Betrayed by the family that was supposed to protect her. Forced into a marriage meant to break her. Alessandra Russo is not a woman to be silenced. After the mysterious death of her father, the powerful mafia boss of New York, Alessa is cast aside by the men in her family-her rightful place as heir taken away from her. They believe her only worth is in forming an alliance through marriage to Luca DeLuca, the ruthless leader of a rival mafia clan.But Alessa has no intention of being a pawn in their deadly game. In the shadows of her forced marriage, she learns to play the game of power and deceit, outwitting those who dare to underestimate her. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Alessa finds herself caught in a web of lies.With betrayal at every turn and the weight of an empire on her shoulders, Alessa must decide whether to rise as the queen of both families or burn them all to the ground. Power comes at a price, and in the mafia, nothing is as dangerous as a woman with nothing left to lose.
The night was thick with the scent of cigar smoke and cologne as Alessa Russo moved through her father's lavish estate. Tonight it felt foreign-a monument to a life she was slowly realizing was no longer hers. She could feel eyes on her, assessing her, judging her, as if every whispered conversation was dissecting her worth now that her father was gone.
Her father, the powerful Don Russo, had ruled New York's criminal underworld with an iron fist. Alessa had always known she would be his successor. He'd trained her, made her into the heir who would one day take over. Yet, now that he was gone, it seemed her family had other plans.
"Alessa," her uncle Enzo's voice cut through the murmur of the crowd, and she turned to face him, masking her irritation with a polite smile. Enzo had been a fixture in her life, but there was something different about him tonight, something colder. His eyes were calculating as they swept over her, his expression betraying no warmth or sympathy.
"We need to discuss the future of the family," he said, guiding her into a small side room away from prying eyes. Once the door shut behind them, his tone shifted to something blunt and unforgiving. "The family needs a strong alliance, Alessa. And unfortunately, you alone are not enough to secure it."
Alessa felt a prickle of unease creep up her spine. "What are you saying?"
Enzo's gaze hardened. "Your father left us in a vulnerable position, and the men... they need assurance. Stability. An alliance with the DeLuca family will ensure that."
Realization dawned, and anger sparked in her chest. "You want to marry me off to Luca DeLuca." It wasn't a question-it was a revelation, a betrayal laid bare before her.
Enzo didn't flinch. "It's what's best for the family."
She wanted to scream at him, tell him that she was what was best for the family, that she was her father's heir. But years of training held her back, and she met his cold stare with a steely one of her own. "I'm the rightful heir. My father trained me to lead, not to be a bargaining chip."
"Your father's gone, Alessa," he replied, his voice almost pitying, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his satisfaction. "And the family needs someone strong enough to protect it."
Later that night, Alessa sat alone in her father's study, her fingers tracing the edges of the leather-bound ledger on his desk. She remembered the countless nights they'd spent here, her father teaching her the intricacies of the family business, entrusting her with secrets she now held in silence. He had promised her that this legacy would be hers. But now, all those promises were slipping away.
A soft knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts, and she looked up to see Enzo standing there, watching her with a look she couldn't quite read. "You leave for the DeLuca estate in the morning," he said simply before turning and walking away, leaving her alone in the suffocating darkness.
As the door clicked shut, Alessa's resolve hardened. If they thought she would simply comply, they were mistaken. She might have been forced into a marriage meant to control her, but she was far from defeated. In that moment, Alessa made a vow to herself: she would learn the rules of this game, outmaneuver them all, and take back the power that was rightfully hers.
Because nothing was more dangerous than a woman with nothing left to lose.
She's my best friend's sister, which meant she was off-limits. But I could never keep my distance, because I had always wanted Mia. I tried hard to resist my feelings for her, yet, I couldn't. So, I walked away, thinking it was the right thing to do. Now, ten years later, I've made a name for myself. I'm a billionaire with everything I ever dreamed of-except for one thing: Mia. When I see her again, she's not the shy girl I once knew. No, she's confident, strong, and still the one person who has the power to make me lose control. However, she's also cold and distant, treating me like just another client, a stranger. She has every reason to hate me. But this time, I'm not walking away.
Rhea finds herself mistakenly caught in a breeding ring. Kidnapped from her life, she must escape while dealing with unexpected feelings for the men who captured her and their sister. As she fights to save herself and the others, Rhea discovers that love can emerge in the most difficult situations. Will she embrace her fate and become their mate, or will fear and danger tear them apart?
"He picked me back up against the wall, with the water running down both of our bodies, and I could feel the head of his dick..." Mature readers only: Whispers of lust is a series of steamy tales that explores temptation, lust, and forbidden pleasures. . Dare to read this collection of steamy escapades, where every page pulls you deeper into a realm of passion. Sometimes, the sweetest pleasures are the ones you're not supposed to have.
Ruby never imagined she'd fall so hard for a stranger, but from the moment she met Zane, he became the man of her dreams. However, what she doesn't know is that she's been rejecting his best friend, Alex, countless times without even realizing it. Alex, tired of being overlooked, teams up with Zane in a twisted game of seduction and manipulation. As Ruby unknowingly gets caught in their web, she grows closer to Zane online, while simultaneously spending time with Alex in person. But when she discovers they've been playing with her emotions all along, Ruby makes a bold decision-to continue her anonymous relationship with Zane while keeping Alex close, determined to turn the tables. What starts as a game becomes a dangerous love triangle, and both men find themselves falling for Ruby. Now, with the truth looming, Ruby must choose between the two-only one has captured her heart, but both could shatter her soul.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!