Book synopsis
Callous Desire (New York Underworld, Book 4)A Dark Secret Baby Romance
My mother raised me on knights in shining armor and happily-ever-afters. She groomed me to be the perfect mafia princess. It was only natural that I’d believe in fairy tales.
Only, I didn’t fall for the prince.
I fell in love with my father’s enemy.
I’ve never deluded myself about the man Dante is. Powerful. Cold. Ruthless. Brutal. Bad doesn’t come close to describing him. But when he held me in his arms in a rented room, he showed me that he could be good. Just for me. He always chained the monster when I was pinned beneath him, at my most vulnerable and exposed, in the most dangerous place I could be.
The darkness I glimpsed in him is embedded in his soul, coloring his heart and world black. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I lost myself to a callous man. I just couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams that his seduction was only part of a cruel strategy and that I was nothing but the pawn he used for his revenge.
Note: Callous Desire is the first book in the Callous Duet and ends on a cliffhanger. Tatiana and Dante's story concludes in Callous Love. The duet is part of the New York Underworld series (Books 4 & 5). You don't have to read the other books in the series (the Coerced Trilogy) to follow this duet. The story contains violence and scenes not recommended for sensitive readers. Reader discretion is advised.
My Review
The world of Callous Desire is a suffocatingly intense landscape of dark mafia politics. Dante Morici is every bit the formidable boss—possessive, powerful, and driven by a relentless quest for vengeance. In this world, control is everything, and Dante’s past claims on Tatiana make it clear that in his eyes, she will always be his.
The true power of this story lies in Tatiana’s painful rebellion. After a devastating betrayal, she is forced to live in a gilded cage for the sake of her son, Noah. To survive, she attempts to turn her desire into something callous, distancing herself from her feelings for Dante to prevent him from using her heart for his own gain again. It is a tragic and relatable defense mechanism; she still loves him but refuses to grant him the trust he once shattered. What complicates Tatiana’s distance is Dante’s genuine devotion to Noah. He is a wonderful father, and Noah adores him, which makes Tatiana’s struggle even more poignant. She recognizes that Noah needs his father, but she must navigate the turmoil of living with a man who is a "good parent" while remaining a "dangerous partner" to her.
The chemistry between them remains electric, leaving the reader eager for them to find a way to bridge the gap of distrust. The story concludes on a high-stakes cliffhanger that leaves the characters' futures hanging in the balance. While Tatiana is in physical danger from outside forces, the real tension lies in whether Dante can evolve. As the story continues, I am hoping for a redemption that values Tatiana’s agency over his own quest for vengeance. A simple rescue won't mend the lack of trust; Dante must stop keeping secrets and give Tatiana the freedom to choose him, rather than forcing her to stay.
Excerpt
Raising my voice, I make my point. “You’re going to war with my brother.”
He clicks his tongue and shakes his head as if he thinks I’m stupid. “The war is long since over, darling. All that remains is delivering the deathblow.”
He says it so heartlessly that another shiver works its way through me. “You’re a monster.”
“Not entirely.” He takes something from his pocket and hands it to me. “Or I wouldn’t have gotten you this.”
I look at the packet on my palm. It’s the morning-after pill.
Heat pushes up my neck and face. “You didn’t just run out and get this, did you?”
I want to ask if I’ve been such a foregone conclusion—again—but he spares me by saying, “I dispatched one of my men to a twenty-four hour-pharmacy. He sent the parcel up with the food.”
“Great.” My cheeks burn hotter. “Why not tell everyone what happened last night?”
“My man is discreet. He won’t say a word. As for the hotel staff, the purchase came in a non-transparent pharmacy bag.”
My reply is sarcastic. “Isn’t that a relief?”
“As we’re on the subject… Condoms or an oral contraceptive? I’ll let you choose.”
“Neither.” I lock eyes with him. “What happened last night isn’t going to happen again.”
“Then you better be prepared to give Noah a brother or a sister.” He lowers his head and brushes his lips over my ear. “Because you can count on it happening again.”
