Venom and Velvet

Characters

Damian Volkov - 29, head of the Volkov Bratva, the man every underworld power quietly answers to. Ice-blue eyes, jaw cut from marble, the kind of face that's ended careers and started wars - women across continents know his name before they know his crimes. Cold, untouchable, doesn't trust, doesn't repeat himself, doesn't do love -

Irina Rossi- 26, heir to Rossi Shipping, secretly runs a smuggling network behind the paperwork. Golden hair, sharp tongue, dressed like an angel with the mouth of a sinner. Answers to no one, forgives even less.

Nikolai "Niko" Federov - Damian's consigliere and only real friend. Charming, sarcastic, says what everyone's thinking - including to Damian's face. Loyal enough to burn the world down laughing.

Antonio & Isabella Rossi - Her parents. Antonio built the empire, warm in public, ruthless in private. Isabella taught her daughter that silence and manners can both be weapons.

Sergei Volkov - His father, the old don, built the empire in blood and handed it over young. Respect between them, but no warmth.

Yelena Volkov - His late mother, killed by family enemies when he was a teen - the wound behind everything he's become.

Katya Volkov - His younger sister, fierce and sharp, the only one who can make him smile - instantly wary of anyone who gets close to him.

Ella Castellano - 26, Irina's best friend since boarding school. Sharp-witted, loyal, always down for chaos. Allergic to boring men - until Niko, whose humor matches hers a little too well for comfort