The first thing I always notice about a person is their posture. I was raised to believe that good posture conveys good manners, as well as respect for those around you. Nikolai carries his posture like a casual ‘f#ck you’ to everyone around him. There is no decorum in his leather jacket, jeans, or his haphazardly laced motorcycle boots. Everything he wears is black, but the small glimpse of skin beneath is a riot of colors. Tattoos cover every inch of his exposed skin, including his throat.

I’m not sure which is more offensive- the ink or the faux hawk atop his head. This is not the way you attend a ballet, nor is he the type of man I expect my father to keep company with.

“Tanaka.” He reaches for my hand and kisses it in a way that few men would ever dare to do in my father’s presence. “You dance beautifully.”

The words are unmistakably accented. Russian. And I’m struggling to maintain my composure while making sense of this situation. My father has always been protective of me. His own men know better than to speak to me or look at me, but for this stranger, somehow, it’s okay. 
My manners, at least, are still intact, so I reply as I should. “You’ve seen me dance?”

Nikolai flashes a boyish smile in contrast to the deepness of his blue-green eyes. “I like to invest my time in the arts.”

Thief (Boston Underworld, #5) by A. Zavarelli
Rosa's rating: 5 of 5 iScream Cones

"There is no such thing as pain. There is only discipline."

I'm embarrassed to admit that this is my first A. Zavarelli read. IKR? Where have I been? And did you see that cover? Yeah, I'm sure I'm not the only one suffering from a sever case of #CoverLust, right? Though this is book #5 in the Boston Underworld series, I read it as a standalone. And I loved it...hard.

Nikolai becomes Tanaka's keeper, holding her as collateral for sins that she didn't commit. She must pay, and she does. But she takes too. She has bested the thief by stealing something that doesn't belong to her."

Tanaka tries to be a good girl. Obedient to her father and the perfect princess. She doesn't argue or rebel. She does whatever is expected of her so that what she loves most isn't taken away from her. Dancing is her life. She knows she's dancing on borrowed time and eventually she must fulfill her duty to her family. But she will worry about that when the times come. For now, she will dance every second that she can.

Nikolai is a cold-hearted killer that follows orders and does what needs to be done. It's a shame that Tanaka's father put her life in danger. It would be a shame to mar her perfection, but if he has to, he will. Until then he will play with his doll. As shameful as it may be to see something so lovely destroyed, it might come to that in the end."

Tanaka tries to keep to herself, refusing to obey his demands. But eventually, she must succumb or pay the price. But she soon learns that more than her life is at risk. "The thief stole my heart, only to hold it in the palm of his hand, extorting my affections when it suits him."

What an exciting and suspenseful story as these two are thrown together and must find a way to navigate their feelings while remaining loyal to the code. Their forbidden attraction to each other makes it difficult to imagine a future together, but their passion makes it impossible avoid the flames. Will they burn together? What price will they pay for their sin?

I don't know if there will be more books written in this series, but I sure hope so. I'm hooked now and can't wait to get my hands on more from this author. The line forms here...