SHELTERED SINUpdated at Oct 18, 2025, 03:27
**PROLOGUE**Leonora was sixteen when she first realized she loved ZadeHe was her brother’s best friend—the boy with bruised knuckles, cold eyes and the spirit of violence that followed him everywhere he wentZade was the type parent warned their children to stay away from and Leonora had walked straight into himOne night changed everythingHe was drunk, bleeding and whispering another woman’s name when she kissed himHe kissed her backBut by morning, he acted like it never happened, avoided her, treated her like dirt under his shoeHurt, She left the country the same weekNow, six years later, Leonora is back—with scars no one sees and a threat that won’t stop chasing her. Her brother, Rick , a detective who worked 24 hours a day, has no choice but to send her to the one man he swore would never be part of her life againZadeBut Zade isn’t the same either and Leonora… she’s not sure she ever stopped loving the devil who broke her heart•••EXCERPT•••Shivering, Leonora stood under the rain, drenched and knocked repeatedly on Zade’s doorZade didn’t open the door right away but when he finally did, he was greeted with a glare …Hate swarming in her eyesHe looked down at her, his gaze dark, cold, empty…He looked at her the same way he did the night before she left 6 years agoShe wanted to flinch at the intensity but put up a strong front “What the hell are you doing here?” He finally spoke…his lips twisted in irritation as if he couldn’t wait to slam the door right in her face He knew why she was here but why him?“Rick sent me” she said quietly but her glare didn’t waver, She wanted to be anywhere but here“He didn’t want me to stay at his place “Zade scoffed remembering how Rick called him, not pleasing but demanding he took Leonora inNo reason was stated…just a commandHe let out a huff “Your brother’s lost his damn mind” he seethed through his teethShe didn’t move, her arms wrapped around her body to create some warmthShe cursed at him in her head…*Couldn’t he see her shivering?*“I didn’t come here to beg. Just tell me if I can stay or not” she barked at him and for a faint second, she saw his lips curl in amusement before it disappeared and replaced with that look she hated so damn much He stepped aside without a word. The silence between them was sharp…choky evenShe walked past him into the house. He shut the door, his eyes never leaving her“You shouldn’t have come” Zade muttered, his eyes boring into her back…She turned to face him, her voice low but sharp “If I had a choice, I’d rather jump off a bridge, turning up dead than to stay with you” She stormed off into a directionAnd Zade….He Saw Red••