Blurb: Krissy lives in a world surrounded by ruthless men. At their head is Kostya Roman, the most heartless kingpin of all. She is protected, yet caged, cherished, yet kept at bay. He vowed to protect her and give her anything she needs, except his heart. He promised to always have her back. He lied. Kostya would destroy the woman he loves to avenge the one he lost. He lives for his Bratva and his vengeance. Krissy is the only thing that's good about him. And he will wreck her.
11 YEARS LATER
Blonde or brunette? I was debating which wig to throw away first when my phone alarm went off. I grabbed my sparkly pillbox off the desk. Only one more week, and I'd be pill-free. I could make it seven more days. A few days after that, I would finally start college. I could start dating. A new school would mean new people who didn't know about the cancer. I'd meet boys who wouldn't look at me with pity. It would be a fresh start for both me and my mom. Especially for my mom. Lately, she'd been anxious. At first, I thought it was because of my upcoming test results. She always feared the cancer would come back. Then I'd learned the truth: my mom was dealing with a stalker ex-boyfriend. I guess we could both use a break from the sick and crazy.
I heard a crash in the kitchen and rushed down the stairs. My mom had dropped a glass. Shards were scattered across the floor and she was already reaching for a broom. When I saw the ill-concealed panic on her face, my stomach dropped.
"He found you again, didn't he?"
She didn't look up when she spoke, "Pack your bags, Krissy. We're leaving in five."
No, no, no. Not again. "But mom... I don't understand. Why don't we just go to the police? They could-"
"I already explained this to you. He has friends at the police department. Judges in his pocket."
"But-"
"I said go, Kristina."
Feeling deflated, I went back up to my room and slammed the door. My mom was everything to me. She'd been with me through thick and thin and never made me feel like I was a burden. I knew it wasn't easy being a single mom. I expected it was both a relief and a curse that she worked from home as a graphic designer. It gave her freedom to use her time the way she wanted, which sadly had mostly comprised of hospital visits with me. It also meant that she had hardly any social life. So when she told me she'd met a guy, I was ecstatic for her. Who would have guessed that a boring accountant named Edwin could turn out to be such a nightmare? I pulled my "getaway" duffel bag from the back of the closet and grabbed the baseball bat next to it. I'd never met the guy, but if I ever did I'd break every bone in his body.
It still gave me chills when I thought back on that evening months ago when I'd found my mom battered and bruised in the bathroom. She had believed I was asleep and was already trying to cover herself up with make-up.
With a reluctant sigh, I grabbed my books off the side table. I never went anywhere without my favorite; a collection of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. The original ones of course, not the Disney version. No matter how sick or sad I was, whether I was puking my guts out from the chemo or my hair fell out in clumps, I could always count on these stories whisking me away. It was the small things in life that made me want to keep on living it.
I suddenly remembered that I'd left my phone in the kitchen and slowly, as not to disturb my mother, went back downstairs. She wasn't in the kitchen anymore but the floor was pristinely clean. I heard muffled sounds from her office. She was clearly on the phone. Unable to fight my curiosity, I pressed my ear to the door.
"I don't care who you are. I said I need to speak to your boss Kostya, right now."
Whoever was on the other end of the line didn't give the right response, because my mother took in a deep, ragged breath.
"Did you tell him it's Irina? His mother's best friend? What do you mean, you can't talk to him right now? Fine," my mother snapped. "If he can't bother to come to the phone because he's indisposed, I'll go to him myself."
I heard her slam the phone on her desk, which was my cue to make myself scarce.
What was going on? Who was this Kostya? I'd never heard her mention that name before. Then again, Mom rarely talked about her past or any family. All I knew was that they had died in a tragic car accident and she'd been the only survivor. She and I were a team. A two-person family.
We were on the road in less than ten minutes. My mother's hands clutched the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white. I didn't open my mouth until we passed the sign which read Welcome to Colorado.
"Where are we going?"
"To the son of a friend. The only man I know who can keep you safe."
As far as cryptic answers went, this one was king. Wait, why had she said it that way?
"You mean 'us.' Keep 'us' safe." When she didn't answer, my heart did a painful thud. "Mom, you're scaring me."
Shhand. "Of course, I mean us, kotichka."
"So, who is this friend?"
A sad smile formed on her face. "Anastasia was my best friend a long time ago. She died a few years after you were born. Kostya was only seventeen, just like you are. I lost touch with him when his mother died."
"Where does he live?"
"Denver."
"And is he like a cop or something?"
Her fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel. "Or something."
Well, that didn't sound ominous at all. With a sigh, I nestled into the car seat and closed my eyes. "You know you're only getting away with these half-baked answers 'cause you're driving and I'm sleepy."
She chuckled. "I know. Don't worry. I'll tell you more once we're there."
Wherever "there" might be.
Maybe it wasn't so much about the destination, but about the journey, just like in the novels I've read. I'd lived a thousand lives through my heroines' eyes. I'd been all over the world with them, falling in love with my book boyfriends, having my heart broken by them. It seemed like it was finally time for my adventure to begin.
Ellie Donovan is distraught when her boyfriend cheats on her, and she rather than wallows in her sorrow seeks to find revenge because she had invested all of herself in him. A great twist of fate happens when she meets her ex's Father and they develop a sort of friendship, for the motive of revenge on her part she gets involved with him. Would she fall truly in love with him or would the deceit be too strong for him to handle? Would they survive the twisted romance or would it end in another shackles? Find out in this captivating read
"I, Selene River, ..." I started speaking, but Alpha Magnus stopped me by placing his hand over my mouth. He pulled me closer to him and growled. "I'm not accepting your rejection, Selene," he growled. "You are my mate. You are the greatest gift that the Goddess has ever given me. I am not letting you go." My heart was hammering against my rib cage. His scent overwhelmed my senses. He leaned in and rubbed his nose up and down my jaw. My skin was on fire. Every part of my body desired to be touched by him. "I can't let you go, my love," he mumbled. "I've waited for you my whole life." His lips brushed against the marking spot on my neck, and I almost burst into flames. Convincing him to accept my rejection would be the hardest thing I ever had to do. Selene is a 17-year-old girl who still hasn't shifted into her wolf. Her father abandoned her mother when she was very young. She has been bullied and laughed at all the time. After she lost her mom, the person who loved her the most, Selene is completely distraught and broken. Her father comes back to take her back to his pack. Selene is against it, but her financial situation forces her to go with him. Magnus is a Lycan wolf, the Alpha of his very successful pack. He is 22 years old, and he still hasn't found his mate. When Selene arrives at his pack, he is very surprised to discover that she is his mate. He is also frustrated because she is his stepsister who hasn't shifted yet. She can't recognize him as her mate. Selene struggles in the new pack. She doesn't have the best relationship with her stepmother. She can't wait to turn 18 and leave. What will happen when Selene finds out who her mate is? What will Magnus do after she rejects him? Will he be able to convince her to stay?
Compelled by her dad's dilemma and the looming fate of their business, Irene agreed to become Braydon's lover. To outsiders, Braydon seemed invulnerable, yet only Irene was privy to the tempestuous passions he unleashed behind closed doors. Gradually, Irene found herself tangled in the intricate emotional snare Braydon had woven, her heart craving more, only to be shattered by the revelation of his engagement. Devastated, she left and soon encountered Braydon's archrival. It was then that the formidable Braydon confronted the esteemed surgeon Dr. Mitchell, all in a fierce struggle over Irene.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
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."
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.
"Then let's get a divorce!" With courage, Leora left her husband's house, after being accused of poisoning his mistress. Her in-laws and sister-in-law had planned various ways to kick her out of Peter's house and in the end Leora gave in. However, no one expected that things would turn 180 degrees after the divorce. When everyone who had hurt her was happy with each other's lies, Leora returned. This time, she was no longer the poor orphan girl from the orphanage. She has changed and not only that, she also carries a big secret that will make everyone turn to worship her feet.
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”