Maya Marquez is your average 23-year-old, fresh out of school with dreams of traveling the world and finding love. But her life takes a drastic turn when she encounters Damon Morello, the king of the underground mafia. Damon kidnaps Maya to punish Maya's father for stealing from him. However, things take an unexpected turn when Damon finds himself irresistibly attracted to Maya. What happens when the underworld king falls in love with a girl determined to escape from him? Read to find out!
Maya POV
"Please, please, please come to the mall with me?" Alice begged for the thousandth time in the last ten minutes. She is kind of obsessed with shopping, and apparently, there are some really good sales she can't miss.
"Fine! If I go, will you shut up?" I snapped, and her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Alice squealed.
Alice and I have been best friends since we were five years old. She's the shy one until you get to know her, and I'm the loudmouth smartass. We balance each other out perfectly.
"You're the best, Maya!" She beamed..
"Yeah, Alice, you've mentioned that once or twice," I chuckled as we left my house and headed to my car. My parents got me a white Lexus SUV when I turned eighteen, and I helped pay for it with the money I earned working at their law firm. It's like my baby!
We jumped into my car and raced to the mall, singing and dancing to whatever songs were playing on the radio. When we arrived, I found a parking spot and we headed inside.
While shopping, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I glanced around but didn't see anything unusual.
"Earth to Maya!" Alice snapped her fingers in front of my face. I shook off my paranoid thoughts. I watch too many crime shows.
"What?" I asked, returning to our conversation. She looked at me like I'd grown another head but continued talking.
"I asked what you wanted to eat, but you zoned out!" she laughed, linking her arm with mine and leading me to the food court.
"Like you even have to ask," I snorted sarcastically. We always eat at the same place.
"Chick-fil-A it is!" She laughed and practically dragged me up the escalator.
Once we finished eating, we decided to visit one more store before leaving. As we headed downstairs, the feeling of being watched came back. I stopped and saw two men in expensive suits following us. I grabbed Alice's arm and we started sprinting.
"What's wrong?" she asked as we turned a corner, both panting for air.
"Shh, we're being followed," I whispered as we hid.
Suddenly, someone grabbed me tightly and pulled me up, covering my mouth. I bit his hand hard, drawing blood.
"You bitch!" he cursed, letting go of my mouth and slapping me across the face, making my cheek sting and my lip bleed.
"Let go of me, you bastard!" I yelled, but he squeezed tighter, making me whimper.
"No can do, bitch. You're coming with us," he spat.
Alice looked terrified, and I was scared too.
"You can't take her!" Alice cried, trying to run to me, but the other guy pulled her back.
"Don't touch her! I'll go with you if you leave her alone," I negotiated. They agreed, but Alice clung to me, crying.
"I'll be okay. I promise," I reassured her, though I was terrified myself.
"Can you let go so I can give her my car keys?" I snapped, but the guy holding me just grunted.
"Nope," he replied in a raspy voice that sent shivers down my spine.
"Can she grab them from my pocket?" I asked, annoyed. He had such a tight grip on me, like I could go anywhere.
"No," he snapped back rudely.
"I drove her here. She'll be stranded if I can't give her my keys, you moron!" I yelled, struggling against his hold, which only made him squeeze harder.
Then he grabbed both my hands with one of his and searched my pockets until he found the keys, tossing them to Alice.
"Take care of my baby, or I'll kick your ass, Alice!" I warned, tears streaming down my face. She smiled and picked up the keys.
"I will, I promise!" She hugged me tightly, and the guy released his hold so I could hug her goodbye. I whispered comforting words in her ear.
"It's going to be okay. Go to my house and call my parents. Let them know that I was taken and try to find me before they kill me and leave me in a ditch somewhere." I tried making a joke but honestly I wasn't sure what they planned on doing with me.7
Alice looked terrified, but I gave her a reassuring smile and urged her to leave before they changed their minds. She hesitated at first, but eventually ran off.
My heart raced as the guy holding me hooked his arm with mine and forced me to walk with him and the other guy. I wished it was the other guy handling me; he seemed less aggressive and wouldn't have hurt me.
Outside, I was shoved into a fancy Tahoe with tinted windows so dark I couldn't see anything outside. I was stuck in the backseat between the two guys from the mall.
During the ride, I learned that the driver's name is Diego. He has blonde hair and light green eyes, and a soft smile. He didn't seem like the others. The other guy, Ricardo, has jet black hair and chocolate brown eyes. He looked tough but also regretful about kidnapping me. His soft smile brought some comfort, but I wasn't sure if I'd be okay yet.
The guy who slapped me is named Carlos. He has black hair, grey eyes, and stubble on his face. He's good-looking, but I wouldn't say it out loud.
"Yeah, she bit me and earned herself a slap," he smirked, making me scowl.
"You busted my lip, you prick!" I argued, knowing I was outnumbered and powerless.
"You slapped a lady?" Diego asked, turning from the road to look at us.
"The bitch bit me!" Carlos whined like a child. It was almost funny, but I wanted to slap him.
"Carlos, you need to learn to talk to women. Slapping and name-calling only makes things worse," Diego scolded, shaking his head as he turned back to driving.
"Shut up," Carlos snapped, leaning back in his seat. I felt him relax beside me.
"Damon won't be happy about you slapping her or the bruises and busted lip," Ricardo added, making Carlos tense up next to me.
"I know," Carlos sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. Damon must be a big shot if even tough guys like Carlos are scared of him. I was definitely doomed.
Before I could ask about Damon, the car stopped and I was yanked out. The sight before me was breathtaking.
As I was pulled out, I shot Carlos a glare. He smirked, almost making me fall, but his grip kept me steady.
"I can walk! Stop manhandling me, you moron!" I snapped, trying to free myself from his tight hold, but it was no use. He said nothing, just pulled me towards the mansion.
The house was stunning, at least four or five stories high. The front was made of different colored stones with wooden pillars and a big brown door. There was a porch with patio furniture and blooming flowers. A long sidewalk led up to the mansion.
Before I could take it all in, the door opened and I was pulled inside. Carlos let go of me once we were indoors, but I still felt trapped. Even if I escaped Carlos, I couldn't get out of this house with its tight security and different codes for every room.
Inside the house was even more stunning than the outside. To my right was a living room bigger than my entire house. There were three large couches, a huge 70" flat screen TV, and an Xbox with every game imaginable on the entertainment center.
As Carlos and Ricardo led me through the house, I got a tour of the giant place. The kitchen was amazing, with dark marble countertops, light brown floor tiles, and stainless steel appliances. I'd kill to cook in a kitchen like that-I love cooking, thanks to my mom who taught me everything.
We went up four stories, and on each landing, there were beautiful family photos. Some showed a man and a woman who looked married, gazing lovingly at each other. Others had pictures of three young boys-Carlos, Ricardo, and another boy I didn't recognize. The photos looked like they were taken about ten years ago.
There were also pictures of Carlos, Ricardo, and the other boy with a few other guys I didn't know. But what caught my eye was a little girl in some of the photos. She had long brown hair and electric green eyes, and she was stunning-enough to make any girl feel self-conscious.
I was led down a long hallway to a room on the fourth floor. Carlos opened the door and pushed me inside. The room had no windows, just four dark brown walls. There was a twin bed against one wall and a small dresser with three drawers. No mirrors, pictures, or TV-just the bed and dresser.
Carlos took out handcuffs and chained me to the headboard, causing discomfort as they dug into my skin.
"Is this necessary? What do you want from me? Let me go!" I yelled, panic coursing through me.
"You'll find out soon enough," Carlos snapped, tightening the cuffs before leaving. I heard the beep of a keypad, signaling that I was locked in.
Alone in the empty room, I curled up on the bed, sobbing until I fell asleep. When I woke up, I momentarily forgot where I was. I searched for a clock or any clue about the time, but found nothing.
A few seconds later, I heard the keypad beep, and panic surged through me. I jumped up and stared at the door. Ricardo walked in with a tray of food, and I relaxed a little, relieved it wasn't Carlos. I couldn't handle any more of his aggression right now.
"Are you hungry?" Ricardo asked softly. I wasn't in the mood to eat. I'd been held hostage for who knows how long with no clue why I was kidnapped.
"No, thanks," I replied with a fake smile, sitting back down on the bed with my legs crossed. Ricardo froze when he saw the deep purple ring around my wrist. He cursed in Italian and stormed out, leaving the door open.
I would have left the room, but I was still cuffed to the bed. I huffed and leaned back, closing my eyes. I had no idea where Ricardo had gone.
Then, I heard light footsteps in the hallway. I opened my eyes to see a girl about my age with long brown hair and deep green eyes-Camilla.
"You're the girl from the pictures on the walls!" I exclaimed, feeling like I'd solved a mystery. She smiled and walked into the room, sitting beside me on the bed.
"That's me. I'm Camilla," she giggled, offering her hand to shake my free one.
"I'm Maya," I said, offering a small smile and shaking her outstretched hand. Camilla gave off good vibes. She was about my height, with naturally curly brown hair that reached her belly button. She was in great shape and had a tan I envied.
"I'm sorry they have you handcuffed. I don't usually get involved with my brother's business, but this is wrong," Camilla said, irritation in her tone. Who was her brother?
"Your brother is Carlos?" I asked, my voice dripping with distaste. She laughed as if I'd told her a joke, which left me staring at her until she finally calmed down.
"No! My brother is Damon," she said, still giggling. Again, who was this Damon guy?
"I don't know who the hell Damon is!" I snapped, suddenly aware that I was kidnapped because of him, without anyone filling me in.
"I'm Damon. Watch your mouth," a sultry voice spoke from across the room by the door. His voice alone sent chills down my spine.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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."
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."