Ava Parisi, daughter of the second in command of the Italian mafia boss, has one sole purpose in life. That's to never dishonor her mafioso father. Marry, bring peace, and money: those are his demands. Meeting those demands comes at a high price, though.

She's betrothed to an abusive man from another notorious Italian family. He's the last person she wants to spend her life with, but there's no way out. Her life is in the gilded, golden cage with strict rules and even harsher punishments.

Ivan Sokoloff wants revenge. The vindictive Russian mob boss has made it his mission to avenge his mother's brutal murder. There's nothing he wouldn't do to assert his power.

When one of Parisi's henchmen breaches his territory and slaughters one of his men, Ivan brokers a deal: war or Ava's hand in marriage.

Ava should hate and fear Ivan, because of his feared reputation. Yet, the infuriating man that enjoys teasing her and making her feel things she never felt before offers her one way to earn her freedom.

Win him in a game of chess.

Will Ava get the freedom she had been longing?

Or will she stay as Ivan's caged little bird in his games?