Brutal Hearts

A dangerous connection begins in the emergency room and soon becomes a fight for survival. In Brutal Hearts, Kathy Asher brings together a determined doctor and a mafia enforcer whose lives become linked by violence, secrets, and an unexpected attraction. Dr. Lucia Romano first meets Marco Santori when he arrives at her ER with a stab wound. Marco is a powerful figure in the Benedetti crime family, a former champion kickboxer whose work as an enforcer has made him familiar with danger. Lucia knows he represents a world she should avoid, but she also believes he may help her uncover the truth behind her brother’s murder. Her investigation puts her directly in harm’s way. When a threat from the Russian Bratva makes Lucia a target, Marco steps in with a plan: a fake engagement that will place her under his protection. What begins as a practical arrangement quickly becomes complicated as forced proximity brings their feelings closer to the surface. Marco must confront the vulnerability that comes with caring for someone, while Lucia faces the risks of trusting a man whose life is built around violence. Their relationship develops amid criminal rivalries, betrayal, and a conspiracy that connects their personal histories. The novel combines mafia suspense with fake engagement, forced proximity, protector romance, and enemies-to-lovers tension. It is suited to adult readers who enjoy dark contemporary romance, morally complicated heroes, strong heroines, and high-stakes relationships.