Sophia Williams never asked for a life entangled with the Russian mafia. But when she unknowingly becomes the key to Mikhail Ivanov's dark world, there's no escaping the consequences. Mikhail, a ruthless mafia enforcer, has seen the worst the world has to offer. Cold, calculating, and driven by loyalty to the Bratva, he never believed in love-until Sophia. Drawn to her defiance, he sees something in her that no one else does. But in his world, the only thing more dangerous than enemies are those you love. Now, forced into a game of power, passion, and betrayal, Mikhail must choose between his loyalty to the Bratva and the woman who might just destroy everything he's built. Sophia's heart is torn between the undeniable attraction to the man who holds her captive and the world she's always known. Is Mikhail truly the monster he seems, or is he a man desperate to protect the only thing that matters-her? In the brutal underworld of the Bratva, love is the ultimate risk. But can Sophia and Mikhail survive the twisted games of power, loyalty, and love that threaten to consume them both?
Chapter 1
Sophia
I never believed in fate. I was the kind of woman who built her own future, carved my own path, no matter how many obstacles stood in my way. But as I stood in the dimly lit alley behind La Rouge, the exclusive Manhattan nightclub where I worked, I couldn't shake the feeling that fate had just caught up to me.
The sharp scent of rain mingled with the distant hum of the city, but all I could hear was the steady, measured footsteps approaching me. A chill ran down my spine, a warning that I wasn't alone. I turned slowly, gripping my purse tighter as my heart started to pound in my chest.
The man before me was a stranger, but everything about him screamed danger. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a fitted black suit that didn't hide the raw power beneath it, he was the kind of man you noticed, the kind of man who could have stepped out of a crime thriller. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and his face... His face was both beautiful and terrifying. High cheekbones, a chiseled jaw, and eyes-piercing blue eyes that locked onto mine like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Ms. Williams," he said, his voice low and thick with a Russian accent. It was like the sound of velvet, smooth but carrying an undercurrent of danger. Something about the way he said my name made me feel like I was the last person he should be talking to.
I fought the instinct to step back, to distance myself, but I couldn't. I forced myself to stand tall, even though every part of me wanted to flee.
"I don't know who you are," I said, my voice steady despite the racing of my pulse, "but if you're looking for trouble, I'm not in the mood."
The man smirked, and for a moment, I almost thought I could see amusement flicker in his eyes. "Trouble, printsessa?" His voice was rich, smooth like velvet, but there was a darker edge to it. "No. I am looking for you."
My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected that. I hadn't expected anything.
"I think you have the wrong person," I said cautiously, my mind working quickly, seeking an escape route. I had spent my entire life keeping a low profile, staying out of trouble. And now here I was, alone in an alley with a man who looked like he had stepped straight out of a mafia thriller.
His smile widened slightly, but there was no warmth in it. In fact, it was the kind of smile that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "I do not make mistakes," he said, taking a step closer. I instinctively took a step back, but he moved faster than I expected. In the blink of an eye, he was standing in front of me, his hand grabbing my wrist in a firm, yet controlled grip.
"You owe a debt, Ms. Williams," he said, his tone almost... patient.
I frowned, my mind spinning. "Debt? I don't owe anyone anything."
The man tilted his head, as though considering my words. Then, slowly, he said, "Your father did."
The world seemed to tilt beneath me. My father? A man I hadn't seen in years, a man I barely spoke about anymore. And now, his past-his mistakes-had come to claim me.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I whispered, though dread was already coiling in my stomach. The panic that started to rise in my chest was quickly smothered by the cold reality of the situation.
The man exhaled slowly, as if he had expected this answer. "Mikhail Ivanov," he introduced himself. "Pakhan of the Bratva."
Pakhan. The head of the Russian mafia.
My heart began to race even faster, and the edges of my vision blurred as I tried to process what he was saying. A part of me wanted to run, to scream, but I couldn't. I was frozen, trapped by his gaze and the certainty in his voice.
Mikhail Ivanov. The name hit me like a ton of bricks. My father's debt had caught up with me, and now it seemed I was about to pay the price.
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Mikhail
The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was trouble. Not in the way my enemies were trouble. Not in the way men with guns and knives lurked in the shadows, waiting for a misstep. No-Sophia Williams was trouble because she had power she didn't even know existed. And that made her dangerous.
She had her father's eyes. The same steel-gray shade, full of fire. I had expected her to beg for mercy, to plead for leniency, but she stood her ground, chin raised high in defiance. It was amusing, really. She had strength, that was clear. But I didn't have time for denial.
"I don't belong to anyone," she hissed, trying to yank her wrist from my grip.
I tightened my hold, not enough to hurt, but enough to make her understand. "You will."
I could feel the tension in her body. She was scared, but she didn't want to show it. That was good. I admired that.
I had dealt with her father years ago, a man who had made the mistake of borrowing from the Bratva and thinking he could outrun his debts. He hadn't paid with money. He had paid with his life. But his blood-his daughter-was still fair game.
"Your father took what wasn't his to take," I continued, my voice calm, almost conversational. "And he left behind something far more valuable than money." My thumb brushed over her pulse, feeling the frantic rhythm beneath her skin. "You."
She swallowed hard, but I didn't miss the way her breath hitched. Fear? Or something else? It didn't matter.
I leaned in closer, my voice a low murmur, "I don't take what isn't mine. But make no mistake, you are mine now."
Her body tensed, as if she were deciding whether to fight or run. I watched, entertained by the struggle playing out in her eyes.
"Why me?" she whispered finally, her voice small, but with a quiet strength that intrigued me.
I tilted my head, letting the words hang in the air. "Because I do not let debts go unpaid."
The rain began to fall, slow and heavy, mist curling around us. She trembled, and I knew it wasn't from the cold. It was something else. Something deeper.
I released her wrist, taking a step back, watching her steady herself. Let her think she had won. Let her think she still had control.
"I'll come for you soon, Sophia," I said, my voice promising, foreboding. "Be ready."
Without waiting for a response, I turned, my footsteps echoing as I disappeared into the night, leaving her standing there-her fate already sealed.
How did I end here? How did I end up being a token of an alliance? War was coming and eldoria was certainly going down, a strong empire like eldoria wouldn't have surrendered, we wouldn't have given into there demands but as always the king chose to save the innocent people In the kingdom instead of me. People make mistakes and I also madeMine but I pushed my limit and broke that one rule that changed my life, I watched as my perfect life crumbled right in front of me, I watched as I lost everything and everyone around me, I watched as I Become nothing more than a mere military lieutenant who had no power .. Just when I slowly Started accepting my faith, life took a huge turn on me, eldoria was getting attacked by a dark mysterious and powerful kingdom, which have taken over five extremely powerful kingdoms, so eldoria was certainly going down, just when everyone had Lost hope thinking it's the end, Ravenna demanded that I marry their crown prince to form an alliance between theTwo kingdoms I thought staying in the military camp was hell but I realized it was a heaven when I reached Ravenna a kingdom where betrayal is nothing, a Kingdom were families kill each other for power, a kingdom where nobody trust each other , a kingdom were killing innocent peopleIs nothing, and I was married to the crown prince, a man who had that dark mysterious, intimidating and dangerous aura, a look from him is enough to send me begging on my knees, am not that strong, and here I am in a kingdom where only the strongest survives
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?