In the ruthless underworld of 1980s New York, two men are about to break every rule. Luca Bianchi, heir to one of the city's most feared mafia families, has always known his path was laid out before him: loyalty to his family, power, and a life without the possibility of true love. But when he meets Adrian Russo-mysterious, charming, and working for a rival clan-his world is turned upside down. What starts as a dangerous flirtation spirals into an all-consuming, forbidden romance. Adrian has his own secrets. Caught in the crossfire of mafia politics, he's playing a dangerous game, navigating the delicate line between desire and betrayal. The deeper he falls for Luca, the more impossible it becomes to keep his double life hidden. One slip, and it's not just his heart on the line-it's his life. As family loyalty and passion clash, Luca and Adrian are forced to confront a choice that could destroy everything they've ever known. Their love could end the generations-old war between their families... or ignite it anew. Will they defy the rules of their world and risk everything for a chance at love? Or will their secrets tear them apart before they even get the chance to find out?
The bass of the music pulsed through the smoky room, vibrating against the walls like the heartbeat of a living, breathing entity. New York's night had only just begun, but the dimly lit club, with its gilded chandeliers and dark velvet drapes, was already packed. The scent of expensive cologne mixed with cigarette smoke hung in the air, clinging to the leather booths where men in tailored suits conducted business under the cover of shadows.
Luca Bianchi leaned back in his seat, fingers tapping rhythmically against the rim of his crystal glass. The bourbon burned pleasantly in his throat, grounding him in the chaos around him. He glanced across the room, eyes narrowing as they landed on a figure standing near the bar. The man didn't belong here. Not in this club, not tonight.
Adrian Russo.
The name alone sent a jolt of heat through Luca's chest, quickly smothered by a wave of annoyance. The Russo family didn't usually show their faces here-not unless they wanted to start trouble. Luca's eyes trailed over the man's silhouette: tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a tailored black suit that fit him too well to be anything off the rack. Adrian's dark hair was slicked back, the low light catching the sharp angles of his face. He was laughing at something the bartender said, his smile slow and easy, like he didn't have a care in the world.
Luca felt a flicker of something he couldn't quite name-resentment, maybe, or something far more dangerous. He pushed it aside, setting his glass down with a clink. He couldn't afford distractions tonight, not with the delicate deal he was about to broker. But his gaze drifted back to Adrian, pulled by an invisible thread he was powerless to sever.
Just then, as if sensing Luca's eyes on him, Adrian turned. Their gazes locked across the crowded room, the noise fading to a dull roar in Luca's ears. For a moment, it was just the two of them, standing on opposite sides of a line they both knew they shouldn't cross. Adrian's smile faltered, then shifted into something else-something knowing.
Luca's jaw tightened. He forced himself to look away, signaling to his bodyguard, Nico, with a slight tilt of his head. Nico, ever the silent observer, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, merely stepping closer as Luca pushed himself up from the booth.
"Going somewhere?" Nico's voice was low, a rumble that barely carried over the noise.
Luca glanced back at the bar. Adrian had turned away, but Luca knew he hadn't left. "I need some air," Luca muttered.
"Air, or a confrontation?" Nico asked dryly, but he moved aside, letting Luca pass.
The club's back hallway was dim and quieter, the sound of the music muffled by the thick walls. Luca slipped through the staff door, finding himself in a narrow alley that smelled of damp pavement and stale smoke. He took a deep breath, letting the cold night air fill his lungs.
He wasn't alone.
"I didn't think you'd run," a voice said, smooth as silk and far too close for comfort.
Luca turned, and there was Adrian, leaning casually against the brick wall, one foot propped up behind him. He looked like a man who had all the time in the world. Luca's pulse jumped, though he kept his expression carefully neutral.
"What the hell are you doing here, Russo?" Luca's voice was low, edged with the kind of warning that made most men back off.
Adrian's smile widened, infuriatingly relaxed. "I came for a drink. Same as you, I'd imagine."
"This isn't your territory," Luca snapped. He took a step closer, his fists clenching at his sides. "Or are you looking for trouble?"
Adrian chuckled, a low sound that sent a shiver down Luca's spine. "Maybe I am," he said softly, his gaze dropping briefly to Luca's mouth before flicking back up. "Or maybe I just wanted to see if you'd come after me."
The words hung between them, charged and dangerous. Luca could feel his heart pounding, faster now, the rhythm uneven. He knew he should walk away, get back inside, and leave Adrian to his games. But he didn't move. He couldn't.
"Why?" Luca demanded, his voice rougher than he intended. "Why are you here, Adrian?"
Adrian pushed off the wall, stepping into Luca's space. He was close now, too close. Luca could see the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes, the shadow of stubble on his jaw. He could smell the faint hint of Adrian's cologne-something dark and woodsy, intoxicating.
"Maybe I wanted to remind you what you're missing," Adrian murmured. His hand came up, and before Luca could react, he felt the brush of cool fingers against his cheek. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a bolt of heat through Luca's veins.
"You're playing a dangerous game," Luca breathed, though he didn't pull away. His own hand lifted, catching Adrian's wrist, holding it there. He could feel Adrian's pulse, steady and strong, beneath his fingertips.
"I've always liked dangerous games," Adrian whispered back. His eyes softened, the teasing edge falling away. For a moment, Luca saw something raw there, something real. It was enough to make his resolve falter.
"Adrian..." Luca's voice was a plea now, a crack in the armor he'd built so carefully over the years.
Adrian's smile faded. He leaned in, just a fraction, his lips so close that Luca could feel the warmth of his breath. "Tell me to stop," he said quietly. "And I will."
Luca's grip on Adrian's wrist tightened, his breath coming faster now. He knew he should say it, push Adrian away before this went any further. But the words wouldn't come. He was tired-tired of pretending, of living a lie, of wanting something he couldn't have.
"I can't," he whispered finally.
That was all Adrian needed. He closed the distance between them, his lips finding Luca's in a kiss that was both desperate and tender. Luca's eyes fluttered shut, and he let himself fall into it, his hands tangling in Adrian's hair as he pulled him closer. The kiss tasted of bourbon and smoke and something sweeter, something Luca realized he'd been craving for far longer than he wanted to admit.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing hard, foreheads pressed together. Adrian's fingers traced the line of Luca's jaw, gentle and almost reverent.
"I've wanted this for a long time," Adrian confessed, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"So have I," Luca admitted, the truth of it settling between them like a fragile, precious thing.
But before either of them could say anything more, the sound of footsteps echoed down the alley. They jumped apart just as the door swung open, and Nico's silhouette filled the frame.
"Luca," he called, his tone urgent. "Your father's here. He wants to see you."
Luca's stomach dropped. He glanced at Adrian, whose expression had already shifted back to that calm, unreadable mask.
"Go," Adrian said softly. "We'll talk later."
Luca nodded, swallowing hard. He turned and followed Nico back inside, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just stepped over a line he could never uncross.
To the world, Theo Lancaster is the perfect billionaire-devastatingly handsome, irresistibly charming, and untouchable in his success. But behind the dazzling smile lies a man haunted by a past he can't escape. When his carefully guarded world begins to unravel, he reluctantly hires Nora Bennett, a sharp-tongued therapist with no patience for his walls of pretense. Nora has seen her share of broken souls, but Theo is unlike any client she's ever had. He's infuriating, magnetic, and completely off-limits. Hired under the guise of a "wellness consultant," Nora's job is to help him face his demons. But as their forced proximity sparks a connection neither can deny, the line between professional and personal begins to blur. Just as Theo starts to believe in a future with Nora, his manipulative ex-fiancée, Victoria Langley, returns with a vengeance, determined to shatter everything he's built-including his newfound hope for love. When secrets from Theo's past collide with Victoria's ruthless schemes, Nora must decide whether to stay and fight for him or walk away before she loses herself in the process
Aria Romano never imagined her life would turn into a living nightmare. Trapped in a contract marriage to settle her father's debt, she's now tied to Damien Salvatore-the cold, calculating mafia heir who only sees her as a pawn. But there's a catch: Damien is openly gay, and he makes it clear that their marriage is nothing more than a business deal, devoid of love or intimacy. Damien is everything she despises: arrogant, dominant, and utterly untouchable. He wants nothing to do with his new bride, keeping his distance with a scathing indifference that shatters her hopes of any normalcy. Yet as the days turn into months, Aria starts to see cracks in his icy façade, a flash of protectiveness, a rare moment of vulnerability, and a searing gaze that lingers too long. But just when Aria begins to unravel the layers of her enigmatic husband, Luca Moretti, Damien's ex-lover and the ruthless underboss of a rival family, reappears. Luca's obsession with Damien blurs the line between love and hate, and he's determined to destroy anyone who stands in his way, including Aria. Caught in a dangerous game of power, betrayal, and forbidden desire, Aria must navigate a world where trust is a luxury she can't afford. And as Damien's feelings for her grow, she realizes that the most dangerous secret isn't his sexuality or his hidden past-it's that she might actually be falling in love with her mafia gay husband. Will their love survive the lies and betrayals, or will it crumble under the weight of their dangerous secrets?
Raven Black has always been the pack's weakest link, the frail Omega who is ridiculed and scorned. Her only dream was to find her fated mate, the one person who would love her unconditionally. But that dream shatters when the cruel, powerful Alpha, Smith Lockwood, rejects her in front of the entire pack. Smith, with his piercing silver eyes and unyielding dominance, dismisses her as unworthy. He believes a weak, timid mate would make him vulnerable, but the bond between them refuses to break, pulling them closer in ways they never expected. Trapped in the pack she can't escape and tormented by a mate who both rejects and possesses her, Raven must find the strength she never knew she had. As her hidden powers begin to awaken, Raven realizes she might be the key to saving the pack from a rogue threat lurking in the shadows. But Smith's refusal to accept her as his mate pushes her to the brink. Will he realize her worth before it's too late? Or will his pride cost him the only woman who could be his true equal? In a world where love is dangerous, and power is everything, can a broken girl and her ruthless Alpha find a way to heal each other?
"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!
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. *** "Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?" he asked as he stood to his feet. "Then why aren't you?" I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror, my front to him. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and erotic at the same time. "Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. When I did as he instructed, he settled between my legs again. "Now close your eyes. And try not to move." Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing, clever hand, seeking more. "Ohh-" My body trembled under his touch. "Please..." *** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic's dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.