THE BETRAYAL

The Zakarian Syndicate - Book Two

by Ruby Bloom

Release Blitz

Release Date: February 5, 2025

Illustration & Cover Design: Erick Centeno

Genre: Mafia Romance Standalone
Trope: Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, dark romance, forbidden romance, surprise pregnancy, arranged/forced marriage, opposites attract, her first time, alpha hero, alpha heroine, HEA

Synopsis

THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF A POWERFUL MAFIA FAMILY.

AND HER OH-SO-SERIOUS BODYGUARD.

CAN FORGIVENESS BE FOUND AFTER CROSSING THE LINE OF DUTY?

Arpina Zakarian has been treated like a princess all her life. Allowed to get away with being a brat, coddled and cosseted and never pulled up on her rude, demanding behavior. Aspiring to marry a good-looking Armenian man, and wallow in all the wealth and frivolity of that lifestyle, she doesn’t take life too seriously. Promised to another Armenian family’s oldest son in Las Vegas, she feels like she’s hit the jackpot.

The only condition; she has to spend 6 months living in Vegas and dating her future husband first.

And her stick-in-the-mud bodyguard has to come with her.

Ardian is less than pleased when he is tasked with escorting Arpina around the bright lights of Vegas. He wants to be strategizing with the Syndicate, the right hand man to the head of the family, as should be his place. Not babysitting the naive, little brat youngest daughter who is determined to cause trouble at every opportunity.

Pina is set on partying and fliting about Vegas like she owns the place, and trying to ditch Ardian at any opportunity. But when she realizes all is not as it seems with her new arrangement, she finds herself turning to her only connection to home, her last thread of safety; Ardian.

But Ardian isn’t just battling Pina’s childish ways, he’s fighting the ghosts of his past actions that keep coming back to haunt him. His shameful betrayal. He’ll do anything to atone for it. Trailing around trying to keep Pina out of trouble is a task he’ll approach with the utmost diligence to prove his loyalty if it means his past can be forgotten. Forgiven.

But events in Vegas begin to unravel, he finds himself having to step up and take care of Pina in a way he never expected. And that’s when he realizes he is at risk of the biggest betrayal of all. Betraying himself.

Can they let go of the past to embrace new alliegances, or will pride cause them to lose faith in each other? 

TRIGGERS: Profanity and adult themes, minor references to alcoholism and drugs, pregnancy, profanity, gun shot wound and death.