Aria Rossi was moments away from marrying into one of New York's most powerful crime families when she fled, leaving behind a devastated groom and a deadly vendetta. Five years later, she's built a new life under an assumed identity in the sun-soaked streets of Miami, believing she's finally safe. As the owner of a thriving art gallery, Aria has buried her past beneath layers of carefully crafted lies and exquisite paintings. But when a mysterious new client walks into her gallery, Aria comes face-to-face with her past-and the man she left at the altar. Lorenzo Caruso, now the head of his family's criminal empire, has never forgotten the woman who broke his heart and tarnished his honor. As old feelings reignite, so does the danger that forced her to run. With enemies closing in from all sides and secrets threatening to unravel everything she's built, Aria must decide: Can she trust the man she once loved with her life, or will their second chance at romance be her ultimate downfall? Just as she makes her choice, a shocking revelation changes everything-and nothing is as it seems. An intricate web of betrayal, hidden identities, and long-buried secrets begins to surface, forcing Aria to question everything she thought she knew about her past, her present, and the man she's never stopped loving. In a world where loyalty is everything and trust can get you killed, will Aria and Lorenzo's rekindled passion be strong enough to overcome the lies that tear them apart, or will their love become another masterpiece in her gallery of deception?
My heels tapped lightly on the gallery floor as I made the final touches. The moonlight streamed through the tall windows, making shadows stretch across the polished concrete. I adjusted a painting slightly, making sure it was perfect for the late-night client I was about to meet.
"Everything has to be just right," I whispered, smoothing down my white blouse.
It had been five years since I left behind the name Aria Rossi and everything tied to it. Now, I was Emma Collins, a respected gallery owner in Miami. I had built this life carefully, piece by piece, just like the art I curated.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from my assistant, Mia: "Client's car just pulled up. Good luck!"
I took a deep breath. This wasn't just any client. The request had come through strange channels-hints of connections that made me uneasy. But the opportunity was too good to ignore, especially with the plans I had for the gallery.
The soft chime of the security system signaled the door opening. I put on my best smile and turned to greet the guest.
"Welcome to Lumière Gallery," I started to say, but the words got stuck in my throat when I saw who it was.
Time seemed to slow down. My heart pounded, each beat a painful reminder of a past I thought I had buried.
It couldn't be him. But there he was, looking as handsome as the day I left him at the altar. Lorenzo Caruso, heir to one of New York's most powerful crime families-the man I almost married.
"Hello, Aria," Lorenzo said, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Or should I say... Emma?"
I tried to keep my face calm, my years of practice helping me stay composed. "I'm sorry, sir. You must be mistaken. I'm Emma Collins, the gallery owner. How can I help you tonight?"
Lorenzo's eyes locked onto mine as he walked closer, each step slow and deliberate. I stood my ground, even though every part of me wanted to run.
"Let's not play games, Aria," he said, stopping just inches from me. "Five years is a long time, but not long enough to forget the woman who was supposed to be my wife."
The smell of his cologne, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him, brought back memories I had fought to forget-stolen kisses, whispered promises, and the engagement ring I left behind.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Mr. Caruso, I assure you-"
"Your eyes give you away," Lorenzo interrupted, brushing a strand of hair from my face. I flinched at his touch, and his expression hardened. "Even with the blonde hair and those contacts."
My carefully built world was falling apart. I took a step back, putting space between us. "How did you find me?"
Lorenzo's lips curled into a cold smile. "You're not as clever as you think, Aria. Did you really believe you could disappear without a trace? That I wouldn't find you?"
"You shouldn't have come," I whispered. "You have no idea what you've done."
"What I've done?" Lorenzo's eyes flashed with anger. "You left me at the altar. You disappeared, leaving me to deal with the fallout. Do you know what that did to my family's reputation? To me?"
Guilt gnawed at me, but I pushed it away. He didn't understand. He couldn't.
"I had my reasons," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh, I'm sure you did," Lorenzo replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And I'm here to hear every single one."
I glanced towards the door, wondering if I could escape. As if reading my mind, Lorenzo moved to block my way.
"Don't even think about it, Aria," he warned. "We have a lot to talk about, and I'm not leaving until I get answers."
My mind raced, searching for a way out. I had been so careful, covered my tracks so well. How had he found me? And who else might know where I was?
"Lorenzo, please," I said, letting a hint of desperation into my voice. "You have to leave. You don't know what you're getting into."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly am I getting into, Aria? What was so bad that you had to run from everything-from me?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but I saw movement outside the gallery's windows. A black SUV had pulled up, its tinted windows hiding whoever was inside.
Lorenzo noticed it too, his body tensing. "Expecting company?"
"No," I breathed, fear creeping into my voice. "We need to go. Now."
Before Lorenzo could respond, the gallery lights went out, leaving us in darkness. The security alarm blared, red lights flashing in the room.
"What the hell?" Lorenzo muttered, reaching into his jacket. I saw the glint of a gun.
The sound of breaking glass shattered the silence. I ducked instinctively, pulling Lorenzo down with me as bullets whizzed overhead, smashing the art around us.
"This way!" I yelled, crawling towards the back of the gallery. Lorenzo followed, firing back as we moved.
We reached the storage room, and I fumbled with the keys, my hands shaking as I tried to unlock the door. Lorenzo pressed against me, protecting me as more shots rang out.
"Any time now, Aria," he growled.
Finally, the lock clicked open, and we stumbled into the room. I slammed the door shut and locked it.
"There's a panic room," I gasped, pointing to a hidden door in the wall. "We should be safe there until-"
My words were cut off by a loud explosion from the main gallery. The floor shook, and I nearly fell, but Lorenzo caught me.
"Until what?" Lorenzo demanded, his face close to mine. "Until whoever's trying to kill us breaks in? Who are they, Aria? What have you gotten yourself into?"
I looked into his eyes, seeing the anger, confusion, and hurt I had caused him years ago. I knew there was no going back. My life as Emma Collins was over.
"Lorenzo," I said softly, barely audible over the chaos outside. "There's something I need to tell you. The reason I left... it wasn't what you think."
His grip tightened on my arms. "Then what was it?"
I took a deep breath, preparing to reveal everything. But before I could, the storage room door exploded inward, splinters flying everywhere.
Smoke filled the room as dark figures appeared, their guns aimed at us. Lorenzo shoved me behind him, his gun ready.
"Well, well," a familiar, chilling voice said through the smoke. "Isn't this a touching reunion?"
My blood froze as the speaker came into view. It was a face I had hoped to never see again-the very reason I ran all those years ago.
Lorenzo's sharp intake of breath told me he recognized the man too. "It can't be," he whispered. "You're dead. I saw you die."
The man's laughter echoed in the room, cold and heartless. "Oh, Lorenzo. In our world, death is often just another illusion."
As the smoke cleared and the full horror of our situation became clear, one thought filled my mind: The past I had run from had finally caught up with me, and there was no escape.
After her late husband's debts leave her poverty-stricken, Sarah Jenkins finds herself with no choice but to agree to her in-laws arranging her marriage to billionaire developer Lachlan Reid. Thrust from her struggling existence into his world of opulence and luxury, Sarah is overwhelmed by the drastic change in her circumstances. As she navigates high society events and lavish vacations, she discovers a side of Lachlan hidden beneath his cold exterior. Against all odds, an unexpected affection blossoms between them. But can Sarah truly trust her growing feelings, or is she merely swept up in the allure of wealth and security? Just as she begins to embrace her new life, a shocking revelation threatens to unravel everything...
Title: THE PLAYBOY CHALLENGE Genre: romance Trope: billionaire, play boy. Blurb: Lenora's life was going downhill quickly. From being fired at her work to being about to be evicted from her apartment, she is exhausted with her life of utter misery. The icing on the cake is when a dangerous man sends his two goon sniffing after her and her sister. They can either find a way to get five thousand dollars in three days or become shark food. A miracle comes in the form of a billionaire's daughter with a bruised ego. The plan is simple, if Lenora can keep billionaire playboy Ian O'Malley's attention for sixty days followed by a humiliating, public break up, she gets enough money to turn her life around. It's supposed to be a simple plan, and she's never meant to start feeling things for the charming billionaire. She can't mix business with emotions, but she's never felt this way before. What happens when a money making scheme with a looming end date begins to feel too real?
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
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.
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."
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?