Ruthless Creatures

Ruthless Creatures (2021) by J. T. Geissinger is the first in the Queens & Monsters series, which examines relationships between women and men in the mafia. The four novels in the series share characters, yet they work as standalone works. Ruthless Creatures mixes elements of several genres, including dark romance, erotica, comedy, mystery, and crime. The series explores The Irrationality of Sexual Desire, Women Humanizing Brutal Men, and Distinguishing Conflict and Abuse. Geissinger has published over 30 best-selling novels in multiple languages; Ruthless Creatures won the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.

This guide refers to the 2021 Bramble e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of graphic violence, death, child death, sexual violence, emotional abuse, sexual content, substance use, and cursing.

Plot Summary

Twenty-something Natalie “Nat” Peterson lives on Lake Tahoe in California. She paints and teaches art at a middle school. As the novel opens, Nat’s boyfriend, Chris, the community’s sheriff, breaks up with her because she’s still not over her former fiancé, David, who mysteriously disappeared five years ago.

Sloane has been Nat’s best friend since they were children. Sloane, who enjoys sex and opposes committed relationships, believes that David is dead and urges Nat to find new sexual partners.

At a bar, Sloane and Nat spot a handsome, enigmatic, and menacing man named Kage Porter (whose real name is later revealed to be Kazimir Portnov). After Kage turns down Sloane’s advances, Sloane dares Nat to try. Kage rejects Nat as well—he doesn’t want to be Nat’s rescuer. 

Through an acquaintance, Sloane and Nat learn that Kage has bought the house next to Nat’s in cash. One day, Nat orders art supplies, but the delivery person brings the package to Kage’s house by accident. Just as Nat is trying on her wedding dress one last time before she gives it away, Kage shows up with the misdelivered package. Kage doesn’t like the dress but thinks Nat is beautiful. 

Kage and Nat meet again when each is having dinner alone at the same restaurant. Kage invites Nat to his table and touches her hand, which arouses Nat. Kage has been consumed by thoughts of Nat. He reveals that he is the second-in-command of the Bratva, or Russian mafia; the organization’s head, Maxim “Max” Mogdonovich, is in jail. Kage’s job is to hurt and kill people who have wronged his organization. Nat is aware that she shouldn’t fall in love with such a lethal person, but she can’t resist Kage. Kage doesn’t want to lie to Nat, so instead, he resolves not to tell her everything he does.

Health-conscious Sloane teaches yoga. She meets a man named Stavros in one of her yoga classes and is impressed by his penis, which is outlined by his tight clothing. Stavros has an online gambling company and is also a part of the Bratva. Sloane, Stavros, Nat, and Kage meet up at La Cantina, a local restaurant. While Nat and Kage have a sexual encounter in an employee break room, they hear gunshots. In the ensuing struggle, Kage kills two people—members of the Irish mafia.

The police want to speak to Nat about the La Cantina shooting, but following Kage’s orders, Nat refuses to speak to them. Sheriff Chris asks Nat about La Cantina but then brings up getting back together. He grabs her and non-consensually kisses her. Kage arrives and scares him away. 

As months pass, Nat and Kage cement their intense bond through fulfilling sexual experiences, which include sex toys, spanking, and anal sex.

Meanwhile, Sloane flies to Rome with Stavros. On his yacht, she learns that various mafia families are at war. Kage has closed the ports, which the Russians control, so that no illegal goods can reach their destination. When a member of Kage’s organization disrespects the imprisoned Max, Kage forces him to cut off his own finger.

While renovating David’s former home, the new owner finds an envelope addressed to Nat, with a key to a safe deposit box. In the box, Nat finds a seemingly simple letter confirming David’s love and wishing that she will continue to find meaning in her paintings.

Kage reveals to Nat that David stole millions of dollars from the Bratva. Then, in exchange for immunity, he became a government witness and testified against Max. Kage came to Lake Tahoe to torture Nat for information about David and then kill her; instead, he fell in love. Max sends someone else to kill Nat, but Kage shoots the assassin and buries the body.

David’s letter is a clue: In one of her paintings, she finds the word “Panama.” She locates David on a palatial estate on a Panamanian island. Meanwhile, Kage tracks down Nat via the cell phone that he gave her.

David claims that he left Lake Tahoe because of the Bratva. Kage says that his organization didn’t learn about David’s whereabouts until last year. Since David is now married, Nat doesn’t want anything to do with him. She is mad at Kage for keeping such a consequential secret, but they quickly reconcile.

After the Italian mafia has Max killed in prison, Kage becomes the official head of the Bratva. Nat moves into Kage’s luxurious skyscraper apartment in New York City. She has an art studio, and they plan to start a family. Sensing that Nat is lonely, Kage flies Sloane to New York.

In the Epilogue, the Irish mafia kidnaps Sloane. The La Cantina shootings happened because members of the Irish mafia sexually assaulted her and insulted Stavros. Now, Sloane is being taken to Boston, Massachusetts, to meet the head of the Irish mafia—an event recounted in the next series novel, Carnal Urges (2021).