Ashton Hayes, since the ripe age of 16 had been cleaning up after the dirty work of the big guns, the Takahashi mafia family. The brutal images his work came with made Ashton's heart and soul numb inside out that is until a fragile-looking, sheltered, girl by the name of Sora stumbles upon his crime scene. Sora Bailey, brought up by her grandmother in a sheltered lifestyle had never felt the pain of heartache or the love of another man but that all changes when she makes acquaintance with Ashton, the tall brooding man who held her fate in his hands without her even knowing. Will Ashton protect the sheltered beauty or hand over into the unnerving claws of the mafia? Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
"Wow, they really did a number on him, by the looks of it he wasn't an easy one either" Vincent commented looking around the basement room of the bungalow.
The room was lit up with a single yellow bulb hanging over the wooden chair in the middle where there was a man in seemingly his forties, tied to the chair, a very dead man with his head hanging down limply, bullet holes through and through visible from each side of his temple.
"Got that right" Ashton mumbled looking around the floor which was crimson with his blood and he could see plied off toenails and a few fingers floating around in the blood.
"Let's get to work" Ashton said going towards the huge duffel bags with their gear in it.
They got their protective suits along with the non-porous gloves and chemical spill boots. They looked like people from CDC taking precaution against a highly infectious but in this case the stakes were higher if not the same cause they can't leave behind any kind of evidence that would connect the crime to the Takaheshi mafia family or themselves, either way it would result in their deaths.
Vincent inched the putty knife towards Ashton which was used to scrape the blood from in between cracks, the hardest job in their opinion.
"Alright, alright I guess it's my turn" Vincent grumbled pulling the knife back as Ashton gave him the 'you and I both know it's your turn to do the scut work' look.
Ashton spilled the enzyme solvent over the floor in order to liquefy any dried blood and picking up a mop he started soaking up the blood off the floor into a basket.
After all the scrubbing, clean and bleaching of the floor, the walls as well as the ceiling they got the industrial deodorizers to break through the chemical smells of bleach and solvents.
They carried the body bag with the body out to the awaiting van with the guards and loaded it in next they disposed of their cleaning equipment, as well as their suits into the industrial barrels. It was a repeat process, the professional cleaning equipment cost thousands of dollars alone but it wasn't their problem since the bosses upstairs paid for all that as well as their services.
The business was dirty, gory and dangerous but Ashton was used to it, he was born into it and even after all that blood and gore he had an appetite for a nice hot dog, maybe he was just that numb inside.
"Grandma, did you take your iron supplements?" Sora asked as she threw on her little bag sideways around her neck along with a silk scarf.
"Yes dear, I did" her voice sounded from the kitchen.
Sora headed over to the kitchen where her grandmother, frail looking but at times actually stronger than Sora herself, both emotionally and physically, the woman who basically raised her stood over at the stove, no doubt cooking something delicious for them.
"Alright then, I am heading out for a while for some ice cream" she informed, giving her grandmother a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out already halfway to the door, she gave her dog mocha a little belly rub as he came rolling at her feet.
He wanted to go out for a walk with her but she had already taken him out earlier in the morning for a walk, plus they wouldn't allow him inside the ice cream shop.
"Well, Okay but be back by six, the pot roast would be out hot and don't eat any other street food, doesn't suit you well, i don't know when you'll learn your lesson regarding that, just ice cream darling" she said, her tone firm.
It was true, as much as Sora loved street food, she caught food poisoning easy but she never could resist, although she would try this time.
"Sure grandma, bye!" she said heading out the door closing it behind her, making sure mocha wasn't following her out, he was sneaky like that.
Even though Sora had a mini Vitz, she preferred to ride her bike, she liked the open air and the exercise. She owned a bookstore downtown but she had her own employees working there for her and handling the store so she didn't really have to always go in, only when she wanted to.
She pedaled her bike all the way to the park where the ice cream truck usually stood. Braking her bike in front of a lamp post on the side she swung her legs off of it and secured the chains lock around the lamppost before taking her helmet off and hanging it over the manual braking handles.
She made her way over to where the ice cream truck was parked on the curb and waited in the line for her turn. She could never get over her child-like excitement waiting in the line of the ice cream truck, it just never got old.
She noticed the bob of red curly hair on the child in front of her and a grin spread across her face as she recognized the kid right away.
"Hey Sam! how did the science project go?" she called out to the kid gaining his attention making him turn around and look at her.
When he saw Sora behind him, a toothy grin graced his freckled dimply face.
"It went great! the volcano erupted so big it made the teacher so happy she gave me an A and a gold star" he told her excitedly.
A while back Sora had helped the kid with his science project when she found him sulking in the park instead of playing with the other kids so her being her, she helped the kid out. Turns out, the volcano of his science project wouldn't erupt, he had forgotten to add enough baking soda, it was an easy fix.
"That's awesome, good job champ" she complimented ruffling his hair playfully.
It was Sam's turn but Sora paid for his bubblegum ice lolly saying it was a treat from her for a job well done on the science project he did and the little boy hugged her around the legs before skipping along with his other friends to apparently play tag.
Sora paid for her double scoop caramel cone too as she headed towards the wooden bench where a tall, burly man sat in peace eating his hot dog. Sora took a look at him and he looked so unapproachable with his intimidating built, his sharp features which she had to admit were pretty handsome and his dark clothing.
However, all the other benches were filled with soccer moms chatting with each other while their children played so she walked over to the bench with her ice cream and sat at the other end of it. The man didn't even pay any attention to her or acknowledge her whatsoever.
As she started to eat and enjoy her delicious caramel cone, her eyes widened when she saw a football come right at her with full velocity and she just sat there too stunned to react, waiting for the impact as the ball inched closer in her sight with every passing millisecond, however, the impact never came as the man sitting beside her brought his big rough hand in front of her face, throwing the ball away and shielding her from its impact.
She let out a big sigh of relief. That would've most probably broken her nose.
"Thank you, that was so close" she said looking at him.
He just gave her a curt nod of acknowledgment before going back to his hot dog as if the previous events never took place.
Sora wanted to say something but by the looks of it he really didn't wanna make any conversation with anyone so deciding not to pester him, she sat there and ate her cone in silence.
Isla Moon Gambino, daughter of the mafia crime lord Richard Gambino has led a sheltered and caged life due to all the dangers that lurk around the mafia family members, now when a rival mafia family threatens the Gambino family's safety, she has been appointed a personal bodyguard. Alexander Rossi, Ex-Marine seal with demons of his own is the appointed bodyguard to the sweet and sheltered girl who goes out of her way to befriend him and make him talk to her. Will she be able penetrate his ice cold exterior? Will he be able to free her from the caged life she leads? Will their forbidden love last? Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
His possessiveness was the outcome of his love and his anger the outcome of his true care, towards her. Scarlett Anderson, 18 years old, due to a tragic accident is obliged to move in with people she doesn't know along with her dad. What she didn't expect was that the people she was moving in would be the definition of what people call filthy rich but what she TOTALLY didn't expect was the rich billionaire heir to be infatuated with her. Xavier Marshall, 23-year-old and born with a silver spoon in his mouth had been short-tempered and ruthless from the beginning, Being the heir to a multi-billion dollars company and owning an underground mafia puts a lot on one's shoulder but Xavier has always had a way of getting things done his way and getting what he desires and Scarlett Anderson was no exception to these rules of his. Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
She was an angel seeking chaos, He was a demon seeking his peace. Noah Harrison is fresh out of prison on parole for a crime that he could never forgive himself for after serving seven years in prison. Now out again with no place or no one to go to Noah struggles to get his life together since no one is very keen to make acquaintance with the tall, well-built prisoner but that changes when Noah is granted yes for a place to stay by the naive, sweet, innocent Bluebell Arch who just wants a roommate to share her empty apartment with What they didn't know was that they would end up being more than roommates. "Tell me every terrible thing you ever did, open up to me, share your demons with me and let me love you anyway despite those demons." she said. And with those words said, he fell even deeper for her. His Bluebell. Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
Ellie Summers, a sweet, awkward girl who speaks her mind without thinking was leading her own normal life, barely making ends meet after getting fresh out of college and pursuing an editing job but all that normality goes down the drain when a man is literally dropped dead in front of her and she is shoved into drama that she didn't ask for. This unfortunate event makes her end up in the refuge of Jason Parker. A tall, brooding ex-marine and a man of few words. His norm is to go about with his day without much human interaction, just the way he likes it but even he isn't able to completely ignore colorful Ellie Parker who tests him in ways he never has been. Will Ellie be able to add color to Jason's life? Will Jason let her into his world? Will Ellie survive the mess she has been shoved into? Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
"She got swept away by the storm in his eyes Drowning in his hurricane kisses It was the most beautiful disaster ever" In which he lurks in the dark hidden away from her, playing the role of her guardian angel, protecting her and most importantly preserving her for himself for when the right time came. In which she has the naivety of a rabbit and the personality of a cotton candy but she has her own big demons which chase her every day. Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
Somehow you are both the best and the worst thing that has ever happened to me..... She never anticipated that the one night she would agree to get out of her shell, her own little bubble of solitude, he comfort zone, that one night would completely bring her world up side down and change her life for the better and for the worse. He never thought that he would feel such strong feelings towards someone and he never thought he would ever do such insane things to keep feeling those feelings, even blackmail. Author: Neha Publisher: i&i Publisher
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.