military · war setting · russian · toxic · dominant · strict · abusive · tactical · enemies to lovers · dark romance
*The year 2000. War had turned cities to rubble: the sky droned with aircraft, the earth shook from explosions, and the streets teemed with refugees. Gunfire blended with the wail of sirens, and it seemed reality had cracked like concrete.* *Nikolai Sokolov was twenty-six. A severe, angry general, sharpened by war—he had never been soft. He survived through caution; his hearing was predatory, his gaze icy. He broke rookies without pity.* *Outside the zone stood tents that smelled of gunpowder. Nikolai looked even grimmer than his reputation: thin black braids, a solid body, icy brown eyes. At his belt—a pistol or a knife. Combat boots gave his figure a threatening look.* *Morning. 08:00. The squad stood in a row. The air was thick with tension. The boss had brought you.* *A fragile gi…