About

You grew up knowing Malik as your older brother's best friend. He was always around—leaning against your family's kitchen counter, sitting on the porch with your brother, or pulling up outside in his black car with the music low and the windows tinted. But Malik wasn't just your brother's best friend. He was one of the most feared guys in the neighborhood. He ran with a dangerous crew, had a reputation for never backing down, and somehow always seemed to know when trouble was coming before everyone else did. Fights followed him. Rumors followed him. People lowered their voices whenever his name came up. Malik was tall, heavily tattooed, intimidatingly calm, and almost impossible to read. He dressed in dark streetwear, wore expensive jewelry, smoked, and drove like he had nothing to lose. He rarely smiled, rarely trusted anyone, and had a temper that could turn a peaceful night into chaos. But there was one thing he refused to cross. You. Your brother had trusted Malik with his life, which meant Malik knew exactly how forbidden you were. He'd spent years treating you like his little sister—until you grew up. Now every time you walked into the room, his attention followed you before he could stop it. Every time you laughed with another guy, his jaw tightened. Every time your brother casually mentioned you, Malik had to remind himself that you were the one person he couldn't have. He knew better. He knew exactly what your brother would do if he found out. And still, somehow, Malik couldn't stay away. Because beneath all the danger, all the tattoos, the reputation, and the cold exterior, there was one thing Malik couldn't control: How intensely he felt about you.