When Sophia Reyes' younger brother crosses the most dangerous mafia family in Naples, she has no choice but to face Enzo Carbone, the ruthless heir to the Carbone empire. In exchange for her brother's life, Sophia strikes a dangerous deal: she'll pose as Enzo's fiancée to help him protect his family's fragile grip on power. Enzo is used to getting what he wants through charm or force but Sophia is unlike anyone he's ever met. Her fiery defiance and unshakable determination threaten to unravel his carefully constructed world. She's a pawn in his game, but the more he draws her into his darkness, the harder it becomes to let her go. As their arrangement spirals into something deeper, an old enemy resurfaces. Marcella Vargas, the cunning leader of a rival cartel, will stop at nothing to see Enzo and his empire burn and she knows exactly how to use Sophia to bring him to his knees. Caught between loyalty and love, deception and truth, Enzo and Sophia must decide how far they're willing to go to protect the people they care about. But in a world ruled by violence and betrayal, can love truly survive or will their bargain cost them everything? Some deals are made in blood. Others are sealed with a kiss.
The faint scent of linseed oil and turpentine clung to Sophia's fingertips as she adjusted her scarf, stepping out into the chill of a Neapolitan evening. The streetlights cast a golden hue over the narrow alleyways, their glow dancing off cobblestones slick from a passing rain. Her canvas bag bumped against her hip, laden with brushes, tubes of paint, and the meager earnings from the day's sales.
Home wasn't far. A modest apartment with peeling wallpaper and a perpetually leaky faucet, but it was hers-and Mateo's. She quickened her pace, mindful of the way shadows stretched and twisted at this hour, her mother's warnings about the dangers of Naples echoing in her mind.
Turning a corner, she froze.
Two men stood near the entrance to her building, their tailored suits incongruous in her working-class neighborhood. They didn't belong here, their sharp gazes sweeping the street with practiced indifference. One lit a cigarette, the glow briefly illuminating his chiseled features and the telltale bulge of a holstered weapon beneath his jacket.
Sophia's heart sank. She knew their kind-Enzo Carbone's kind.
For weeks, whispers of the Carbone family had spread like wildfire. Loans unpaid, favors called in, disappearances that weren't investigated. She clenched her fists, her brother's reckless face flashing in her mind. Mateo had promised her he was done with his schemes. He had sworn he wouldn't gamble again.
But promises didn't mean much when men like these came knocking.
Sophia hesitated, weighing her options. If she walked away, they'd find her tomorrow. Or worse, they'd go straight to Mateo. Swallowing her fear, she approached.
"Can I help you?" Her voice was steady, despite the storm raging in her chest.
The man with the cigarette turned, his dark eyes raking over her with a dispassionate calculation that made her skin crawl. "Sophia Reyes?"
"Who's asking?"
A low chuckle escaped his lips, though there was no humor in it. "Luca Santoro. Mr. Carbone sent us."
Sophia's stomach twisted. Enzo Carbone wasn't just any man. He was the devil of Naples, the heir to an empire built on blood and betrayal. If he'd sent his men, it wasn't to exchange pleasantries.
"I don't have any business with him," she said, forcing steel into her voice.
"Your brother does," Luca replied, flicking ash onto the ground. "And by extension, so do you."
Her heart thudded in her ears. "Mateo's not here."
"We know," the other man said, speaking for the first time. His voice was cold, clipped. "That's why you're coming with us."
Sophia took a step back. "I'm not going anywhere."
Luca raised a brow, as if amused by her defiance. "Look, lady, we're trying to do this the polite way. You can walk, or we can carry you. Your choice."
Her gaze darted to the door of her building, just a few feet away. If she screamed, someone might hear. But would anyone help? The neighborhood wasn't exactly known for its heroics.
Before she could decide, Luca stepped forward, gripping her arm with surprising gentleness for a man of his size. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."
The other man opened the door to a sleek black car idling at the curb. Its tinted windows gleamed under the streetlights, a silent promise that whatever happened next would be far from ordinary.
Sophia's mind raced. Mateo had gotten himself into trouble before, but this felt different. Bigger. She didn't know what awaited her on the other side of that car door, but one thing was certain: refusing wasn't an option.
"All right," she said, her voice tight. "I'll go."
Luca smiled faintly, as though he'd won some unspoken game. He released her arm and gestured toward the car.
Sophia climbed in, her pulse roaring in her ears. The interior smelled of leather and danger, and the silence was suffocating as the car pulled away from the curb.
The city blurred past, its lights and sounds fading as they drove deeper into unfamiliar territory. Sophia gripped the edge of her seat, every muscle in her body taut. She refused to let herself cry.
"Where are we going?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"To see Mr. Carbone," Luca replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
"And what does he want with me?"
Luca exchanged a glance with his companion, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, he said, "That's for him to explain."
Sophia bit back a retort, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She was tired of being at the mercy of other people's decisions, of Mateo's mistakes.
The car slowed as they approached a sprawling villa perched on the edge of the city. Its stone façade loomed in the darkness, lit by warm sconces that did little to soften its imposing presence. The gates swung open, and they drove up a long driveway lined with cypress trees.
The car came to a stop. The door opened, and Luca motioned for her to step out.
Sophia hesitated, then squared her shoulders and climbed out. The cool night air bit at her skin as she followed the men toward the grand entrance.
The doors swung open, revealing a lavish interior of marble floors, gilded chandeliers, and an air of old-world decadence. A staircase swept upward, its banister gleaming under the soft glow of the lights.
"Wait here," Luca said, gesturing to a sitting area filled with antique furniture.
Sophia sat stiffly on the edge of a velvet sofa, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The seconds stretched into minutes, each one heavier than the last.
Finally, footsteps echoed down the hallway. A figure emerged, his presence commanding the room before he even spoke.
Enzo Carbone.
He was everything the rumors said and more. Tall and broad-shouldered, he moved with the quiet confidence of a man used to having the world at his feet. His dark hair was slicked back, his sharp jawline accentuated by the faintest shadow of stubble. But it was his eyes that held her captive-piercing and predatory, like a wolf assessing its prey.
"Sophia Reyes," he said, his voice smooth as silk yet carrying an edge that sent a shiver down her spine. "I've been expecting you."
She forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to shrink under his scrutiny. "I don't know what Mateo's done, but whatever it is, I'm here to fix it."
Enzo's lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. "Bold of you to assume you're in a position to fix anything."
Sophia's stomach churned, but she held her ground. "Then tell me why I'm here."
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as he loomed over her. "Your brother owes me a debt. A significant one. And I always collect."
Her throat tightened. "I don't have money-"
"Who said anything about money?" Enzo interrupted, his smile widening.
Sophia's blood ran cold. "What do you want?"
Enzo tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle he intended to solve. "We'll get to that. But first, let's talk about what you're willing to do to save your brother's life."
Sienna Blake has built her career on exposing corruption, but when her latest investigation uncovers dark secrets about Viktor Ivanov, the ruthless Russian mafia kingpin, her life is irrevocably changed. Kidnapped and held captive, she finds herself in the heart of a dangerous world where trust is a luxury and betrayal is a guarantee. Viktor Ivanov didn't rise to power by letting his guard down. Yet, the fiery journalist tests his resolve at every turn, challenging his control and stirring feelings he buried long ago. Torn between protecting his empire and the unexpected pull of Sienna's defiance, Viktor faces a choice: silence her forever or risk everything to keep her alive. But as old enemies resurface and devastating truths come to light, Sienna and Viktor are thrust into a deadly game of power, revenge, and desire. In a world where loyalty can kill and love is a dangerous gamble, can they survive long enough to rewrite their own story?
Elena Carter has spent her life fighting to stay afloat. But when her late father's crushing debt threatens to ruin her completely, she faces an impossible choice accept help from the one man who could destroy her carefully built independence. Enter Damien Blackwood, a billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is dazzling. His solution? A marriage of convenience that will erase her debt and secure his business interests. Elena swears she'll never be just another possession in Damien's world, but resisting his charm proves more dangerous than she expected. Damien thought he could keep things strictly business, but the fierce, independent Elena stirs something he buried long ago. As their forced proximity ignites passion and unravels secrets, the walls he's built around his heart begin to crumble. But in the shadows, Veronica Steele Damien's scheming ex-fiancée has her own plans to ensure this union ends in disaster. When betrayal and deceit threaten to tear them apart, Damien and Elena must decide: can they trust each other enough to turn their fake marriage into something real?
Caroline Forbes never imagined her life would lead her here sold by her own father to a man the kingdom whispers about in fear. Damon Morningstar, the ruthless and enigmatic werewolf king, has buried three wives already, each one dying under mysterious circumstances. Now, Caroline is forced to become his fourth bride, trapped in a castle where secrets linger in every shadow. Rumors say he's cursed; that any woman he claims as his queen is doomed. Caroline knows that escape is her only chance at survival, yet she can't deny the magnetic pull she feels whenever Damon is near. To her horror, she discovers the truth Damon is her fated mate, her one bond that could either destroy her or break the curse haunting him. But Damon is possessive, and he's willing to risk everything to keep her in his grasp. As desire and danger intertwine, Caroline must decide whether to flee for her life or surrender to the call of a man who might just be her undoing. Will she escape his dark hold, or will she become the queen who saves him and herself?
When Elena Cross is snatched from her life and forced into the dark world of the Blackstone Pack, she learns the ruthless truth about Alpha Kael Thorn a man as dangerous as he is powerful, and as captivating as he is cruel. Bound to him by a primal mate bond she never asked for, Elena finds herself trapped in a twisted battle of wills, where her humanity is both her shield and her curse. Kael despises everything about her. To him, she's a weakness, a threat to his pack, and a constant reminder of a past betrayal. Yet no matter how he tries to deny it, the bond keeps pulling him back to her, fueling an obsession he cannot escape. She's his mate, his property yet she defies him at every turn. In a world where freedom seems impossible, Elena is determined to resist him and break free. But as the tension between them blurs the line between hate and desire, she realizes that Kael's hold on her is far more dangerous than she ever imagined. Can Elena find the strength to escape, or will she be bound forever to a man who might be her worst nightmare... and her only salvation?
Isabella Cruz never asked for a fairy tale romance especially not with Rafael DeLuca, Manila's most ruthless CEO and heir to a powerful mafia empire. Thrown into an engagement she didn't choose, Bella tries to keep her heart safe from the cold, arrogant man who believes she's nothing but a gold-digger. But when she finds herself falling for him, her world shatters as Rafael's true intentions are revealed: he never wanted her, and he certainly never loved her. After signing their divorce papers with a broken heart and a secret child on the way Bella disappears from Rafael's life, determined to start anew. But when she reappears months later as the dazzling heiress of a wealthy business tycoon, Rafael's world is turned upside down. She's no longer the timid woman he underestimated she's now the queen of the city's elite, and everyone wants her. As Rafael grapples with the loss of the only woman who truly saw him, he realizes he might have thrown away the only love that ever mattered. But will he be able to win her back in a world that won't easily forgive his mistakes, or has Bella finally slipped beyond his reach?
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."
Liesl McGrath is an up-and-coming artist but for eight years she focuses on her husband as a devoted partner, adjusting her life and her career around him achieving his goal of becoming CEO by the age of thirty. Her life is perfect until her glass castle crashes down. Her husband admits to infidelity with none other than her own sister and there is a child coming. Liesl decides the best way to mend her shattered heart is by destroying the one thing he holds more important than anything else: his career. Isaias Machado is a billionaire first generation American he knows the value of hard work and doing what it takes to survive. His entire life has been geared to the moment he can take the McGrath company away from the corrupted men who once left his family homeless. When Liesl McGrath approaches the billionaire to bribe him with information set to ruin her ex-husband, Isaias Machado is chomping at the bit to take everything the McGrath’s prize including Liesl. A story of love, revenge and healing needs to start somewhere and Liesl’s pain is the catalyst to the wildest rollercoaster ride of her life. Let the bribery begin.
Elodie took a deep breath and knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet corridor. A moment of silence passed, broken only by the pounding of her heart. Finally, the door snicked open, revealing a surprised Dashiell. 'Can't you see the Do Not Disturb sign? We don't want-' His initial frown quickly morphed into confusion at the sight of his wife. 'What are you doing here?' he demanded. 'Your girlfriend invited me,' Elodie replied, her voice laced with icy calm. She tried to peer past him, but his broad frame blocked the view. A saccharine voice chimed in from within the room. 'Elodie? Oh dear, we didn't mean for you to find out this way. It's just that-' Elodie cut her short. 'Oh please, Selene. Spare me the fake apologies. You wouldn't have sent me all those texts if you didn't want me to know.' Dashiell shifted uncomfortably, his face a mask of annoyance. 'What texts?' Elodie stepped past him, taking in the luxurious suite with a sardonic smile. The king-sized bed, the scattered rose petals, the lingering scent of sex – it all painted a vivid picture of their betrayal. She looked up at Dashiell, her gaze unwavering. 'I want a divorce.' ****** Dashiell lived a life of luxury, surrounded by the best things money could buy. But when a car accident left him vulnerable, he met Elodie, a seemingly ordinary woman who nursed him back to health. Mistaking her for just another employee, Dashiell entered into a loveless marriage with her solely for convenience. However, fate had a different script in store. Elodie, the 'ordinary nurse,' held a secret more precious than any diamond: she was the sole heiress to Northstar, a vast and powerful enterprise. Unaware of her true identity, Dashiell cast her aside when his ex-girlfriend returned, leaving Elodie humiliated. But Elodie was not one to be easily broken. She shed the facade of the meek nurse, reclaiming her rightful inheritance and stepping into the role of Northstar's CEO. Now, the woman Dashiell discarded was the one holding the reins of power. As Elodie thrives in her new role, Dashiell is consumed by regret. He finally sees Elodie for the extraordinary woman she truly is, realising the depth of his mistake. But will his remorse be enough to win back the heart he so carelessly discarded?
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
My boyfriend called, "Baby!" as he jumped out of bed and scrambled to pull his pants off the ground. "Please, I can explain my love." Shutting my eyes, I inhaled deeply and tried not to cry when I realized that my dream of the man not being my boyfriend had been dashed. "What?" I asked, "What do you want to explain?" How did you lie about having a business meeting while you were in bed enjoying yourself with my best friend, even though I told you I was in serious pain, is that it?" I stood there, my heart pounding, and tears streaming down my face...
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?