Lethal Protector

Dark Cartel's World #1

by Lily Night

He's my stalker. My protector. They say the devil's in the details. But in my world, he wears a tailored suit and carries a gun with my name on it.

When my brother's murder shattered my world, I discovered the pristine walls of my Boston life were built on blood, money, and cartel ties.

But nothing prepares me for the man who shadows my every move—Diego Navarro, the hitman. I'm drawn to the dangerous glint in his eyes and the possessive way he stands guard.

Diego is a man haunted by his sins. And then I learned the truth about who really killed my brother. I'm forced to face an impossible trust the man who destroyed my world, or lose everything—including my heart.


This full-length dark mafia romance

Enemies-to-lovers slow burnObsessive stalker heroAlpha MMCDark themes including violence and revengeProtective anti-hero seeking redemptionSteam 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2025

Reviews

[destiny · Rating 3 out of 5]

cartel assassin stalker ?? fuck it. gimme him right now 💥💳

this is the first book in this new series and i literally read it in one day 😩 i loved how this started !! there was literally only one part i didn’t like was when the mmc fucked someone else that isn’t the love interest but that’s JUST ME 👏🏼 if you’re okay with that then absolutely read this !! i still enjoyed the hell out of it and i hope you do too 🖤

camille is searching for answers after finding holes in the reason why her brother died. she finds notes written by her brother and she won’t stop until she gets the truth ❤️‍🩹 diego is an assassin for the cartel and he hides in the shadows while stalking the woman he promised to protect 🤭 he’s a man with many secrets and he’s just hoping camille doesn’t find out

the plot ???? oh i’m so here for it omg !! i love a good investigation / finding out the truth in a mafia romance book and this was just that 🤩 the relationship between camille and diego was SO FIRE 🔥 i literally need this man in my life. the twists and turns had my head SPINNING 🫨 it definitely felt a bit rushed at the end but i still enjoyed the fuck out of this !!

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Bambi Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diego is yummy, and Camille is feisty, and together, they are both trying to gather information Camille's brother had on the cartel before the cartel does. Meanwhile, Diego is holding a secret of his own that he battles with himself on if he should tell Camille or not.

The spice in this book was chef's kiss!

This was my first read from this author, and I can't wait to reqd more!

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camilles world shatters when her brother dies and everything she thought she knew about the world around her crumbles into one filled with crime, danger and Diego. He promised to protector her but becomes a man obssesed and when his secrets unravel he faces losing her, can she forgive his sins? Well written engaging, fast paced, desires steamy scenes, violence and more!

[Melissa Reid-Ciferri · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sun, my light...

Oh my goodness, what a emotional ride! 🥴😭 Let me break it down for you. This is a Dark Mafia Romance. It is an Enemies to Lovers, Revenge plot storyline with a Stalker Anti-hero MMC. Here's the whole scoop...

FULL REVIEW & SPOILERS AHEAD:
This story is book 1 of the Dark Cartel's World. It's about Camille & Diego. Camille's world is completely shattered when she finds out her brother committed suicide. 😢 She is devastated to say the least & can't believe her brother would leave her in such a way. Intent on finding out what really happened, she starts piecing together the reason for his death. To say everything she thought she knew starts to unravel is an understatement. Insert Diego. Diego is an assassin for the Cartel. He is broody, mysterious, consumed by darkness, loyal to a fault, & shme×y af 🥵 Diego made a promise to protect Camille, & she definitely makes that hard to do. 🤦‍♀️ Now hang on tight cause you dive head first down a rollercoaster ride full of betrayal, turf wars, grief, amusing banter, lies, heartbreak, & love. You feel like you're going through emotional whiplash as the story unfolds. This book has everything you want in a good Mafia story. And y'all know I fall hard for a touch her & ☠️, will burn the world down for you MMC. Every page had me grippong my seat until the very end.

Some afterthoughts...The plot was plottin, there were twists & turns at every corner, & we get a hot, protective MMC. The banter & chemistry between Camille & Diego 🤌🔥 However...I feel like this story was drawn out in the 1st half of the book, but then the ending was rushed🤦‍♀️ Also, some of the spicy scenes had me rolling my eyes a little (word choice wise). Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Definitely a must read, 3.75⭐️'s!

TROPES & TW's:
🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 0bsessive, Protective, Morally Grey MMC
🖤 He Falls First/Stalker Anti-hero
🖤 Double-Cross/Betraya|/Revenge
🖤 Touch her & ☠️
🖤 Forced Pro×imity
🖤 Emotional Trauma, Suicide, PTSD
🖤 Slow 🔥
🖤 Spice 🌶🌶🌶 .5

FAV QUOTES/SCENES:
She’s a drug, and I’ve been starved of the h!gh she gives me. Every glance, every movement, every breath she takes is another hit, and I’m too weak to stop myself from wanting more.

"Do make the right decision. Blood is so hard to get out of my clothes these days.”

I know one thing for certain: Whatever storm is coming, I won’t let it touch her.

Camille "Definitely the se× cult. I’ve even met my very own gigolo." Louise "Oh my God! At least tell me he has a si× pack and good dick. Girl if you are fucking a teletubby, I will disown you."

“Camille, I am trying really hard to be the good guy here.”

“God!"..."Not my name, Camille.”

I always believed it was the karma that followed me from the ghosts of the blood I spilled. But she seems to keep the darkness at bay. For once, I sleep like I’m just a man and not a monster running from his past. But even in my sleep, I know. I know that this peace is temporary.

If being a prima ballerina ensured his survival, then the man would be in a fucking tutu.

I am no better than the devil. I destroy life and I ruin light.

She is my sun, I revolve around her. All that I am is brought about from her light.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Slwd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diego and Camille—Escape from Darkness

Since I was in the mood for a dark romance, I took a chance on an author of dark, mafia style romance that I had never read before, Lily Night. The book is “Lethal Protector”, book one in her series Dark Cartel’s World. Diego, cartel hitman, is the protector in question and Camille is the woman he has given his word to protect. There is a lot going on in this story which is told by Diego and Camille in varying chapters. The story is dark, suspenseful, emotional, and passionate. There is an electrical current connecting Camille and Diego from the very beginning, in spite of their circumstances. The plot is interesting and moves along at a fast pace adding more suspense to the story. The characters were well written, dark and light, bad and good, black and white fading into gray. A story of redemption and what love can do. Recommended for lovers of dark romance genres.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review, my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Amie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story with wonderful characters as well as a page turner which has drama, suspense, intrigue, action and a steamy romance with a happy ever after ending.
A story about a woman who is grieving over the loss of her brother. Who with the help of a man who was a friend to her brother helps her uncover what truly happened to her brother.
Throughout the story secrets are being kept that could send the two spiraling away from one another. Both have feelings for the other but neither wants to admit them to the other.
Betrayal separates them for a time until she gets hurt which brings them back together. The two tell one another how they feel about the other. They love one another. They take down the people responsible for her brother's death but before the people are taken they leave together.
The couple is together with a bright future ahead of them as well as the start of a family. They are happy and in love.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patsy Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

🛡️ ARC REVIEW 🛡️

First let me say, Thank you Lily for the opportunity to be a part of your ARC team.

I absolutely ate up this book so quickly! It was short and oh so very sweet.

I’m always a sucker for a bad boy/hard guy turned mushy for their woman and that’s exactly what Diego is.

Tied to the cartel, hired as a hitman, Diego lives in a world surrounded by darkness, until the day he lays eyes on Camille. To him, she quickly becomes his world, the sun his world revolves around.

This book was full of all the emotions— pain, grief, heartache, heartbreak, betrayal, bliss and so much love.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Cartel vibes
- Obsessive Stalker Hero
- He falls first
- Loss of sibling
- All the feels

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this was another great story. It was a steamy page turner and the suspense was so intense and insane. I was on the verge of my seat and I couldn't even put it down literally. The chemistry between them was spicy hot of passion and forbidden love affair. Camille and Diego the chemistry between them with be sexy tension and the physical attraction is going to be captivating in romance and danger manner in this cartel's life. Will she be able to fall in love with him in this moment but one night will change her life in a big way. He was intrigued with her beauty of the death of her brother.
I highly recommend this book and you won't be disappointed. I received advance copy of this book via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Trina Jones

[Shelly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Camille is at the funeral for her brother and can't shake the feeling she's being watched. Diego is watching over her. The arc details their quickly evolving relationship and then the truth about what happened to her brother comes out. The arc could have benefited from being a bit longer so the relationship could develop at a better pace. The author's stories are quick reads or super involved. No middle. The relationship was good but seemed to happen super quick. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Cartel read!

I love quick reads! Diego and Camille had great chemistry from the start.
Camille is morning the loss of her brother, and she will get into any trouble to uncover the truth.
Diego is trying to keep a promise he made and keep Camille safe and alive, but it's difficult to keep your promise when she won't listen. See how the story unfolds and read this quick read! You won't regret it!

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is at the burial of her brother when she feels eyes on her. That is when she connects with Diego a hitman. He promised to keep Camille safe, but she is head strong and determined to find out who killed her brother. When she finally learns the truth will it end things with Diego. This thrilling story is compelling and had me all caught up in the characters.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Avelon Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camile & Diego
What an interesting story of a love growing from tragedy, so to speak.
Stalker from obligation and guilt. I sister looking for answers. A brother that paid the ultimate price for love is the true heartbreaker though.
Lily Night has a way of telling a story that subtely draw you into a riptide and you don't even realize it until you start frowning in the emotions it floods you with. I've read every book she has written and i can honestly say, they are all worth reading.

[Donna McEachran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camille's brother has died and she knows someone is watching her.
Camille's brother asked Diego to watch over his sister before he died...but is stalking watching over her.
Diego has done things he's not proud of but Camille may be his redemption...if he can keep her alive.
Cartel story with 2 intertwined love stories. Suspenseful with plenty of steam.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Victoria Golby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark romance

A dark, enemies to lovers, slow-burn romance, with good dynamics, drama, secrets, revenge, spice and plenty of twists.

When her brother's killed Camille's world is changed forever. But she's drawn to the hitman who promises to protect her, and he in turn becomes obsessed with her. But when his secrets start to unravel she needs to decide if she can forgive him for his past sins.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Biff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put the book down. I was always waiting to see what would happen next.

Like with most short books, parts did feel rushed but the love story of Camille and Diego was still so beautiful throughout.

If you love Mafia, love a protective man and a little stalking, plus a quick read, this book is for you.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, dark romance, with a stalker and steam, yes please!

Camille is trying to find who killed her brother and finds he was mixed in something with the cartel.

Diego promised Etienne (Camille's brother) that he would protect her from said cartel he works for. In doing so he stalks her and becomes obsessed.

This was a fast/easy read for me and a wild ride nonetheless.

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid Effort!

This was a solid effort, I enjoyed the characters. The story could use some world building, there was no real sense of place and I don’t know that I would classify this as a Stalker romance. Don’t know that I would reread but I will keep an eye out for future books from the author

[L KQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dangerous Truth

Camille is devastated from her brother's death, and finding the truth is more dangerous than she thought. Diego has been making sure she is safe, and when they come face-to-face, there is no turning back. However, being together was a complicated mess of emotions and danger, which was quite the read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kylan Hennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was graciously given this book as an ARC.
This book is both thrilling and sweet. It draws you right in from the get go. There’s just something about a man who will do anything and everything to protect you. I 10/10 recommend this book!

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great beginning to the Dark Cartel's World series. It’s a great enemies-to-lovers romance. Diego and Camille kept me on an emotional roller coaster ride! The entertaining plot is filled with betrayal, secrets, lies, heartache, danger, obsession and love. Great short story.

[Teresa R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Brothers Secret
Camille and Diego are like a match to gasoline. They burn so hot even though they hide so much. Will Diego’s secrets about her brother’s death destroy them or will he manage to protect the love he never thought he’d have or deserve.

[Peggy Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book! There were some spicy scenes in it.

Camille has just lost her brother to a suicide that she knows can't be correct.
Diego is the brothers friend that has a secret. He promised he would watch over Camille, little did he know he would fall for her.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5.0

Spice: 5.0

ARC review: I am obsessed with this book! There is so much drama and I love it! This was an amazing book!

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked lethal protector which was Diego and Camille’s story. It was an intriguing read. I received an early copy of the book. And voluntarily leaving this review.