Lorenzo DeLuca is a man feared by many and loved by none. As the ruthless heir to the DeLuca crime empire, he built his power on blood, control, and unwavering discipline. But when his dying grandfather issues an ultimatum-marry or lose everything-Lorenzo has no choice but to secure a bride. Elena Romano, his sharp-witted personal assistant, never imagined herself entangled in the dark world of the mafia. But when Lorenzo offers her a contract marriage-a year-long arrangement with no emotions, no intimacy, and a million-dollar payout-she reluctantly agrees. It's supposed to be a business deal. Nothing more. But from the moment Elena steps into his world, the lines between duty and desire blur. Lorenzo finds himself drawn to her in ways he never expected, and Elena discovers that beneath his cold exterior lies a man haunted by shadows. Their passion is undeniable, their chemistry dangerous. And when Lorenzo's enemies discover his growing attachment to her, Elena becomes the ultimate target. When she's kidnapped, Lorenzo unleashes a wrath no one has ever seen. He will burn the city to the ground to get her back-because the one thing he swore he would never have, the one thing he believed was his greatest weakness, is the only thing he can't live without. The contract was supposed to end after a year. But love was never part of the deal. Now, Lorenzo must choose: Let her go, or fight for the only woman who ever made him feel alive.
The DeLuca estate stood tall against the night sky, a symbol of power built on blood, wealth, and unwavering control. Inside its towering walls, Lorenzo DeLuca sat across from the man who had shaped his existence-his grandfather, Don Salvatore DeLuca.
The old man lay in his massive four-poster bed, his body weak with age but his gaze as sharp as ever. Even in the dim light, his presence commanded the room.
"You will marry," the Don said, his voice low but firm. "And you will do it before I die."
Lorenzo clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the glass of whiskey in his hand. He had expected this conversation, but that didn't make it any less infuriating.
"With all due respect, Nonno," Lorenzo said, his tone clipped, "I don't need a wife to run the DeLuca empire."
His grandfather scoffed. "A man without a family is a man without loyalty. Your enemies already see you as a ruthless bastard with no heart. A wife will change that."
Lorenzo smirked, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "I thought being heartless was a good thing in our world."
"It is. Until the people beneath you start to doubt your stability." The Don's gray eyes bore into him. "You need a wife, Lorenzo. A marriage will secure your position as my successor. Otherwise-" He coughed violently, his body trembling as the illness took its toll.
Lorenzo stiffened, watching the once-mighty Don struggle for breath.
"Otherwise what?" he asked coldly.
The Don straightened, his voice regaining its strength. "Otherwise, I'll pass this empire to someone else. Someone with a family. Someone who understands the value of legacy."
The words hit like a bullet. Lorenzo knew what his grandfather was implying. There were other men in the family-cousins, distant relatives, all of them unworthy of the empire Lorenzo had built with his own two hands.
"You would rather hand over your legacy to some distant relative than to me?" Lorenzo's voice was quiet but lethal.
His grandfather's eyes didn't waver. "A king needs a queen. Without one, you are just a man holding a throne that will crumble beneath you."
Lorenzo exhaled slowly, willing the tension in his chest to ease. He wasn't a man who gave in to emotions. He dealt in logic, power, and control. And if control meant finding a wife to secure his empire, then so be it.
"I'll do it," he finally said.
The Don smiled, satisfied. "Good. You have six months."
Lorenzo stood, adjusting the cuffs of his expensive suit. "I won't waste time with courtship. This will be a business transaction. No emotions, no complications."
His grandfather let out a weak chuckle. "You think you can control everything, boy. But marriage-real marriage-is unpredictable."
Lorenzo ignored the words as he walked out of the room.
He had six months to find a wife.
And in his world, everything had a price-including love.
Vera Stanford is bold, brilliant, and beautiful but her boyfriend only sees her size. Years of emotional abuse culminate in one humiliating night that sends her stumbling into the arms of a dangerous stranger. Michael Robb isn't just any man. He's a mafia king, feared and respected, in town on business when he saves a curvy goddess from the brink of danger and temptation. One steamy night of passion leaves a mark neither of them can forget. But when Vera disappears without a name, Michael is left with only a memory and her earrings. Weeks later, fate delivers her back into his world... as his personal assistant. She's pregnant. He's possessive. And neither of them is ready for the storm about to come.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
"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?
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.