Cruel When He Smiles

Sinners of Blackthorne U, Book 3

By: Avery Collins

Narrated by: Gregory Salinas, Simon Kim

Liam Callahan likes to break things... and Nate Carter was made to be broken.

Liam

I was trained not to feel. Taught to observe, manipulate, and control.

Nothing prepared me for Nate Carter.

He's stubborn and beautiful in his resistance. The harder he fights, the deeper I sink my teeth in. I engineered the therapy sessions so I could get closer and watch him unravel. To dissect his fire and watch him spiral from the inside out.

But Nate is fury wrapped in lace, and he makes me feel things I was never meant to feel.

Want. Possession. Hunger.

Now, I can't stop. Not until he's mine; broken, rebuilt, and burning just for me.

Nate

I knew Liam Callahan was dangerous the moment I met him.

Too perfect. Too polished. Too in control.

They said the anger management sessions were routine, but nothing about Liam is routine. He gets into your head with softness, pulls you apart with praise, and leaves you craving the pain he caused.

So why do I keep going back?

I don't know what's real anymore…what's me, and what's Liam's design.

Cruel When He Smiles is the third book in the interconnected Sinners of Blackthorne U series, but it is a complete standalone.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

©2026 Avery Collins (P)2026 Podium Audio