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?
BREA POV
The sole of the red shoes she wore glinted in the sun before it smashed against the side of my face. A strangled cry escaped my lips, the throbbing pain fading into a burn as their laughs crackled around me. It was supposed to hurt worse, but they'd already hit me in the face so many times that my face felt numb.
"She's such a weakling. Look at her lying there all pathetic" The girl that stomped on me got out and spat on my face while the two boys and the girl to her right giggled.
"There's nothing she can do though. Worthless piece of garbage" the boy snarled and I winced, letting out a sharp hiss when his hand twisted in my air. My whole body ached as he forced me to gaze into his eyes.
"You should be kissing the very ground that I'm walking on Brea Larson. What, you think you're all that because you come from an elite family? Newsflash, doll face! Your family is nothing! Do you hear me? Without the money my father invested in your stupid family business, you'd have been a pauper living in the gutter!" He spat angrily, his grip tightening until it felt like my head was on fire.
"Let go of me Brandon" I managed to get out, then almost blacked out when he punched me in the gut. I flopped on my face, my head reeling. He was saying something, but everything hit me like a buzz. Nasty words that I'd had to listen to all my life started to get louder and louder until my ears couldn't handle them.
My Mom's voice was the loudest of them all. "Be nice to Brandon ok. We are nothing without his father's money. At least try to be useful for once in your life now that we know he likes you. He pushed for the investment Brea, so do not mess it up for us. If we lose this opportunity because of your stupidity, I'm going to send you off to the orphanage".
She was going to give me away. I didn't do anything to deserve this, any of this. They always targeted me, the girl that was never good enough, the girl who wasn't rich enough... They would never accept me. I was an outsider. Always have been.
I'm yanked to my feet, and Brandon yells in my face before his hand smacked me hard, then two more punches. "I am going to make you my bitch whether you like it or not" he yelled, then smacked my cheek so hard, my head almost snapped off my neck.
A rage I never knew existed clouded my lungs, it rushed upward until it poisoned everything In my veins, and it suffocated me. I couldn't breathe, and my hand just worked on its own, as if it had always known what to do to set itself free from the pain.
I snatched out the pencil I always carried around with me, and with unfamiliar precision jabbed it into his throat as he pulled his arms back to hit me again. He froze in shock, his eyes widening.
The quiet that surrounded me was peaceful, and the pain faded a little until the scream picked up, crescendoing to a point where it felt like I would bleed out of my ears.
Blood splashed on my shirt as Brandon's wide eyes continue staring into my soul, his hand wrapping tightly around the end of the pencil, but I felt nothing, no remorse, no regret, no pity. All I felt was freedom. He was never going to hurt me again.
*******
"You almost killed him, Brea... How could you do this after what I told you" she yelled as she shook me harshly before letting me go? I gasped, tears streaming down my face.
"He wouldn't stop... He wouldn't stop hitting me, Mother"...
She hit me across the face and it was so unexpected that my teeth sunk into my lips. I tasted blood and my heart ceased to beat for a second as I stared at Mother's harsh gaze.
"You are lucky that he is still breathing, if he wasn't, you'd have been dead too. He hit you? Couldn't you take a little beating? Huh? Are you that weak? He was just playing with you and you stabbed him in the neck, you psychopath!"
Her words hit me like a load of truck and instead of it tearing my soul into pieces, all they did was graze it. A mantra repeated itself in my head. He cannot hurt you anymore. He cannot hurt you anymore. I repeated the mantra over and over again until a smile touched my lips.
I blinked, my gaze clashing with those of my mother's horrified one. "You are out of your mind Brea and I'm going to make sure I fix you. I will fix you until you are right again" she stated, then looked over my shoulder as the doctor approached. I turned to face him at the same time he grabbed my hand.
"I'll take it from here Mrs Larson".
Mother nodded once, turned, and left the room without a backward glance.
********
SIX MONTHS LATER.
Mother was waiting by the car with a young boy by her side. She didn't look happy to see me, just as it had always been, but at least she cared. Father wanted nothing to do with me.
I wished she would rush forward and hug me, but she just stood where she was until I got to her.
She didn't trust that I was ok, but I was going to make Momma believe in me again. I would win her trust.
"Meet your brother, Markus" she introduced, and I glanced at the child who smiled wildly at me. "He's been well-behaved ever since we got him... maybe you could learn a thing or two from him".
"You are so pretty Brea. Your eyes are amazing" he stated in awe, his eyes sparkling.
I ignored his blabbering because he was of no consequence.
"I will do anything you want momma. Please, I am sorry for everything. I got better. I swear".
She reached for my wrist and jerked me toward her. "You better be telling the truth, because you make one more mistake, you're going to be left here to rot" she threatened and let go of me. I rubbed at my wrist, her threat making the anger simmering in my chest grow. I clenched my fist.
"I'll be registering you for your new school. It is for a purpose, and this time, you better do what I tell you" she said, then yanked the door of the car open. "Get in before I change my mind," she said, and I quickly scrambled into the car.
Markus came in after me, his gaze lingering until I glared.
"Be nice to your brother you little menace" Mother snapped. "You freaking ruined our lives. Markus here is the only one keeping us together so watch how you deal with him. Got it".
My fingers dug harder against my palm."Yes ma'am" I choked out and she rolled her eyes before her gaze shifted.
The plan -it turned out- was for me to befriend Ana Mason... She was going to be our ticket to getting investment from her Dad. If I fucked this up, then it would be all over for me. I shuddered as I thought back to the days I spent in rehab. Maybe I was a bit mad. Being there so long made me feel like an empty shell that was being smashed into pieces.
"Hi, Ana" I managed once I stood in front of her.
Her gaze shifted in my direction, the lack of interest in them glaringly obvious.
Her lip curved slightly. "Are you by chance speaking to me"?
The two girls by her side kept their gaze glued to mine, an unbelievable look on their faces.
"Yes, Ana... I just came..." I gasped when my neck was grabbed from behind, the grip of my assailant cutting off my air supply. I thrashed until I thought I was going to die.
Ana stepped toward me, the eerie smile still on display. "Thrash like you do not deserve to call me by my name," she said then grabbed my jaw, a nail cutter in her other hand. "The next time you dare to disrespect me" The sharp edge of the blade pressed at the soft skin near my ear, then sliced through. "I'll do more than this," she said and shoved me, her eyes darting to the person whose hard grip was still around my throat. Black dots filled my vision. He let go of me abruptly. I fell to the floor, wheezing as I tried to catch my breath.
The four of them laughed and it was like my old school all over again.
"She didn't even fight back. She'll be our new toy for this semester" Ana announced with a giggle, dumped her coffee over my head, and left with her friends.
I watched them go knowing that I was failing Mother. If she found out about this, then it was back to the asylum.
The darkness that poisoned my veins stirred in my chest, urging me to do something crazy, urging me to hurt them back for hurting me.
But I couldn't, not if I wanted to rot away forever as Mother threatened, but I will find a way. I was going to achieve the impossible, and I was going to do it while simultaneously bringing them down.
Everyone who hurt me was going to pay.
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?
Vega Romeo is the live life, screw the rest type of girl. she is pretty content to just go with the flow until she is dared by her best friend to join in on a bet to make billionaire Zach Dante hers. Vega sees Zach Dante as a playboy with no feelings and so she agrees to play him. Vega would do anything to win, even if it meant hurting the one she's come to love. Competing against the other girls is not a walk in the park but Vega had already invested a lot to stop. Except lying came with consequences. And those consequences are more than she expected. But what happens in the past stays in the past right? That might be what Vega thinks, but it is not the same for Zach who bore most of the burn of the scandal. With bitterness In his heart, Zach bids his time in plotting his revenge and after five years, he's back. He's back and he wants nothing more than to destroy the woman who shattered his heart.
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
Scarlett was left betrayed and broken beyond repair when her best friend Megan set her up with the male escort who stole her virginity...Or at least, that's what she thought he was. There was something odd about the strong and strikingly beautiful man that she spent a night with. Despite the pure hatred she felt for him, the deals he ended up offering wasn't one she could refuse. Scarlett always thought she'd marry her soulmate but turns out, that won't be the case for her. But could her mysterious husband make his way through her broken heart and fix it? It's hard to imagine but love has funny ways to manifest in places where it's least expected....
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Isabella's world crumbled when her marriage to Liam took a heartbreaking turn during their second anniversary. She was further hurt when she discovered that he was having an affair with his ex-lover. Soon, she discovered she was pregnant and decided to pack up and leave for another state. Five years later, as a single mother of twins, the past resurfaced when Liam unexpectedly reappeared. Would Isabella be drawn into a whirlwind of emotions as she confronts the man who shattered her heart or would she be hellbent on her revenge of making him pay dearly for his crimes?
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.