Root by Brooke Harper

Blood doesn’t determine family—
Loyalty does.
Sacrifice does.

Nikolai Wilder has done all that for me and more. He’s earned the name Wilder. Me? I’m not sure I even want it.
I was born into a family of crime, of war and death. I’m supposed to lead it, too, but I’m not that kind of man. I just want to live freely, without responsibility or fear. Unfortunately for me, that’s impossible.
Over the years, I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.
When an innocent night out on ally territory turns into an all-out brawl with new enemies, I’m left to my own devices—no Nikolai, no Tony. I can usually handle anything myself, but when a sexy, foul-mouthed bartender named Jess gets in the middle of the crossfire, I’m forced to find a way to save our asses and stop a full-out war.
Things start to get complicated fast, including my feelings for Jess. She’s trouble personified, but the more time I spend with her, the clearer it becomes that her brand of trouble is exactly the kind I crave.

Love may be the one mess I can’t dig my way out of.