Sworn in Deceit

by Victoria Lum

He can destroy anyone—except the woman he’s sworn to deceive.

Elias Kent is Chicago’s most dangerous fixer—a man who plays chess with human lives and always wins. Beneath St. Michael’s Cathedral, in the catacombs hidden under the city, he lives for one thing: revenge against the secret criminal empire known as The Association.

Lana Anderson was supposed to be leverage—until the enemy closes in. Elias makes an impossible bargain: an arranged marriage that will shield her old-money family…and buy him access to the inner circle.

Lana thinks Elias is the villain who betrayed her world. She vows she’ll survive his cage long enough to destroy him.

He swears he hates her—until obsession becomes an insatiable hunger he refuses to feed. Instead, he watches her. Controls the rooms she enters. Keeps distance like it’s a weapon…because the moment he touches her, she becomes his weakness—and weakness can get them killed.

Then Lana finds the clues he never meant her to see—and realizes the man she married is hiding more than secrets.

With danger closing in and the city igniting, Elias must choose: vengeance…or love.

In a city built on secrets, falling for your enemy is the deadliest vow of all.


For fans of Peaky Blinders grit, Phantom of the Opera obsession, and Ocean’s Eleven schemes—with angst, spice, and sharp twists.


Tropes in Sworn in Deceit:

Enemies to Lovers • Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience • Forced Proximity • Grumpy Sunshine • “My Wife” • Obsessed Hero • Secret Society • Mafia/Organized Crime • Morally Gray Billionaires • Found Family • Touch Her and Regret It • Secret Identities • Masked Men • Heist Crew Energy


WELCOME TO THE ANTIHERO SYNDICATE
Six men. One brotherhood. One vow: no mercy.

Each book is a standalone dark romance with an HEA and an overarching war against The Association.

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 6, 2026

About the author

Victoria is a lover of all things romance, including movies, books, and television shows. A hopeless romantic since childhood, she is always dreaming up stories and happily ever afters. Caramel lattes are her fuel in the morning and she can usually be found reading anything she can get her hands on. She lives with her family and a beautiful Siberian husky in sunny California.

Reviews

[Nanasbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Sworn in Deceit by Victoria Lum is the gripping first book in the Antihero Syndicate series.

Elias Kent is a powerful man wrapped in secrets, feared by everyone who knows his name. Ruthless and calculating, he lives for one purpose only: destroying the Association and avenging the family taken from him. His carefully crafted plan involves Lana Anderson, a woman he pretends to despise. When everything spirals out of control, Elias makes an unexpected move to protect her: he marries her.

Lana believes Elias is a monster and vows to survive this nightmare long enough to kill him. But as they are forced to live under the same roof, hatred slowly cracks. Elias struggles to resist his growing feelings, while Lana begins to uncover the dark truths behind his cold exterior. When the danger comes knocking, they must decide what matters most: vengeance or love.

This book delivers so many of my favorite tropes, including enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, touch-her-and-die, and grumpy/sunshine. The story is told through dual POV, which adds depth and emotional intensity. There is plenty of action, suspense, danger, and betrayal woven into a love story that begins in the most unexpected and innocent way.

I was completely hooked and finished it in one day. This is a fast-paced, addictive read that keeps you turning the pages.

Highly recommended.

[jessanotherlovestory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Victoria Lum for allowing me to be a beta reader for Sworn in Deceit.

The way Elias loves Lana is unparalleled. TWENTY YEARS. He's loved her from afar, protecting her in the shadows. The enemies to lovers' banter is perfection. The slow burn...the yearning. I love all of the tropes! Victoria's writing and world building have gotten better and better with each book.

The line between love and hate is razor thin. Lana can't help but love her husband, despite being in an arranged marriage she hates. The countless "my wife" / touch her and die moments have me swooning!

This book is easily a 5-star read. I've always been a Maxwell girly but Elias dethroned Maxwell as my favorite MMC written by Victoria.

I cannot wait to continue The Antihero Syndicate series! Will update my review when it gets closer to the release as there are so many moments that had me falling for Elias and Lana.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🖤Dark Romance
🖤Mafia
🖤Arranged Marriage
🖤Grumpy/Sunshine
🖤Touch her and ☠️
🖤Multiple POV

In this, the first installment of The Antihero Syndicate, we are introduced to our broody mafia MMC, Elias and our stubborn FMC, Lana. We get both of their POVs throughout the book which helps develop their individual characters as well as the intensity between them. After a life altering tragedy Elias kept a close eye on Lana from the shadows and a safe distance. Now she has become part of a job.

This story has plenty of action and danger as well as betrayal and suspense. Forced into marriage for her own protection Lana is extremely stubborn and you'll be sucked in to Elias and Lana's story and you'll be smiling and kicking your feet at the touch her and ☠️ moments.

Thank you @authorvictorialum for the copy of your book! Pick this up if you enjoy dark mafia romance with a marriage of convenience and plenty of drama to keep you turning page after page!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elias Kent did not disappoint in his book! I’ve been waiting a long time for his story and it delivered! It was an intense emotional rollercoaster where I waned to throw my kindle some of the time (Lana, damn you are stubborn!) and cry all at the same time. Elias had a tragedy when he was 16, he met Lana in a dark time and she saved him and same with Lana. What I loved most about Lana was that she never let her wealth change who she was to her core, a woman with a beautiful heart. 20 years of yearning and love for these two and it broke my heart but they fought for their happiness and it was heart warming and I loved the ending and bonus epilogues! Oh Elias you dirty talking hot man! He was on top of his game that’s for damn sure! Can’t wait to see what this series brings! Victoria already dropped some hints so I’m excited!!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been dying to get my hands on Elias’s book as soon as I saw he was up next….

The mysterious bad ass lived up to EVERY HYPE ever!
Lana and Elias’s love story was EPIC! From the time they were teens - well into adulthood… he held out for her even through anger grief and despair. While Lana didn’t know where Elias went, or what happened after a life changing traumatic tragedy struck… little did she know.. he was right there, following her. Looking over her. For years! After a forced marriage under the guise of hatred, revenge, and threats… they find their true love story.

It was suspenseful, full of action, love, lust, loyalty and betrayal.
Great story… & now the introduction to the next one!! I am at the edge of my seat!

[Courtney Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for my honest review

In this story our MMC is the king of the underworld. He knows everyone's secrets and uses it to get what he wants - and that's revenge on The Association. Our FMC is the youngest daughter of a prominent billionaire family, and a piece of leverage he has now brought into his plan. But she is also the young woman he fell in love with in his teens, before his life and family were destroyed. She just doesn't know that the two men are 1 in the same. Now to protect her from others in the underworld they must get married, at least until her 35th birthday in a few months. Will the proximity help to reveal their secrets and destroy his path for revenge, or is she the missing piece he has always needed?

[jenn_loves_2_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
3🌶️

I have been looking forward to Elias’ and Lana‘s story for a long time. It did not disappoint. It is arranged marriage/marriage of convenience with almost an enemies to lovers vibe. It has darker elements that appeal to the dark romance lovers. It was so good that I devoured it in a day. I would like to thank the Author for allowing me to be part of the Beta reader team for this book. I highly recommend checking it out once it is released into the wild! Definitely read the trigger warnings.

[enchantedmelreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 3🌶️
🔥enemies to Lovers 
🫆hidden identify
💍marriage of convenience
☀️grumpy x sunshine
👰‍♀️”my wife”
🖤morally grey men
🤫secret society

This book exceeded all of my expectations! It was everything I wanted and then some! The hidden identity and secrets—mind blown! I love an MMC who’s unhinged and only soft for his woman, and Elias was all of that. I absolutely loved the past and present timelines. The way the story unraveled had me on the edge of my seat. The last part of the book had my heart racing. So much action and suspense. 1000% add this to your TBR!

[Briana Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beta Review-ish✨
First I would like to say a big thank you to Victoria for letting me be apart of this Beta Team!

This book was everything I hoped it would be and more honestly!

Full review to come closer to release!

*Add this to your TBR ASAP!*

[Christie Wilcox]

🔥Enemies to Lovers
🔥Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Grumpy Sunshine
🔥“My Wife”
🔥Obsessed Hero
🔥Secret Society
🔥Mafia/Organized Crime
🔥Morally Gray Billionaires
🔥Found Family
🔥Touch Her and Regret It
🔥Secret Identities
🔥Masked Men
🔥Heist Crew Energy

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

beta read - RTC

[Sarah Loves Spice · Rating 5 out of 5]

BETA
RTC