(Sex scenes. Rated 18+) Ava thought rekindling her love with Raymond would heal her heart, but his dark and dangerous world pulls her into something far bigger than she imagined. Determined to prove her worth, she steps into his empire, only to face betrayal, deadly enemies, and secrets that threaten everything. As trust shatters and love is tested, Ava decides to be reborn and learn the ropes of the Mafia world as she has always wanted to be a Mafia Queen. Love isn't always safe, and in Raymond's world, it could be fatal. Ava is about to blow our minds with her decision to get involved in the Mafia. Click on chapter 1 to see how Ava's story unfolds.
CHAPTER 1
The room felt too quiet, too still. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to block out the thoughts that wouldn't leave me alone. Raymond. His name was a whisper that echoed in every corner of my mind, refusing to fade. No matter how hard I tried to forget, every moment with him came rushing back, each memory sharper than the last.
I could still feel his fingers intertwined with mine, the way his thumb would lightly stroke the back of my hand. The way he smiled-God, that smile-it used to make everything else disappear. Now it was a ghost that haunted me. I shut my eyes tight, hoping the darkness would swallow the memories, but it didn't.
"I thought he loved me." The words slipped out, bitter and cold. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. My chest tightened as the pain clawed its way back to the surface. I bit my lip, trying to hold it in, but it was no use.
A sob escaped me, louder than I intended. I clutched my pillow, pressing my face into it as if that could muffle the sound, but it only made the ache worse. Before long, I was crying uncontrollably, the hurt pouring out of me like a dam that had finally burst.
I didn't even hear the knock on the door before it opened.
"Ava?" Mia's voice was soft. I felt her presence before I saw her. She and Sophie stood in the doorway, concern written across their faces.
"What do you want?" I snapped, not bothering to wipe the tears from my face.
Sophie stepped forward. "We heard you crying and just-"
"I don't need you hovering over me," I cut her off, sitting up abruptly. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone."
Mia exchanged a glance with Sophie. "Ava, we're worried about you."
I couldn't take it. The pity in their eyes, the way they were looking at me like I was some fragile thing about to break. I was already broken.
"I said I'm fine!" I shouted, shoving past them. I grabbed my car keys off the dresser and stormed out of the room, not bothering to look back. I needed air. I needed to get away from their worried eyes, from the memories that suffocated me.
The cool night air hit my face as I climbed into my car. I sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, trying to catch my breath. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't shake ths weught off my chest. Raymond's name still echoed, taunting me.
With a shaky breath, I started the engine and drove aimlessly through the streets, hoping the movement would distract me. It didn't. I wasn't sure how long I'd been driving when my phone buzzed beside me. It was Sophie.
I debated ignoring it, but something in me relented. I picked up the call.
"What?"
"Where are you?" Sophie's voice was gentle. "Look, Mia and I are at this lounge. It's quiet. We thought maybe you'd like to join us, just for a drink. Nothing serious."
"I don't know..." My voice trailed off. The last thing I wanted was to be around people, but the thought of being alone with my thoughts was worse.
"Come on, Ava. It'll be good for you to get out. No pressure, just us girls."
I hesitated, but eventually, I caved. "Fine. I'll stop by. But I'm not staying long."
"Perfect! See you soon," Sophie said, sounding far too excited.
The lounge was dimly lit when I arrived, a warm contrast to the cold emptiness that clung to me. I spotted Mia and Sophie at the bar, waving me over.
"Hey," I muttered as I approached, sliding onto the stool beside them. The music was soft, the kind that filled the space without overpowering it.
"You made it!" Mia said, her smile too bright, too forced. She handed me a drink, and I took it, not really caring what it was.
As I took a sip, I looked around the room. More people than I expected were arriving, laughter and chatter filling the air. My grip tightened on the glass. "I thought you said this was just going to be a chill night."
"It is!" Sophie said quickly, exchanging a glance with Mia. "Just... a few more people showed up than we expected."
I narrowed my eyes at her, suspicion creeping in. "You could've told me it was a party."
Mia waved her hand dismissively. "It's not a party, Ava. Just relax. Let's have some fun."
I wasn't in the mood for fun. I wasn't in the mood for any of this. Something wasn't right, and I could feel it. My patience was wearing thin, and I could tell they were hiding something.
After a few forced attempts at conversation, I'd had enough. The walls were closing in on me again, the noise, the people-it was all too much. I pushed back my stool.
"I need some air," I muttered, standing up abruptly.
As I turned to leave, I collided with someone, my drink sloshing out of my glass and spilling all over their suit.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I gasped, reaching out to brush the liquid off his jacket. My hands moved instinctively, trying to fix the mess.
Before I could finish, a firm hand grabbed mine, halting my movements. The grip was strong but gentle. My breath caught in my throat as I felt myself being pulled closer. My heart raced, my skin prickling with unease.
"It's okay," a deep voice said, calm and steady.
I froze. That voice. It was familiar in the worst way. My eyes traveled up slowly, from the hand holding mine to the face that sent a shiver down my spine.
Raymond.
His eyes locked on mine, a faint smile playing on his lips. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. He hadn't let go of my hand, and I couldn't pull away.
"Long time no see, Ava," he said, his voice low, almost mocking.
The air around me felt thick, heavy with tension. I stood there, weak and helpless, unable to look away from the man who had shattered my heart.
When two villains collide, love becomes their deadliest weapon. Pamela Williams, an assassin forged by pain, and Brian Scott, a crime lord driven by vengeance, share a common enemy-the mafia empire that destroyed their lives. Forced into an uneasy alliance, their partnership ignites into a fiery romance, fueled by their shared darkness. But betrayal and mistrust threaten to tear them apart as their enemy strikes back. Bound by revenge and an unexpected love, Pamela and Brian must decide if they can trust each other enough to destroy their pasts-or if their passion will burn everything to the ground.
In the dazzling world of wealth, Troy Williams, the playboy billionaire, discovers life's true meaning with Bella King. She's not the usual glamorous type, but she's got a rare gift – the ability to bring laughter even in tough times. For Troy, Bella is perfection, but there are shadows in their story. One, her looming fiancé; two, Bella's unwavering commitment to their friendship, despite her engagement. As she enigmatically puts it, "The line between a friend and a lover is not that thick." Bella's dedication to their connection, despite being engaged, adds suspense to their tale. Will destiny untangle their fates, or will the thin line between friendship and something more snap under the weight of unspoken desires? Join them in a story where love, friendship, and destiny collide in a captivating dance of passion and uncertainty.
Olivia Mason had everything perfectly in place for her summer vacation alongside her college boyfriend, Marcus. Her bags were meticulously packed, her passport was within reach, and her anticipation for a Hawaiian adventure was obvious. However, all her well-laid plans crumbled when Marcus abruptly ended their relationship just a day after their graduation. A heartbroken Olivia found herself unable to resist an invitation to spend the summer at her best friend Amelia's family beach house. Amelia, however, had one strict rule in place: absolutely no dating any of her brothers. Without hesitation, Olivia agreed to abide by the rule, as she had no intention of getting involved with another man anytime soon. That was until she crossed paths with Alex. Among Amelia's brothers, Alex had a reputation as a charming womanizer who could win over anyone. When his focus shifted towards Olivia, it ignited an unexpected and passionate connection between them. Caught up in a passionate affair filled with secret rendezvous and stolen kisses, Olivia found herself torn between two powerful emotions: the irresistible longing for Alex's touch and the fear of betraying her dearest friend. The question that lingers is, just how far will they be willing to go?
(18+. book contains mature scenes) In Joana's life, a complicated love story unfolds. Joana, a young woman scarred by a painful past, simply longs for love and affection. However, she finds herself stuck in a challenging situation, married to Fred Malcolm, a man with a girlfriend. Fred is determined to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend, and he resists any connection with Joana. But Joana's charm gradually draws him in, making their bond hard to ignore. The big question is: Can their growing love and attraction overcome the obstacles they face, or is this just another sad love story? This family realism drama explores the complexities of their hearts and the challenges they must confront in their unconventional love triangle.
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?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."