"How does it feel to submit Jade, how does it feel to kneel at the feet of your owner," he asked, in a low voice that rumbled like the storm. Raising my head, I stared at him defiantly, knowing deep down that I was consciously breaking his rule and that I would be punished for it. I smirked. "It feels like I'm going to have to return the favor once I get out of here". His lips twisted into a dark smile, his eyes glowing in the darkened space as his gaze lingered on me. I couldn't move or breathe. "You're never getting out of here." Jade is a Mafia don who is betrayed by her covetous brother, fleeing for her life she gets trapped in the wood where she is purchased by Dearil Vaughn, a sadist with a chaotic wolf that feeds off torture and destruction. To survive his dangerous games, she'd have to learn to submit and keep her heart in a place where his cold hands couldn't reach. Jade calmed Dearil's wolf, so he was never going to let her go, and even tho, Jade fought him all the way, he was going to hold onto her, and if she managed to slip out of his hold, he was going to kill her. It was war! A war with two contenders that planned to come out winners.
JADE POV
The first strike of lightning rented the sky, its light illuminating the dark, ghostly hunting ground as the thunder rumbled violently in the troubled sky. The trees howled out their pain as the winds rippled through their branches, the sound of it like the wail of a dying animal.
I grinned. This was going to be a thrilling night indeed. I stalked toward my prey, the sound of his haggard breathing drawing me in like a magnet.
He thought he could escape me, but he was wrong. No traitor got away from Jade Alvarez. I adjusted the bow I held, the arrow already in place as I inched closer while my prey was none the wiser.
The weapon I wielded was not the one I preferred, but my step-siblings had gotten their hands on all the automatic weapons before I could. It didn't matter. I'd finish my task before they had a chance to, if they could since I already put my signature on their kill, after putting an arrow in the middle of their eye sockets.
They never stood a chance, and neither did the man I was hunting now. Another strike of lightning lights up the whole arena and the prey sees me. The man froze, his eyes widening in terror and pleasure surged through my veins at the blatant fear that lurked within the depth of his eyes.
He doesn't stay paralyzed for long, and with a leap, he dashed forward, trying to escape the angel of death. I aim and let my arrow fly. A bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the beauty of my arrow as it chased him, then sank into the back of his thigh. The man crashed to the floor with a loud groan that rivaled the sound of the rumbling thunder.
Picking another arrow, I stalked toward him, having all intention of finishing what I started, and enjoying every moment of it.
He was on his knees when I got to him, tears streamed down his face and his breath came out in harsh pants as he bowed to the floor, his hands reaching to touch the tip of my boots. Pathetic.
"Don't... please... I have a family" he begged, his voice breaking pitifully.
"I'll make sure to take care of your family after I'm done with you".
His head whipped up in terror. "Don't touch them, they had nothing to do about this".
I raised my boot, then smashed it against his hand. His scream rends the air, but it doesn't please me. "Who are you to give me fucking orders? You should have thought about your family before you betrayed the hand that fed you and them. There is no mercy for traitors".
More tears streamed down his face. "Please, I don't want to die".
I aimed at his head and he watched me, helpless, his eyes pleading even though he knew it was futile.
"Then you should have never crossed my path," I said and let go. The arrow swished, the tip of it disappearing into his head and reappearing at the end of his skull, the force snapping his head back and the picture he presented was pretty tame in comparison to the others before him.
Shockwaves ricochet through my skin as I stared at the dead man, a smile tugging on the corner of my lips at the euphoric feeling that formed at the base of my spine and then traveled all around my skin.
Raising the flare gun I held onto the sky, I let off a shot and watched the beautiful flame try to kiss the darkened sky. It was to signal that the hunt was over.
I stared at it until the red flame sparked, then faded into oblivion. I was getting closer to my crown, and no one was going to stop me.
*******
Standing under my father's scrutiny always made my heart rate irregular-even though I never let my fear show because of the evil he represented. Ryland and Lexis stood beside me, their faces grim as they stared down at the men that they had been assigned to kill, who all bore my mark, with my arrows stuck in their cranium.
Father came to stand in front of me and pulling my gaze away from my kill, I met his stare challengingly.
He smirked, the scar that started from the top of his head to his chin bunching up at the pressure, then his expression changed in a second. His palm landed on my face in a flash, the blow unexpected and furious, but the blinding pain that numbed my senses was a welcomed distraction as I defiantly held his gaze.
"You disobeyed a direct order from me, Jade Alvarez. You were told to kill only your prey" he roared, his spit flying into my face but I didn't flinch in my stance. Ryland and Lexis kept their faces to the ground. They knew that father would take it easy on them, as he always did. He reserved all his wrath for me, and I knew the reason why, but I wasn't going to let it deter me. In the end, I was going to rule and he knew it.
"You told me to kill anything that moved, and I did just that. It's not my fault if I outsmarted those two and got their bounty. Being slow doesn't get the job accomplished, and lost time is never gotten back. I'm just doing what a leader would".
He watched me, a scrutinizing look on his face that made me feel almost angry because I knew he was trying to find a flaw in me even though I'd perfected all he taught me. When will I be enough? Was it always going to be Ryland for him? He chuckled, the fire in his eyes losing its ferocity. "You're right, you got rid of the traitor, and all in time too, but" he paused his gaze hardening. "Never go against my order, ever!"
"Yes sir" I replied and he gave me one last look before moving towards Ryland and Lexis.
"You're on clean-up duty for a week. Fucking pathetic" he spat, then walked away from the arena.
That was all they got. It made me want to smash something.
Ryland stepped towards me, a sneer on his lips. "You're never going to win his affection so you should stop trying to be so perfect, also, keep your eyes off the position of the Capo dei Capri. We all know who that seat belongs to after he dies''.
I rubbed my hands together, my mind debating whether to smash him in the face or choke slam him. "Maybe you should let the old man die first, Ryland. Rumours might reach him that you're planning his murder".
He grabbed my arms and I snapped. Grabbing his arms was the easy part, twisting them enough and stopping before I broke his bone was the hard part. His sharp cry of pain carrying through the quiet space made me smile as he struggled to remain still so as not to trigger me. I leaned against him, putting more pressure on his arm that had him keening in pain.
"Don't ever touch me if you want to live to see the day that I sit on that throne, Ryland. You push me to the wall too much, and I might just put an arrow between that mouth of yours." I threatened before letting him go with a shove. He tumbled to the floor, then he cradled his arm, his eyes glaring his hate as he stared at me. I wanted to pluck them out.
Lexis helped him up, before staring at me. "Father will not be too happy when he hears about this".
"You won't tell him anything lexis" Ryland roared, grabbing her by the arm. "He already thinks that I am pathetic, do you want him to see me as a worthless spineless weakling too".
They were very apt descriptions because he was right on every count. He was all that and more.
"I'm just trying to help you against that witch".
"I don't need your fucking help. I will take care of it on my own".
I smirked. "I'm sure you will. Clean that up, you're on slave duty for the weak" I mocked then walked out of the arena.
I could hear Ryland raging but I didn't care. There was nothing he could do but bark. He knew the syndicate would be mine, in the end, I was already managing half of the business and the reputation I'd built for myself made my name a thing of fear on everyone's lips. They also knew my word was my honor, and I kept it to a T. I took care of handling all the transactions and I'd never lost a shipment or got caught by security.
Ryland was just the guy who thought everything should be handed to him on a golden platter just because he was Alvarez's only son, while I was the daughter he had from a treacherous affair.
I'd been treated like the dirt beneath their feet from the moment I was brought into the house. I was worked half to death for the first few months, then I was pushed off to be trained by the worst of them all, the psychopaths that drowned it into my head that it was either kill or be killed, and they almost killed me a dozen of times, but I survived and I never backed down. I was a fucking born leader.
I'd already shown them that I was more than capable of handling the business, so if I found out that he was planning to name Ryland as his successor, I'd have no choice but to kill them both.
I'd kill them both without feeling an ounce of regret because there was nothing like family in the Mafia. I had no family. The syndicate was my life and to keep it as mine, I had to rule it. And I would, even if it killed me.
Mafia Billionaire Riven Blackwood has a score to settle with his rival Julian Styles- the man who almost ruined his family's business in the past- and what other way to get his revenge than to seduce Julian's sister, Hazel? He believes that using her as a pawn will provide him the closure he seeks. Yet, as he gets to know Hazel, he finds himself getting obsessed and possessive of her. Hazel Styles longs for freedom from her controlling stepbrother, Julian, and is determined to pursue her own passions but just like everything in her life, it's almost impossible. Then her life takes a complicated turn when she encounters Riven, the man linked to her family's past tragedies. A man determined to possess her body and soul. Despite trying her hardest to resist him, Hazel soon discovers that staying away from Riven is increasingly difficult. As their lives intertwine, heightened by a lurking stalker whose obsession reflects the grip others have held over Hazel, the stakes rise. Will their love be enough to overcome the secrets and lies surrounding their relationship Or will Riven's consuming fixation on Hazel ultimately lead to their undoing?
Celine Herrera has always had to fight her stepsister, Delia, for everything she'd ever wanted from a young age. So, she isn't surprised when Delia demands to be given the family company that Celine had worked to build all her life. Since she's not the favorite of her grandfather, Delia is once again going to get what she wants. But this time, it's on a condition: whoever gets married first and gives birth to a child gets the company. Celine Herrera is ready to do whatever it takes to have the one thing that brought her true happiness. So she seizes the opportunity and, when she crosses paths with one of the most feared and ruthless men to ever exist, she does not hesitate to propose a contract marriage. She gets what she wants, but what she doesn't know is that Belshar Nessar Abed only agreed to her terms for one reason: revenge.
Pushed off the cliff by her step-sister, Eve Knew no life other than pain and betrayal, and as she plunged to her death, she swore she was going to make all who hurt her pay. Years later, she's back with a new face and a new name and there's only one thing on her mind. Revenge and she was going to get it, no matter what it took. But she is not the only one with a thirst for vengeance... Raphael Batista was framed for Eve's alleged suicide and he knew exactly who framed him and was going to make them pay, his revenge was also going to extend to anyone who tried to help them out, even if the person was a woman who made his blood burn with fierce passion and reminded him a lot of Eve who was supposedly dead. There is no going back for them, or is there, especially when the truths are coming out to light and their antagonist is someone who would do anything, even kill to keep what they'd taken.
"Gabrielle" I shouted and she cut me off. "I own your body, your mind, and your soul. Do you understand? Get back to your desk right this moment and I'll forgive what you just said" she ordered, and I knew some men who would have cowered at that threatening tone, but not me. I was flattered that she was dead set on having me, but her threats were all empty. "No, I won't, and I am done with this Gabrielle. Nothing you say or do is going to change my mind" I turned away from her and made to open the door when I heard a familiar click behind me. I whipped around to face her, cautiously taking a step back as my eyes took in the gun in her hand that was aimed directly at my head. My heart skipped in my chest. Now there was clear evidence that she was indeed connected with the Mafias. If she killed me, there was a pretty chance my body would never be found, but then, April could follow it up, and with her dedication, she'd find something. The chances were slim tho. Would she shoot me or not? Her eyes looked dead, decided, but there was also fear lurking within their grey depth, she didn't want to shoot. I called her bluff, pushing the door open. She pulled the trigger. ****** A forbidden love story between a Mafia Don and an undercover cop... A. Dangerous. Love.
Caught in a web of lies and deceit, Sybil Eagan is left at the altar by the only man she has ever loved. Moving on isn't as easy as she thought, but she perseveres, and when she finally decides to open her heart to love again, the man who left her down the aisle comes back into her life, and no, he doesn't want a second chance. He wants revenge. Angelo was devastated to learn of Sybil's betrayal and in anger decided to punish her by leaving her on the altar. He has no plans of getting in touch with her until they meet again, and he sees her in the arms of another man. He's convinced himself he hates her, but he just can't let go of her and be happy with someone else, especially when he's still in pain. He will do everything to destroy this happiness to find his peace. They're not the only ones out for revenge, and as the web of lies tightens, they both sink into a reality where they could both end up dead. In the face of such opposition, will love triumph, or will hate eventually prevail?
After years of suffering at the hand of her bullies, Brea Larson is determined to do whatever it takes to feel again even if it meant she had to kill to get it, and that's exactly what she set out to do when she falls in love with her former bully's fiancé, Ryder. Following through with her plans she persuaded them to spend the weekend in the woods. Her intentions; were to seduce and make Ryder her own while keeping the girlfriend occupied with someone else. Brea's scheme doesn't go as planned as they come across a group of Mafias who were about to carry out an execution. Brea is terrified, especially when she meets the gaze of their leader, Nicolai Fernandez. He is pure evil embodied. Unable to escape, they are given an ultimatum to run for their lives by an hour. If caught, the men had the right to do with them as they pleased. Will Brea manage to flee from the clutches of a man determined to possess her? Will she be able to escape a man so obsessed; he'd rather see her dead than away from him or will she be entrapped in his dark and deadly possession?
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
Emberly, an esteemed scientist of the Imperial Federation, took her own life after completing important research. She was reborn, and just like in her first life, she was born into a wealthy family. She could’ve lived a carefree and prosperous life. However, the babies got mixed up in the hospital and she was taken home by another family from the countryside. Her foster parents later found out the truth and brought her to her real family, but they didn’t like her. Her evil adopted sister even loathed her. She was framed and ultimately, she died in prison. But in her next life, she refused to stay a coward and swore she would take revenge on all who wronged her. She would only care about those who were truly good to her and turn a blind eye to her heartless family. In one life, she had once experienced darkness and been trampled upon like an ant. In another, she had stood on top of the world. This time, she only wished to live for herself. As if a switch had gone on inside of her, she suddenly became the best at everything she put her mind to. He won the math contest, topped the college entrance exams, and solved an age old question... Later, she garnered countless scientific research achievements. People who had once slandered her and looked down on her cried bitterly and begged her for a patent authorization. She just sneered at them. No way! This was a world without faith, but the world put their faith in her. Austin, the heir to a powerful aristocratic family in the imperial capital, was cold-hearted and decisive. He scared anyone who laid eyes on him. Unbeknownst to everyone, he doted on one woman: Emberly. Nobody knew that his desire for her grew stronger with every passing day. She brought light to his originally dull and gloomy life.
Ivy Rosalia Jones, a young and beautiful doctor working at a suburban hospital, is determined to marry a man she met through a blind date, even though he is paralyzed. Actually, the marriage was meant to be symbolic, with both of them intending not to interfere in each other's affairs after the wedding. However, Ivy never expected that she would end up marrying the most influential man in the world. Shawn Dyxon Tate, Ivy's husband, has no intention of letting his beautiful wife go. Once she entered his life, he made a decision to spoil her and gave her the world she never had.
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.