Enemy Within: A Dark Bratva Auction Romance

by DC BEKS

What’s the worst thing that can happen to you?
Watching your father’s execution?
Being branded the daughter of a traitor?
Dragged to an underground auction and sold like property?

All of these happened to me.

And then, I was sold to the devil himself.

Leonid Zakharov.
Pakhan of the Zakharov Empire.
A legend in the underworld.
And now... my owner.

I swore I’d resist him.
That I’d get close only to uncover the truth.
But the longer I stay, the more twisted it becomes...
Hatred turns to hunger.
Vengeance begins to taste like surrender.

And I no longer know if I want justice...
or just him.

Because with every look, every touch, every command...
He unravels me without mercy.

And the only thing that might break his hold...
Is the truth about what really happened to my father.

But even when I walk away,
He scorches the city to find me.

Because I’m no longer just his possession
I’m the peace he refuses to lose.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2025

Reviews

[Shelley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daria is a young 23 yo virgin who's father is killed for being a traitor but daria refuses to believe he wasn't loyal. she is then forcibly taken and after being held for a month is put up for auction by the pakhan to "pay" the debt for her father's crime. Standing on stage looking out at men who want to crush her spirit and break her, she refuses to bend and shows fire in her eyes and a spine of steel. Leonid an older pakhan himself is being bullied by his organization to marry and produce and heir in case of his death for stability. he doesn't want to deal with mafia princesses so decides to buy a wife. daria is last out and once he sees the fire in her he buys her. but he refuses to take her virginity without consent and sees how strongly daria feels that her father was betrayed. slowly they spend time together and after a night at a party where daria looks and acts the part the chemistry explodes and he takes her virginity thinking how much she seems to fit him. the next morning something is found in her possession that makes leonid question her honesty so watches her. after she's caught in a situation without talking to her or listening to her side he throws her out in the middle of the night. daria is furious and hurt but determined after a night in her old fathers empty house to make a fresh start and leave everything behind. but there are traitors lurking working to take down leonid and they kidnap daria. things happen and daria ends up back with leonid who went looking for her after throwing her out, who starts realizing that daria isn't the traitor but its someone possibly much closer to home. he's shocked at darias condition and realizes he loves her but doesn't know how to handle the situation as she seems unreachable and he never apologizes. can he fix things between them? will daria ever believe that he wasn't the one who ordered her kidnapped and hurt? can something that started out as her being bought can ever become something more? what about her father and proving he was telling the truth? can they find the real traitor in time?
so much happening in this story. lots of emotional angst esp around darias kidnapping and leonid discovering that maybe he can have the family and love he never thought he could have. maybe daria is the perfect fit for him. and what happens if the traitor is the last person u expected?
great characters lots of detail and good plot twists.

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

[R Rais · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of the book, i love!
From her father execution to her own auction, how Daria stand tall, i love that.
Meeting Leonid, a cold and calculated Pakhan, Leonid had me anticipating all the darkness and ruthlessness of Bratva world. And he deliver in the most a$hole way.

One thing raised my brows here was when Daria said she falls for him just from one night together? Yeah, no, girl. Good sex and love is two different thing.

The second part of the book felt rushed.

The " i love you"
The time it need for Daria to forgive him. Only a second.
The effort Leonid need to atone for his sin. Only gave her words.
The way Leonid "find" the traitor. All those years ane it only need one person to tell him who that "suddenly" he sees all the traitors tells? Ehm...

Second part to the end, were too rushed for me. I dont feel the chemistry. The seds was good, but with the lack of chemistry, i dont feel the steamy. At the end, Daria didnt do anything to get her "misson" succes but being beautiful woman who captured a King's eyes and heart and become Queen.

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

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story hooked me from the first page. I've never read a book by this author before but I love her style of writing! Daria’s life goes up in flames after her father’s execution, and being sold to Leonid Zakharov, the ruthless Pakhan of the Zakharov Empire, feels like the final blow. But what starts as hate and vengeance slowly turns into something dangerous and magnetic. Leonid is intense, possessive, and completely unapologetic, while Daria’s strength and defiance make her impossible not to look away from. Their chemistry is wild, their emotions raw, and the twists had me holding my breath. It’s dark, emotional, and completely addictive.

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

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

This tumultuous story takes you along Daria and Leonid's journey to happiness. Branded and sold in an auction because of her father's sins Daria rises above them when she connects with Leonid not knowing that her father's death is tied to Leonid's empire because of one man's determination to become Pakhan. The discovery of Anton's treachery reaches across both sides with catastrophic consequences and a chance to bridge both sides. Enemy within is a great story filled with thrilling twists and turns that kept me glued to the characters/.

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

[Victoria Donnachie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Daria’s father is killed after being accused of being a traitor, she is kidnapped and put up for sale at an auction. Leonid is at the auction to buy himself a wife to produce an heir after deciding he doesn’t want to get stuck with a mafia princess - and buys Daria.

Their feelings for each other start to grow however after being found in a suspicious situation Leonid immediately throws her out. Leonid realises he should have given Daria chance to explain and looks for her however someone who wants to take Leonid down kidnaps Daria for revenge.

The aftermath will keep you hooked.

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

[Alyssa's BookShelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ Read
First I want to thank the author DC BEKS and Booksprout for giving me an ARC of this book.
I felt sorry for what happened to Daria’s father in the beginning of this book.
And I also felt sorry for what happened to Daria in this book because she had to repay the mafia for what they thought her father betrayed them.
I didn’t like that she was put up for auction in this book.
I didn’t like Leonid had first and that he bought Daria at the auction and also how he treated her at first.
I liked how strong and confident Daria was throughout this book and also stood up to Leonid in this book.
I hated Anton Leonid’s right hand man and how he treated Daria in this book but I was glad that he got what he deserved at the end of the book for what he did to Daria. I was so happy when they found out who betrayed Leonid and other people in the mafia. I was so glad when both Leonid and Daria fell in love with each other in this book. And I loved how he protected her too in this book.
And I was so happy they got an happy ending together.

[GKP2460 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pakhan Leonid Zakharov and Daria Tarasova's story. It's a forced marriage journey that quickly draws you in and completely engulfs you right away.

"She wears power like perfume. She cloaks herself in control and confidence."

Leonid and Daria's story is filled with angst, lies and betrayals that cut deep.
This story is intense and gritty. So many twists and turns that you don't see coming. Enemy Within is absolutely a recommended read!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read. This is a Bratva dark romance story staring Daria and Leonid. Mafia is one of my fav reads and I like this particular Russian mafia. He’s their mafia’s pakham (don) and needs a heir and she is bought after her father’s execution. Somehow, they find common ground and even a HEA - quite good. He’s used to getting what he wants and he wants her.

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

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow start and typos

So I did DNF at about page 82 but that was after the typos where there was 1 or 2 repeat pages and a couple typos before that. I think the story would've been good had I continued but I was under the impression this was going to be a bit darker and it wasn't (at that point) so i didn't continue. The MMC was actually nice and understanding from what I read (which is great in real life) but that's not what I expected from this book.

[Romina Lobo · Rating 5 out of 5]

muy buen libro una trama ya vista pero con giros inesperados me hubiera gustado que el se arrastrara mas por el perdón, pero se hizo lo que se pudo ellos me encantaron. y que decir del final un final feliz de esos que me encantan con su bebito :).
DARIA ES UNA VERDADERA REINA CAUTIVADORA DE CORAZONES

[Tina Dyble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did not disappoint. It was not particularly dark but it contained all the usual triggers. It was nice that the female lead was a strong character and not a small fragile female like so many.

I’ve read other books by this author and would recommend the book.

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

[Roxi X · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

I did finish this book but it was looking pretty bleak there for a while; the instalove was, regrettably, awful. I'm chugging along, liking the pacing and characters when, suddenly they're in love.

What?

[brenda hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed read this book I couldn’t put it down turning the pages. I thought the story was interesting and was well written that kept you reading. I can’t wait to read from DC Beks.

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

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dark Bratva romance story. The story flows well and will keep you interested all the way through. The characters are likeable and fit well together. A good read.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Irma Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

romantic reader

I definitely would recommend this book and look forward to next read. Avid Amazon reader. Look forward to her next book.

[Mary Ellen Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemy Within

I am glad it ended way it did. I am sorry Maria's father died because of other who betrayed both Pahhans.