Blurb
A drive-by shooting lands him in the hospital. And in the arms of temptation.
Cartel enforcer Ángel Rascón knows he should stay away from the woman who saved his life. Marisol is a sensual blend of fire and innocence, irresistible to his inner beast. She’s also the little sister of a man now on the run from the cartel—Ángel’s friend and former partner. Getting involved with her could destroy everything he’s worked for, but when she’s threatened, it’s game on.
Physical therapist Marisol Cruz knows Ángel is dangerous, yet he’s always there. Watching. Waiting. Wanting. After her brother’s enemies track her down, Ángel appoints himself her protector with every intoxicating kiss.
Ángel will have to risk his position—and his life—to keep her safe. But Marisol faces the most devastating choice of all. Loving her stubborn enforcer may mean losing her brother forever.
– Book 3.5 in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.
Excerpt — Meeting with the boss…
After waiting for his boss to pass, Ángel joined him in the room across the hall.
Enrique closed the door behind them and strode to his sleek mahogany sideboard, where tequila and whiskey decanters glinted under the soft embossed ceiling lights.
Lourdes’s self-portrait hung on the wall near the entrance. The brilliant shock of pink and yellow had no business in the sharp, clean lines of the cartel leader’s office.
“Here.” Enrique handed over a mug of coffee.
“Gracias, El Tajador.” Ángel gripped the warm ceramic mug, the mouthwatering aroma of fresh-roasted Colombian beans lifting with the steam.
“Help yourself to the milk and sugar.” He gestured toward the condiment dishes, then stirred a spoonful of brown sugar into his own mug and sat behind his massive desk. “Have a seat, Rascón. You requested this meeting, so get on with it.”
“We need to talk about Muniz.” Ignoring the sweeteners, Ángel slid into a leather chair in front of the desk and sipped his coffee. The hot, strong liquid stung his parched throat, grounding him. “Muniz sent Bruno to interrogate Marisol Cruz, the woman you met when I was in the hospital.”
Enrique’s right eye twitched, breaking his composure.
“Marisol is Raul’s sister. Bruno assaulted her two nights ago and left a bruise on her cheek. Last night, he spied on her through her bedroom window and masturbated all over the wall of her house.” Rage tightened his jaw as he gritted out that last part. “I took her home with me. To keep her safe. I asked Muniz to pull Bruno off this assignment, but he refused.”
“You questioned her?”
Ángel nodded. “She has no idea where her brother is.”
Enrique leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the armrest. “The woman who saved your life—who helped me find Lourdes—is Raul Cruz’s sister. That’s one helluva coincidence. I owe that woman a debt.”
Exactly what Ángel hoped to hear.
While he’d been bleeding out on the sidewalk, Enrique had called Ángel’s cell, but Marisol picked up and told him about the men who kidnapped Lourdes and left Ángel for dead.
“I consented to Muniz targeting Raul’s sister,” Enrique continued. “I did not consent to Bruno putting his hands on her. Where is Muniz now?”
“Wish I knew. I’ve checked all his usual places—the bars, the strip clubs, his office. He’s gone dark. Bruno, too. That’s why I called you.”
Enrique pulled out his phone, typed something short, and set it face-down on the desk. “I’ll find him. Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”
Ángel notched up his chin. “Muniz is my superior. I didn’t want to go around him.” That his mentor had left him no other choice settled like a stone in his gut.
“How did you know Bruno assaulted her? He had the assignment. Not you.”
Carajo. He should’ve expected that question. “I’ve been watching her.”
“Watching? You’ve been stalking your physical therapist?”
Teeth grinding, he forced a nod. “Marisol is mine.”
“I see.” Enrique straightened in his chair. “Muniz should’ve told me that Señorita Cruz and Raul’s sister were one and the same. That he didn’t means he had to have known I wouldn’t approve of his interrogation methods. From now on, no one will go near her. However, I expect you to report in if she makes contact with Raul.”
“Of course, señor.”
“Furthermore, Marisol Cruz is under my protection as a friend of the cartel. If anyone hurts her—and that includes you—they will answer to me.”
Ángel bit back a growl. Just barely. “If Muniz doesn’t back down, if Bruno even breathes in her direction again, I will beat the hell out of them. What Bruno did last night should land him in an unmarked grave.”
Snorting, Enrique shook his head. “If anyone did that to Lourdes, I would kill them. The perks of being the boss.” He breathed through his clenched teeth. “All right then. Protect her as you see fit, but no killing. Not without my say-so. You’re a good man, Ángel.”
He stiffened at the sound of his given name and that Enrique thought he was a good man. He was far from it.
“What about Raul?” Ángel asked.
“His warrant stands.” The man circled the desk and clasped Ángel’s right shoulder. “Keep Marisol safe. I’ll handle Muniz. I trust you can see yourself out.”
The ceramic mug clanked against the desk as Ángel set it down. Rising from the chair, he offered his hand. “Thank you for seeing me.”
His boss pumped it with a firm grip. “One last thing, call me Enrique when we’re alone. No more of that El Tajador shit.”
Shock barreled through him. He bobbed his head and left.
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Release Day: October 6, 2026
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About the Author
Amber Daulton writes raw, edgy romantic suspense and dark cartel romance featuring high stakes, deep passion, and defiant hearts. She’s the author of the Lozano Cartel, Arresting Onyx, Embracing You, and Ramseys in Time series, as well as a rich catalog of standalone novellas. Her books are available worldwide in digital, print, and select audio formats.
From her home base in North Carolina, she builds dangerous criminal underworlds and maps out fierce, second-chance love stories alongside her supportive husband and her demanding feline writing assistant, Zita.
Find her here: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton
Great excerpt! What a messy and dangerous situation for Angel!
Talk about complicated! Tangled commitments and threats… it’s really difficult to imagine an ending without blood…
A very complicated situation! Well done, Amber.
I’m breathless! Hard for him to ask/demand his rights from his boss, but a tangled path he weaved down. (Interesting point about brown sugar in coffee–just discovered a friend is big on this.)
What a tangled complication! You made the boss seem dangerous with only a few words. Well done.