Escaping the Past — L.M. Connolly

Jade has come from England to New York to find work and to live incognito. Two years ago she received a message from her brother, Miles, the last she'd heard of him. Since Miles works for a shadowy organization called the Increments, she's more than worried, but she obeys his request and leaves home. She found a new life, one she enjoys, even though she only has a job in a department store and lives modestly. Gary, part owner of the store where she works, has a shady past. Although he can claim a personal fortune, his father nearly bankrupted the family company, then he went back to his Italian roots and took strictly illegal work from his gangster family. Gary's Neapolitan family still rule in Italy, and Gary has kept strictly away from them. Jade and Gary have an instant connection, but the social gap between them is huge. When Jade is put in danger, Gary is forced to act to save her. Unfortunately, Jade's brother is working undercover for Gary's family, something both his family and the government agency watching them are aware of. Back in Italy, they're faced with unpleasant choices. Jade won't allow the danger she and Miles are in to lead Gary to follow in his father's footsteps and rejoin the family business. Not that Gary has any such intention, even if it means he loses his life protecting the woman he loves.