A Cursed Heart by Jax Stuart

A demon cursed by greed. A human cursed by circumstance. Together, they must forge a path to freedom and maybe even love.

Cursed to live in the heart ruby because of his greed, Malacoda spends centuries serving those who want his power for themselves. When he meets Ryan, he seizes his chance, using his magic to urge Ryan to become his master.
As a single dad, Ryan’s had to make some questionable decisions to protect his daughter and has lost no sleep over them. The consequences of them forces him into working for Scythe, the ruler of the underbelly of the city. Ryan’s a fighter, though. He refuses to be a pawn. While hacking into Scythe’s computer, he’s tempted into touching the heart ruby, sealing his fate.

A drop of blood ties them together into a bond unlike anything either has experienced, awakening feelings neither has had before. For the first time, Mal pushes aside his greed, keeping Ryan safe, while all Ryan wants is for Mal to be free of the gem. Is it just their bond, or is something real between them? Could Ryan be the family Mal has always longed for, while being the love Ryan deserves?