Alfredo Romano is the only son and heir to Don Romano, the head of the most powerful mafia family in New York. He meets and falls in love with Elena, a stunning, sexy young woman. Elena's father, Mr. Barnes, a wealthy businessman, was killed by stray bullets during a mafia war between The Romanos and another mafia family. Convinced that the bullets that had ended her father had come from one of the Romanos' goons, she sets out to seek retribution for her father's death and destroy the Romanos, but instead finds love and makes a shocking secret that forever changes her life. What did Elena find out? Does it stop her from getting her revenge on the Romano family? Find out in this captivating story of love, loyalty, and betrayal.
Tom's POV.
My hands were sweaty and I struggled to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. I glance at my boss through the rearview mirror. He looked very stressed and was a little bit drunk. After picking him up from the airport, he'd asked me to drive him to a hotel and he went in the do God knows what, while I sat in the lounge downstairs, waiting. We've been there for hours.
My phone beeped and I gave a glance at the screen. It was a text message.
Slight change in plan, where are you right now?.
My heart began racing as I picked up my phone and replied to the text hastily, trying to focus on the road and my phone simultaneously.
"West end bridge."
Perfect, take a turn at the intersection and follow that route.
"Okay."
I turned my phone off and continued driving. I arrived at the intersection and swung the car around to face the road leading to Harlow. I saw the confused look on my boss's face as he noticed I had deviated from our original route.
"There's an obstruction ahead, going through here would help us avoid it" He nodded drunkenly as I explained to him. This should be very easy, I thought, considering his current state. Most of the cars around were going in the opposite direction and after a little while, I noticed we were the only ones going forward. I started getting anxious and my heart pounded in my chest. What was going on? Why was I asked to change routes? I wiped my sweaty palms on the side of my pants. A cat suddenly darted across the road, just a few meters ahead of me, further increasing my heart rate.
I cursed silently and continued down the road. The sun had set completely and the moon was nowhere in sight yet. I made a right turn and a few minutes later, made a left one. Up ahead, there were cars parked haphazardly. Two gunshots popped off close by and my heart skipped a beat. What the hell was going on? I started to consider turning back. My phone beeped again.
Just keep driving, no worries.
I obeyed and continued down the street. Had the person known I was thinking of turning back? Was I being watched? Thoughts continued to rival themselves in my mind. I soon found out what was happening as I made the next turn.
Two different groups of people were shooting at each other down the street. People were running helter-skelter, taking cover wherever they could. Cars were parked across the road, some with their doors wide open and others fully closed. It was a mafia war. There had been a lot of disturbances in the city recently and it seemed things had finally escalated. I took my foot off the gas a little, causing the car to slow down. No way was I driving through this chaos. Another text popped into my phone.
Keep driving! Don't stop!
No way, there is a mafia war going on, it's not safe.
Ignore that, keep moving.
Was this guy nuts? How the hell did he expect me to drive past the ruckus? I was forced out of my thoughts as a bullet knocked the side of the car. Fuck! Instinctively, I stamped down on the gas pedal and the car responded swiftly.
Another bullet hit us and a third seconds later. My boss was deep asleep and unaware of what was going on. I had nearly made it past the warring men when a bullet shattered the window by my side and I ducked immediately.
I lost control of the steering wheel and the car wobbled across the road. Two more bullets hit us before I was finally able to balance the car.
My heart was racing and I tried to steady my breathing. Realizing that my boss has been silent the whole time, I assume he is asleep and turn around to confirm it.
His body was slack on the seat and three bullet wounds were in his chest, blood oozing from two of them. My boss was dead.
I froze for a moment, unsure of what I should do next. The wail of a siren could be heard and I knew it was only a matter of time before the cops showed up.
I found my way out of the car and ran as fast as my legs could carry me.
Elena's POV.
I woke up with a start and it took me a few moments to remember where I was. I turned to stare at the clock on my bedside table. 8:45 a.m. I yawned and stretched lazily. I didn't want to rise yet as I had nothing to do. After a while, I forced myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I paused to catch a glimpse of my face in the mirror on the wall. My eyes were baggy and my hair crumpled. No one would see me in this state and recognize me.
My phone rang and I stared at it for a while before answering the call, wondering who could be calling this early in the morning.
"Hello," I said into the phone.
"Elena, it's me, Tom." Was the reply I got. "I'm calling about your father ------"
"What about him?"
There was a pause. I lost my patience and snapped at him.
"What about my father, Tom? Tom!"
"He's dead. He got shot while I was driving him back into town last night. I'm very sorry."
The phone slipped out of my hand and dropped to the floor. My chest tightened and my heart fell. Tears flowed freely as I struggled to understand what I just heard. I couldn't believe it. Standing there, staring straight ahead but seeing nothing, my whole world came crashing down around me.
I am never going to see my father again. My phone was ringing again and I picked it up and put it to my ear, my hands shaking.
"Are you okay, Elena?" It was still Tom.
Is he crazy? Who would be okay after hearing such news?
"What happened? Where's he right now?" I ignored his question, trying to gather my thoughts.
"We got caught in the crossfire of two fighting groups. Your father got hit by stray bullets and it was too late by the time I got him to the hospital. His body is at Lockwood General."
"Why didn't you call immediately?" I lashed at him.
He didn't give a reply. Something wasn't making sense.
"Where are you, Tom?"
"At the hospital."
I hang up and dash into the bedroom to get dressed immediately.
I flinched as his breath fanned my face, my body trembled in his arms. This was the chance, but was I scared? His eyes affected me in so many ways, as they held grief, pain and regret. Our stare was our way of communicating. It was intended, emotional and agonizing. I was hiding the knife behind me, picturing the perfect place to stab him. His searing heat sent a gush of lust inside me. I shouldn't fall for that. This was a revenge plan, not a romantic show-off. "I'm engaged, and I have a child with him", I remembered, barely recognizing my cold voice which had become soft and weak. He let out a dirty smirk, lowering his eyes to my lips as we exchanged breath. "I know, but I can't stop myself from falling" he whispered, and before I could blink an eye, he captured my lips, twirling them to his taste. It was a long liquid kiss that made me wet so that I couldn't fight back. The knife slipped off my hand as my body yanked on his. We both dried up where we stood when her voice resounded in our ears. "Mom?" *** Her fantastical life with Dante was a shadow. She left everything behind just to be with him, but he never loved her back. She lost her life because of him. Fortunately, she survived and looks forward to exerting her revenge plot on him. However, she never found him nor heard from him. Forgetting the painful memories that he never existed, she moves on and wins over a powerful man, Peris, who establishes her. She gives birth to her daughter and anticipates her wedding with Peris. However, what happens when Dante shows up three days before her wedding?
Blurb: Millie Matthews was willing to give up everything to be with the one she truly loved. Three years ago, she left home to be with her lover, Rovan Marlowe, whom her family were strictly against. But after finding out she could never replace his first love in his heart, she was forced to leave when he heartlessly chose his first love over her. She returns to her family and takes her place to start her life afresh, only for Rovan to return and beg for her to come back. After realizing that he was a fool to let her go, Rovan became determined to get her back as his wife.
It was a cold night, her family was brutally murdered alongside the love of her life, and taken captive by the ruthless Alpha in all of Windertown. Latina is forced to pay the ultimate price for her betrayal. Little did she know, her destiny was somewhat tied to his just as he was tied to her, but the realization was too late as the damage had already been done.
Amanda's world crumbled when she received the eviction notice. Her family's financial struggles had reached a boiling point, exacerbated by her mother's mounting medical bills. Desperation Desperation was the beginning of everything. Will her desperation lead her to the right path? – or otherwise? Faced with mountains of problems, with no option. She went for the easiest solution – or so she thought Amanda jumped at the only available opportunity. Getting married to the cold hearted billionaire. No strings attached, just appearances. Awaiting the time her marriage would be dissolved and she would be free again. But what becomes of her when she starts falling in love with the cold hearted man? A man whose only interest is his company and appearances. Will her love be reciprocated? Or will it be crushed to pieces and blown away like dust into the earth?
Ashley is a 19-year-old waitress working at a bar to make ends meet and provide for her father who is suffering from chronic illnesses. She's mortified and feels her life has been turned upside down as she's forced to marry the wealthy CEO, Jackson. She hates Jackson and tries to avoid him at all costs. However, when she starts to know him better, she begins to see the kind and loving person he truly is. Over time, their love for each other grows stronger, and they overcome the obstacles that stood in the way of building a happy family.
I was shaking, shivering like a leaf in autumn as the cold water cascaded over me, I wanted to feel clean, I did, but no matter how much I scrubbed, it seemed I wouldn't be. Tears gathered at my eyes and fell, mixing with the water. "I love you, Avery, and nothing can change that." Came the soft voice from behind me, the voice that always knew how to calm me, I could feel his solidness behind, the warmth radiating, seeping into my freezing body. His arms wrapped around me and I leaned back, he was gloriously bare and I could feel every inch of him press against me, it was haven. I didn't feel so scared anymore, I wasn't so alone, he was right beside me and his presence reassured me. I let the water pour down, washing away my tears and fears and.... "I want a divorce." I heard him whisper and my heart stopped.
Despite being an illegitimate daughter, Lena bore a striking resemblance to the young lady of the Evans family. Faced with their threats, she was forced to take her half-sister’s place and marry Dylan. As an act of defiance, Lena seduced Dylan night after night, until she had him completely wrapped around her finger. Using his affections to her advantage, she set out to undermine the Evans family. Over time, Dylan began to notice something odd about his beloved wife...
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
"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...