Matteo Bianchi’s story is one of pain, passion, and a shot at redemption that will keep you flipping pages way past bedtime.
Even if you haven’t read the first book in the series (which follows his brother Luca), you can absolutely dive right in here—but fair warning, reading the first one gives some juicy backstory on this intense Italian family and makes this book hit even harder.
Matteo, also known as “The Hunter,” is a man on a mission. He's spent years carrying the weight of his family’s trauma on his back, chasing vengeance with a single-minded fury. Whether it's taking down the monster who hurt his sister or confronting the father who made his childhood a nightmare, Matteo’s path is dark—and deeply personal.
But that kind of anger comes at a cost. His past mistakes, fueled by pain and addiction, ended up pushing away the one person who ever really saw him: Sydney.
Sydney is no fragile love interest. She’s a sharp, resilient, take-no-crap surgeon who’s rebuilt herself from heartbreak and doesn’t need saving. She loved Matteo once, deeply—but she’s not the kind of woman who waits around for a man to get his act together. So when he crashes one of her dates with a bold declaration (cue the ultimate “that’s MY wife” moment), everything gets turned upside down.
What follows is a raw, emotional second-chance romance that doesn’t shy away from the messy parts. Matteo has to earn back more than just her trust—he has to prove he’s not the broken man he used to be. And Sydney? She’s not about to let him off easy.
Their connection is electric—equal parts fiery and tender. The banter, the unresolved tension, the push and pull of two people who never stopped loving each other but have no idea how to make it work again—it’s chef’s kiss. The way Sydney stands toe-to-toe with Matteo, unafraid of the shadows he carries, is honestly what makes this story shine.
Add in a backdrop of mafia intrigue, family loyalty, Italian spice (literal and figurative), and a hero trying to rise from the ashes, and you've got a romance that’s intense, gripping, and full of heart.
This book isn’t just about love—it’s about healing, redemption, and finding your way back to the one person who makes you feel whole, even after everything’s fallen apart.
So if you love:
💔 slow-burn tension
💥 explosive chemistry
🖤 messy redemption arcs
🥵 protective (but healing) alpha vibes
👩⚕️ FMCs who don’t back down
...then this book needs to be on your TBR.