So, I really enjoyed Derek's story, his relationship with Carmela and his foster brother, Amadi. I also found the sex traffickers storyline truly fascinating and thrilling.

Now, the romance? I didn't feel it. First, they talk for what? 5 minutes? and wow! instant lust! Without any reason whatsoever. Just... 'I'll walk you to the door' and boom! KISS!

But the real problem here is that I really don't like who Derek becomes when he is with Alex. And I don't like Alex. At all. He comes up as a self-absorbed, entitled, judgmental and arrogant a**hole, who cares more about satisfying his father's hypocrites standards than being a decent human being. I know that we are supposed to feel pity for him, but guess what? every character in this book suffered trauma, and neither of them is a bad person because of it.

Alex simply doesn't have the courage to live his life and defend his choices. As a matter of fact, he only brings Alex openly into his life when his mother orders him to do so *shakes head on disbelief*

I wouldn't wish Alex to my worst enemy, even less to someone like Derek, who deserves SO much better than him :/

I'm sorry, but some people are unredeemable.