Veronica Jones thought she could handle the shadows, thought she could expose the truth behind her father's death without falling victim to the monsters who lurked there. But when her search leads her straight into the path of Archie Lodge the city's most feared mafia lord her plan unravels. Archie is as ruthless as he is possessive, a man who controls everything and everyone in his world. And once he sets his sights on Veronica, he'll stop at nothing to keep her close. Drawn to Archie against her better judgment, Veronica finds herself caught in a brutal game of power, seduction, and survival. What starts as hate burns into something darker, something she can't shake no matter how hard she tries. But Archie's world comes with secrets and a danger that doesn't forgive, and the deeper she falls, the harder it becomes to break free. With her heart in one hand and her freedom in the other, Veronica must decide face the fire and risk losing everything, or escape and leave the only man who's ever set her soul ablaze.
Rain pattered against the glass windows, heavy and unrelenting, as Veronica tried to catch her breath, fingers trembling around the pen she clutched. The dim light of her apartment flickered as if even it was uncertain about staying. She leaned back, eyes scanning the haphazard notes scattered over the table, each page etched with a single, ominous name: Archie Lodge.
The deeper she dug, the more the rumors and whispers hinted at something twisted, untouchable. Yet for every rumor, every name she scribbled down, there was a part of her that itched to know more-to push further, to unravel what the city kept buried.
Her phone buzzed. A blocked number.
"Hello?" Her voice sounded steady-she was surprised.
Silence. Then a low voice, smooth as velvet but edged in steel. "I assume you know who this is."
She sat up straighter, heart pounding. "I don't talk to anonymous callers."
The faintest chuckle. "Veronica Jones. You've been quite busy lately, haven't you?"
Her grip on the phone tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, I think you do." The words were laced with something dark, dangerous. "You think my business is just a story, something you can expose in print, but I assure you, it's far more complicated than that."
Veronica swallowed, her fingers curling around the edge of the table. "If there's nothing to hide, then why call me?"
The silence stretched, and she wondered if she'd gone too far. Then he spoke, voice quieter but sharper. "I'm not a man who enjoys being provoked, Veronica. You'd be wise to remember that."
The line went dead, leaving her in silence with her own pounding heartbeat. She let out a shaky breath, but even as fear prickled down her spine, there was something else-a thrill she couldn't explain, the feeling that she'd just touched a live wire.
The next day, Veronica's footsteps echoed through the marble-floored hallway of the Ritz. She didn't know why she'd come-curiosity, or something dangerously close to pride. But she was here, and the towering doors before her were the only thing standing between her and New York's most powerful man.
A voice cut through her thoughts. "Ms. Jones." She looked up to find a tall man, suited, eyes unreadable. "He's ready for you."
She forced herself to nod, to keep her chin high, even as nerves clawed at her insides. Inside, the room was cast in shadow, the only light a sliver filtering through half-drawn blinds. And there he was, sitting in an armchair like a king on his throne, glass in hand.
"Veronica Jones," he drawled, voice smooth as ever, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Curiosity? Annoyance? Or maybe both.
"Mr. Lodge," she replied, voice steadier than she felt.
He gestured to the seat across from him. "Sit."
She hesitated, every instinct telling her to turn back, to run, but pride kept her rooted. She crossed the room, lowering herself into the chair, refusing to let him see her nerves.
"Brave of you to come here," he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Or foolish."
"I don't scare easily," she shot back, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
"Oh, I can see that." He leaned forward, eyes glinting. "But you should know, Miss Jones-curiosity is a dangerous thing."
She lifted her chin. "Some things are worth the risk."
A slow smile spread across his face, one that held no warmth. "Is that so?"
He leaned back, studying her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was seeing through every layer of her defenses, dissecting her with a practiced eye.
"I know what you're after," he said finally, his tone smooth, almost mocking. "You think you'll find answers. That somewhere in this mess of yours, there's some noble truth waiting for you. But you're wrong, Miss Jones. All you'll find here is blood."
Veronica tightened her grip on the edge of her chair. "You don't scare me."
"Then you're more reckless than I thought." His voice dropped to a murmur, dark and edged with something like warning. "I didn't ask you here to toy with you. Walk away, and this... curiosity of yours can end here. Or keep going, and you'll find out exactly what it means to be under my watch."
She held his gaze, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "I've read the stories about you. People disappear. Journalists get bought off or run out of town. You control this city because everyone's afraid of you. But you can't make me disappear, Archie. I'm not afraid of you."
The silence stretched, thick and tense. Then he laughed, low and bitter. "You should be." He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his eyes dark and fixed on hers. "You think fear makes people weak, Veronica? No, fear makes people smart. Those who survive in my world aren't the brave ones. They're the ones who know when to be afraid."
She swallowed, willing her voice to stay steady. "And what about you? Do you know when to be afraid?"
"Fear isn't something I bother with." He stood, moving closer, a shadow of menace in his steps. "But it might interest you to know that I wasn't always the man you see in front of you. I know what it's like to lose, to hurt. Maybe we're not so different."
She raised an eyebrow, doubtful. "I don't see anything in common between us."
He chuckled, leaning down until his face was inches from hers. "Keep telling yourself that. But remember, when you dig into someone else's darkness, you end up dragging it back with you." He held her gaze, a dark promise flickering in his eyes. "And there's nothing darker than what I'm capable of."
There was something fierce and magnetic in his gaze, something that left her with a mix of dread and strange exhilaration. She swallowed, her voice a whisper. "You're trying to scare me again."
His eyes softened, almost mockingly. "I don't need to try." He leaned back, his tone shifting, calm but deadly. "Walk away, Veronica. The answers you're after will ruin you."
"No," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper, but firm. "I'm not leaving until I find the truth."
Archie's expression darkened, and for a heartbeat, he looked... almost impressed. "Then I won't stop you. But don't come running when you find yourself in over your head." He straightened, gesturing to the door. "Go. I'm giving you this chance. Don't waste it."
Veronica stood, every part of her screaming to turn around, to get out of there while she still could. But a small part of her, the part that had driven her here in the first place, resisted. She forced herself to hold his gaze one last time, a silent promise that she wasn't done, that this was far from over.
With a final nod, she turned and left the room, his gaze lingering on her back like a weight. As she reached the door, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something she wasn't ready to name. But one thing was certain: she was walking straight into a fire-and she wasn't sure she wanted to stop.
Their gazes held, locked in a silent battle of wills. But as she sat there, heart hammering, she felt the weight of his presence, an intensity that seemed to pull her in, despite every instinct telling her to resist. And she wondered, fleetingly, if she was already too far in to turn back.
Dominic Westwood is a man with one goal revenge. Cold, calculating, and ruthlessly wealthy, he's spent years plotting against the man responsible for his sister's death: a corrupt politician who has evaded justice for too long. To take down his enemy, Dominic needs the perfect pawn. Enter Lila Harrington. Lila, a kind-hearted wedding planner, never imagined her life would spiral out of control. But when Dominic buys her family's debt, she's forced into a marriage of convenience to save them. Trapped in the cold, glamorous world of the billionaire, Lila must navigate her new reality married to a man who views her as nothing more than a means to an end. What Dominic didn't expect was for Lila to challenge him at every turn. Her warmth begins to thaw his icy heart, and soon, his carefully laid plans unravel as his need for revenge collides with an unexpected desire to protect her. But as Lila uncovers Dominic's dark past and the deadly game of revenge he's playing, she finds herself caught between two powerful men one who seeks to control her and one who might just destroy her. In a world where love is the ultimate risk, will Lila and Dominic find redemption in each other, or will their dangerous secrets tear them apart forever?
Seraphina Everhart has always played by the rules. As the brilliant executive assistant to the enigmatic billionaire Cassian Ashford, she's kept her head down, focused on her career, and never let anyone get too close. But when a forbidden attraction between her and Cassian begins to ignite, Seraphina finds herself tangled in a web of desire and secrets she never saw coming. Cassian Ashford is a man with everything-wealth, power, and control over his world. But his biggest secret could destroy everything he's built. As the hidden heir to a fortune he's sworn to reject, he's lived his life under an assumed identity, shielding himself from the truth that could tear his empire apart. And Seraphina? She's the one person who could unravel it all. As passion collides with deception, Seraphina and Cassian must navigate a dangerous dance of power, trust, and betrayal. Will their undeniable chemistry be enough to overcome the secrets that threaten to destroy them both? Or will the truth drive them apart forever?
When fiercely ambitious investment banker Sophia Hale is assigned to investigate the shadowy finances of billionaire Lucas Grant, her mission is clear: expose his empire's secrets, make her career, and finally put her family's painful past behind her. But Lucas is not just another arrogant CEO; he's charming, calculating, and dangerously irresistible. Their fiery encounters blur the line between ambition and attraction, leaving Sophia questioning what she's truly after, victory or him. Just as her investigation reveals Lucas's ties to a tragedy that shattered her family, she finds herself tangled in a dark web of power plays and betrayals. Now, Sophia must make a choice: expose the man who might be her enemy, or risk everything for the one man she's ever truly wanted. But as desire collides with danger, one thing becomes clear, falling for Lucas Grant could be the ultimate twist of her karma.
Lily Hartman has spent her entire life in the shadow of her older sister, Alana the golden child who always gets what she wants. Including Adam Westbrook, the brooding billionaire Lily once loved in secret. Five years after Adam and Alana's picture-perfect wedding, their marriage is falling apart, and fate forces Lily back into Adam's world when they're caught in a high stakes real estate deal. Determined to take back what was stolen from her, Lily embarks on a dangerous game of revenge. But what begins as a calculated seduction spirals into something much deeper when she finds herself pregnant with Adam's child. Torn between loyalty to her sister and the desire to claim the man she's always loved, Lily is forced to make a choice one that will change all their lives forever. As family secrets unravel, and Adam's dark past comes to light, Lily realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined. In a world where betrayal runs deep and love is never easy, will she risk it all for the man who was never meant to be hers?
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.”
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."
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
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?