She ran away from the mafia families because she wanted nothing to do with them, but fate had other plans for her. A mafia lord named Antonio Valencia has requested that she be delivered to him in exchange for not killing her family. But Amari wants nothing to do with the mafia. Can she avoid Antonio and still save her family? Or will she bring about their deaths?
Amari's POV
Martinis. Italian beef. Then Manhattans.
I'm trying to remember something that has to do with why I'm here, but it all seems fuzzy. Like the jazz tune playing on the stereo. This is supposed to be a stop for jazz fans, like people really into that genre of blessed sounds, but here we are.
A trio. Poking our noses.
All I know is, that Marco and Isabella suggested someplace called The Green Mill on the North side of Chicago for some drinks. Why? No goddamn idea.
I look around the place and all I see are patrons dressed in jeans t-shirts and hats; a couple are dressed in shorts and sandals, their upper half bare.
"Some fashion here," I say.
Marco flashes a smile at me. He's been giving Isabella a lot of those since we sat down at this table. "Don't be sarcastic. The fashion is much more relaxed and less formal than it was in the past. It's all about being comfortable. Goditi la musica."
"You don't say. What did they wear in the past?"
Marco leans towards me like what he's about to say doesn't demand another listening ear. "Back in the nineteen twenties and nineteen thirteens, jazz fans would often dress in suits and ties, or with fur coats and jewelry. For men, hats were a must, and fedoras were particularly popular. For women, hats and gloves were important accessories. And of course, high heels and stockings were essential."
"Sounds like a cult to me," I comment. "What the hell is playing on the stereo anyway?"
Marco just smiles. Isabella laughs. I nurse my Manhattan.
A cool breeze drifts in through the open windows of the bar, bringing with it the sounds of the city outside. The hustle and bustle of the streets out there seems far away from the cozy interior of the bar, where everything seems soft and slow.
I try to relax my nerves, but it is so hard to shake the feeling of anticipation that has been plaguing me all day like a dog at a bone. I can't seem to put my finger on it, but something feels off. Like, there's something about to happen that's gonna change my life forever.
Marco and Isabella share a laugh. I get sick of it.
I sip my Manhattan, rise from my chair, and walk to the bar where I sit on a stool and watch the clock tick its way around.
"You okay, signora?" the bartender asks.
I sigh. Tell him that I probably need a better company in Italian. He shrugs, cleans off a tumbler, and walks off.
I sit here for a few minutes, then as if summoned by my words, someone comes and sits down next to me. I don't need to turn. I can tell it's a man.
As he sits down, I catch a whiff of his cologne. It is light and fresh, but also somehow earthy. I cannot help but take a deep breath, trying to place the scent. Is it sandalwood? Maybe sage?
The bartender comes over.
"Manhattan cocktail."
His voice is smooth and deep, like rich, dark chocolate. I don't even know why this comes to mind.
Bartender nods. "Same as the lady."
I notice him turn to me. "Nice to meet an indulger."
I feel my heart skip a beat. I don't know what it is about this man, but something about him feels... magnetic.
"I'm Antonio," he says, extending his hand.
I turn to him and I take his hand tentatively, like a peace offering. And experience a spark of electricity. It is like nothing I have ever felt before.
"Amari," I say, though my voice comes out in a whisper.
Antonio raises an eyebrow. "Amari. Lovely name. A pleasure to meet you." He releases my hand just as the bartender brings him the order. Antonio immediately takes a sip of his drink, like he's been craving for it.
"Said that before," I remind him, and scoff. "And pleasure? Not when it means bitterness."
"But does it matter?"
I try to collect myself, but I can't help but feel a little breathless. I say something about needing better company, and one comes like a wish granted by a djinn.
"Looks like you needed that," I say, finally finding my voice. "Is that what brought you here?"
Antonio leans in a little closer, and I can feel his breath on my cheek.
"I'm here on business," he says, his voice low and conspiratorial. "I'm in this part of town for a few days and wanted to find a place to relax after a long day."
I nod, my heart still racing. There is something about Antonio that makes me feel off-balance like I'm a pirate ship tossed in a storm. But I don't want to leave. I want to stay right where I am, in this strange, electric moment.
I like strange.
Antonio takes another sip of his drink. "What about you? What brings you to this bar on this particular night?"
I hesitate, unsure what to say. I don't want to tell Antonio the truth, that this was a suggestion but the novelty of it was what drew me to this bar, like a moth to a flame. Finally, I lie, "I just felt like going out. Gioviti la musica."
Antonio smiles. "I don't believe you. There's something else going on here, I can tell."
I feel my face flush and the sting.
He notices. "Feel like I'm putting you on the spot? No offense. Just that I'm a bit of a people-watcher, and I can tell when someone is hiding something. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."
I am surprised by Antonio's sincerity. It is unexpected, but also refreshing. I take a deep breath. "It's okay. It's just...it's complicated."
"Hmm," he says, eyes still fixed on me.
"I've just been feeling like something is missing from my life. I'm not sure what it is, but it's been on my mind a lot lately."
Antonio nods. "I can understand that. Sometimes, we just know something is missing, even if we can't quite put our finger on what it is. And it can be frustrating."
I feel a sense of relief washes over me. Well, Antonio seems to understand me better than Marco or Isabella, and I feel like I can be honest with him.
This stranger.
"Maybe you just need to try something new," Antonio ventures. "Something that will shake up your routine and make you feel alive again."
He looks at me expectantly, as if waiting for a response.
I think for a moment. I am so used to going through the motions of my life, doing the same things every day. But I know Antonio is right. I need to do something different. "What would you suggest?"
Antonio smiles like he's been waiting for this question. "I have a few ideas. Why don't we start small, and then we can work our way up to something more adventurous."
"Something like?"
"Ever danced in a bar before?"
I am rendered speechless for a moment, and then I spurt out a laugh. "What?"
"A dance in a bar, Amari."
"No, I have not danced in a bar before and I have no intentions of doing so in this life."
"What did we say about doing things differently?"
"Not this, which I guess you have done plenty of times," I say, with some pang of jealousy. Why should I even be? He's handsome. Tall. Dark hair. Blue eyes. And a mouth that can warm one's insides, if given the chance. If he's been a bad boy, why should I feel bad?
"This is my first time too," he says.
And I have to scoff. "So you're willing to make me your first dance partner?"
"If you can trust me, Amari," he says, conditionally.
I look back at Marco and Isabella. His head is buried in her neck, and her left hand fingers his ear. Finally, some smooching is about to take place. Why should I be left out then?
I smile at him. "I think I can."
The music plays softly, and the lights are dim. We stand facing each other, and Antonio takes my hand in his. He places his other hand on my waist, bringing up a lot of tingles in my body, and we begin to move in time to the music. I feel the warmth of his hand on my waist, and I am so acutely aware of his body close to mine. Tingles of excitement flow through me as we move across the floor. The dance seems to go on forever, then it is over all too soon. The song ends but we don't move apart. Instead, we stand close together, looking into each other's eyes. There is a moment of awkwardness, as we both seem unsure of what to do next.
Then, Antonio speaks. "Would you like to come with me to my room for a drink?"
In a busy city of New York, where a hidden world of wolves thrives, Cana, a young wolf believes she is about to achieve her ambition when she is preparing to get married to a powerful Alpha of her pack, Axel. A shocking event happens on her wedding day which turns her world upside down. She is rejected, betrayed and humiliated, Cana runs to another city not knowing that her destiny and true identity are yet to be found. What happens when Cana comes across the most powerful lycan who happens to be her true mate?. Can she trust the lycan, or will she be betrayed again? Can Cana rise to the challenge most especially when her pack is attacked by enemies? Or will the entire pack fall into darkness? Dive into this werewolf story full of suspense to reveal the truth behind her past and witness her fight for a future she will never imagine.
Marvis was despised in her own home by her parents. (Her father and her stepmother). She was forced to get married to a fallen hero (The supposed heir to Sullivan companies) in her sister's stead. The Lewis family had an agreement with the Sullivan family many years ago to get their offspring married in return for protection and social status from the Sullivan. She gets married unwillingly and plays the role of his caretaker. As she is about to heave a sigh of relief that Jace has quit throwing tantrums, the situation in her new family tends to pull her down. Her husband's stepmother and her children have their ambitions which they must achieve at all costs. She is a stumbling block to those ambitions and must be removed. She knew she had to save herself as well as her husband. The battle is difficult. But will she give up?
Getting married to the love of your life is everyone's dream. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Drea Miles was in love with someone who didn't know she exist. But she was alright with it cause deep inside she had accepted he would never be hers. But when her father forces her into a marriage in order to save his company, never in a million years did Andrea think she would get married to Sorin Zaveri , the billionaire and the love of her life. But there was a big problem, he was already in love with someone else. Will being with the love of his life pose a threat to their marriage or will he be willing to love Andrea as much as she loves him.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
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."
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.