1018 Book(s) Related to judge and executioner chapter 4

For five long years, Chloe hated me with every fiber of her being, blaming me entirely for Arthur’s tragic death. She cultivated her magic relentlessly and climbed to the peak of power, determined to avenge her lover. Yet one soul-searching trial shattered her entire world in an instant.

In a world where werewolves and witches are sworn enemies, Selene has always known she was different. Cursed with powers she barely understands and shunned by her own coven, she longs for acceptance and love. But fate has other plans when she meets Kieran, the ruthless and impossibly handsome Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. Bound by destiny but divided by ancient hatred, Selene is stunned when Kieran rejects her as his mate, casting her aside as nothing more than an outcast witch.

Heartbroken and humiliated, Selene vows to forget him. Yet, destiny refuses to release its grip. When a sinister dark magic threatens Kieran’s pack, even his formidable strength proves powerless. Desperate and out of options, Kieran must turn to the very woman he rejected—the witch whose hidden powers may be his only salvation.

When I accepted the Global War Photography Award at the ceremony, a reality TV crew crashed through the velvet ropes, their cameras flashing like strobes at a crime scene.
"Ms. Evelyn Vance!"
The host shoved a microphone in my face. "After twenty years of silence, are you still holding a grudge against your father? Just because he saved the neighbor's orphaned child first and left you in that burning building?"
I looked up, past the blinding lights, toward the figure at the edge of the crowd. Robert Bennett.
He pushed through and stepped forward, his calloused hands trembling as they closed around my cold fingers.
"Nora, Kayla's parents didn't make it out. Under those circumstances, I had to get that newly orphaned child to safety first."
His eyes pleaded with me. "You're my daughter. You understand, don't you?"
I stared at those hands imprisoning mine, then pulled my lips into a cold smile and wrenched free.
"You've got the wrong person," my voice was ice. "There's no Nora here. My name is Evelyn Vance."

Lucas Ashworth was born into a dying body and a crumbling world. Orphaned, sick, and talentless, he barely survived the Day of Awakening when the System descended and turned Earth into a battlefield of monsters and Towers.

Five years later, still stuck at Level 11 with no talent and no future, Lucas faces his end on a blood-stained street as a red Abyss Gate opens beside him. High-level Gifted arrive to fight the monster — but they leave him to die.

In his final moments, something ancient stirs inside the frail young man with snow-white hair.

The System has one last card to play… and this time, it might not let him stay weak.

Kylie hated him for being a notorious playboy. She used to hate him because he changed his girls like how he changes his clothes.

She felt sorry for the women who were made to cry and played with.

What if one day she realizes her own temptation?

What if back then she felt sorry for the girls he made cry, but this time she’s crying because of him.

Is it about love? Or is it just lust?

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.” --Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone) From #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense: CAUSE TO FEAR (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 4).When a body turns up floating beneath the frozen Charles River, the Boston Police summons its most brilliant and controversial homicide detective—Avery Black—to close the case. It doesn’t take Avery long, however, to realize that this is no isolated murder: it is the work of a serial killer.Other bodies begin to turn up, all of them sharing one thing in common: all are trapped in ice. Is it all a coincidence—or the signature of a particularly deranged killer?As the media converges and Avery suffers pressure from her bosses, she struggles to crack the inexplicable case, too bizarre even for her brilliant mind. At the same time she tries to keep her own depression at bay, as her personal life spirals to a new low. And she does it all while trying to enter the mind of a psychotic and elusive killer.What she will find will shock even her, and make her realizes that nothing is what it seems—and that the worst darkness may sometimes be closest to us.A psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, CAUSE TO FEAR is book #4 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #5 in the Avery Black series will be available soon. “A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side, so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: VENGEANCE AND DINNER is Book #4 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews!Marie Fortune, 39, a successful dog groomer in Boston, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan for: the house is haunted. Two things, actually: her great-aunt also left her a dog—and he is far from a typical dog.When Marie is invited to exorcise a supposedly haunted house, she encounters a twist she never could have anticipated. But before she can wrap her mind around the situation, a man turns up dead—forcing her to solve the case and to clear her own name.A page-turning cozy, packed with mystery, love, hauntings, travel, pets and food—anchored around a small town and a B&B in need of renovation that will capture your heart—THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS is an un-putdownable cozy series that will keep you turning pages (and laughing out loud) late into the night.“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)

After a brutal humiliation turns Aria Collins into the campus joke, she decides revenge isn’t enough—she wants power. And the fastest way to get it is by stealing the one thing her enemy wants most.
Zane Parker.
The problem? Aria has no idea how to make a guy like him notice her.
So she makes a reckless offer to the four most dangerous boys on campus—the Steel brothers… who are now her stepbrothers.
At dinner, she slides a paper across the table.
“I want sex education.”
Reed’s slow grin spreads across his face. “You want us to teach you?”
“Yes,” Aria says calmly.
“Okay then, Spread your legs, Aria.” His tone left no room for argument, and my heart stuttered at the command.
Jasper released my hand, leaning back slightly but keeping his eyes locked on mine. “Now touch yourself,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “Show us how well you’ve learned this first lesson.”
My fingers trembled as I reached down, my mind spinning as I tried to process what was happening.
Reed’s voice was a murmur near my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “Good girl, finger yourself harder. Let us see.”
I couldn’t look at them, couldn’t meet their eyes. My fingers brushed against myself hesitantly, and a small gasp escaped my lips as sensation sparked through me. I felt exposed, vulnerable, but also…hot between my legs.
Cole stepped closer, his hand hovering near mine as if to guide me. “Press harder,” he instructed, his hot words making me feel hotter. “Oh baby girl.. You are coming.”

Excerpt

"What were you trying to do, Qiyara?" My eyes devour the harshness of his hungered swallow and his clenched trembling fist set against the wall. His raging heat that bounds me within, I find unfathomably irresistible.

"I was merely dancing, Cronus." A feverish breathless lie I spout engraving the way the tip of his hot tongue peeks out his mouth to caress his plump lower lip. I wish to obtain a taste of what he can offer.

My ample breasts heave achingly to stroke his wicked flesh, his eyes set aflame to my words for he knows I hold no truth. Then I shall gladly be a sinner, his sinner.

"If you were trying to make me jealous so that I would lose my control and ravish you then you are wrong. I have trained to be a master of control since I was a mere pup. Do not test me." He does not understand, my desperation for him to ram himself raw & deep within me.

"You won't touch me." I move forward swiftly to taste the nape of his neck with a seductiveness. My hand descends his sculpted flesh to embrace his straining girth that is fastened under his jeans. Succumb to me, my male.

He seizes my wrist with brutality. "You are still young, you are not ready." He is too much of an honourable male for me.

"Fuck me, Cronus. Take me against this wall." I am relentless in my lewdness. I lure him into my den.

"Stop it, Qiyara!"

Blazing eyes meet his with a formidable determination. "Then I will keep going against you. I shall be the devil for I will entice you because I ache to feel it."

"Feel what?" He questions nose flaring, his wrath to my stubbornness soaring.

"You lose control."


The forbidden fruit, that was what Cronus was to me. He was one of my brother's closest friends and the most sought-after male who many females from diverse packs fawned over praying he would end up being hers. He was a charmer indeed for with those flirty smiles of his and genuine kindness he enthralled many including me. He was thirteen years older than me but I always had a thing for older males so it started out as a covert crush until I too stood in line with the rest of the females hoping to claim him as mine. However, my position in that line of thirsty females was not last as I had expected but first for Cronus ended up being my mate just as I yearned for, the moon's gift.

Forbidden fruit? Not anymore, Cronus is mine and I am going to gobble this male up.

Valeria's plan was simple:
Endure living in the same house as her notoriously sexy stepbrothers.
Make it through the last months of high school.
Leave the Red Ridge Pack—forever.

And things were going quite well until the first thing her wolf - Hazel - screamed on her eighteenth birthday was, "Mates!"

To her horror, she looked up and saw it wasn't just one—but all four of her stepbrothers.
Alerion, the cold and calculating leader.
Caius, the cute geek.
Zane, the Casanova, who made her heart race and her head spin.
And Lysander, the quirky one who had sworn to make her life in school difficult.

Each of them is determined to stake their claim, but Valeria has no interest in being part of their game. With her stepfather pressuring her into an arranged marriage and her mother turning a blind eye to her struggles, Valeria has one goal: to escape and never be found.

But the bond between mates is impossible to ignore, and when secrets unravel and tensions ignite, Valeria finds herself caught in a dangerous web of jealousy, desire, and betrayal.

Her freedom was all she ever wanted, but will she risk losing her heart to the ones she vowed to leave behind?

“You’re mine now,” Viktor said, advancing closer.

Lyra shrank back. “I—I’m not…”

“You are, Lyra. Whether you like it or not.”


Taken captive in a deadly game of revenge, Lyra is at Viktor’s mercy. He is cold, heartless and a ruthless mafia don.

The rule for her freedom is simple: she will never see her sister again.

But as days trapped in his world turn into weeks, she begins to see what is beneath his cold exterior.

Will she fall for him? Or escape at the slightest chance she gets?

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)DESTINED is book #4 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1). In DESTINED (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. She finds herself in a cemetery, on the run from a mob of villagers, and seeks refuge in the ancient cloisters of Assisi, in the countryside of Umbria, Italy. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind. But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice. Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb. But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late. At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she? Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak. In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome’s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves…. “DESTINED is fast paced with enough action and twist and turns to keep you engaged until the end. There are so many twists and exciting developments throughout the story that it keeps your attention!” --The Romance Reviews “ I just turned 30 and there are a few YA series that I just love and this one is definitely on that list! READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! Don’t forget READ IT!” --werevampsromance.org

I’m a dedicated surgeon who once gave up everything for love. I married my childhood sweetheart, only to discover he’d been cheating on our anniversary with my stepsister. I was gaslighted, betrayed, and even hurt by him, while my family took his side and blamed me for everything. I’d had enough. I signed the divorce papers, applied for a three-year overseas program, and decided to walk away from this toxic life. Before I start over, I exposed their ugly truth at their engagement party — no more silence, no more pain. This is my journey of breaking free from a broken marriage, regaining my dignity, and rebuilding my life from zero.

Rachel Wood wakes after having just taken the leap of faith with Benji with the Blue Tablet to find he is mortally injured. Rachel embarks on a journey to save her love—a journey which will take her deep into the heart of the gravest danger. Is she willing to give up her life to save her one and only true love? How much is she willing to sacrifice?

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)ONCE LURED is book #4 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download, with over 500 five star reviews!Women are turning up dead on a lone stretch of highway in Delaware. Some go missing for an inexplicable length of time, while others are turning up dead, their bodies left out for display in bizarre and mysterious ways. When a pattern is discovered, it becomes clear to the FBI that a twisted serial killer is on the hunt—luring girls in devious schemes—and that he won’t stop killing, ever.The FBI, desperate to crack the case, urges Special Agent Riley Paige to take it on. But the brilliant Riley, still reeling from past cases, has finally found peace in her home life, and is determined to help her daughter April get back on her feet. Yet when the murders become too disturbing, too urgent—and when her former partner Bill implores her—Riley finally realizes she can’t say no.Riley’s hunt leads her deep into the unsettling world of hitchhikers, of drifters, of women that no one else cares for. When she discovers that several women are being kept alive and that there is still time to save them, she realizes she will stop at nothing, obsessing over the case and driving herself to the brink. Yet Riley realizes her own life is falling apart, and her own fragile psyche can barely handle the strain. In a frantic race against time, she will have to plunge deep into the killer’s mind to save these women—and to save herself—from collapse.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE LURED is book #4 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #5 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“LOVE LIKE THIS creates a world of emotions and turmoil, describing superbly the mind of a young lady (Keira) and her struggles to balance her social life and her career. Sophie Love is a natural storyteller. LOVE LIKE THIS is very well written and edited, and I highly recommend it to the permanent library of all readers that appreciate a romance that can be savored during a weekend.”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) LOVE LIKE THEIRS (The Romance Chronicles—Book #4) is book #4 in a new, sweet romance series by #1 bestselling author Sophie Love. The series begins with LOVE LIKE THIS (Book #1), a free download!Keira Swanson, 28, has sworn off of love. With her heart still hurting from her breakups with Cristiano and Shane, she will not allow her magazine to use her for another love experiment.Which is fine by them, because they want to send her off on a different kind of trip: to prove that someone suffering from a breakup can avoid a knee-jerk rebound affair and manage NOT to fall in love. To emphasize the point, they will NOT assign her a new tour guide. Instead, Keira will take a cruise to the Scandinavian countries and have to navigate herself.Keira is thrilled to accept the assignment. There is nothing she wants more than to be alone, and go to the Northern climes, where she can cool her head, and where surely she will not find love.But Keira does not anticipate the beauty of Copenhagen and of Stockholm (“the Paris of the North”) or the stunning hospitality of the Scandinavians.With Christmas on the way, resisting a new love may be harder than she thinks….A wholesome romantic comedy that is as profound as it is funny, LOVE LIKE THEIRS is book #4 in a dazzling new romance series that will make you laugh, cry, and will keep you turning pages late into the night—and will make you fall in love with romance all over again.Book #5 will be published soon!“Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….[This is] the perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan re: For Now and Forever)

Mona would do anything to get money for her mother's surgery, even if it means accepting a rich, spoilt girl's bet. All she has to do is get caught in some incriminating photos with billionaire tycoon Ian Harrison.

Easy peasy.

Until it's not.

Caught in the billionaire's twisted web, in a world of wealth, glamour and deceit, Mona will soon learn that everything isn't as it seems, and there's more to Ian that meets the eye.

But first, she must protect her heart from being crushed under his cruel hands.

~DANIEL MILLER, a 25 years Old the CEO of MILLER EMPIRE.

A Smiling Demon in human disguise who has been know of man of few words, hardworking, Dangerous and Lovable but only for his family and friends.

~SAPPHIRE MARIA STONE, A Teenage 18 years old girl whose world is around her family. An Honest, faithful, Obedient and a young SOUL.

But she made a mistake. Her mistake was only that Demon laid his eyes on her and she dared to run away from his claws.

"How Dare You!",, Demon took threatening

"How Dare You!",, Demon took threatening steps towards her.

She was scared because of the negative aura were coming from him.

"I'll cut Your wings and cage you in my castle" Daniel said and his each words were like a molten lava and his eyes were red.

"I'll never accept You", Maria said and tried to run away from him.

"I'll fuck this sweet little mouth of yours", Demon growled loudly. He rubbed her lower lips with his thumbs and with his other hands were on arms, gripping tightly enough to left marks.

"Let me go", Soul screamed and started pushing him away from her body. She Cried and hot tears were streaming down from her eyes

"Never", Demon said and claimed her mouth furiously and wildly thrust his tongue in her mouth. He tasted her tears, blood and saliva at the same moment.

What would happen when Demon really caged her soul in his Demonic love?

How will soul escape from the trap and find a way to get to know the hidden identity of the demon?

Will Demon's true self break her or will she able to fight back to him?

Three years ago, on a night when it wouldn't stop raining, I carried Victor Caster out of a pile of bodies.

He'd taken two bullets. He grabbed my ankle and said: when I get back, I'll give you the world.

But when he came back, it was my sister Sabrina on his arm.

After that she was the woman who ran the Caster house, and I was the crazy one they locked away upstate.

Three years later, at the engagement party, Sabrina opened up her own wrist and screamed that I did it.

I tried to explain.

But the man I'd given half my life to save wouldn't even look at me. He just flicked his hand.

"Her hands don't know their place. Take them. And I don't want that face in front of me."

He never once looked up.

So why is it that the next time he sees me, the moment he really looks at my face, he goes down on his knees?

“Morgan Rice did it again! Building a strong set of characters, the author delivers another magical world. ONLY THE WORTHY is filled with intrigue, betrayals, unexpected friendship and all the good ingredients that will make you savor every turn of the pages. Packed with action, you will read this book on the edge of your seat.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto MattosFrom Morgan Rice, #1 Bestselling author of THE QUEST OF HEROES (a free download with over 1,000 five star reviews), comes a riveting new fantasy series.In ONLY THE BOLD, the epic finale to the Way of Steel, Royce finds him transformed after looking into the magic mirror. Has he gained the ultimate wisdom? Or has he gone mad?The mirror reveals many secrets, and Royce finds himself heading towards his father’s hiding place. Will he meet his father for the first time?Genevieve and Royce’s tragic romance finally comes to a head, culminating in a surprise twist that will change both of their lives forever.And amidst all of this comes the epic battle with the king’s armies, one that will determine the fate of the land—and the kingship—once and for all.ONLY THE BOLD weaves an epic tale of friends and lovers, of knights and honor, of betrayal, destiny and love. A tale of valor, it draws us into a fantasy world we will fall in love with, and appeals to all ages and genders. Please visit www.morganricebooks.com for updates about the release of Morgan’s forthcoming fantasy series.

"I want to move to Rivers End. I feel like I already have friends there." Dani Collins, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Blue Spruce Lodge series The MacAllisters of Rivers End boxed set includes books #1–4If you love heartwarming, sweet and sexy contemporary small town romance, then come home to Rivers End and fall in love with the MacAllisters and the Murphys. They just want to settle down and lead normal lives in their small Vancouver Island town, but romance blossoms in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them...Silver Bells (Isaac MacAllister + Jenna Murphy, Beginnings)Big River Lodge owner Isaac MacAllister has no time for romance. He’s got enough on his plate with a spritely kindergartener to raise and a business to run. But he doesn’t bargain on the appearance of the irresistible Jenna Murphy. Jenna just wants to escape work and family for a while. In Silver Bells, will she let one sexy dad and his sweet daughter Sara derail her plans for her holiday… and her life?Tipsy (Shannon MacAllister + Lucas Heyes)Shannon MacAllister wants to ring in the new year with someone who is nothing like her ex. She gets her wish. Too bad Lucas Heyes, world-class kisser, is a family traitor who lost her trust five years ago. Lucas wants to mend fences with the MacAllisters and start afresh in Rivers End. In Tipsy, will this dark horse convince Shannon to open her heart and risk trying again?Reindeer Games (Eli Murphy + Ginger Lewis)If wandering homeless in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve isn’t rock bottom, it sure feels like it to Jenna’s estranged brother Eli Murphy. So when Ginger Lewis rescues him, he finds himself fantasizing about a future he doesn’t deserve. But the last thing Ginger needs is a mysterious bad boy with a criminal jawline. Before the Reindeer Games are over, loyalties will be tested and secrets will be spilled.Wedding Bells (Isaac MacAllister + Jenna Murphy, Happily Ever After)In Wedding Bells, Isaac MacAllister is this close to making Jenna Murphy his, forever. Then his ex—Sara’s mother—rolls into town, bringing unfinished business with her. Sidelined by the drama, Jenna knows she should strike out on her own. But how can she, when she already sees Isaac and Sara as family? While all the Rivers End stories can be read as standalones, you may want to read this series in order to preserve any plot surprises and get the full picture of how the characters lives weave together! The following is the suggested reading order:The MacAllisters of Rivers End#1 - Silver Bells (Isaac + Jenna, Beginnings)#2 - Tipsy (Shannon + Lucas)#3 - Reindeer Games (Ginger + Eli)#4 - Wedding Bells (Isaac + Jenna, Happily Ever After)#5 – Elfed (Lindsay + Noah)

In my last life, I fell for every word out of Ryan's mouth.
To save his shot at attending physician, I volunteered to take the fall for his medical malpractice case.
My license was revoked. I went from being a surgeon to being a housewife trapped in his family's home, wasting ten years of my life chained to a kitchen stove.
I thought my sacrifice would earn me his gratitude for the rest of our lives.
Turns out, he'd been sleeping with that doe-eyed little nurse, Lily, for God knows how long.
When years of exhaustion finally caught up with me and my heart gave out, I collapsed on the freezing basement floor.
My husband Ryan was upstairs, arms wrapped around Lily, sleeping in the master bedroom we'd bought with my dowry.
"That bitch is finally kicking the bucket. Once she croaks, this house is ours."

Chiara Benedetti thought her wedding day would be the start of her freedom, instead, it becomes her descent into hell. Before she can say "I do," the chapel doors are torn off their hinges by Nico Ferraro, the brutal Don of the Ferraro family and her father's greatest enemy. He doesn't come for blood; he comes for his property.

He reveals a chilling truth: three years ago, her father sold her to him in a blood debt, and her entire life has been nothing but a fraud to hide the transaction.

Nico doesn't want a wife. He wants a possession to break. He expects Chiara to cower, to beg, and to kneel but Chiara is made of the same iron as the men in her world. She fights, she provokes, and she talks back, turning her captivity into a psychological battlefield. Her defiance doesn't disgust Nico, it intoxicates him. What begins as a cold exchange of power spirals into a dark, erotic obsession that neither can control.

As Nico introduces Chiara to the darker edges of his desire, scenes of rough possession and degradation, she is terrified to realize she doesn't just endure him; she craves him. When a rescue attempt by her former fiancé offers her a way out, Chiara makes a choice that shocks everyone: she stays. Not for love, but for the dark intensity only Nico provides. Caught between a secret rebellion within Nico’s own family and a rival family demanding her head, Nico must decide if he will sacrifice his empire to keep the woman he swore was just a debt. In a world where love is a weakness, their mutual destruction might be the only thing that makes them feel alive.

This book has been rewritten and is dedicated to my Grandmother, Marie Valerie Perrett. Her flesh and bones now lay as ash, while her spirit glows within the ones fortunate to have breathed her air, as memories, and moments from the past become those that define our future. In my life some of those are memories and lessons that she has taught me, not just by words, but by actions.

She gave me the tools to be a strong woman, and at times I admit I struggled to stand, but my grandmother held me by both hands at those times and lifted me up. Then she let me go, because she knew, she knew all along that one day I would need the strength to stand on my own. To lift my own daughter by her hands and learn to let her grow so she can become stronger.

Who you were or the way you felt, my Grandmother loved without judgement.

When she looked at me, spoke to me I never doubted her love, it was always an invisible beam between us. When I was younger we used to lay on her bed and she used to read to me stories from the bible while I used her arm as a pillow. I remember when I got a bit older and she read to me then I asked her, "Gran why does a story always start with Once Upon A Time?" She said because now it is a fairytale but once upon a time it was true. It was then I imagined life, I convinced myself that aliens were real. That I could be anything I want.

There is never a moment that is perfect to let the one you love go and she was one of the very few who I have loved and still do. I took my books off the pre-order today and I am glad I did. Because I get to share her memory with you guys. And dedicate this book that she waited so long to read but barely started. On Tuesday, December 4th 2018, I read the first chapter to her.

I wish I knew that it was the last day, but we never really know when death comes naturally, do we.

Ninety-nine lashes. That was the price of loving the Alpha’s son.

Bettoni Williams gave everything to Ardon. Her heart. Her trust. Her dignity. In return, he accused her of witchcraft, stripped her of her rank, and watched as she was whipped ninety-nine times in the public square.

Broken, disowned, and demoted to a Gamma, Bettoni swore she would never trust a royal again.
She planned to rot in the slums, to remain invisible and forgotten.

But fate, and a bored Alpha Commander, had other plans.

When the kingdom's most feared war hero, Commander Zachery, returns home, Alpha Jaceon fills the grand hall with silk-dressed noblewomen and forces him to choose a wife before the blood moon or lose everything he has. Annoyed, Zachery slips out the back. Bettoni, hiding from the feast in a dark alley, stumbles upon him in a moment that would make any sensible woman run. She doesn't run, but calls him a wild animal to his face, and this only makes him immediately obsessed with her.

He drags her into the feast by the wrist, declaring;

"You're going to be my Commandress tonight."

Now, Bettoni is trapped in a marriage with a brute who collects wives like trading cards. Zachery is uncouth, violent, and dangerously seductive. He treats the palace like a playground and his brother, the King, like a joke.

Bettoni intends to use this monster to climb back to the top and destroy the family that ruined her. But Zachery is not a ladder. He is a cliff. And he has no intention of letting his new sweetheart go.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. But the Commander likes his nights scorching hot.

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️ ⚠️ Content Warning (18+): This story contains 18+ content including explicit erotica, and mentions of sexual violence .

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.In A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4 in the Keri Locke mystery series), Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, follows a fresh lead for her abducted daughter. She winds her way through a twisted underworld, and step by step, she gets closer to finding her daughter.Yet she has no time. Keri is assigned a new case: a dad calls from an affluent community and reports that his teen daughter vanished on the way home from school.Shortly after, ransom letters arrive. Twisted, filled with riddles, they make it clear that there is little time to save the girl. They also make it clear that this is the work of a diabolical killer who is toying with them.Keri and the police must scramble to find the kidnapper, to understand his demands, to decode the letters, and most of all, to outwit him. But in this master game of chess, Keri may find herself up against a foe even she cannot understand, and for the missing girl—and her own daughter—she may just be too late.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, A TRACE OF CRIME is book #4 in a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)Book #5 in the Keri Locke series will be available soon.

“Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….This is the perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan re For Now and Forever) IF ONLY FOREVER is book #4 in the bestselling romance series The Inn at Sunset Harbor, which begins with book #1, For Now and Forever—a free download!35 year old Emily Mitchell has fled her job, apartment and ex-boyfriend in New York City for her father's historic, abandoned home on the coast of Maine, needing a change in her life and determined to make it a B&B. She had never expected, though, that her relationship with its caretaker, Daniel, would turn her life on its head.Emily is still reeling from Daniel’s proposal. As all seems to finally fall into place in her life, she looks forward to an exciting engagement year ahead, from shopping for a venue and a wedding dress, to creating her invite list, to setting a date.But all does not goes as planned. The endless events of the engagement year add more stress than joy, putting pressure on their relationship as they are forced to make hard choices. Adjusting to life as parents doesn’t make it any easier, as Chantelle runs into problems at school and as a custody battle looms over them. As Christmas and New Years approach, the stress is only compounded.Meanwhile, as the B&B adds new guests and staff and as they find more priceless antiques, Emily discovers a shocking secret that just may bring her one step closer to finding her father.Will she and Daniel get married? Or will the stress of the engagement break them apart forever?IF ONLY FOREVER is book #4 in a dazzling new romance series that will make you laugh, cry, keep you turning pages late into the night—and make you fall in love with romance all over again.Book #5 will be available soon.“A very well written novel, describing the struggle of a woman (Emily) to find her true identity. The author did an amazing job with the creation of the characters and her description of the environment. The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re For Now and Forever)

“Jaden Skye creates a set of characters that are very well developed, and makes you cheer for our heroine on every page. The environment and the overall description of scenes are superb, making you feel the suspense in the air the whole time.”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) (re No Place to Die)NO PLACE FOR MARRIAGE is book #4 in a new romantic suspense series by #1 bestselling author Jaden Skye, which begins with Book #1, NO PLACE TO DIE, a free download!When Tyron Barr, a rich, old tycoon confined to a wheelchair, is found dead at the bottom of his staircase, his stunning 32 year old wife is immediately suspect. But she protests her innocence—and calls Olivia and Wayne in to prove it.In a world where nothing is as it seems, a world of incredible wealth and charm, of intense greed and jealousy, loneliness and secrets, Olivia discovers, lurk behind the scenes. Perhaps just enough to murder someone.Is the young wife playing Olivia? Or did someone else want him dead?NO PLACE FOR MARRIAGE is book #4 in an explosive new romantic suspense series filled with love, tragedy, heartbreak, betrayal and suspense, one that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #5 will be released soon.Jaden is also author of the #1 Bestselling series MURDER IN THE CARIBBEAN, which begins with DEATH BY HONEYMOON (Book #1), a free download with over 200 five star reviews!

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) SILENT NEIGHBOR (A Chloe Fine Mystery) is book #4 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has over 1,000 five-star reviews. When a flashy, new neighbor flaunts her wealth in a suburban town, it isn’t long before she’s found murdered. Did her flaunting ways upset her envious neighbors? Or was there a deeper secret to her husband’s fortune?FBI VICAP Special Agent Chloe Fine, 27, finds herself immersed in a small-town world of lies, cliques, gossip and betrayal as she tries to separate truth from lies.But what is the real truth?And can she solve it while also dealing with the release of her troubled father from jail, and the spiraling down of her troubled sister?An emotionally wrought psychological suspense with layered characters, small-town ambiance and heart-pounding suspense, THE SILENT NEIGHBOR is book #4 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #5 in the CHLOE FINE series will be available soon.

I stare at him, watching his chest expand.

How is it that someone so strong, so powerful, so dangerous to find become so small when faced with an adversary? The adversary being me.

I see him, knees on the cold tiled floor, his eyes fixated on me in equal parts disbelief. I disconnect my vision from his small form, looking briefly at what I'm wearing.

This morning when I woke up, the sun was shining, snow melting on my front lawn. My kids were sleeping, my husband gone, as usual, working, making money.

Everything was normal except when I woke up this morning, I received a message. This message contained a lot of things I've been waiting to hear but one part, in particular, stood out and made today different. This person on his knees in front of me was the big difference in my day. So when I woke up this morning and decided what I was going to wear I decided I would not wear black because black represented the sign of mourning. I wasn't going to wear white. After all, white represented a sign of new beginnings and not blue.

Blue, well blue was a sign of trust and green with a side of healing so when I woke up this morning I decided I would wear beige, it was an indifferent color something that matched any mood any desire any belief it doesn't necessarily represent anything but nor did it negate anything.

'You know what is so satisfying about killing you?"

'What?" He inquires with that tilt of his mouth and thin lips I have seen a time or two. Many women found this man handsome. sexy even. I was not different, but I knew more than many of them what made him, his colors, the layers that fell away leaving only the middle left and when you looked at it with naked eyes you'd see it was rotten.

I laugh.

'I became a player in this cat and rat game much later. I find it comical that I am the one who gets to catch you, considering there are many people who started in the beginning. What is even funnier is I am the one who would get to kill you."

'You didn't catch me Mrs. Catelli."He says my surname with a pinched face as though he can't bear the sound of it coming from his lips.

'Then what do you oppose I did?"

He smiles, but it is not a nice one. It is filled with the ugliness which has corrupted him over the years.

Copyright © 2022 Shan R.K

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction from the Author's imagination.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations for reviews or fan-made articles.

Any names resembling any living person are purely coincidental.

First Edition.

April, 19th 2022

Written by Shan R.K

Dedication

I dedicate this book to you the reader. Please enjoy it and look out for the anthology on my website coming soon for free.

Isolde’s life was full of love and joy. She was set to be High priestess of the makkari, but everything changed in a single night when she lost everything at the hands of someone she thought she could trust.

For centuries, she has been on the run, helping the supernatural community under the cloak of anonymity while she works to clear her name and save the very people after her from destruction.

Enemies are closing in, but an unexpected complication befalls her when she realises she’s been fated to someone who wants her species exterminated. After all, an evil chance seldom comes alone.

A Queen Among Darkness is the 4th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.

Books in the series in order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - Darkness spin-off (will be available under book 4)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (side character short stories exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadow Series (Next Generation Coming Soon)

DEATH BY DESIRE is Book #4 in the #1 Bestselling Caribbean Murder series, following the FREE book DEATH BY HONEYMOON (#1), DEATH BY DIVORCE (#2) and DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3). In the midst of gorgeous St. Bart’s, a few days before Christmas, a Senator’s daughter is found stabbed and strangled on the beach—the day after her engagement party. While the rich and famous are pouring in to celebrate the holidays, the local police are desperate to keep it quiet and not cause an uproar. But the Senator’s family wants justice for their daughter, and they hire Cindy and Mattheus to solve the crime. As Cindy and Mattheus investigate, they meet the elite crowd surrounding the Senator’s family, an exclusive world of unimaginable wealth, of luxurious parties on yachts and private villas. They learn of all the people who may have wanted the young woman dead, all the jealousies and rivalries, the secret ex-es and affairs. They meet her devastated fiancé, her twin sister and her distraught Mom—all intent on the killer’s being found. They meet the corrupt police force, who wants them stopped, and a rich Russian mogul who controls half the island—and has his own agenda to bring down the senator. As they delve deeper, they learn the many secrets of this exclusive family and the young woman, and discover that all was not as perfect as it appeared to be. As they get close to the answers, Cindy faces personal danger, while at the same time her relationship with Mattheus grows deeper—and faces a crisis of its own. And as the two of them are about to leave the island, a sudden twist in events changes everything. Ultimately, they come to learn that on the pristine, perfect St. Bart's, everything is not always as it seems to be. Books #5--#8 in the series are now also available!

My name is Jonah Flint, and I sell fish at the Havana docks.
Five years have passed, and everyone still treats me like a dead dog that can still breathe.
Until I saw the wanted poster on the execution ground—red hair, green eyes, and a scar on his face.
My captain is going to be hanged.
I put down the fish knife and dug the trident out of the cellar.
Listen up, Caribbean Sea—the old monster that has been silent for five years is here to collect its debts.

My name is James Smith. After a plane crash, I ended up stranded on a deserted island with a group of beautiful women. I have to figure out how to survive in the wild while keeping my cool around these ladies, especially the flight attendant who keeps coming on to me. She seems willing to trade her body for my protection. Should I take her up on her offer?

The story of a Lycan and his Mate, and the devil who threatened to tear them apart. And the story of Three powerful vampire Kings and their fragile mate. Mysteries, the darkness of the past, and storms ahead, Can any of them make it to their final destination? Or they will get lost in the waves of time?

Two stories, six lives, one book, one desired ending and demons of the dark.

Read to find out their Journey.

Seventeen-year-old Wren Calloway has one rule: never fall for someone who smells like gasoline and danger. Then Rook Mercer parks his motorcycle outside her father's garage, and every rule she's ever made starts breaking one by one.

Rook isn't just a boy with a bike and a bad reputation. He's the reluctant heir to the Iron Saints — the most feared biker mafia in Harlow County — and he's been ordered to watch Wren's family without her knowing why. But watching turns into talking, talking turns into something neither of them can name, and the secrets Rook is keeping could destroy the only world Wren has left.

When Wren discovers that her father's garage sits on land the Iron Saints want at any cost, and that the boy she's falling for knew about it all along, she has to choose between the fury of betrayal and the terrifying possibility that Rook is the only person standing between her family and ruin.

Iron and Wildflowers is a story about loyalty, fire, and the kind of love that doesn't ask for permission.

I felt warm soft lips on my neck. My body felt like it was igniting.
“Your skin is so soft.” A voice said against my neck.

It was a familiar smooth voice that felt like it was filled with a richness. I felt a soft bite into my neck, and I moaned. Large hands slid down my sides. My knee went up and those large hands slid up my thighs, gently, caressing me.
The hands came up and moved between us to grab at my breasts.
The mouth that was occupying my neck moved down kissing my throat. My hands slid from his pale skin to his muscled back and wrapped into clean white hair.
**
Grey Eyes, black wings, and white hair that reminded me of silver. That was my future. A mastermind behind a stone mask. Someone who had been my bully all throughout my childhood. He became my captor, my husband, my abuser, my protector, my comfort, my partner, and my lover.

War is horrible, there is no other universal truth that is truer. It turns its victims, and everyone is a victim in war, into monsters and the victors write history. History shows that the winners where courageous and the good guys. The truth is the people who write history, the winners, they’re sinister. You must be to win.

Mr. Ethan's business is bankrupt and in debt, so he turns to the powerful but ruthless Lucas for help. However, the price of preserving his livelihood is something Mr. Ethan could never have imagined: his daughter, Grace.

Grace Ethan is a hardworking and kind-hearted young woman who has tirelessly searched for work to help her father in need but has been rejected repeatedly. She is angry when she finds out that her father has promised her a job as Lucas' secretary and his wife. Torn between her loyalty to her father and her own life, Grace is thrown into a world of power, arrogance, and control embodied by the tyrannical Lucas.

When Grace reluctantly joins the Lucas Consulting Firm, her boss, Lucas, has high expectations of her and demands even higher terms. But as time passes and their lives intersect, Lucas' cold exterior crumbles to reveal a man wrestling with his demons. Despite the manipulation and hardships, Grace remains determined and unsure if she can accept her fate.

Will Grace find a way to get through this risky arrangement without losing herself? Or will Lucas' control and secret affection be enough to change both of their lives forever?

"You're late," he said, without turning.
Lydia smirked and let the door swing shut behind her with a solid thud. "By exactly two minutes. Hardly a capital offense."
"Two minutes," he repeated. "Do you even know what I could do to you in that time?" He finally turned to face her and the moment his eyes landed on her, they changed. The look he gave her made her legs unsteady.
Her breath caught in her throat. "Enlighten me."
He stopped just inches away. Close enough she could smell him. He didn't touch her but somehow she could already feel his hands and mouth like they were everywhere.
"I could have you up against this wall," he said slowly, eyes fixed on hers. "Your dress on the floor. My hand on your throat. And your mouth too busy moaning my name."
Lydia squeezed her thighs together, her breathing catching. She was already warm all over, the ache building fast. And like he could feel it, Ethan reached up, brushing one finger along the strap of her dress. She shivered.
The strap slid down her shoulder. Than the other. The dress slid down her body without resistance, looking at her feet. She didn't try to catch it. She just stood there, bare and breathing hard, her breast rising with each inhale.
Ethan's eyes moved over her slowly. "Easy," he said under his breath.
Lydia tilted her head and gave the faintest smile. "I'm good at following instructions." She tugged lightly at the hem of his shirt. "Can't say the same for you."


What if your nightmares were memories of past lives?
Every night, Ethan Laurent dreams of the same girl dying in his arms. Every night, he fails to save her. And every morning, he wakes up with the taste of her blood on his lips and a name he can't remember.
As the powerful heir to one of the strongest werewolf bloodlines, Ethan has everything - looks, status, and a reputation that makes every girl at LuxeMount Academy want him. But he's hiding something dark behind that perfect face.
Then Lydia Bailey shows up, and suddenly his carefully controlled world starts cracking. There's just one tiny problem: every time they get close, history tries to repeat itself. And this time? They're running out of chances to get it right.
Can they break the cycle before it destroys them both? Or were they doomed from the start?

Five years after her first love vanished without a word, a quiet aspiring designer discovers he's a knight in a secret war, and that she holds the key to a power that could either destroy the world or save it—a power that comes from the darkness within herself.

He always shows his dominance and she always obeys him.

The only one who can remove and elicit them from her is Him. Will he ever take pity upon her and save her? Or he's gonna shatter her with his cruelty?

Ester Willows, is a delusional girl and believing betterment in future she marries him and is willing to cross every limit to work her marriage out.

Desmond La Corte, a cold hearted person. He is very proficient in masking his real emotions by his menacing attitude and he is trying his best to annul his marriage.

Two different personalities and with two different purposes. How are they gonna work their marriage out?

Ava Monroe is haunted by nightmares that feel more like memories almost feel too real.

Running through forests on four legs. Claws slick with blood. Darkness closing in. She doesn't know what these visions mean only that they're pulling her toward Varex Group, the most powerful company in the world. A family shrouded in mystery.

But the Varex family harbors deadly secrets.They are the last sunwalkers vampires immune to daylight, wielding telekinetic power that kills with a thought.

When Ava's suppressed werewolf nature awakens, she discovers the truth: she is the last of the Lunaris Pack, hidden since birth from the brutal Umbrax clan that slaughtered her people.

Two worlds collide.

Vampires. Werewolves. Ancient feuds. Forbidden love. A war waiting in the shadows. And a life Ava never planned for.

She is very sweet and quite childlike, has a different kind of innocence, while he is way too mature. She is too open minded whereas he is a very traditional man. She can make friends in a minute but he can't. She is an extrovert, while he is an introvert. She is shopaholic, while he hates it.She is too carefree and he is too cautious. She never thinks before doing anything and he thinks too much. Vidhi Singh Rathore and Shubhashish Singh Shekhawat are as different as chalk and cheese. But as they say that opposites attract ...Let's see if they can resist this attraction between them…

Arabelle, a 20 year old girl was born into poverty along with her sister and her single mother. As the eldest, she has been juggling in between jobs to support her family. Her sick mother can't do anything about it but to accept their fate. They have to live from the mercy of other people just to get by. She knows that their lives will never change unless she gets a job with good compensation. That's why when she saw the job ad as a maid in a mansion, she didn’t hesitate to go and apply for it.

Little that she knows her employer will be a vampire. Ralph is almost 200 years old and lives amongst humans. He hires maids just to make sure that he will not be discovered. After all, having a human around is like having an emergency snack. Every maid who has been to the mansion has mysteriously disappeared. As if they never existed since there is no body that has been found. Arabelle didn’t know about it. She will soon find out the mystery about the missing people from the mansion.

Amidst the mystery, she will find herself falling for Ralph. After all, it 's hard to resist his vampire charm whenever she looks at him straight to his eyes. As if he always has something to tell her. While Ralph seems to be drawn to her because of his past. Arabelle doesn't have a clue since he's being careful not to show her. They are both trying to hide their feelings from each other. But the more they hide it, the more their feelings for one another shows. As if betraying both of them in the process.

Small town girl Giana works hard and doesn’t depend on anyone for help. She struggles with family problems and copes by Riding her horse to her family’s lake to enjoy the peace and quiet. While at work one day she meets a her new student Gloriana. After an eye opening day at work Giana goes back and forth with her emotions but while learning to heal she end up finds what could be her first real love.. But little does she know the man she falls in love with is hiding a huge secret from her.

“Good Evening Madam. I’m Carlos and this is Jose. Is this your home?” said the taller of the two young men.
“Yes, this is my family's home. Can I help you?” Giana spoke softly.
“We are here to deliver this invitation to the Ortega family” Carlos held out an envelope.

Giana wasn’t sure if she should take it but she was Giana Ortega so she carefully took the envelope and thanked them. She watched as both men turned and returned to their vehicle. Giana went back inside and opened the envelope. Her mouth fell open as she read the contents of the envelope.

Who sent the invitation and where’s it to? What is Gianas love interest hiding from her?

"He didn't just break our vows. He's trying to steal my daughter. So I'm going to let a monster steal me."
Freya thought losing herself to motherhood was the worst thing that could happen—until she found the iPad.
Her husband isn't just having an affair. He's letting his mistress play "Mommy" to their daughter, Luna. While Freya mourned the body she sacrificed, the curves, the stretch marks, the softness, Mark was already replacing her.
But Mark made one fatal mistake. He assumed Freya was too broken to fight back.
Then she meets Steve Hayes.
Steve doesn't do gentle. He doesn't do sharing.
He is a man built on obsession and possession, and when he looks at Freya, he doesn't see damage—he sees something worth claiming.
"You're crying over a man who shamed the body that carried his child?" Steve growls, his tattooed hands branding her skin with promise. "Dry your tears, Freya. I'm going to ruin you for him. And when I'm done, he won't recognize what he lost."
Steve doesn't just want her body. He wants her loyalty. Her surrender. Her fire. Freya is done being the forgiving wife. Done being the placeholder. Done being replaced.
Mark shattered her. Steve is claiming her.
And this time… the beast doesn't ask permission.

My father died owing the Salvi family a hundred and forty thousand dollars.

I didn't find out until Vittorio Salvi walked into the bar where I work and told me exactly how he intended to collect — not in cash, but in me. A wedding. His son. A debt paid in the currency of my whole life.

I ran straight into the one man in Ironport with more reason to hate the Salvi name than I do.

Damien "Ghost" Cole runs the Ravage Kings the way he runs everything else — controlled, careful, six years deep in a grief he's never let anyone close enough to see. His brother died because of a debt that wasn't even his. Mine just walked into his garage wearing someone else's blood money on my back.

He says he's keeping me safe. He says it's leverage. He says a lot of things with his jaw locked tight and his eyes doing something that isn't careful at all.

I know better than to trust a man with a war to win. I know better than to want the way he looks at me like I'm not a debt, not a bargaining chip, just — mine, somehow, in a way nobody's ever bothered to claim before.

Vittorio Salvi wants a wedding. Damien Cole wants a war. And I'm done being the thing men decide over my head.

Ironport was built on debts nobody survives paying off.

I intend to be the first.

Athena has been on the run for the past 2 years all she has done has been only to keep her alive and hidden , her best friend Riley is the only one she trusted trusted in the world her faithful companions Zeus by her side she thought she had it all under control hide stay hidden stay low but , fated had other plans for her when she crosses path with the billionaire Daniel Chase who is smitten by the woman. When she crashes into him one faithful morning. His life has been filled with Athena trying to find her the image of her never left him she has always been on his mind when Daniel does find her she's left for dead he is intrigued by the woman before him but also concerned Daniel takes a chance with love taking Athena into his world , love romance, unadulterated sex and happiness ,he slowly immerses her in his world sheltering her and protecting her from the man that is after her .when they do find love and happiness their world is ripped apart when taken away from Daniel , what lengths will Daniel go to to find the woman that he loves.
Love ,jealousy and revenge all rolled into one when Daniel's Ex girlfriend tries to intervene Sean Johnson is obsessed with Athena and only Athena he means to have her by any means necessary and will stop at nothing however Sean's family has secrets and if he ever finds Athena , Athena will be buried along with those secrets. Will Athena and Daniel reunite will they have their happily ever after only time will tell Will Sean ever learn his lesson will he will he ever let go of his obsession of Athena. Will Athena stand her ground and fight for her life.