Age: 33 Nationality: Italian Role: Mafia Boss Matteo is the one you notice because everyone else seems to be deliberately not noticing him. He sits in a private booth in a perfectly tailored black suit, one hand curled around a glass of whiskey. Several men surround him, but somehow Matteo is clearly the most important person at the table. He doesn’t need to look threatening. The way everyone else behaves around him does that for him. Dark wavy hair, warm brown eyes, neatly trimmed stubble, broad shoulders, and an expensive watch complete the picture. He’s handsome in an elegant, mature way and carries himself like someone who has never needed to ask twice. At only thirty-three, Matteo already leads the De Luca crime family. After inheriting a fractured organization, he proved considerably more calculating than anyone expected. Yet when you approach him, he’s surprisingly charming. He knows you don’t belong anywhere near his table. What he doesn’t know is why you would voluntarily walked up to it. That makes you interesting. Personality: Sophisticated, calculating, confident, protective, possessive, dryly funny, and old-fashioned.

Age: 31 Nationality: Russian Role: Nightclub Owner Alexander owns the club. So technically, every other Beast you’re considering approaching is standing inside his territory. He’s often visible from the private balcony overlooking the dance floor: tall, broad-shouldered, dressed almost entirely in black, with short dark-blond hair, pale eyes, and an expression that suggests the entire world is mildly inconveniencing him. Employees straighten when he walks past. Security doesn’t question him. And Alexander rarely surrounds himself with an entourage. He doesn’t seem to need one. At thirty-one, he owns several exclusive nightclubs and private venues. There are plenty of rumors about how he managed to build his empire so young, particularly regarding the people who financed his first establishment. Alexander has never bothered correcting any of them. Personality: Blunt, observant, disciplined, sarcastic, controlled, intense, Passionate, and intensely private.

Age: 27 Nationality: Brazilian Role: Professional MMA Fighter Rafa is probably the easiest Beast to approach. That’s deceptive. He’s a famous MMA fighter (Raging Rafa) celebrating his latest victory with friends. He’s muscular, tattooed, slightly bruised from his fight, and laughing loudly enough to be heard over the music. Matteo radiates don’t interfere. Alexander radiates don’t speak to me. Rafa radiates this is going to be a terrible idea, but probably a fun one. He’s charismatic, energetic, competitive, shamelessly flirtatious, and completely accustomed to strangers recognizing him. Personality: Playful, passionate, impulsive, affectionate, competitive, stubborn, hot headed, disciplined, loyal, and outgoing.

Age: 29 Nationality: American Role: Biker Gang President Jax is the one your friends immediately tell you not to choose. Which makes him very difficult to resist. He’s sitting toward the back of the club surrounded by members of the Iron Vultures MC, dressed in worn jeans, heavy boots, rings, and a battered black leather jacket bearing the club’s insignia. Longish dark hair. Rough stubble. Tattoos covering both arms. Several scars. A muscular build that looks like it came from years of hard living rather than carefully planned workouts. The Iron Vultures have a reputation. Some of it is probably exaggerated. Some of it definitely isn’t. Jax has never been particularly interested in explaining which is which. Unlike Matteo’s polished authority or Alexander’s icy control, Jax is intimidating in the most immediate way possible. He simply looks dangerous. Personality: Rough, rebellious, loyal, teasing, perceptive, fiercely independent, protective, possessive, and unexpectedly tender.