Verdict: An explosive, high-stakes bodyguard-and-boss finale set in the glittering, deadly world of Las Vegas mafia. Brie’s widow-turned-queen power grab and Nik’s fierce loyalty make for a scorching, suspenseful conclusion — even if the whodunit is a touch predictable.
Best for: Readers who love the bodyguard trope turned possessive, a heroine claiming her power, and a steamy sapphic mafia romance wrapped around a murder mystery and mob politics.
Heat: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 (4/5) — sizzling and explicit, with protective, possessive chemistry between bodyguard and boss.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.7 average across 456 ratings — a well-loved duet finale, with 77% of readers giving it five stars).
Tropes: Sapphic mafia romance · bodyguard & boss · widow turned queen · forced proximity · murder mystery · The Colombo Family Duet (Book 2)
Guarding Her Gangster Queen is the second and final book in Persephone Black’s Colombo Family Duet. For more recommendations in this vein, see our full dark sapphic romance guide.
What Is Guarding Her Gangster Queen About?
Guarding Her Gangster Queen is the explosive conclusion to Brie “Breezy” Colombo’s story. Once a widow who fled the Family, Brie is done running — she’s coming back to claim what’s hers: the casino, the Colombo Family, and the truth about who really killed the old Don. The problem is that almost everyone wants her dead.
Her protector, Nik Kusek, has already sacrificed everything for her — killing for her, turning against her own people. Now, with the Colombos branding Brie a traitor, her husband’s killer still at large, and the Novak Consortium pulling strings, the two women play a deadly game with power and survival on the line. This time, Brie is playing for keeps.
What Makes This Dark Mafia Romance Work
Persephone Black closes the Colombo duet with maximum stakes and a satisfying power arc. What stands out:
- The bodyguard trope turned possessive: Nik’s “she’s mine” devotion to Brie is the beating heart of the book.
- A heroine claiming her throne: Brie’s shift from running widow to ruthless queen is genuinely satisfying.
- Nonstop suspense: hitmen, betrayals, and mob politics keep the pages turning from the first scene.
- A murder mystery spine: the hunt for the old Don’s killer gives the romance a propulsive plot.
- Universe crossovers: familiar faces (including ties to the Novak Consortium) reward longtime readers.
Book Synopsis
Brie Colombo entered a marriage of convenience with a wealthy mobster husband — and when he was mysteriously murdered, she was left holding the Family until a new Don could be chosen. After surviving an attempt on her life, she’s assigned a bodyguard: Nik Kusek, an operative from another mob world who saved her and now stands at her side.
As Brie decides she’s done being a pawn and moves to claim the casino and the Family for herself, she and Nik dodge hitmen, navigate treacherous mob politics, and race to uncover who really killed the old Don. Amid the danger, the connection between guard and queen deepens into something neither can walk away from.
My Review
This finale delivers exactly what the setup promises: a fierce, possessive bodyguard, a heroine stepping fully into her power, and a plot that barely pauses for breath. I loved watching Brie stop running and start playing to win — her transformation into the “gangster queen” of the title is the most satisfying thread, and Nik’s unwavering “she’s mine” loyalty gives the romance real heat and tension.
Being honest, the murder mystery is the weaker element — like several reviewers, I had the killer more or less pegged well before the reveal. And while I enjoyed this couple, it’s a slightly less electric pairing than some of Black’s other duos. Still, the suspense, the Vegas glamour, and the protective chemistry more than carry it.
| Element | In Guarding Her Gangster Queen |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Brie (widow turned queen) & Nik (bodyguard), f/f |
| Core tropes | Bodyguard x boss, forced proximity, possessive protector |
| Setting | The Colombo Family’s Las Vegas casino underworld |
| Heat level | 🌶🌶🌶🌶 (4/5) — sizzling and explicit |
| Series | The Colombo Family Duet, Book 2 (finale) |
| Content notes | Violence, murder, mob politics; HEA |
My honest note: read Guarding Her Gangster Girl (Book 1) first — this picks up right where it left off and won’t stand alone. Come for the possessive bodyguard romance and Vegas-mafia suspense, not for a twisty, unguessable mystery.
How Spicy Is Guarding Her Gangster Queen?
On the heat scale, Guarding Her Gangster Queen lands at 🌶🌶🌶🌶 (4/5). It’s billed as a “steamy, contemporary, sapphic mafia romance,” and reviewers describe the connection between Brie and Nik as “deliciously hot.”
The spice is heightened by the bodyguard dynamic — the constant proximity, the protectiveness, and the power imbalance shifting as Brie claims her throne all feed into charged, frequent intimate scenes.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you’ve read Guarding Her Gangster Girl and want the payoff; you adore the possessive-bodyguard trope and a heroine seizing power; and you enjoy fast, suspenseful mafia romance with a mystery running through it.
You may want to skip it if: you haven’t read Book 1 (this won’t work alone), you want a mystery you can’t solve early, or you’re sensitive to violence and mob themes.
In short: it’s a steamy, high-stakes finale for readers already invested in Brie and Nik.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guarding Her Gangster Queen a standalone?
No. Guarding Her Gangster Queen is the second and final book in The Colombo Family Duet and picks up directly from Guarding Her Gangster Girl. You’ll need to read Book 1 first.
Is Guarding Her Gangster Queen a true sapphic romance?
Yes. It’s a contemporary Sapphic mafia romance centered on the f/f relationship between Brie Colombo and her bodyguard, Nik Kusek.
How steamy is Guarding Her Gangster Queen really?
It’s a 4-out-of-5 on heat — sizzling and explicit, with protective, possessive chemistry fueled by the bodyguard-and-boss dynamic.
Does Guarding Her Gangster Queen have a happy ending?
Yes. As the duet finale it delivers a satisfying happily-ever-after for Brie and Nik, along with the resolution of the old Don’s murder and Brie’s claim to the Family.
Do I need to read the Colombo Family Duet in order?
Absolutely. Start with Guarding Her Gangster Girl (Book 1). This finale continues the same story and resolves its central mystery and romance.
If You Loved Guarding Her Gangster Queen, Read These Next
If Brie and Nik’s bodyguard romance left you craving more possessive protectors and powerful women, our dark sapphic romance guide is full of reads in the same vein.
Craving more stories like this one? Guarding Her Gangster Queen is just one pick from our full, data-backed roundup of the best WLW mafia romance books — a curated master list of sapphic mob, crime, and morally-gray romances with short reviews and links to every full breakdown. It is the perfect place to build your next dangerous-women reading list.
The Bottom Line
Guarding Her Gangster Queen is a steamy, suspenseful close to the Colombo Family Duet, powered by a possessive bodyguard, a queen claiming her crown, and nonstop Vegas-mafia danger. The mystery is a bit easy to crack, but for fans of Book 1 it’s a hot, satisfying conclusion. Check Guarding Her Gangster Queen on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
Within our dark sapphic mafia rankings, Guarding Her Gangster Queen earns a strong upper-mid spot — a scorching bodyguard-and-boss finale with high stakes and a satisfying power arc, held back slightly by a predictable mystery.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall — ★★★★½ 4.5/5
- ✓ Explosive bodyguard-and-boss finale
- ✓ Satisfying widow-turned-queen arc
- ✓ Predictable central mystery
- ✓ Steamy, high-stakes payoff
Romance — ★★★★½ 4.5/5
- ✓ Possessive protector chemistry
- ✓ “She’s mine” devotion
- ✓ Guard-and-boss tension
- ✓ Slightly less electric pairing
Characters — ★★★★½ 4.5/5
- ✓ Brie’s power arc shines
- ✓ Loyal, fierce Nik
- ✓ Fun universe cameos
- ✓ Strong secondary cast
Writing — ★★★★ 4.4/5
- ✓ Propulsive, page-turning
- ✓ Vegas-mafia atmosphere
- ✓ Nonstop momentum
- ✓ Familiar beats
Emotional Impact — ★★★★ 4.3/5
- ✓ High-stakes survival tension
- ✓ Loyalty and betrayal land
- ✓ Some emotional distance
- ✓ Satisfying resolution
Heat Level — ★★★★½ 4.5/5
- ✓ Sizzling and explicit
- ✓ Bodyguard proximity spice
- ✓ Frequent, charged scenes
- ✓ Protective heat
Ending — ★★★★ 4.3/5
- ✓ Satisfying HEA
- ✓ Ties off the duet
- ✓ Mystery reveal underwhelms
- ✓ Power arc pays off
Re-read Value — ★★★★ 4.2/5
- ✓ Fun duet binge
- ✓ Best read after Book 1
- ✓ Comfort for fans
- ✓ Less mystery re-read appeal
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