Borrowed Time

She was sent to destroy him. She's failing spectacularly at not falling in love with him instead.

Natasha Kozlov has one job: infiltrate the Romanov organization, gather evidence, and watch it burn. After what they did to her family, she's owed this revenge. Kostya Petrov-charming, reckless, and far too pretty for a man neck-deep in organized crime-is her way in.

Seduce him. Betray him. Disappear.

Simple.

Except Kostya's not what she expected. He's chaos in an expensive suit, makes terrible pancakes, and looks at her like she's something precious instead of a weapon aimed at his heart. The Romanovs aren't the monsters she was promised-they're a family trying to go legitimate, led by Alexei Volkov and his terrifyingly competent wife Maya.

And Natasha's caught between the revenge she's owed and the life she never knew she wanted.

When her cover unravels and the organization she's working for demands she finish the job or disappear permanently, Natasha has to choose: complete her mission and destroy the first real family she's ever known, or betray everything she came here for to protect the man who somehow made her want to stay.

Kostya knows she's lying. Has known for weeks. He just can't figure out if he's falling in love with the real Natasha or the woman she's pretending to be. Either way, he's running out of time to convince her that some things are worth more than revenge.

Like terrible pancakes at 3 AM. Found family who won't let you go. And a future that doesn't require either of them to keep running.

Sometimes the person sent to destroy you is exactly the person you need to save you.

Borrowed Time is the second book in the Small Mercies series featuring enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, bratva family dynamics, a cinnamon roll hero who won't stop trying, and a heroine learning that love is the most dangerous mission of all. Can be read as a standalone.