"A one-year contract marriage. I know you're investigating something,"-Lena's heart sped up and she fought to keep her features blank- "and I can help you with that. In exchange, for one year, my resources will be yours. Full access. No strings attached-except the ones in the contract, of course." Lena's heart raced. A marriage proposal, but with a twist. *** Betrayed and burning for vengeance, Lena Santoro-now Selene Costa-enters a deadly game of love and lies with Rafe Moretti, a mafia don with secrets of his own. In Naples, where power and passion collide, their marriage of convenience becomes a battle for survival. Can they trust each other, or will betrayal tear them apart?
"I think I've had enough," Lena grumbled as she leaned back on her chair and patted her belly.
"Nonsense, figlia," her father scolded. "There's no such thing as having too much lasagna."
"I've found my limits, Papa," she answered. "If any more lasagna goes into me I might die."
"Don't say things like that, Lena," her mother snapped, her fork falling from her hand. "Think before you speak."
Lena lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mama."
Beside her, her elder brother, Adriano, gave her a sympathetic smile before he continued eating, not saying anything like he always did.
It was like every other evening in Santoro's mansion. The Santoro family had dinners like this every day without fail.
But for the past weeks, there haven't been any family talks. Lena's father has become tense lately. The smallest of things irritated him, the smallest noise caused him to flinch, and he left immediately after dinner.
Lena has never seen her father like this before and it bothered her to no end. She had tried to talk to him several times but he always dismissed her with a word so she had stopped trying.
Adriano was done with his food so he and his father were deep into a discussion.
Lena stared at the chandelier, lost in her head.
"Lena," her father called. Her father barely called her by her given name, so when he did, she knew it was serious.
Her eyes fell to him and he had a frown on his face as he watched her.
"There's something important we would like to discuss with you," he said.
She shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable. She looked at her mother and brother and they both had the same look on their faces.
She swallowed. "I'm listening, Papa."
Her father nodded. "This wil–"
Her father's words were cut off by the sound of gunshots and their windows breaking.
"Get down!" Adriano shouted before he threw Lena down and covered her body with his.
The gunshots died down and the room fell silent. But not for long.
She couldn't see more than the ground but she saw black boots entering their house. She raised her head slightly but Adriano pushed her head back down. But not before she saw men in black masks with big guns. There were up to ten men.
A cold shiver passed through her.
"How dare you break into my home?" She had never heard her father's voice so cold like that.
"You've forced our hand, Santoro," a deep voice answered. "You do not betray the Mafia and walk away."
The Mafia. What was happening?
"Give us what we came here for," the man continued, "and we'll leave."
Her father laughed, the sound bitter. "Do you take me for a fool, Antoine? You have come to kill me. And whether I give you what you want or not you'll do what you've been sent here to do."
Antoine didn't deny it. How did her father know these people?
"Then let's not waste time here, Santoro," Antoine said. "Give us what we came here for."
"I would rather die."
"Alessio," Lena's mother called her father's name, her voice soft and trembling.
"Ssshh, Mio Amore. Nothing will happen to you."
"Don't give your wife false hope, Santoro," Antoine mocked.
Lena couldn't see what was happening but she knew her father's face was twisted with anger. His voice confirmed that. "You will not touch my family."
"Give us what we came here for. Your family will live."
Her father said nothing. Why was he keeping quiet?
There was a beat of silence before she heard her mother's voice. She was screaming, shouting at the men to leave her alone. Her father's voice joined, throwing threats to the men.
Lena tried to raise her head but her brother pushed her back down, his body still covering hers. "Stay still," he hissed.
"This is your last warning, Santoro. Give us what we came here for and prevent this."
Her father stopped shouting.
Her mother continued to scream and soon her screams turned to sobs. Lena heard a man's grunt and she knew. She knew what they were doing to her mother.
Tears rolled down her eyes and she had to bite her lips to keep the sounds in.
Her mother screamed her father's name but he remained silent.
Lena saw her mother on the floor where the man had pushed her. She clenched her teeth to keep the sob that wanted to burst out in. Blood was flowing down her mother's legs.
"Mio Amore," her father whispered as he crawled to his wife, tears rolling down his eyes.
He had no right to cry when he had let this happen.
"This is your last chance, Santoro," Antoine said, his voice hard.
Her father said nothing and just held his crying wife.
A gunshot sounded and Lena watched in horror as blood rolled down her father's temple, a hole in his forehead.
She screamed, the sound muffled by her brother's hand covering her mouth.
Her mother followed.
Lena buckled under her brother's weight but he held strong.
"Avenge us, Lena," he whispered into her ear. "Bring hell down on our enemies."
Another gunshot sounded and her brother jerked before he went still. Warm blood poured down on her as her brother's body remained on her.
She waited for another gunshot to sound but it never came.
"Search the house!" Antonie commanded. "Make sure there are no survivors."
"Yes, Sir!"
Soon Lena heard gunshots and screams as the men killed her household. She remained silent, her body trembling as she became soaked with her brother's blood.
The smell of gasoline filled her nose.
"Did you find anything?" Antoine asked.
"No, Sir."
"Light it up."
Lena felt the heat of the flame a moment later. She waited until she was sure the men was gone before she managed to move her brother's body from under her, tears rolling down her cheeks.
She stood and looked down at her brother with blurry eyes while the fire raged around her, her whole life crumpling together with the walls.
She bent down and pressed a kiss to his forehead before she walked to her parents and kneeled in front of them.
She took their hands into her trembling ones and kissed them. "I will get revenge for all of you," she whispered.
She tugged their wedding rings off, clenching her fist around the cold metal before she turned and walked towards the shattered window.
She screamed as the ceiling collapsed right where she was headed, a ball of flame soaring through the air and landing on her hand. The sound that escaped her was primal, as searing pain coursed through her hand.
She couldn't die here. No. She had to live and avenge her family.
And that was the reassurance she needed.
She took off her shirt and covered her burnt hand before she turned. Smoke filled her lungs and clouded her vision but she had to keep going.
She kept repeating her brother's last words as she crawled her way out of her burning home, coughing all the way with snot running down her nose.
She inhaled fresh air when she broke out of the burning. But she couldn't rest now.
She dragged her body up the hill where she stood and watched her life, her family, her identity burned.
Siren calls filled the air as police and firefighters arrived. But they were too late. Her life was gone.
She watched them, staying in the shadows until the sun broke out in the cloud. And as the sun rose her old self was left behind in the night.
She was no longer Lena Santoro. She was now someone else. Someone who was going to find her family's killer and bring hell down on them.
Calista had always believed the past was meant to stay buried, hidden in the shadows of memory. But why, then, was her past creeping back into the light, intertwining with her present? She spent her days in a fractured state-broken, miserable, angry at the world. But at least she had carved out a semblance of peace, until Jaxon Castillo stepped into her life. With his hot body and expressive eyes, he shattered her fragile calm, dragging her into a tumultuous conflict she wanted no part of-a life that haunted her more than anything else. She had convinced herself she was free from the ghosts of her past, that they had perished along with her family. Yet, as she found herself drawn deeper into Jaxon's orbit, his intense gaze unraveling her defenses, shadows of her history began to resurface. With every stolen glance, she felt herself surrendering pieces of her heart to him, pieces she had sworn to protect. Both held secrets-dark, potent truths that threatened to dismantle everything they had built. Secrets capable of turning the world against them. Calista was fire and rage; Jaxon was cool water and soothing. They would risk everything to protect each other, even if loving each other was what could destroy them both. –– TRIGGER WARNING; Sexual content, PTSD and trauma responses, Violence. Reader discretion is advised.
!! Rated 18+ | Mature Content | Trigger Warning: Abuse, Suicide (Off-page)! ! - -- Camille knows she's being watched. The feeling lingers in every shadow, in every stolen glance from the unnervingly beautiful stranger who seems to know her better than she knows herself. Lucien is dangerous, obsessive-and utterly inescapable. But danger is nothing new to Camille. She has spent years outrunning her past, drowning in darkness until Lucien pulled her from it. She... loved him for it. She was captivated by the exhilarating danger he wove into her existence. The electrifying chaos, the seductive darkness, and the intoxicating pleasure pulled her in like a moth to a flame. Then, she is taken. Victor swears she belongs to him, and Lucien will tear the world apart to get her back. But as the walls close in and the nightmares begin, Camille starts to wonder if this war between them is about more than just her. Her heart is caught between two monsters. Two obsessions. Two impossible choices. Will she choose none of them, one of them... or both? Fate has drawn them together once more, and this time, the choice is hers: break the cycle, or be utterly, entirely ruined by it.
Three love stories, one world-this steamy, slow-burn sequel follows new couples finding their fate, desire, and heartbreak in a world where wolves love hard, and the stakes run deeper than ever. *** Ravenna & Darius' story Ravenna was born a disgrace-wolf-less, exiled, and left for dead by her own pack. But death refused her. Rescued after a near-death incident, she awakens with untapped powers, far more dangerous than any wolf. Stolen away by Alpha Darius, a ruthless leader feared across all packs, their meeting sparks chaos: they're fated mates. Bound by a prophecy drenched in blood, Ravenna discovers her lineage holds the key to either salvation or destruction. With an ancient war on the horizon and dark forces hunting her, Ravenna must decide-embrace the unstoppable force within her or let it consume them all. Mia & Dalian's Story Once a fleeting passion, their connection reignites, but love comes with its own dangers. With the weight of what they've endured hanging over them, Mia and Dalian must fight for their love-or lose it forever. Lucian & Emily's Story Lucian's mate is human-and he's kept it a secret. After capturing her during a war, their dangerous connection grows. But Emily doesn't know they're fated, and the truth could destroy everything.
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
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?
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
The day Lilah found out that she was pregnant, she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Her remorseless fiancé and his mistress almost killed her. Lilah fled for her dear life. When she returned to her hometown five years later, she happened to save a little boy's life. The boy's father turned out to be the world's richest man. Everything changed for Lilah from that moment. The man didn't let her experience any inconvenience. When her ex-fiancé bullied her, he crushed the scumbag's family and also rented out an entire island just to give Lilah a break from all the drama. He also taught Lilah's hateful father a lesson. He crushed all her enemies before she even asked. When Lilah's vile sister threw herself at him, he showed her a marriage certificate and said, "I'm happily married and my wife is much more beautiful than you are!" Lilah was shocked. "When did we ever get married? Last I checked, I was still single." With a wicked smile, he said, "Honey, we've been married for five years. Isn't it about time we had another child together?" Lilah's jaw dropped to the floor. What the hell was he talking about?
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?