Vince's Shadow

Years after Eastgate was wrested from fear, the city breathes again—but peace is only skin-deep. Antonio and Ben, sons of Jerry and Lucy, train in the shadow of their parents’ legacy: one disciplined, one defiant, both brimming with fire and promise.

One training day... Ben slipped through the gate at the rear wall, the clang of drills and Jerry’s voice fading behind him. The alley was narrow, shadowed, the damp stone cool against his back as he leaned there, arms folded like he owned the place. He didn’t wait long. Two girls slipped in after him, their laughter soft, daring, the kind that asked for trouble.

He let his wooden sword fall with a careless clatter, kicking it aside. “Thought you’d rather watch me than Antonio,” he said, grin cutting sharp.

One giggled, the other shook her head like she meant to scold but stepped closer anyway. “You shouldn’t even be here,” she whispered.

“Neither should you,” Ben shot back, and before hesitation could creep in, he reached out, catching her wrist and pulling her toward him. She gasped, then melted against his chest, her laughter swallowed as his mouth brushed hers.

The second girl’s laugh rang louder, half-shocked, half-delighted. Ben turned, eyes glinting, and tugged her closer too, his free hand sliding to the back of her neck. He kissed her in turn, reckless, hungry, not caring who saw or what waited beyond the gate.

The first girl clung tighter, her fingers curling in his shirt. The other pressed against his side, daring herself to match her friend. Ben leaned back into the wall, arms spreading, letting them both in, the smirk on his lips deepening between kisses.

This was what he lived for—the thrill, the heat, the breaking of rules—and he let it run wild, careless and unashamed.

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Watching them is Vince Marrow, once mercenary, once Lucy’s loyal bodyguard, now a man scarred by battles and betrayal. He lingers in the shadows, haunted by a past that refuses to stay buried—and a heart that refuses to open.

When whispers of mercenaries moving at Eastgate’s borders reach him, Vince knows the danger isn’t just outside the city walls. It’s inside the family, in the recklessness of youth, and in the choices he must make to protect the ones he loves.

As rivalries ignite, loyalties are tested, and love dares to bloom in unexpected places, Vince must confront the shadows of his past—or risk losing everything. Redemption, survival, and desire collide in a tale of action, family, and forbidden romance where the fiercest battles are fought in the heart.

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This is the BOOK 3 of The Knights series... can be read as a standalone too. Enjoy