Maria became an orphan at the age of 10 when her father was killed by a drug mafia and her mother kidnapped. Maria grew up to be a tough, fierce lady with the determination to avenge her father's death and kill Lorenzo. On her quest to destroy Lorenzo, she fell in love with Rodrigo not knowing he was Lorenzo's son. When she discovers the secret, her world crumbles as she despises Rodrigo. What becomes of their love and her lifelong desire to avenge her father's death?
"Boom!"
Blood splashed on my face, the first time I tasted someone else's blood. I touched my blood-stained lips and wiped the blood off, the next thing I heard was myself screaming.
"Dad" My mouth was ajar, I kept screaming for as long as I could remember.
"Be quiet little girl" Lorenzo barked, he was the drug mafia in Tijuana. Dad told me stories about him, he was the criminal my dad was so eager to catch but Lorenzo was the death of my dad.
"Take her outside," Lorenzo ordered one of his gang. He had earlier taken my mum out the moment he entered the house, he let me watch him kill my dad but drove my mum outside somewhere I hope to find out as soon as I get outside.
My shoulders slumped, my voice quivered as I sobbed loudly, and my cheeks were flushed as tears streamed down.
"Shut it, kid," the woman accompanying me reprimanded with a stern smack to the back of my head. I attempted to stifle my cries, but the overwhelming grief and fear made it nearly impossible.
When we got outside, she walked toward one of the gang members standing by the car and whispered something to him.
"Where is my mum?" I managed to utter amidst tears.
"I want my mummy" I cried louder. The lady made to slap me but the other man stopped her.
"Your mum is in the car, now get in the car quietly else the boss will deal with you". I kept quiet and entered the car as the lady ushered me in. How could they even speak to a 10-year-old like she's an adult, he even tried to scare me by saying the boss will deal with me.
As I entered the car, I saw her mouth and her hands tied, I managed to remove the gag in her mouth.
"Maria" she called breathlessly as I hugged her in tears.
"Are you okay baby? Did he hurt you?"
"I'm fine but Dad is dead"I managed to say and I stuttered saying the last three words, the scene played in my head again-Lorenzo shot Dad in his head as Dad begged him not to hurt and, he blew Dad's brain and the blood splashed on my face, even entered my mouth-I tasted my dad's blood and wailed, but Lorenzo broke into an evil laughter as they dragged me out.
"Shhhh! Mama is here" She tried to console me despite crying profusely, she had become a widow in her early 30s, and she didn't know what was ahead for her and her baby girl-me, Maria Sanchez.
While I rested on Mum's shoulders until Lorenzo and his men came out. What were they doing inside with a dead man all this while? Were they clearing the evidence that'd link my dad's death to Lorenzo or was there something he was looking for?
He came out displeased and one of his men asked loudly.
"Did you find it, boss"
"No, I didn't. The bastard is shrewd even unto death but his family will suffer it". He stood outside the house, just in front of the three cars he came with. Lorenzo was such a coward for bringing men in 3 cars to kill a man, his wife, and his 10-year-old daughter. The whole charade was not necessary except that now I know that he's a man who loves to flaunt his wealth and power. He loved to be feared and hell I fear him.
Lorenzo had a scar on his face that extended from his cheek to his jawline, he had a tattoo on his chest-It was a snake with its tongue out, its scales and curves were perfectly etched and it looked so real. I saw it through his unbuttoned upper chest.
"What do we do with the wife and kid?"
"They're just collateral damage, they'd be my spoil". He gave out an evil laugh and his men followed suit.
Lorenzo took us to his underground den, as his men dragged us in, my eyes flickered around the surroundings, we walked past some men packaging some powder and we finally got to a dark room where the lady released my hand and pushed me inside.
"In case, you are wondering where you are, you are in my den, you're my captives, you'd remain here until I say otherwise and you were blindfolded when coming here so that you'd perish the idea of running away, you are in the middle of nothing-no one can escape from Lorenzo, I'd track him and gun him down and his blood shall be in his head for obedience". He lifted his two hands over his chest and took the posture of an alpha and Omega of Mexico, no one could challenge him nor stop him.
"As for this pretty face, I'm attracted to explore". He said as he lifted my mum's face and caressed him.
"You, son of a bitch!" she yelled and spat on his face, our hands were tied behind, I'm sure she'd have slapped him as well if she had her hands.
"Woah! The detective's wife is feisty" He smiled as he cleaned his face and turned to his men and smirked.
"You're such a coward for killing a weaponless man, taking your convoy of soldiers to kill just one man, were you that scared of my husband?" She began again with every anger within her. Her face was flushed from adequate sobbing, it was the first time I saw my mum being so courageous-we were in no position to confront Lorenzo, we were at his mercy.
"My husband was a strong man, you'd never measure up". Lorenzo got angry as she kept on talking and slapped her hard across the face, she fell to the ground. Her face peeled, and the was blood on her lips.
"Mama!" I screamed as she fell from the weight of Lorenzo's slap.
"Leave my mama alone" I screamed.
"What a pretty little girl you have here, for her safety you better keep your guts to yourself". He bent down to squeeze my mum's face, he turned her face to me where I stood like a scared rat after exhausting my tears.
My mum nodded calmly, she couldn't risk losing me as well.
"Lock them up, this is their new home" Lorenzo ordered as he walked out of the room, I watched the door close leaving us in a dark room sitting on the bare floor.
"Who dares Lorenzo?" He broke into boastful and mocking laughter as he stood right outside the room's door.
Valerie had a perfect life going for her with her family and Andrew whom she found herself growing feelings for, but it all changed when an arrogant billionaire Carson was mesmerized by her. They tried all they could to refuse his offer but he was adamant in getting her. Valerie could feel her whole life crumbling down just cause of one man, she despised him for it, she felt stuck and lost thinking about her lost love and happiness with her family. as she asks her love interest for help while Gwen is doing everything in her power to secure the billionaire for herself and Carmen is denying her feelings for Assistant Benson But Valerie and Andrew start spending quality time with each other and she realizes he's not at all what he pretends to be, what will happen when Valerie finds herself having a soft spot for the arrogant billionaire that changed her life? will Valerie and Andrew elope or will she come back to her senses? will the plan Gwen's work? would Carmen stop denying her feelings?
Lyric had spent her life being hated. Bullied for her scarred face and hated by everyone-including her own mate-she was always told she was ugly. Her mate only kept her around to gain territory, and the moment he got what he wanted, he rejected her, leaving her broken and alone. Then, she met him. The first man to call her beautiful. The first man to show her what it felt like to be loved. It was only one night, but it changed everything. For Lyric, he was a saint, a savior. For him, she was the only woman that had ever made him cum in bed-a problem he had been battling for years. Lyric thought her life would finally be different, but like everyone else in her life, he lied. And when she found out who he really was, she realized he wasn't just dangerous-he was the kind of man you don't escape from. Lyric wanted to run. She wanted freedom. But she desired to navigate her way and take back her respect, to rise above the ashes. Eventually, she was forced into a dark world she didn't wish to get involved with.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?