Cancelled due to circumstances but i wrote it as another book also bound by the badge
Cancelled due to circumstances but i wrote it as another book also bound by the badge
Mia Carter wiped down the counter for what felt like the hundredth time. The worn cloth in her hand left streaks across the polished surface, but no one cared. It was 3:12 a.m., and the diner was empty save for a few scattered customers nursing their cups of coffee. The low hum of the neon sign outside buzzed faintly in the background, casting a dull, sickly glow that reflected off the greasy countertops. The clinking of silverware and the occasional sizzle from the grill were the only sounds to break the silence. It was always quiet this late-too quiet.
She could barely keep her eyes open, the exhaustion weighing down on her like a thick, damp blanket. Another hour and a half until her shift ended. She would clock out, walk to her tiny apartment just a few blocks away, crash into bed for a few hours, and then wake up to do it all again. She'd been doing this for months now, ever since she moved to this part of town. The pay was terrible, but tips came in decent at night, and it was the only job that seemed to tolerate her schedule.
A sigh escaped her lips as she glanced around the diner. It wasn't much, just a greasy spoon in a rundown part of the city, the kind of place where you didn't ask too many questions and just served the food. But Mia had grown used to it. She didn't need much, just a roof over her head and a job that kept her from spiraling.
Her gaze drifted toward the corner booth. There he was. Detective Cole Lawson. He was a regular. He had been coming to this diner for as long as she had worked here-longer, even. He always sat in the same spot, his back to the wall, a cup of black coffee in front of him, and a plate of scrambled eggs untouched. He was a mystery, a brooding figure who seemed to carry a weight with him. He never spoke much and never acknowledged her unless he needed his coffee refilled. He was quiet-too quiet. And tonight, he was more silent than usual, his dark eyes scanning the room in a way that made Mia feel like he was studying her every move.
The tension in the air was palpable. He wasn't just some regular customer. No, there was something about him-something dangerous. Every time he walked into the diner, it felt like the atmosphere shifted, like the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Mia turned away, focusing on the counter. She wasn't here to get caught up in his mystery. She had enough of her problems to deal with.
The door chimed as a group of men walked in, their presence immediately setting off an alarm in her head. They weren't regulars. The way they moved-quick, deliberate like they owned the place-had Mia instinctively straightening up. She had seen men like them before. Rough around the edges, tough-looking, but these guys... They were different. Their eyes were hard, the kind that made you feel like you were already being sized up, evaluated for some unseen threat.
She met their gaze briefly before quickly looking down. One of them, a tall guy with a shaved head and a scar running down his jaw, flashed her a grin that didn't reach his eyes. It was the kind of smile that made her skin crawl.
"Coffee," the man said, his voice gruff, as he pulled out a chair for himself and his two companions. "Black."
Mia didn't say anything. She just nodded and moved to get the coffee pot. As she poured, her eyes flicked back toward Cole. He hadn't moved, but she could see the subtle tension in his shoulders. His jaw was clenched, his hand wrapped tightly around his coffee cup like he was holding on to something. He wasn't just observing the men. No, he was sizing them up too, like he knew something they didn't.
As Mia moved back toward the table, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. She set the coffee down in front of the man with the scar, her hand trembling slightly, but she kept her face neutral, and professional.
"What'll it be?" she asked, her voice steady, though the unease was gnawing at her insides.
"Just the coffee for now," the scarred man said, his eyes narrowing as he looked her up and down. She could see the calculation in his gaze. He was used to getting what he wanted, and he was used to intimidating people into compliance.
Mia quickly turned and walked back to the counter. She tried to steady her breath, but her heart was pounding now, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right. She glanced back over her shoulder toward the door, but that's when she noticed the two men who had just entered behind the others. They were taller, cleaner-cut. Their suits were sharp-too sharp for a place like this.
She felt a pit form in her stomach. These men didn't belong here. Not in this diner. Not in her world.
One of them caught her eye. His gaze was direct like he could see straight through her. She quickly turned back to the counter, pretending not to notice, but it was hard to ignore the way her skin prickled with unease.
The bell above the door jingled again, and Mia nearly jumped. She looked over just in time to see a fourth man walk in-a man who immediately commanded attention. He was taller than the others, with a sleek, black suit and an air of authority that seemed to pulse around him. His eyes locked onto Cole's from across the room, and for a moment, the entire diner seemed to hold its breath. The tension between the two men was so thick it was suffocating.
The man in the suit moved toward Cole, his steps slow and calculated. "Detective Lawson," he said, his voice smooth and condescending. "You know it's bad manners to bring your work into a place like this."
Cole didn't flinch. He didn't move a muscle. He simply set his coffee cup down with a slight click, his eyes narrowing in a way that made the room feel even smaller. "I don't have time for your games, Mason," he said, his voice low and steady. "And neither do you."
Mia's breath hitched in her throat. Mason? That name was familiar-too familiar. It wasn't the first time she had heard it. There were rumors and whispers about Mason and his connection to the city's underground world. But this... This was different. This wasn't some back alley deal. This was personal.
The men at the window table rose from their seats. Their movements were smooth, and calculated, as if they were already preparing for something. Mia's stomach churned with dread. The situation was escalating, and she had no idea how she had gotten caught in the middle of it.
Mason smiled, but it wasn't a smile at all. It was cold and predatory. "It's not just about time, Cole. It's about loyalty. And you're about to learn just how far people will go to protect what's theirs."
The words hung in the air, a warning, but Cole didn't react. He stood slowly, his chair scraping noisily across the floor. He wasn't intimidated. Not in the slightest.
"I'm not interested in your threats," Cole said, his voice as hard as steel. "You've got no leverage here."
Mason's eyes flicked over to Mia. For a split second, their gazes locked. Mia felt a chill run down her spine. Whatever was happening between these men, whatever they were about to do, she was no longer a bystander. She was a part of it.
Cole's eyes met hers then-his gaze sharp, commanding. "Go out back. Now."
Mia's pulse raced, her mind screaming at her to question him, to demand an explanation. But the urgency in his tone left no room for hesitation. She grabbed her apron and rushed toward the back door, her mind reeling. She heard voices rising in the front, angry, threatening. And then, a single, sharp crack-like the sound of a gunshot split the air.
Mia froze. Her breath caught in her throat. The door slammed open behind her, and she barely had time to step outside before the reality of the situation hit her. She was in the middle of something much bigger than a late-night diner dispute.
Her hand was shaking as she pressed her back to the cold brick wall. What had she gotten herself into?
Title: Bound by the Badge Premise: Mia Carter is a struggling waitress working late-night shifts at a small diner in a rough part of town. She keeps her head down, avoiding trouble, until one night, trouble walks right through the door-Detective Cole Lawson. Cole is the kind of cop people fear-ruthless, intense, and fiercely territorial. He doesn't play by the rules, and in his world, loyalty means everything. When he first meets Mia, she's just another face in the crowd-until she unknowingly witnesses something she shouldn't. Now, Mia is in danger, and Cole makes it his responsibility to keep her safe. But Cole's protection comes with a price. He doesn't just want to keep Mia alive-he wants to keep her, period. She belongs to him now, whether she likes it or not. And as much as Mia tries to fight his dominance, there's something about the way he looks at her-like she's the only thing in the world that matters-that makes it impossible to resist. When Mia's past catches up with her and enemies close in, she realizes that the only thing more dangerous than the criminals hunting her... is the possessive cop who refuses to let her go. "You're mine, Mia. No one touches you. No one looks at you. You run, I'll find you. You fight, I'll break you. But I will never let you go." Themes: Possessive love, protector/obsession dynamic, crime and suspense, forced proximity, slow-burn romance with intense chemistry.
Damien Vale is a predator in a world of the privileged and powerful. At Ravenwood Academy, where wealth and influence dictate survival, he is king-a cruel, untouchable force no one dares defy. Until Ivy Monroe. She's the new girl, a scholarship student who doesn't belong in his world. She should've stayed invisible, but she made the mistake of looking him in the eye-of standing up to him when no one else would. And Damien doesn't take defiance lightly. He makes her his target. A game. A fixation. But the more he tries to break her, the more he becomes obsessed. No one else can touch her. No one else can hurt her. Only him. Ivy hates him and fears him, but she also sees through him-to the darkness beneath his mask of control. She knows there's something broken inside him, something dangerous. And even though she swears she'll never fall for him, she can't escape him. Because Damien isn't just a bully. He's her shadow, her captor, her inevitable downfall. And in his twisted mind, she belongs to him.
Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
To fund her father's medical bills, Helena stepped in for her half‑sister and wed the city's notorious deaf heir. On their wedding night, as she bared herself, he dismissed her hope with, "This is strictly business." Living beneath the weight of his unpredictable moods, she learned to fear every moment. When everyone bet on her ruin, he became her fiercest protector. But as their contract expired and she gathered her things, tears shimmered in his eyes. "Please… don't leave me."
Vengeance is hers, not God's. Andrea Campbell's world is shattered when Thane, her ruthless CEO husband, divorces her. Left with nothing, she has no family, no money, no identity. But as fate would have it, she is reunited with her billionaire birth father, Mr. Campbell. Five years later, Andrea returns as a stunning, sassy businesswoman, fueled by a burning desire for revenge. She plans to pull Thane into a high-stakes business collaboration and then destroy him. Thane, consumed by his ex-wife's transformation, will stop at nothing to reclaim her. Unaware of their hidden twin children and Andrea's secret game. He becomes increasingly obsessed. As they dance around their explosive past, Andrea struggles to keep her emotions in check. Thane's determination ignites a risky game of cat and mouse, where old feelings resurface and new flames ignite. Will Thane's all-consuming love be enough to quench Andrea's fury, or will her thirst for revenge destroy them both? Can Andrea resist Thane's relentless chase, or will she succumb to the passion that once bound them?
She spent ten years chasing after the right brother, only to fall for the wrong one in one weekend. ~~~ Sloane Mercer has been hopelessly in love with her best friend, Finn Hartley, since college. For ten long years, she's stood by him, stitching him back together every time Delilah Crestfield-his toxic on-and-off girlfriend-shattered his heart. But when Delilah gets engaged to another man, Sloane thinks this might finally be her chance to have Finn for herself. She couldn't be more wrong. Heartbroken and desperate, Finn decides to crash Delilah's wedding and fight for her one last time. And he wants Sloane by his side. Reluctantly, Sloane follows him to Asheville, hoping that being close to Finn will somehow make him see her the way she's always seen him. Everything changes when she meets Knox Hartley, Finn's older brother-a man who couldn't be more different from Finn. He's dangerously magnetic. Knox sees right through Sloane and makes it his mission to pull her into his world. What starts as a game-a twisted bet between them-soon turns into something deeper. Sloane is trapped between two brothers: one who's always broken her heart and another who seems hell-bent on claiming it... no matter the cost. CONTENT WARNING: This story is strongly 18+. It delves into dark romance themes such as obsession and lust with morally complex characters. While this is a love story, reader discretion is advised.
Aria Wilson agrees to her step- sister offers to have a one night stand with an old man interchange for large amounts. It will be use for his brother's operation. What they don't know is the man she had sex with is turned out to be Jake Thomson! The most powerful man in Golden City, a multi-billionaire. Her step- sister Ayah, pretended that she is the one he was with that night so she is the on who gained wealth. Aria got pregnant and walked away but after five years she came back and her children...
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