There isn't a single ounce of fear projecting off him as he stands in front of me, his extreme level of authority practically radiating throughout the room. "Touch her again and the next bullet I fire will go through your fucking skull. Comprendere?" He warns, the threat clearly understood as the dozens of eyes around us become wide and fearful. .................................... Arie has always loved the idea of capturing memories and moments that will last forever. The ability to take a picture and know the memory of it will live on for as long as the people in it, possibly even more. That is, until the day she accidentally photographs something that will leave her regretting that one innocent click over and over. Arie is a beautiful talented photographer in her early twenties and very bubbly but he life took a turn when she met with Diego, a ruthless mafia Don who takes no nonsense from any one, if you cross the line with him, you're dead. Arie, one day in excitement took a picture in an event she attended that happened to escalate into a gory Mafia crash, that almost cost her life but for some reason Diego spared her life but it wasn't just on a platter of gold was she released from his grasp, as she became his slave who eventually turned to his lover as she was different from any woman he's ever met.
Arie
I rush down the stairs to the subway, maneuvering around the heavy crowds of people as quickly as I can.
New York is a beautiful city, but holy crap!! is it ridiculously busy? - All the time.
"Excuse me!" I exclaim as I continue squeezing past person after person, reaching the end and rushing around the corner to the next set of stairs.
I seriously don't have the stamina for this shit.
Clutching my purse tightly, I pace down the final flight, holding my breath when I feel a side stitch coming on. Pressing my hand against my hip, I skip the final step and run onto the platform.
The sound of a train departing steals my attention and my eyes widen as I catch a glimpse of it driving away. Shit.
I release a deep sigh, trying to catch my breath as I stand on the platform, watching my train disappear down the tracks.
Feeling various eyes on me, I look at them, giving a what the hell do you want to stare, before turning around and running a hand through my long blonde hair.
Relying on public transport all the time can be a real pain in the ass.
It's my fault though, I should've taken my driving lessons when I had the chance, but I guess I was so occupied with college that I convinced myself I didn't have the time for anything else.
Making my way down to the other end of the platform, I glance up at the small screen to check what time the next train arrives. I know they usually run every five minutes or so.
The weather at this time of year isn't exactly the warmest. January temperatures can be a real bitch, and they're even worse when you have to stand among the cold walls of a New York subway at six o'clock in the fricking evening.
Fisting my hand into the inside pocket of my jacket, I take out the small invitation leaflet I received in the mail the other week. When I initially enrolled in college to study photography, it was always my goal to achieve the best I could.
After graduating with honours and one hundred and twenty credits, I decided I was going to try my hand at starting up my own photography business. Freelancing is something I've often looked into while studying, but I never truly believed it could be possible.
Until now.
I couldn't believe my luck when I opened the invitation for tonight in the mail. Gallery by Damon is one of the most popular art galleries in the city of New York.
They're hosting one of the biggest exhibitions tonight and I received an invite for it. Me. Little ol' Arie Evenden who finished college a mere two months ago.
Apparently, my work during my studies caught the attention of a few dealers and other associates in the photography field, and the owners of Gallery by Damon wanted me to come down and be a part of the event.
Countless VIP's and other business people will be attending tonight, in the hopes of viewing and potentially bidding on some of the finest pieces of art you can get your hands on.
The sound of an oncoming train brings me back to reality as I step back from the edge, waiting for it to come to a stop.
Thankfully the journey to my stop isn't that far and before I know it, I'm getting off the train and heading out of the station.
I reach into my pocket and check my phone for the time, chewing on the inside of my mouth when I realize the event has already started. The one thing I seriously didn't want to do was turn up late, but here we are... turning up late.
After walking two blocks, I spot the gallery. Dozens of cars parked outside, most of them costing more than my goddamn life insurance. I glance down at my outfit, my eyes running over my black tights, black dress, and heels.
I had to google the kind of outfit I was supposed to wear before I even accepted the invitation to this place. The last thing I wanted to do was not look appropriate enough.
I'm still a young girl learning my trade, after all.
One day I suppose it will all come second nature to me, but for now, a little bit of research here and there won't hurt.
Opening my purse, I take out my Christian Dior perfume and spray it onto my wrists and neck, giving myself a little touch-up. My perfume; a gift I received from my parents for my twenty-first birthday last Thursday.
Feeling a little more refreshed, I make my way towards the main entrance and show the doorman my invitation and ID. I can't help but feel anxious when I show my ID, even though I have no idea why because it's me in the picture.
Once I'm inside, I try my best to fit in and relax as much as possible. The gallery itself is very busy, with men in black tie and women in beautiful dresses. Smartly dressed servers roam the open space, offering complimentary drinks and food.
The art surrounding me is incredible. The intricate details of photography and paintings never cease to amaze me, but this is on another level.
I don't even want to begin to imagine the money some of these will bring in. The people here must be of considerable wealth if they're willing to bid on some of these pieces.
After a while of wandering around and viewing a few different pieces, I come across a middle-aged man and woman who engage in conversation with me, making me feel more comfortable in the still unfamiliar setting.
They introduced themselves as Ricardo and Vivian Carter and apparently, they own an antiques store in Brooklyn. They also explained that attending these kinds of functions isn't anything new to them, this actually being the third one this month alone.
Ricardo introduces me to some people, telling them that I'm a recently graduated photographer who's freelancing. He essentially recommends me even though he doesn't even know me.
I feel myself growing slightly embarrassed by his kindness. I accidentally meet his wife's gaze, who smiles warmly at me.
After spending another few minutes being introduced to various people, we find ourselves sitting down at one of the seating areas, a drink in each of our hands.
"So who's that?" I ask, directing my attention over to a woman in a dark green dress as she speaks to a man while they stand by one of the photographs.
Ricardo follows my gaze. "That's Annalise Dziecko." He replies. "Well-known art dealer throughout the streets of New York and countless other places across the country."
Pursing my lips, I nod my head slowly as I absorb the information, glancing around the room as I scan the various faces.
His wife, Vivian, points to two men who appear to be identical twins. "That's Jayce and Davis Noelle," she explains. They attend almost every exhibition like this. They are very wealthy men."
They appear wealthy too. Visibly expensive Rolexes on their wrists, which even I can decipher from where I'm currently sitting. Even their shoes look like they've been polished by the most expensive products on the planet.
My eyes continue roaming the room until they eventually settle on someone else, who seems to steal all of my attention more than anyone else has so far.
"And who's that?" I ask, gesturing to the ridiculously handsome man standing across the room while he engages in conversation with two women.
His black suit, neatly presented tie, and jet-black hair are striking. The stubble around his jaw, the noticeable tattoos on his large hands. Even from this distance, I just know that everything about him screams power and authority.
"Who, him?" Ricardo asks and I nod, tilting my head slightly with curiosity.
"Yeah," I mumble.
He clears his throat. "That's Diego Russo, ma'am."
Kristin is a young girl who suddenly wakes up in the basement of the Russian mafia and one of the best Assassins in the world, Aleksandr Ivanovic. what he wants with her, she doesn't know. she is forced to face his harsh and cruel treatment. the strange thing there is, Alek keeps referring to her as Khloe, her twin sister's name. She spends too much time there that she starts making friends and maybe, just maybe, she might understand why Aleksandr has her in his basement. she might see him for the broken mafia Don that he is, and not the vicious, ruthless, and heartless assassin the whole world paints him to be. But will Aleksandr keep his hands to himself before Kristin gets a chance to know him beyond the mask he has on, or will he ruin everything before it even begins?? Warning: This is a very dark romance, with mentions of rape, torture, and gory thing.
Content Warning- Violence, Assault, Foul language, and sexual content. Readers' discretion is advised. "There's no place, I'd rather be than to be with you Afina Jones" - Steve when he was falling deeply for her. "In your eyes I see paradise, I'm lost when i look in your eyes and i dont ever want to be found, you're the true definition of perfection and all i want is to compliment you"- Bradley Haastrup Afina, an orphan with a challenging past, finds a supportive family in the Haastrups. Her close bond with Bradley and Lisa changes when Bradley, harboring a secret crush, is deployed. A traumatic incident sparks a connection between them. Afina discovers her buried feelings as Bradley heads to England. She befriends Nixie on a Hawaiian vacation, meeting businessman Steve. A mysterious love journey ensues, marked by a kidnapping. Steve, a gangster, falls for Afina. Despite a toxic relationship, Bradley's return rekindles their love. Threatened by Steve, Bradley prevails, and Bradley and Afina's enduring love story begins.
"Reveal to me who caused you pain," he commanded. I could have succumbed to fear and divulged the entirety of my traumatic past, but instead, I shook my head. There was no way I was sharing my darkest secrets with him. "I will find out... I always find out, cara," he murmured. Despite his assurance, I doubted he could fathom that my father was the source of my nightmares. He gazed at me, and I met his stare head-on. "You have freckles," I whispered, raising my right hand to touch his face. "Do I?" His voice carried a husky tone. He turned his face slightly toward my hand, revealing the firm set of his bold profile. His jaw was rigid as granite, but his eyes softened. Leaning in closer, he hesitated for a moment. I understood he was giving me the opportunity to evade his kiss.
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
"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?"
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"Miss Brown, I am the butler here at your service," the butler replied. "My master wants to buy the baby in your belly." "What?!" Does that mean the abortion didn't take place? Did they kidnap her from the operating table just to buy the baby? But why her? "You..." Alice was about to ask a question, but the man in front of her calmly continued, as if he had expected her question, "You're pregnant with his child, and he needs a child. That's all I can tell you." Alice was forced to sign a surrogacy contract and eight months later gave birth to two healthy babies. Fortunately, the man was unaware of her daughter's existence. It wasn't until five years later that fate brought them together again...