Cruel Obsession: Dark Mafia Romance

by A.L. Long

She needed me as her protector, her shield against the world, but my need for her ran far deeper. She was the balm to my restless desire, the answer to my burning hunger.

My escape.

My refuge.

In her eyes, I was a savior, a knight in tarnished armor. Little did she know, I would become her darkest nightmare. One taste, one moment of surrender, and I would never let her go.

He was the only man who could offer me the help I so desperately needed. Falsely accused of a crime I hadn't committed, I was now a fugitive, forced to live on the streets and constantly looking over my shoulder. Never in my wildest dreams did I think our paths would intertwine once more. I was fully aware of the danger he represented, a man capable of taking life without remorse. Yet, what choice did I have?

In a world where nothing comes without a price, his protection would demand everything I had to offer—my soul.

Cruel Obsession is the second book in The Red Knights Series. Each book is a standalone with a HEA. This is a spicy Dark Mafia Romance which features scenes of a violent nature as well as those with explicit sexual nature with TW.

ebook

Published November 20, 2025

About the author

Award-winning author of the Independent Press Award for Distinguishing Favorite. Recipient of the National Indie Excellence Award for Erotica Romance.

My love for writing began several years ago after an early retirement from a demanding job that I loved and hated because it consumed so much of my time. Now, I can focus my time on what I love. Writing romance has been a lifelong dream and to actually say that I am a published author is beyond what I would have ever expected.

Even though some may say I have a little naughtiness in my books, I look at it as an added bonus for my readers. After all, what is a romance book without a little spice?

When I am not writing, I enjoy spending time with friends either at home or out on the town. Mostly, I enjoy a relaxing night at home where I can enjoy a glass of wine in the company of a good book.

Out of everything, she enjoys driving in her little convertible with the top down.



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Reviews

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

TROPES:
-dark mafia
-enemies to lovers
-captor x captive

This book is about Rumi and Alexei. Rumi is on the run, after her stepbrother framed her for murdering their parents. She comes across Alexei, who she met many years ago- who still remembers her. He's determined to find her because he thinks she's spying on him. And he does find her... and takes her captive.

He wants to know her true identity, and "tortures" her sexually to find that out. This definitely isn't a classic "touch her and die" mafia book like I expected- the hero in this book allows other men to carry his woman, allows a male doctor to 'examine' her internally, and in general doesn't really care about her, lol.

While I DID like this author's writing style (hence the 3 stars), I did not feel like the main characters even liked each other, much less loved each other by the end of the book. It was a bit of a let down.

SAFETY:
Virgin/celibate/manwhore?: virgin heroine, previous manwhore hero
OM/OW drama?: no
Cheating/sharing? no
Triggers: torture (by MMC and others), murder, abuse
Kinks: bdsm, rough sex
HEA?: yes

My bookshelves may reveal spoilers.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in this series about The Red Knights. Rumi seems to always be in the wrong place and seeing things she shouldn't. Hiding in the shadows to try to protect herself. Alexei keeps seeing her, is she spying on him. He needs to know how dangerous she is. When he finds her he'll hopefully get his answers, but can he believe her. Trust doesn't come easily. The twist and turns will keep you reading. I actually liked this story more than the first, it was easier to get into.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2.5 Stars ⭐️

Thank you to BookSirens and A.L. Long for providing me with an ARC of this book. This review reflects my own honest opinions.

This book was good, but it didn’t wow me. While the premise had potential, it lacked the depth I was hoping for — the characters felt one-dimensional, and the storyline often took a back seat to the erotica elements.

The small thread of suspense surrounding Rumi’s secret and Alexi’s connection to Mikhail was what kept me reading, but when the reveal finally came, it felt anticlimactic and underwhelming.

If this hadn’t been an ARC, I’m honestly not sure I would have finished it.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running from her dangerous stepbrother and framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Rumi has honed survival to an art. Life on the streets has made her sharp, wary, and invisible, until the night she witnesses something she absolutely shouldn’t have. One glimpse of the killer’s face sends her spiraling back years, to another crime scene and the same unforgettable man. Alexei is just as stunned. He’s spent years trying to forget the mysterious “boy” who once crossed his path, only now, the curvy woman bolting from him is clearly no boy at all. Convinced she’s been sent to spy on him, he hunts Rumi through the city streets, abducting her and demanding answers. He knows “Rumi Daniels” is a lie. What he doesn’t know is that her truth will upend everything he thinks he understands. I struggled with Alexei at first; he swings wildly between icy ruthlessness and obsessive fixation, treating Rumi as both prisoner and temptation. She ricochets between a locked cell and his bed, trapped in a twisted push-pull where he’s already judged her guilty. When her real identity finally comes to light, it only fuels his paranoia. But if she’s the daughter of his sworn enemy, why does he want to kill her? Rumi, meanwhile, is a revelation. Fierce, resilient, and endlessly resourceful, she survives not only Alexei’s mercurial grip but also her father’s attempts to break her. She protects the secret both men want with a steel spine and a stubborn heart. Yet it’s Alexei’s fleeting moments of softness, those cracks in his armor, that threaten her resolve the most. She knows she can’t afford to trust him… so she runs. But walking away from Alexei is far easier than him letting her go. The plot twists come fast and breathless, each chapter packed with danger, tension, and unexpected emotion. The story surges forward with relentless energy, weaving action, suspense, and a dark, complicated romance neither Rumi nor Alexei ever intended to find.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tile: Cruel Obsession
Author: A.L. Long
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In "Cruel Obsession", Rumi Daniels, courageous yet deeply scarred by past abuse, battles with the burden of her past and survives amid betrayals and desperation. Her journey towards freedom takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally crosses paths with Alexei Popov under lethal circumstances. A man shaped by violence and haunted by his own demons, becomes entangled in Rumi's life in ways neither could have foreseen. What started as a pursuit quickly turned into a deadly obsession, as Alexei's desire for control clashes with Rumi's determination for freedom.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this book . It was well written and easy to understand. I particularly loved how strong and resilient the characters were presented and appreciated the author's ability in portraying realistic events on childhood trauma, which for me was very engaging.
However, the book would have been more engaging for me with greater character development rather than focusing heavily on sex scenes. I also felt the story moved quickly, leaving little room to explore how the character's relationship or love for each other developed.
I highly recommend "Cruel Obsession" to readers who enjoy dark romance, suspense and obsession.

[Jinane Abou Hassan zahran · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A.L. Long takes readers even deeper into darkness with Cruel Obsession. The book is split into two intense parts: the first shocks you, dark and uncomfortable, while the second ramps up suspense, danger, and tension that keeps you on edge.

Rumi has survived unimaginable suffering: abused, blackmailed, falsely accused, and forced to live on the streets for years. She has no one, and I ached for her strength and resilience. Alexei’s past is equally tragic: abused, bullied, blackmailed, and an assassin. Rumi sees him as no better than her father, yet she can’t deny the pull he has on her. Two broken, scarred souls drawn together in a world that has taken everything from them.

The tension is electric. She’s hiding secrets, he’s hunting her, and every interaction crackles with danger, desire, and obsession. The Red Knights protect each other fiercely, adding loyalty and stakes to every moment. Even her name, Rumi, feels poetic, a quiet echo of strength amid chaos.

While it includes violent and non-consensual scenes not for everyone, the storytelling is gripping, dark, and emotionally intense.

Dark, twisted, suspenseful, and addictive.

Recommended for fans of dark mafia romances with obsession, suspense, and morally complex antiheroes.

[Jaso Saeed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is a dark mafia romance that focuses heavily on obsession, protection, and the thin line between safety and danger.
What I liked most about this story was the emotional dynamic between the characters. The hero believes he’s protecting her, giving her shelter and safety when she has nowhere else to turn, but it’s clear from the beginning that his feelings run much deeper and darker. That made his character interesting and unsettling at the same time.
The heroine’s situation felt realistic and heartbreaking. Being falsely accused and forced to live in constant fear made her choices understandable, even when she knew trusting him could cost her everything. Their connection develops out of necessity and vulnerability, which made it feel more natural and believable.
The romance is intense and definitely on the darker side, with plenty of spice and morally gray moments. It’s not a light read, but if you enjoy dark mafia stories with obsessive characters and high emotional tension, this one delivers.
Even though this is the second book in The Red Knights Series, it works well as a standalone and has a satisfying HEA.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book. I appreciate the chance to read and review it.

[Karen Lathbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexei, has turned into a hardened man from being bullied when he was younger and a poor excuse of a Mafia father. When he pays back one of his bullies he sees someone watching and through the years sees her again. She witnesses him killing someone and he assumes she is a spy for a Bratva he is indebted to.

Rumi has been on the run after witnessing her stepbrother killing her mother and stepfather. Her mother and her fled from her abusive father but taking with them a flash drive that could bring her father down. Alexei captures her and holds her prisoner while she claims she is innocent but he wants her anyhow.

This story has a lot of twists and turns keeping the reader engaged. Rumi is strong and determined to find a way to gain independence of those hunting her and yet falling for the man who shows her what it's liked to be loved. I totally enjoy the men of the Red Knights, who Alexei is a member of and they aid him freeing Rumi. Another great read!

A L Long does it again and I'm looking forward to more of the Red Knights!

[Debbie Yeomans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received an Arc copy of this book to read prior to publication.

Book 2 in the Red Knights series is another great read. While it is revealed in book 2 who/what the Red Knights are, I'm glad I read book one first to get a better understanding of who is who.

Rumi has a rough ride. Living in the shadows, once she escaped not one but two men who treated her like dirt beneath their shoes, and always watching her back. not trusting anyone.

While Alexei crosses paths with Rumi a few times, it is years after their first meeting that he finally tracks her down. He has questions, who is she, is she trailing him, can he trust her?

There are so many twists and turns, and I'm pleased to say I was wrong about who I thought was behind a lot of the wrongdoings. That was a nice change!

Well worth a read for those who enjoy Bratva/Mafia stories.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is the second book in this series and this one gives us Alexei and Rumi's story. Honestly, this one fell a bit flat for me. The timeline was really confusing at first, the first couple of chapters jumped through a few years in the characters' lives but it wasn't super clear which made the flow of the story a bit rough. There were some sentences that were repetitive during the inner monologues and I honestly didn't really buy the mental connection between Alexei and Rumi as most of their relationship was just physical. The story got a bit better in the last half, but I just felt so disconnected from these two characters.

I received a free ARC of this via BookSirens and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE LIKES TO PLAY WITH HIS FOOD

Alexi and Rumi. Shes on the run. Hiding. From a lie. She needed him. She had no choice. He was dangerous. He would protect her without question. But he would demand a price. He has his doubts about her. Their chemistry is like magnets that are pulled together. Their twisted ride is seeing, running, capture, running and chasing. Lots of tantilizing tension filled chaos. Well written with lots of family betrayal and drama. A well written dark romance. With charecters that are exciting and tantalizing. This exciting rollercoaster ride will grab hold and wont let go till the end of the twists and turns. I couldnt put this down. Litteraly said one more chapter.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️ she runs into him many times during dangerous situations. He falls in love with her eyes. He doesn’t chase her. He lets her go, then he can’t get her out of his mind and the next time he sees her, he follows her, but he loses her. He hunts her down kidnapped her to keep her safe she runs, but he finds her then she falls in love with him, but still feels like she needs to leave. She just wants freedom and to be able to live a life where she’s not in hiding. This book was dark, dirty spicy, and the tournament that he put her through…

[Candice Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy! I was shocked by the amount of character development in all of the Knights. We get personality and shared traits. Some of the stories behind their reasons for being in their brotherhood. Alexei has developed into a heartless monster, or so he thought. Love has a way of changing these brooding men. Rumi learned how to survive every single moment except Alexei. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. A L Long has found a way to show intimacy in a rare cherished way. I really can’t wait for the next three books.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is the second book in the Red Knights series. It has an intriguing storyline and beautifully written characters in Rumi and Alexei whose off the charts chemistry is almost combustible! They face danger, betrayal, lies, family murders, kidnapping, torture, so many twists that you make up your mind about the plot twist and it's turned around. I was glued to the pages right from the start, can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received an advanced reader's copy of this book via BookFunnel and I am writing this review voluntarily

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, an amazing book. Mafia lovers beware.

Mafia Pakhan Alexei has an obsession growing for Rumi and once he had her once, he couldn't let go.

Alexei was the traditional possessive, alpha dominant Pakhan who wanted her. Rumi though was not as massive as he thought she was but powerless against his pull.

Full of danger, friction, drama and so intense I needed to take a breather at times. Alexei was super intense.

A fantastic book that didn't let go, almost as much as Rumi escaping Alexei. I must read for Mafia lovers and dark stories.

[Stephanie Tewes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is the second book in this series, and while I was told it could be read as a standalone (true!), this one unfortunately fell flat for me.

The timeline was a bit muddy, but here’s what I gathered: Alexei is shaped by a childhood of bullying and blackmail that eventually pushes him into becoming an assassin. Rumi grows up in a brutal world herself- abused by her family, blackmailed, and forced to survive on the streets. Alexei notices Rumi watching a few of his jobs when she’s a child, lets her go, and then continues thinking about her for years… until she walks back into his life as an adult. At that point, he’s fully lusting after her and ready to claim her.

My biggest issue? Instead of any slow burn, tension, or emotional build-up, their first adult interaction jumps straight into VERY sexual “torture.” No ramp-up, no chemistry development, no tension... just immediate intensity that gave me the ick. It read like a man who’d been fixated on a child and finally acted on it, which made it really hard for me to stay engaged. I kept going solely because this was an ARC.

The potential story arc was there, but the execution just wasn’t. The characters felt one dimensional, and the plot took a clear back seat to the smut.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mrs Reads Between The Lines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Connections…

Cruel Obsession is difficult for me to review. The plot was interesting, the spice was next level, but the characters are where it all falls apart for me. I didn’t feel connected with them, which made me uninterested in the overall story. It was like tasting your favorite dessert and knowing that there’s a missing ingredient… it just doesn’t taste right.

*Please read the trigger warnings before reading.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is book 2 in The Red Knights series and is Rumi and Alexei's steamy, gritty, fantastic journey. Rumi is put through complete hades at the hands of her step brother and on top of that she comes face to face for a second time with the same man she saw something she shouldn't have as a child. Alexei never forgets and he certainly remembers Rumi. These two take us on an exciting, danger filled, action packed journey. A great addition to The Red Knights!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in Long's The Red Knight's series. A wonderful addition to this series and I feel it's best to read these in series order to get the best from this book. It's completely captivating and well written with Rumi and Alexei as our main characters. Dark and dangerous with tension, desire, secrets and so much more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*Please read and be aware of trigger warnings

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story between Rumi and Alexei had a power imbalance. Even though he changed for the better and fell in love with Rumi, the things he did to her were too cruel. I did like that she had a back bone and stood up for herself, after everything she had endured her entire life, she didn’t give in until the end. I’m glad the got their happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is an excellent addition to the Red Knight series. Alexei and Rumi lead interconnecting lives that are rooted in violence and deception and obsession. That obsession which eventually leads to love.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lori Hammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumi is a tough place in life--destitute, hiding, fearful. She's crossed Alexei's path by pure coincidence a few times and he's become suspicious. He wants her secrets. Danger, suspense, and more ensue. Romantic suspense at it's best.

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruel Obsession is the second book in the Red Knights series. It’s a very good romance. The plot is intriguing and held my interest. Rumi and Alexia are great characters with amazing chemistry. There’s action, suspense, secrets, betrayal and steam. An excellent read.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumi is always on the run and always ends up in the wrong places and so does Alexei, who doesnt think her appearances are coincidental, and takes her captive and has his own way of getting answers from her and her body. Well written engaging steamy drama action, twists and more!

[Hadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that’s a tough, resilient heroine! I’m not entirely sure why I couldn’t connect with the male character, but the plot itself was strong and well thought out.

[Thee_reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good one.
Totally didn’t expect the different turns in the story.

Loved it!

Total HEA
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Anni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written.
Just not for me.