, refusing to be less than who she is. Her spirited resistance only inflames Avdei's need to possess her completely. As she evolves into his willful "little dove," their relationship becomes a battle of wills, with Veronica testing the limits of Avdei's patience.
Caught in a game of cat and mouse, Veronica and Avdei find themselves drawn ever closer as they dodge bullets and unravel conspiracies. Their explosive chemistry makes it impossible to resist each other, but Avdei's dark past threatens to shatter their fragile bond. As Veronica's need for him increases, she must decide if her heart can embrace a man whose hands are stained with blood.