"Valerie," he whispered, his smile fading as he moved closer to me. "I'm sor-" I cut him off with a hard slap to his left cheek. "How dare you?" I hissed, delivering another slap in the same spot. "How could you do this to me?" I raised my hand to strike again, but he caught my wrist before I could. "Think very carefully about your next move," he warned in a low, threatening tone, tightening his grip on my wrist, daring me to slap him again. The pain shot through my arm, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "Or what?" I scowled at him. "You don't want to find out," he replied, stepping closer and staring into my eyes. "And don't push me!" Today was the day it all began to fall apart. My world twisted, crushed me against the wall, and tore apart my sanity and innocence. I never imagined I would go through something like this, but there I was, caught in the middle of it all. Valerie Price is a smart, strong-willed girl with a kind heart, but a series of unfortunate events tear her apart. She catches the attention of Matteo Romano, a ruthless mafia leader disguised as a charming tycoon. He is not only intrigued by her but also infatuated. As they get to know each other, they begin to change, becoming something neither expected. She finds herself doing things she never thought possible. He offers her the world, but will she accept it or push it away in fear? The tension between them eats away at her, but will she give in to the irresistible temptation of the man who molested her and took her virginity or will she fight for her freedom from deadly and sexy man? Warning: Contains strong language, sexual content, rape, and graphic violence.
Selene slammed the folders on the desk in front of me, pulling me out of my trance. "Jeez, scared the shit out of me," I said with a hand on my racing heart.
"Oh! I'm sorry. Or am I?" Her blue orbs narrowed at me. "You need to knock that depressing look off your face because you're depressing me. You have been like that the entire day. Be happy. Your shift ends in an hour," she said while crossing her thin little arms. "Get off my chair and get some work done in your last hour."
"Okay," I sighed while rolling my eyes. I got up and walked towards the reception, plopping down on my chair behind the counter. This day started bad enough with that asshole at the station and this slight headache was a cherry on top. I had completely lost my appetite after the morning stunt.
I retrieved some medicine that would relieve my headache but would make me dizzy for a while because of my empty stomach. Popping the pill into my mouth, I swallowed it with some water that I pulled out of the mini fridge in Selene's office. "Oh shit!" I exclaimed out loud for the few people to listen were waiting on their turn to go in and get checked. My brain froze as the cold water trickled down my throat. Ugh.
"Ok. What's wrong? You look like shit honestly. Did you drink a lot that you still have a hangover from your birthday?" Selene asked with her brows furrowed together.
"I'm fine," I whispered for only her to hear. "And I didn't drink. It's just one of those days."
"Whatever you say but you are in no state to work. It seems that you might faint any moment now and I don't want to carry your heavy ass," she grinned.
"Shut up. I'm fine. I just took medicine so it is making me a little dizzy. After a few minutes, I'll be as good as new."
"You better be. I don't want your depression to spread across everyone in here," she giggled. "I'm kidding, girl."
"Hilarious," I said, already feeling a little dizzy.
The door dinged open, forcing my eyes up in that direction. It was him again. The blue-suited man stood there alone this time. He ran his fingers through his dense hair and gazed right into my tired eyes. Looking down, I tried to compose myself due to the medicine that was starting to kick in.
"Oh God," Selene gasped. "No way."
I glanced up at her. "What?"
"I think I'm going to pass out," she stared at the man. I looked in his direction and watched a sympathizing smile form on his lips. Damn that smile. He started walking towards me, coming closer and closer until the reception desk stopped him from reaching any further. Selene still stood next to me with her lips slightly parted in shock.
"Hello, love," his husky voice rang through my ears again with a hint of British accent sending a chill down my spine that I hadn't noticed earlier.
"May I help you, sir?" I asked unenthusiastically.
"I just wanted to apologize for my brother's behavior this morning. He is all the things that you said. An asshole, a dickhead, and all the other things."
"He's the one who should be apologizing," I said as I could feel the anger boiling again in me. "He almost hit me but you stopped him so I should thank you for that."
"I would have never let him hit you," he said smiling sheepishly. Is he flirting with me?
"Hmm," was all I could get out of my throat. I saw Selene backing away slowly from the corner of my right eye.
"I'm Matteo. Matteo Romano," he said putting his hand forth.
I looked at his big hand and then back up at him. "I'm Aquarius. Aquarius Pepperoni."
He started laughing. His laugh was intoxicating which brought a slight smile to my face. "That's a first. Got jokes, huh?"
"What?" I acted confused. "I thought we were saying a zodiac sign and then a random word."
He tilted his head to the right and mumbled, "You're intriguing."
"What was that?" I asked trying to figure out what he said under his breath.
"I apologize on behalf of my brother again. He does need to learn manners."
"Like I said, I don't need your meaningless apology. He was the one wrong, not you." I tried to stop myself from slurring. The medicine was taking a toll on me.
"It isn't meaningless, love. I mean it. I'll have him apologize to you as well. I'll make sure he does. You have my word," he smiled.
"Well, we'll see about that." I got up and began walking away before the room started spinning. "Oh shit," I slurred and fell into a pair of strong arms.
***
I woke up with Matteo's hand on my face, stroking my loose hair behind my ear. I pushed him away from me and sat up instantly in panic. "What the hell were you doing?"
"Calm down, love. You passed out and I caught you before you could hit your head on the desk. So, I think you owe me a thank you perhaps."
"Well, how long was I out?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
He looked at his watch and then back up at me. "About 6 hours."
"What?" I shrieked. "I've been on the floor for six hours?"
"Did I say hours?" He asked, his finger tapping his chin. "I meant minutes. Six minutes."
I narrowed my eyes at the stupid man and tried to stand up. He supported me as I did that, laying his arms around my waist. "Don't touch me!" I spat.
He raised his hands in the air. "Sorry. I won't touch you without your permission. Cool?"
"You're talking as if we are going to see each other again," I cocked my brow at him.
"To show you how sorry I am about my brother's behavior, I want to ask you if you could come to a ball with me," he asked with a glint of hope in his eyes.
"You're asking me out on a date?"
"It's not a date. It's an apology. I can promise you that you'll accept the apology before the night is over," he smirked.
"Look, sir, I don't know you. I don't trust you or any other guy that I don't know for that matter. So ask someone else to escort you to a ball." I turned on my heel and commenced walking towards Selene who was standing behind the reception, staring at us.
"Think about it, love. The event is tomorrow. You don't have to buy anything and you can bring a friend along with you as well," he said from behind me. He sauntered over to the door and opened it. "You won't regret it," he winked and walked out.
"Don't be too overconfident, pepperoni," I shouted after him. He just cocked his head back and laughed while a man in a black suit opened the door to his black Audi R8 for him. He sat in and rolled down the window. With his left hand on the steering wheel and the right one waving at me, he sped off.
As a rising star in criminal law, Sophia Peterson built her career on keeping dangerous men behind bars. Cold, calculating, and brilliant in the courtroom, she was known as the woman who never lost a case. Until she met Damian De Luca-the ruthless, untouchable Mafia king who turned her world upside down. It started as a job-defending a man everyone feared. But the deeper Sophia dug into his empire, the more she realized she was playing a game she couldn't win. Damian wasn't just a client. He was a force of nature-dark, possessive, and unrelenting. He seduced her with his power, ensnared her with his words, and made her question everything she stood for. She tried to run. But no one runs from Damian De Luca. Now, standing in her temporary apartment in Germany, staring into the obsidian eyes of the man she thought she left behind, Sophia knows she's trapped. His presence is suffocating, his touch electric. The knife she reached for was pointless-he had already won this battle before she even picked a side. "You really thought I wouldn't find you, angel?" His whisper is both a threat and a promise. "Never underestimate my love for you." The kiss that follows is bruising, possessive, and filled with every dark promise he ever made. He isn't just here to reclaim her. He's here to remind her of a terrifying truth- She was never meant to escape. And maybe, deep down, she never wanted to.
Mirabel Blanco, a deadly assassin trained since childhood, has always lived in the shadows of betrayal and loss. After discovering a plot against her within the French Mafia—the very family she trusted—she’s forced to turn to their rivals, the Italians, for survival. Enter Donovan Dante Lorenzo, the ruthless and magnetic King of the Italian Mafia. Arrogant, calculating, and undeniably captivating, Dante is a man who always gets what he wants. But when sparks fly between the fierce assassin and the Mafia King, their connection becomes as dangerous as it is irresistible. As Dante sets his sights on Mirabel, determined to break through her guarded heart, she must navigate a whirlwind of passion, power struggles, and betrayal. Will she let down her walls for the man she should see as an enemy, or will their fiery attraction consume them both? In a world where loyalty is fragile and danger lurks around every corner, can Dante and Mirabel find trust in one another—or will their pasts destroy any chance they have of a future?
Gabriela Pedro's life takes a dramatic turn when she saves a young man from near death. Unable to stop thinking about him, she continues to visit him in the hospital. When he finally wakes up, he has no memory of his past. Driven by sympathy and despite having a jealous boyfriend, Gabby decides to take in this stranger and help him piece his life back together. Unbeknownst to her, she is harboring the most dangerous, ruthless, and heartless mob boss of all time. The question is, can she escape him, and does she even want to? Dario Santiago was the most feared man in Las Vegas. His name alone sent the fiercest men into hiding. The Santis own many casinos and other businesses in the city, effectively running it, with Dario as their boss. Having recently taken over from his father, Dario is determined to make his mark. After a deadly ambush leaves him with amnesia, his only ally is the girl who saved him. As the brutal truth eventually comes to light, Dario must decide whether to take Gabby with him or leave her behind. Warning: This is a dark romance, intended for mature readers.
Warning: Use of Violent words, sexual assault and gun violence, i implore the readers to use their discretion while reading and readers should be above 18. Dorathy is the most important person in the Gonzalezs family, the actual heart of the family, known as the princess of the Spanish Mafia. She's their only sister and has a nickname, "The Heart Killer." One day, one of her brothers made a big mistake by hacking into the bank account of the Dineros, another mafia family. Then the Dineros threatened to harm Dorathy unless her brothers agreed to let her marry into their family. Reluctantly, her brothers agreed. Vasguez, the leader of the Dineros, was furious when he discovered the hack and sought revenge. He decided that either all of Dorathy's brothers had to die or he would marry her. He chose marriage as his form of revenge. As secrets from their pasts come to light, they find themselves facing common enemies. Despite initial hatred, could love for Dorathy, the Gonzalezs' princess, overcome their animosity? In the end, she became his queen of the mafia, and he became her king.
Cecilia James, possessing both allure and lethal skills as a master of poisons, operates within the clandestine world of an assassin's creed. Her beauty conceals a fierce, unpredictable nature that makes her both charming and dangerously wild. Entrusted with a mission alongside five other assassins, Cecilia is assigned the formidable task of eliminating a target without a clearly defined identity. As she delves into the shadows to fulfill her mission, Cecilia encounters a captivating man named Jaden, whose piercing green eyes draw her into an unexpected romance. The enigma surrounding Jaden raises questions about whether he is, in fact, the elusive target she was assigned to eliminate. Amidst the complexities of her developing emotions, Cecilia faces a dilemma that challenges her commitment to the creed and the completion of her perilous task. Caught between duty and desire, Cecilia must navigate the treacherous landscape of her own heart and the clandestine world of assassins. Will her newfound love with Jaden compromise the mission, or is he merely an innocent bystander entangled in the web of her dangerous profession? As the suspense heightens, Cecilia grapples with conflicting loyalties and the uncertain fate of her mission. The unfolding narrative explores the intricate dance between love and duty, leaving readers on the edge of anticipation, eager to discover whether Cecilia will overcome the hurdles that fate has woven into her path.
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
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?
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."