Precious Hazard by Neva Altaj Summary, Characters and Themes
Precious Hazard by Neva Altaj is a captivating tale set in the dangerous world of organized crime, centered around Arturo DeVille and Tara Popov. The novel explores the tense dynamics between family loyalty, power struggles, and personal vendettas.
Arturo, bound by his duty to the Cosa Nostra, is forced into an arranged marriage with Tara Popov, whose life becomes intertwined with his due to her family’s connections and their violent world. As they navigate their forced union, their animosity gradually shifts toward a more complex relationship, amidst constant threats from rival syndicates. The story delves into themes of survival, trust, and the fine line between love and control. It’s the 11th book in the Perfectly Imperfect series.
Summary
Fifteen years ago, a young Arturo DeVille stood face-to-face with his greatest challenge: the possibility of losing his two younger sisters, Sienna and Asya, to the don of the New York Family following the death of their parents. Arturo, who had been raised to protect his siblings, fiercely opposed the idea of someone else taking custody, especially the don, whom he despised.
His anger led to a violent confrontation, during which his friend, Salvatore Ajello, intervened. Ajello promised to help, and despite his reluctance, Arturo reluctantly agreed to trust him.
Fast forward to the present, and Arturo, now 36, is deeply entrenched in the world of organized crime, working closely with Salvatore, who is now the head of the New York Family. However, Arturo’s life takes another turn when Ajello orders him to marry Tara Popov, the sister of Drago Popov, a rival figure in the underworld.
This marriage, according to Ajello, would solidify ties between their respective families, but Arturo is vehemently against the idea. He is cornered, though, as Ajello pressures him with the weight of tradition and family obligations.
Despite his reluctance, Arturo agrees, setting the stage for a tumultuous relationship.
Tara Popov, on the other hand, is no stranger to turmoil. After a public incident at her brother’s wedding reception, Tara finds herself working a lowly job at Drago’s club, Naos.
She resents her situation, feeling humiliated and trapped by her family’s expectations. Her encounter with Arturo, whom she initially despises, is fraught with tension.
Though forced into the engagement by her brother and the family, Tara is unwilling to accept her fate without resistance.
One evening, after a confrontation with her ex-boyfriend, Stavros, who works for the Greek Syndicate, Tara finds herself in a dangerous situation. Stavros becomes violent, and before the situation escalates, he is shot and killed.
Tara, in shock and confused by the sudden violence, is left to face the aftermath alone. As she fears for her life, she is relieved to find Arturo at the scene.
Though their relationship is strained, Tara realizes that she may need him to survive in this perilous world.
As Tara and Arturo’s story unfolds, both characters find themselves torn between family loyalty, personal desires, and the complex web of crime and power that binds them. Arturo, despite his cold demeanor, feels the weight of his duty to protect Tara, while she struggles to retain control of her own destiny.
The two are drawn into a world of deceit, danger, and manipulation, all while navigating their increasingly complex and volatile relationship.
Tara is unwilling to accept Arturo’s authority or his control over her life, and she resists his demands. But the reality of their world means that their lives are not solely their own, and Arturo’s insistence on their marriage becomes a matter of survival.
The tension between the two escalates as their interactions grow increasingly hostile, filled with verbal sparring and sharp exchanges. Their forced engagement, which they both resent, becomes a battleground where they test each other’s limits.
Despite their animosity, an undeniable attraction starts to build beneath the surface, complicating their already strained relationship.
The situation grows more intense as the couple faces outside threats. After a shootout involving Arturo, he is injured and taken to Tara’s home, where she reluctantly tends to his wounds.
Their banter continues to be filled with jabs, but there’s an underlying connection that neither can fully ignore. The next day, Arturo gifts Tara a new car, further cementing the power dynamics between them.
Tara, both irritated and intrigued by his behavior, feels a mixture of frustration and attraction toward Arturo.
The tension reaches a new level at a gala, where Tara’s appearance and Arturo’s jealousy become focal points. When Tara’s ex-fiancé, Conrad, shows up at the event, Arturo’s possessiveness takes center stage, leading to a confrontation.
Tara storms off, but Arturo tracks her down, and their conflict deepens. Their volatile relationship becomes increasingly fraught with moments of intense passion and resentment, forcing both to confront their growing feelings for each other.
Meanwhile, Arturo and his men are preparing to take down Tobias Katrakis, a member of the Greek Syndicate. Katrakis had previously targeted Arturo and threatened his wife, Tara.
As they track Katrakis to a storage facility, they find a severely beaten Cosa Nostra member, Riggo, who reveals that the Greeks are planning to target Tara. Back at Tara’s home, she is attacked by Greek operatives, and the situation quickly escalates.
Arturo, desperate to protect her, fights his way through the chaos, but Tara is caught in a fire and severely injured. Despite the odds, Arturo saves her, and she survives the ordeal, though their relationship has been forever changed by the event.
The aftermath of the fire forces both Arturo and Tara to confront their feelings. Arturo, consumed by guilt and fear, becomes determined to prove his love for Tara.
He continues to fight for her affection, even as she struggles to trust him. Slowly, Tara begins to let her guard down, and they start to rebuild their fractured relationship.
Despite their turbulent history, there are signs of hope for their future together, although the looming threat from the Greek Syndicate continues to cast a shadow over their lives.
In the midst of their personal struggles, the mafia war rages on. With Katrakis still at large, Arturo’s desire to protect Tara and maintain his family’s power becomes his driving force.
As he continues to pursue her affection and rebuild their bond, the dangerous world they inhabit remains a constant threat, forcing them to face both external and internal challenges. Despite the obstacles, their connection deepens, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their complex and dangerous lives.
Characters
Arturo DeVille
Arturo DeVille is a complex and multifaceted character shaped by his deep involvement in the criminal underworld of Cosa Nostra. Fifteen years ago, his life was defined by the fierce protection of his younger sisters, a moment that set the stage for his later actions and his hardened persona.
Now at 36, Arturo is a man marked by his loyalty, pride, and inner turmoil, with a clear sense of duty to the Family, which often conflicts with his personal emotions. His struggle with the marriage to Tara Popov, dictated by his close friend Salvatore Ajello, reveals his internal conflict between duty and personal repulsion.
While he appears calm and composed on the surface, Arturo’s emotions often boil under the surface, especially when it comes to Tara. His protective nature, possessiveness, and frustration with her independence create a volatile dynamic between the two, though a growing, reluctant attraction slowly emerges.
Arturo’s vulnerability is evident in his desperate actions to save Tara when she is caught in a deadly fire, showcasing his deep, albeit complex, feelings for her. His relationship with Tara evolves from antagonism to an uneasy, sometimes passionate connection, with him fighting for her affection while grappling with the violence and danger that surrounds their lives.
Tara Popov
Tara Popov is a character who embodies rebellion and defiance against the oppressive forces that seek to control her. Forced into a marriage arrangement with Arturo DeVille, Tara initially resents the idea, feeling trapped in a life dictated by her family’s influence and the dangerous world of organized crime.
Her personal history, marked by her breakup with Stavros and a subsequent forced position at her brother’s club, Naos, contributes to her defiance and bitterness. Tara’s interactions with Arturo are laden with tension, and while she initially mocks him and resists his control, there are moments of vulnerability that hint at her internal conflict.
Despite her fiery attitude, Tara’s emotions are stirred as she navigates a world of power struggles, manipulation, and survival. Her reaction to the violent confrontation with Stavros and her subsequent encounter with Arturo, who unexpectedly becomes her protector, shifts the power dynamic.
Tara’s resistance to their arranged marriage gradually evolves as she becomes more aware of her growing feelings for Arturo, though she remains hesitant to fully trust him. Her journey is one of self-discovery and survival, as she battles both her own desires and the violent world around her.
Salvatore Ajello
Salvatore Ajello, the head of the New York Family, is a key figure in shaping Arturo’s path. As a friend and mentor to Arturo, Ajello represents both authority and familial loyalty.
He pushes Arturo into the difficult situation of marrying Tara Popov, believing that the union will strengthen the Family’s influence and create an alliance with the Popov family. Ajello’s position of power and influence is clear, but he is not without a sense of care for Arturo, even if his methods can be heavy-handed.
He understands the internal conflict Arturo faces but believes that the Family’s needs outweigh personal desires. Salvatore’s character is one of pragmatism, where loyalty and duty to the Family come before personal sentiment.
Despite his seemingly ruthless nature, Ajello’s role as a protector and a driving force in Arturo’s life adds depth to his character, showing that his actions, while often manipulative, stem from a place of wanting to secure the Family’s future.
Drago Popov
Drago Popov, Tara’s brother, plays a significant role in the tension surrounding Tara’s forced marriage to Arturo. He is protective of Tara, aware of the dangers that lurk in their world, but his actions are more passive compared to the direct confrontation between Arturo and Tara.
Drago’s character serves as a reminder of the complex web of relationships that bind the characters in this story. While he doesn’t directly intervene in the arranged marriage, his disapproval of the union and his protective instincts for Tara shape the environment in which Tara is forced to navigate her feelings.
His connection to Tara adds another layer of pressure on her, as she is caught between her family’s expectations and her personal desire for independence.
Stavros Katrakis
Stavros Katrakis is a member of the Greek Syndicate, whose volatile relationship with Tara brings him into direct conflict with the other characters. His actions, particularly the violent confrontation with Tara, set off a chain of events that lead to his death, further entangling Tara and Arturo in a dangerous situation.
Stavros’s role in the story, while brief, is pivotal in setting up the escalating tensions between the Greek Syndicate and the DeVille family. His violent nature and subsequent death illustrate the high stakes and perilous nature of the world in which the characters operate, forcing Tara to reconsider her position in the midst of the violence surrounding her.
Greta
Greta is Tara’s housekeeper and a minor yet significant character in the story. During the Greek Syndicate’s attack on Tara’s home, Greta’s role becomes more prominent, highlighting the personal stakes for Tara beyond the larger crime world.
Greta’s presence during the attack on Tara’s house serves as a reminder of the fragile and dangerous nature of the lives these characters lead. While Greta’s actions are mostly in the background, her relationship with Tara adds a layer of humanity and grounding to the otherwise chaotic and violent events unfolding around them.
Riggo
Riggo is a young member of the Cosa Nostra who is severely tortured by the Greek Syndicate, a moment that underscores the brutality of the underworld. His ordeal adds a sense of urgency to the plot as Arturo and his men race to find him and ensure his safety.
Riggo’s role, though brief, reinforces the ever-present danger the characters face and the lengths they must go to protect their own. His torture and the information he provides about Tara’s potential danger emphasize the stakes involved in the brewing mafia war and highlight the personal risks for all involved.
Themes
Power and Control
In Precious Hazard, the theme of power and control is evident throughout the narrative, particularly in the dynamics between Arturo and Tara. Arturo, a key figure in the Cosa Nostra, is constantly navigating the expectations and demands of his family while trying to maintain a sense of autonomy.
His world is ruled by a complex web of power structures, loyalty, and violence. The Family’s influence over Arturo is immense, with Ajello, his superior, pushing him into situations where his personal desires are secondary to the family’s interests.
This pressure intensifies as Arturo is forced into an arranged marriage with Tara, a woman he does not want, symbolizing the Family’s ability to dictate personal matters and relationships.
Tara, on the other hand, is caught in a similar struggle for control, though she battles against it. The tension between the characters is fueled by this constant tug of war for power, with Arturo using threats and manipulation to force Tara into compliance, while Tara fights back with her wit, defiance, and stubborn independence.
Despite her resistance, Arturo’s possessiveness and control continue to grow, particularly as his feelings toward her begin to shift. This theme explores how individuals, especially in criminal families, are bound by power structures that often suppress personal agency and choice, making it difficult to escape the roles they are forced into.
Tara’s struggle to assert her autonomy contrasts with Arturo’s struggle to maintain control, creating an intense power dynamic that influences their relationship. The novel also highlights the larger influence of organized crime, where decisions are made based on hierarchy and loyalty, leaving little room for personal desires or rebellion.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Loyalty is a central theme, especially in the context of family ties within the criminal underworld. Arturo’s loyalty to his family and Ajello is unwavering, even when it conflicts with his personal beliefs or desires.
The pressure to maintain these bonds, even at the cost of personal happiness or moral alignment, is a pervasive theme in Precious Hazard. Arturo’s loyalty to the Family pushes him to marry Tara, despite his initial resentment toward her and the arrangement.
In the dangerous world they inhabit, loyalty is not just a moral value but a survival mechanism. Arturo’s personal relationships, like the one with Salvatore Ajello, are deeply rooted in loyalty, even when the consequences are harmful or contradictory to his own desires.
Tara, on the other hand, is more skeptical of loyalty. She finds herself constantly questioning the motives of those around her, particularly Arturo.
While she feels bound by familial expectations, especially to her brother Drago, she is not quick to offer loyalty without personal conviction. Her resistance to Arturo’s control reflects a desire to break free from familial loyalty and assert her independence.
However, as the story progresses, both characters experience betrayal, not just from each other but from those within their respective families. Arturo faces betrayal from within his own organization as his rivals plot against him, and Tara confronts the betrayal of those she once trusted.
This theme shows how loyalty can be both a strength and a weakness, with betrayal often coming from the very people who are supposed to be the most reliable.
Survival and Sacrifice
Survival is an ever-present theme throughout Precious Hazard, with both Arturo and Tara constantly faced with life-threatening situations. Arturo’s survival is not only physical but also psychological, as he navigates the deadly world of organized crime, where each decision could be his last.
His involvement in the mafia comes with constant danger, and every action he takes is driven by a need to protect himself and his loved ones. This theme is especially apparent when Arturo risks his life to save Tara during a firefight, and later, when he donates blood to save her after she is injured in a violent attack.
His willingness to sacrifice his well-being for her reflects the complexity of his feelings, which move from duty to love, all while trying to survive within a world where survival is often synonymous with violence.
For Tara, survival is equally about managing the threats around her and finding a way to retain some sense of control. Her struggle for independence and self-preservation is at the heart of her interactions with Arturo.
She tries to carve out a life for herself amidst the chaos of her family’s expectations and the growing threats from the Greek Syndicate. However, the more she resists, the more she realizes that survival in this world might require sacrifice.
Her growing understanding of the dangerous world she’s entangled in leads her to acknowledge that she may have to make difficult decisions for her own safety. This theme of survival intersects with that of loyalty and power, as both characters must navigate a treacherous world where the cost of survival often involves sacrifice—be it of personal freedom, safety, or even moral values.
Love and Conflict
The theme of love is explored against the backdrop of conflict, both external and internal, in Precious Hazard. Arturo and Tara’s relationship is fraught with tension, not just due to their personal differences but also because of the external forces shaping their lives.
Their forced marriage, designed to bring their families together, is the beginning of a volatile relationship where love and hatred often collide. Initially, the connection between them is built on a foundation of resentment and obligation rather than affection.
Arturo’s desire to control and protect Tara contrasts with her desire for independence and rebellion. Yet, beneath this hostile exterior, there are moments of intimacy and understanding that suggest an underlying attraction.
Their complex relationship evolves as they are forced to confront their feelings for one another, despite their reluctance.
The conflict in their relationship is compounded by their respective roles within the mafia and the power dynamics that govern their actions. Arturo’s evolving feelings for Tara force him to reassess his approach to her, while Tara’s own feelings remain conflicted as she navigates her attraction to a man she cannot trust.
Their story is a slow burn, as they move from antagonism to begrudging acceptance, and eventually, to a form of love that is shaped by their violent, turbulent world. This love is never simple or idealized—it is messy, marked by moments of tenderness and intense conflict, as both characters struggle with their emotions, their pasts, and the dangerous world they live in.
In the end, love becomes a powerful force that drives their actions, despite the obstacles they face.