Aleksei

Marinov Bratva #2

by Lilian Harris

A NEW steamy Russian Mafia, Forced Marriage, Enemies to Lovers STANDALONE romance

I tried to take his freedom.
Now he owns mine.

Aleksei Marinov is the Bratva’s most ruthless killer.
Feared. Cold-blooded. Vicious.
Now—for better or worse—my husband.

I tried to put him behind bars.
He put a ring on my finger instead.

But it wasn’t a choice.
I could either let my family suffer
or sell myself to the one man I hate.

This isn’t love. It’s revenge.
And Aleksei will stop at nothing to break me.

Possessive. Obsessive. Brutal.
He’s everything I swore I’d never want,
but the only man who’s ever made me feel safe.

He touches me like I’m sacred.
Looks at me like I’m already his.
And somewhere between hate and hunger,
I fall for the enemy.

Until I uncover the truth
and swear I’ll never forgive him.

But when I’m taken, the man who claimed I meant nothing
tears the world apart to save me.
AUTHOR NOTE: Check for content warnings on my website.

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia Romance, Surprise Pregnancy, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

471 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2026

About the author

Hi! I'm only on Goodreads on occassion. You may find me on my website www.LilianHarris.com

Or, connect with me through social media.

Thanks!

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FACEBOOK: facebook.com/LilianHarrisBooks/
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/lilianharrisauthor/
WEBSITE: lilianharris.com
EMAIL: LilianHarrisAuthor@gmail.com

Reviews

[Lilian Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready for Aleksei? He's a whole vibe LOL. Join my reader group for more teases. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lilia...

A smirk splits his face, sharp enough to bleed.
“You have three seconds to run, moya okhotnitsa,” he growls, voice guttural, dangerous.
“And you’d better pray I don’t catch you.”

Spoiler alert. He does.

[Jen ♥]

Note:

Hey friends, got any safety deets? I know this author's works can have some double standards and are unsafe sometimes. I'm intrigued by the blurb, though, but I don't want to dive in without knowing more. I've learned my lesson—been there, done that, so... 🤷‍♀️ TIA!

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes for me

Aleksei Marinov

Fiona Prosecutor on Aleksei’s murder trial. Has segmented vitiligo on right hip.

His brother Konstantin is married to her best friend Emilia.

He was acquitted and is now showing up everywhere she goes. She feels like he’s stalking her but can’t help but be intrigued.

Her parents own a vineyard and it’s about to be foreclosed on. He will bail them out if she marries him. She promised to ruin him with prison. He is forcing her to marry someone who will never love and her and will destroy her.

Safety

She was attacked in her home a few months ago. Ended up unconscious with a large gash on her forehead.

Absolutely safe. He hasn’t even thought about another woman. He’s totally caught up with Fiona.

He has one brief thought of women in his past meaning nothing.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

She tried to cage him up.
Only he walked away a free man.
And, now he wants her to know what it really means to be captured.

When the devil has someone in his sights there is nothing he wouldn’t do…

“When you swore to destroy me, I made a promise too. That one day, I’d take everything from you.”

Aleksei Marinov, is a man or rather a devil with only one purpose in life now and having Fiona Clark bend to his will is just one of them. Stalking her to the point of obsession. Only now he’s becoming more bolder as he attempts to knock down the shields that Fiona has up everytime he’s around.

Fiona knows Marinov family should be feared, even if her best friend is married to the oldest brother, she can’t deny the deadly beauty of Aleksei and hates that she lost the courtroom to him. But, what she hates even more? That Aleksei touch is weakening her to her knees.

To save her parents' crumbling business though, it seems like Fiona will have no other choice than to accept the help from cunning Aleksei. With a ring on her finger she walks into the lion's den.

But, could she be the one to make him purr and open up old wounds allowing forgotten emotions rise to the scarred surface?

“I hate you.”
“Good…Hate me harder.”

Aleksei Marinov is just waiting to be your next book boyfriend! He definitely consumed me while I read his & Fiona story!

All the angst, hate, tension…all leads to some epic steamy reading and you fall even deeper the more this story pulls you in. From reading Konstantin book1 you knew that Aleksei was going to be next with Fiona out for locking him up for good, but that couldn’t happen as we needed-yarned for these two to meet outside of the courts and just watch how they light up too!

Of course, more secrets and twists are surprising you and at the centre of it all the family. The Marinov’s are deadly, you certainly wouldn’t cross them and it’s safe to say their pet pigs are well fed! This family really does come together, the brothers' pasts reflect a lot on them now and Fiona is now a part of them. She is a strong character who fights her emotions for Aleksei…however, he has a trick or two to wrap her around his fingers. We have different sides from both of them, how Fiona brings out a-dare I say a “softer” side to him.

If you love the “touch her die” trope then you will love this!

“Ti moya.”

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️
I feel like her books are beginning to become so insta lust. I love her books the plots are good but the smut is happening way too quickly.
- Forced Marriage
- Prosecutor/ Mafia
- Dislike to love
- Touch her and die
- Stalking and Obsessed.

[Seeri · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF this isn’t even a romance book that is just a book full of an ungodly amount of smut wtf. Where is the bloody plot???

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybook in this series gets better and better. I love this man beyond words. This book kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for what would happen. I love there love hate relationship. So perfect.

[Theresa Styles · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
💥CHECK AUTHORS WEBSITE FOR CONTENT WARNINGS💥

OH MY ALEKSEI, I'm not gonna lie, at first I was like okay I'll read this book just to learn more about the Marinova brother cause I thought I read my man KONSTANTIN already so I'm good these brothers im not to interested in BUT THEN LILIAN HARRIS SAID HOLD MY BOOK 🤣 &
💥MADE ME LOVE ALEKSEI💥, At first I thought somehow he was a lil rougher than Konstantin & that says alot but as always Lilian Harris gives us a rough, alpha that just when he let's you in & let's you see him you see the real him and understand how & why him & his brothers are the way they are & it just breaks your heart because of course they were broken as little boys by someone who they should of been able to trust & Aleksi even as a little boy has wanted to be loved & accepted more than anything and when he starts seeing that he's getting that from Fiona even after forcing her to be with him he realizes he doesn't have to be the monster he was taught to be. He can love and accept Fionas love. Fiona is amazing, after trying to put Aleksi behind bars & him determined to make her life miserable she's still force on her own & doesn't give up without a fight, eventually overtime she falls for her alha husband. 💥DEFINITELY A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READ💥

[Pat Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aleksei is a dark Russian mafia romance about Aleksei and Fiona, whose intense love-hate relationship sparks off the page🔥🔥🔥. They engage in sharp, dynamic exchanges that maintain a sense of tension between them. Both characters possess strong family connections that influence their involvement in the relationship. Unbeknownst to Fiona, her parents have concealed secrets that affect her safety. This narrative presents a fast-paced, action-driven, and passionate romance.

Story - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞:
❤️ Russian Mafia romance
❤️ Enemies to lovers
❤️ Forced marriage
❤️ Age gap
❤️ Stalker x Obsessed
❤️ Touch her & die
❤️ Light BDSM
❤️ DVP
❤️ You can take it
❤️ He’s pierced
❤️ Groveling

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The first half was a struggle: I really didn’t enjoy the heavy body-betrayal vibes in the first 30%, and I was bored until around the 40% mark when the plot finally started to gain some momentum. The pacing early on felt sluggish and repetitive, and while Aleksei is suitably dark and intimidating, his character didn’t grip me the way I expected, especially compared to Konstantin in book one. Things did improve once the stakes increased and I appreciated the darker mafia atmosphere and flashes of emotional depth as the story progressed. It wasn’t a bad read by any means, just uneven, and while this one didn’t fully hit for me, it absolutely did its job of setting up Kirill—whose book I’m genuinely looking forward to.

[Bailey Boughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

epic read

One of my favorite stories ever! Starting 2026 off with a bang! This is one of the best stories ever. The tension between Fiona and Aleksei is off the charts and a story I could not put down

[Breezi.ocean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in two days. I don’t know how Lilian keeps topping herself with each book or what magic she puts in each book, but I swear I could not put this book down. This might be my favorite book yet and my favorite male main character. And can I just say the banter top-tier. Overall, I cannot stop thinking about this story and I’m already waiting till I can plan a reread.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! This might be my favorite series in the crime family yet

[Kerry-Anne Nabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the start I was gripped, I was already sold on Aleksei from Konstantin. These Marinov brothers are something else.

Being labelled the most ruthless brother, but when it comes to Fiona, the woman that tried to put him behind bars, he becomes a soft teddy bear, but only for her and slowly over time. Having had a horrible childhood, Aleksei is the definition of a mafia man, born in blood, lives in blood.

I love both characters separately and even more together. They can’t see it from the beginning how they fit together, but they fit together to perfectly.

Fiona tries so hard not to fall for Aleksei, but she fails so badly. Being forced to marry Aleksei and share the same bed as him. She can’t help but fall into his arm and his heart.

There is nothing within their story that I didn’t love. Everything moved so smoothly, their love is fierce. Fiona takes no shit with Aleksei, he may be the mafia man that kills for a living. She talks to him like she isn’t scared of him.

I cried during their story but I loved every second. Everything happened at the perfect time. Nothing was missing.
Getting glimpses into Kirill’s story makes me even more excited for him and little Lev.

[Jodie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

Tropes
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Stalker
✔️Forced Marriage/Proximity
✔️Lawyer x Criminal

Fiona is a defense attorney who builds a case against Aleksei however she ends up losing and he goes free. Aleksei then becomes obsessed with her and starts watching her every move. He’s so obsessed with her that he ends up giving her an ultimatum to marry him in order for her family’s vineyard to be saved. But the more time they spend together the harder it is for both of them to deny the feelings they have for each other.


I loved this book it was so good. I feel like Aleksei literally loved Fiona before he could even realize it himself like the way that he was with her he was literally just trying to convince himself he didn’t love her because sometimes his actions would say the opposite. He was a bit manipulative in the things he did but it’s just cause he didn’t know how to love, the change in his character as he acknowledges his love for Fiona was great to see.

Fiona was such a badass too I loved her and the twist about her family was shocking! Can’t wait to read more books in this universe.

[Kylie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only an angel can breathe a slice of heaven into the d3v1l. And that’s exactly what this book was about.
Fiona is that to Aleskei. He is a violent and scary man who doesn’t believe in love. Only obsession. But the more time he spends with Fiona, the more he begins to feel things he never knew how to feel.
Fiona despises him and is forced into a marriage to the man she despises the most. She can’t deny the chemisty the two of them have. As much as she tries to deny it to herself, her body is on an entirely different page. Slowly, the two realize they can’t, nor do they want to live without one another. Aleskei will do anything to keep her and protect her. He is the type of man who will tear his city down and burn the entire world to keep her safe. I didn’t think any man could match the ferocity of Konstantin, but I stand corrected. Aleskei is the d3v1l on earth.
Fantastic story, and true to Lilian style- a twist I didn’t come close to anticipating.
5 ⭐️

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilian Harris just knows how to write addictive mafia romance, and Aleksei was no exception. I flew through this book, fully hooked on the twists, the danger, and the obsessive energy.

The enemies-to-lovers setup was strong, with a forced marriage between a ruthless Russian mafia enforcer and the woman who tried to put him behind bars. The sexual tension was definitely there, but for me it leaned a little insta at times, and I found myself wishing for a bit more buildup in how that tension really started. That said… once Aleksei started catching feelings? I was in. Watching him go from cold and brutal to possessive and protective for her only was so satisfying.

There’s a lot of spice, plenty of plot twists, and that signature Lilian Harris darkness I always crave. Aleksei is intense, obsessed, and very “touch her and die,” but beneath it all you see the cracks in his armor, and that’s where this story really shines.

If you love dark mafia romance with obsession, forced proximity, and morally gray men, this one is worth picking up. Just make sure to check the trigger warnings first.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4/5⭐️
❤️ Russian mafia romance
❤️ Enemies to lovers
❤️ Forced marriage
❤️ Age gap
❤️ Stalker / obsessed MMC
❤️ Touch her & die

[Kristina fueyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow! 🤩

Loved this second book in the series! The author does a great job in making the transition from enemies to lovers in this story with the right amount of spice and ending in a HEA. The story follows Aleski and how his obsessesion with the DA Fiona turns from spying to obsession to love. The banter between both of them is great and when they both finally let go of what they are suppose to be they find something new in each other. There's danger of being together and also the danger from another Mafia that has their eyes on Fiona. The tug and pull breaks them when the truth is revealed but through actions of Aleski they find their way together again. A very enjoyable book highly recommend!

Heat 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Mindy Diegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was another wild ride with the Russians. We have two people that I don’t think could dislike like each other more than these two people. They fought their feelings and had no problems telling each other how much they hated each other. That is what made their chemistry so combustible. When they were in a room together sparks flew and all the attraction just simmer under the surface. Fiona is an absolute ball buster she is a gorgeous go-getter and calls it like she sees it. She hates that she is so attracted to Aleksei. They are like moths to a flame. They are so attracted to each other. They’re like magnets. Aleksei is different from his brothers. He is in enforcer, but he is ruthless. He fights, his attraction and his feelings for her so hard. Watching them, build a relationship, despite all the odds is a chefs kiss. And of course we’re gonna get all the characters from his crazy Russian family. Their love story is one for the books it showing that you could overcome so many obstacles and still find this incredible love. It was so beautiful. I’m so glad they got there happily ever after.

[Esther Philippe · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤤🤤🤤

Lord Almighty—what a *ride*. Aleksei, baby, trust me, you can ruin me 😉😉
Those boys really went through it—their father was beyond insane, and there were several moments that genuinely made my eyes tear up. But whew, the push and pull between the leads? *Mamma mia.* It was hot—hellfire hot.

“Smutty” doesn’t even begin to cover it. And the way they grew together, slowly understanding each other and everything they’d been through? Absolutely beautiful.

Just a heads-up: definitely check the trigger warnings before reading. I *cannot* wait for the next two brothers—yummy.

[Tranese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aleksei definitely met his match!!

This definitely one of my top 5 favorite story of the year and its on the 13th of January!! Once I started reading Fiona and aleksei story i refused to put it down until the very end. Im talking staying up till I have 2 hours before I have to go to work!!! There are no words to describe how truly amazing author Lilian Harris wrote their story. You must read and buy.

[Mrs Montes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It did not disappoint fanning myself still

Aleksei was complicated and Fiona was a woman with a lot of Spitfire. I immerse myself in a story. I love how they came together. This is a great read. Recommended to read previous books. Cannot wait for Kirill story. But the most anticipated one for me will be Anton.

[Lisa Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say , Aleksei didnt disappoint. Lilian has really knocked it out of the park , the hate relationship, the spice , the storyline , wow even to the end its endless. Definitely would recommend this series cause damnnnnn , 10/10

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aleksei, Aleksei, Aleksei -this man owned me.

Talk about hating to love someone you hated and wanted to hate for life.

I purposely savored this story and how everything plays out. The hate yet lust between these two fills the pages and drives them to do things they never thought they would.

The twists and turns in this book were just another added layer that I loved and showed just how many Aleksei will do to protect family.

This book is full angst, tension, off-the-charts chemistry and the hate-sex - DAMN!! But the action and the mafia scenes - LOVED THEM!

Lilian really knows how to blend the schmexy times with the drama and create these perfect stories that just keep you dialed in the whole time.

[Katie McGaha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I pick up a Lillian Harris book I know it will dominate my life. Her books are a little depraved, totally titillating and completely addictive! I have loved Konstantin in previous book and thought he was my favorite for sure after his own story but Aleksei has given him a run for his money.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexsei and Fiona

Fiona is an attorney in the DA office. Alexsei is the Bratva man she tried and failed to send to prison. The two mix like oil and water. A magnetic attraction between them leads to a discovery of lies, secrets and a love neither of them expected in life.

[Geenuh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so smitten with Aleksei. The slow burn in this book was so worth the anguish that bled thru the pages of this book. I literally cried and smiled like a lovesick girl. Loved this story😍

[Surrender2silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

book two in the Marinov Bratva series. he’s the enemy. she tries to put him behind bars. she’s everything he does not need. two different worlds. one is the law and the other a criminal. yet they are one in this crazy world. he was not meant to love. she gave him something better hope. great add on tot his series

[Read All About It · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aleksei is one of the of those crazy Russian Marinov brothers we love to hate at least until now.

Cross this line, and you don’t crawl back.

Fiona is on the other side of the law and wants to put Aleksei away. Their attraction is explosive.

Enemies to lovers with lots of suspense and secrets that put them in danger around every turn. A mile a minute adventure you can’t put down.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aleksei by Lilian Harris is a dark mafia romance where opposites truly collide: a law‑bound prosecutor and a ruthless Bratva enforcer fall into a hate-drenched, magnetic love story that crackles with moral tension and obsessive chemistry. I was immediately drawn to the butting of heads between Fiona’s rigid sense of justice against Aleksei’s violent moral greyness. And as the story progresses, both being forced to confront how attraction can blur even the sharpest lines.

Fiona and Aleksei occupy starkly different worlds: she is the woman who tried to put him behind bars, while he is the feared killer who answers only to Bratva law, not the courts. That legal and ideological divide makes every interaction feel like a collision of two incompatible universes, not just two clashing personalities.

What elevates the opposites-attract angle is that their opposition is substantive—justice vs. vengeance, order vs. chaos—so the romance never feels like simple bickering but like a genuine battle over who they are and what they believe. The push-pull between Aleksei and Fiona is intense, volatile, and addictive, capturing the sense that they should not work but somehow fit perfectly in their broken edges.

For Fiona, there is no grey in the moral spectrum. As a prosecutor, her job and identity are grounded in right vs. wrong, which makes her attraction to this killer a deep personal violation.

Aleksei, by contrast, lives in the shadows: he is cold‑blooded, vicious, and feared, yet fiercely protective and unexpectedly tender with Fiona, embodying the quintessential morally grey antihero. Unlike Fiona, he accepts his attraction to her, but feels it’s a superficial thing that can be easily satisfied if only the prosecutor gave in. We also see parts of Aleksei that aren’t ones that he likes to share. As we all love with a bad boy, we see some vulnerability, and we can definitely work with that!

Their chemistry is built on that dangerous mix of hatred and hunger—she knows he is lethal, he sees her as a threat, yet both are drawn to each other like moths circling the same flame. Their dynamic is a masterclass in slow emotional surrender wrapped in high heat: Aleksei doesn’t chase, he claims, while Fiona refuses to submit easily, fighting him at every turn even as her body betrays her resolve. Fiona’s attraction and eventual love of Aleksei is less about abandoning her morals and more about realizing that Aleksei means acknowledging nuance in a world she once only saw in absolutes. This makes their banter sharp, their intimate moments explosive, and their emotional beats all the more satisfying because it genuinely feels like two powerful forces dragging each other over a line neither meant to cross.

Watching Aleksei’s obsession shift into something like devotion, and Fiona’s rigid justice soften into complicated love, delivers a cathartic payoff that makes the darkness feel earned rather than gratuitous. I absolutely loved this gripping, high‑steam, high‑stakes romance where the good girl vs. monster tale is layered with real ethical conflict, making the opposites-attract, moral vs. morally grey, and searing attraction between Aleksei and Fiona deeply engaging.