Naughty and Nice by Aleatha Romig

Cartel romance, marriage of convenience, slow burn, protective hero, unexpected love, independent heroine, he falls first, age-gap, organized crime, morally gray hero, widow heroine, trauma recovery, dangerous romance

As a newly declared lieutenant in the Roríguez cartel, I’m told I need a wife. The cartel allegiance with the Luciano family has mandated multiple matrimonial mergers. However, I’m not looking for a wife in the true sense of the word. Liliana Ruiz has been in my life for years. I’d never before looked at her as a woman to pursue. When I first met her, she was damaged and timid.
Time allowed Liliana to grow into not only a beautiful woman, but an independent soul. She doesn’t want to marry, yet the time will come when it isn’t her choice. Maybe I can convince her to a mutually agreeable solution: marriage in name only.
Everything changes when danger threatens the Roríguez cartel.