Veronica Jones thought she could handle the shadows, thought she could expose the truth behind her father's death without falling victim to the monsters who lurked there. But when her search leads her straight into the path of Archie Lodge the city's most feared mafia lord her plan unravels. Archie is as ruthless as he is possessive, a man who controls everything and everyone in his world. And once he sets his sights on Veronica, he'll stop at nothing to keep her close. Drawn to Archie against her better judgment, Veronica finds herself caught in a brutal game of power, seduction, and survival. What starts as hate burns into something darker, something she can't shake no matter how hard she tries. But Archie's world comes with secrets and a danger that doesn't forgive, and the deeper she falls, the harder it becomes to break free. With her heart in one hand and her freedom in the other, Veronica must decide face the fire and risk losing everything, or escape and leave the only man who's ever set her soul ablaze.
Rain pattered against the glass windows, heavy and unrelenting, as Veronica tried to catch her breath, fingers trembling around the pen she clutched. The dim light of her apartment flickered as if even it was uncertain about staying. She leaned back, eyes scanning the haphazard notes scattered over the table, each page etched with a single, ominous name: Archie Lodge.
The deeper she dug, the more the rumors and whispers hinted at something twisted, untouchable. Yet for every rumor, every name she scribbled down, there was a part of her that itched to know more-to push further, to unravel what the city kept buried.
Her phone buzzed. A blocked number.
"Hello?" Her voice sounded steady-she was surprised.
Silence. Then a low voice, smooth as velvet but edged in steel. "I assume you know who this is."
She sat up straighter, heart pounding. "I don't talk to anonymous callers."
The faintest chuckle. "Veronica Jones. You've been quite busy lately, haven't you?"
Her grip on the phone tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, I think you do." The words were laced with something dark, dangerous. "You think my business is just a story, something you can expose in print, but I assure you, it's far more complicated than that."
Veronica swallowed, her fingers curling around the edge of the table. "If there's nothing to hide, then why call me?"
The silence stretched, and she wondered if she'd gone too far. Then he spoke, voice quieter but sharper. "I'm not a man who enjoys being provoked, Veronica. You'd be wise to remember that."
The line went dead, leaving her in silence with her own pounding heartbeat. She let out a shaky breath, but even as fear prickled down her spine, there was something else-a thrill she couldn't explain, the feeling that she'd just touched a live wire.
The next day, Veronica's footsteps echoed through the marble-floored hallway of the Ritz. She didn't know why she'd come-curiosity, or something dangerously close to pride. But she was here, and the towering doors before her were the only thing standing between her and New York's most powerful man.
A voice cut through her thoughts. "Ms. Jones." She looked up to find a tall man, suited, eyes unreadable. "He's ready for you."
She forced herself to nod, to keep her chin high, even as nerves clawed at her insides. Inside, the room was cast in shadow, the only light a sliver filtering through half-drawn blinds. And there he was, sitting in an armchair like a king on his throne, glass in hand.
"Veronica Jones," he drawled, voice smooth as ever, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Curiosity? Annoyance? Or maybe both.
"Mr. Lodge," she replied, voice steadier than she felt.
He gestured to the seat across from him. "Sit."
She hesitated, every instinct telling her to turn back, to run, but pride kept her rooted. She crossed the room, lowering herself into the chair, refusing to let him see her nerves.
"Brave of you to come here," he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Or foolish."
"I don't scare easily," she shot back, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
"Oh, I can see that." He leaned forward, eyes glinting. "But you should know, Miss Jones-curiosity is a dangerous thing."
She lifted her chin. "Some things are worth the risk."
A slow smile spread across his face, one that held no warmth. "Is that so?"
He leaned back, studying her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was seeing through every layer of her defenses, dissecting her with a practiced eye.
"I know what you're after," he said finally, his tone smooth, almost mocking. "You think you'll find answers. That somewhere in this mess of yours, there's some noble truth waiting for you. But you're wrong, Miss Jones. All you'll find here is blood."
Veronica tightened her grip on the edge of her chair. "You don't scare me."
"Then you're more reckless than I thought." His voice dropped to a murmur, dark and edged with something like warning. "I didn't ask you here to toy with you. Walk away, and this... curiosity of yours can end here. Or keep going, and you'll find out exactly what it means to be under my watch."
She held his gaze, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. "I've read the stories about you. People disappear. Journalists get bought off or run out of town. You control this city because everyone's afraid of you. But you can't make me disappear, Archie. I'm not afraid of you."
The silence stretched, thick and tense. Then he laughed, low and bitter. "You should be." He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his eyes dark and fixed on hers. "You think fear makes people weak, Veronica? No, fear makes people smart. Those who survive in my world aren't the brave ones. They're the ones who know when to be afraid."
She swallowed, willing her voice to stay steady. "And what about you? Do you know when to be afraid?"
"Fear isn't something I bother with." He stood, moving closer, a shadow of menace in his steps. "But it might interest you to know that I wasn't always the man you see in front of you. I know what it's like to lose, to hurt. Maybe we're not so different."
She raised an eyebrow, doubtful. "I don't see anything in common between us."
He chuckled, leaning down until his face was inches from hers. "Keep telling yourself that. But remember, when you dig into someone else's darkness, you end up dragging it back with you." He held her gaze, a dark promise flickering in his eyes. "And there's nothing darker than what I'm capable of."
There was something fierce and magnetic in his gaze, something that left her with a mix of dread and strange exhilaration. She swallowed, her voice a whisper. "You're trying to scare me again."
His eyes softened, almost mockingly. "I don't need to try." He leaned back, his tone shifting, calm but deadly. "Walk away, Veronica. The answers you're after will ruin you."
"No," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper, but firm. "I'm not leaving until I find the truth."
Archie's expression darkened, and for a heartbeat, he looked... almost impressed. "Then I won't stop you. But don't come running when you find yourself in over your head." He straightened, gesturing to the door. "Go. I'm giving you this chance. Don't waste it."
Veronica stood, every part of her screaming to turn around, to get out of there while she still could. But a small part of her, the part that had driven her here in the first place, resisted. She forced herself to hold his gaze one last time, a silent promise that she wasn't done, that this was far from over.
With a final nod, she turned and left the room, his gaze lingering on her back like a weight. As she reached the door, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something she wasn't ready to name. But one thing was certain: she was walking straight into a fire-and she wasn't sure she wanted to stop.
Their gazes held, locked in a silent battle of wills. But as she sat there, heart hammering, she felt the weight of his presence, an intensity that seemed to pull her in, despite every instinct telling her to resist. And she wondered, fleetingly, if she was already too far in to turn back.
Dominic Westwood is a man with one goal revenge. Cold, calculating, and ruthlessly wealthy, he's spent years plotting against the man responsible for his sister's death: a corrupt politician who has evaded justice for too long. To take down his enemy, Dominic needs the perfect pawn. Enter Lila Harrington. Lila, a kind-hearted wedding planner, never imagined her life would spiral out of control. But when Dominic buys her family's debt, she's forced into a marriage of convenience to save them. Trapped in the cold, glamorous world of the billionaire, Lila must navigate her new reality married to a man who views her as nothing more than a means to an end. What Dominic didn't expect was for Lila to challenge him at every turn. Her warmth begins to thaw his icy heart, and soon, his carefully laid plans unravel as his need for revenge collides with an unexpected desire to protect her. But as Lila uncovers Dominic's dark past and the deadly game of revenge he's playing, she finds herself caught between two powerful men one who seeks to control her and one who might just destroy her. In a world where love is the ultimate risk, will Lila and Dominic find redemption in each other, or will their dangerous secrets tear them apart forever?
Seraphina Everhart has always played by the rules. As the brilliant executive assistant to the enigmatic billionaire Cassian Ashford, she's kept her head down, focused on her career, and never let anyone get too close. But when a forbidden attraction between her and Cassian begins to ignite, Seraphina finds herself tangled in a web of desire and secrets she never saw coming. Cassian Ashford is a man with everything-wealth, power, and control over his world. But his biggest secret could destroy everything he's built. As the hidden heir to a fortune he's sworn to reject, he's lived his life under an assumed identity, shielding himself from the truth that could tear his empire apart. And Seraphina? She's the one person who could unravel it all. As passion collides with deception, Seraphina and Cassian must navigate a dangerous dance of power, trust, and betrayal. Will their undeniable chemistry be enough to overcome the secrets that threaten to destroy them both? Or will the truth drive them apart forever?
When fiercely ambitious investment banker Sophia Hale is assigned to investigate the shadowy finances of billionaire Lucas Grant, her mission is clear: expose his empire's secrets, make her career, and finally put her family's painful past behind her. But Lucas is not just another arrogant CEO; he's charming, calculating, and dangerously irresistible. Their fiery encounters blur the line between ambition and attraction, leaving Sophia questioning what she's truly after, victory or him. Just as her investigation reveals Lucas's ties to a tragedy that shattered her family, she finds herself tangled in a dark web of power plays and betrayals. Now, Sophia must make a choice: expose the man who might be her enemy, or risk everything for the one man she's ever truly wanted. But as desire collides with danger, one thing becomes clear, falling for Lucas Grant could be the ultimate twist of her karma.
Lily Hartman has spent her entire life in the shadow of her older sister, Alana the golden child who always gets what she wants. Including Adam Westbrook, the brooding billionaire Lily once loved in secret. Five years after Adam and Alana's picture-perfect wedding, their marriage is falling apart, and fate forces Lily back into Adam's world when they're caught in a high stakes real estate deal. Determined to take back what was stolen from her, Lily embarks on a dangerous game of revenge. But what begins as a calculated seduction spirals into something much deeper when she finds herself pregnant with Adam's child. Torn between loyalty to her sister and the desire to claim the man she's always loved, Lily is forced to make a choice one that will change all their lives forever. As family secrets unravel, and Adam's dark past comes to light, Lily realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined. In a world where betrayal runs deep and love is never easy, will she risk it all for the man who was never meant to be hers?
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.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
"Listen, Gadreel Ødegaar," she looked at him, not hesitating this time. "It's my anniversary present for you. Let's divorce." *** Ivory Remington had sacrificed five years to look after her husband Gadreel who was in a vegetative state after an accident and a few months ago, he finally awakened like a miracle. She thought it was the start of their happy life but Gadreel still had no heart for her. On their anniversary and her birthday, she received a cheating video of her dear husband and her stepsister. Heartbroken, Ivory chose to quit this stupid game. She decided to set him free but the reason she left on the divorce agreement pierced Gadreel's noble pride. *** "Impotent? Are you serious?" He gripped her wrist and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "I'm a woman, Gadreel. I'm tired of being in a sexless marriage. Let's end it once and for all." "Sexless, huh?" he chuckled lowly and without warning grabbed her chin in between his hands, pulling her face closer. "Turns out my wife was so eager to get a man between her legs? "
Julia and Evan were the perfect couple-or so she thought. But everything changed when Evan abruptly ended their relationship, leaving her heartbroken and unable to tell him she was carrying his child. Years later, Julia has built a life for herself and her son, Andy, while Evan has risen to unimaginable wealth and success. Their paths cross again at a chance meeting, but Julia soon discovers Evan has moved on with someone else. Julia is done with the pain. She's fought battles alone, raising a son who deserves the truth about his father, even if Evan doesn't deserve her forgiveness. When Julia told Evan years ago she had something to say, he didn't listen. Now, it's time for him to listen. But is it too late to reclaim what he lost? "We should break up," he'd said, the words cutting through her like glass. The pregnancy test in her pocket stayed hidden, just like the child they would never share. Now, it's Evan's turn to hear the truth-and to face his deepest regret.
"It's getting hot in here, don't you think?" I shudder as my clit becomes wet with his smooth voice. I melt away in his arms. He kisses me with a passion I've never felt before, and I moan into his mouth, lost in the moment until I sense him kicking open a door. I realize we're in a room. He continues the kiss as I wrap my leg around him, pulling him closer, his erection pressing into me. I feel my panties dripping wet from arousal. He releases me, resting his back on the headboard, and grabs my thigh, pulling me closer. His hand goes to my hair, releasing it to let my curls fall freely. He guides his fingers from my scalp to the ends of the curls, muttering in a husky voice, "Fucking beautiful. ****** Jasmine found herself trapped in a loveless marriage. Her world shattered when she uncovered her husband's betrayal on his birthday. Heartbroken and betrayed, she made the difficult decision to leave him and start anew in Illinois, with her friend Ava by her side. As Jasmine tried to go through her new life, a one-night stand left her pregnant, uncertain about the father's identity. But complications arose as Maxwell, Jasmine's ex-husband, refused to let go. Jasmine discovered shocking truths about Ava's betrayal. As secrets unraveled and loyalties were tested, Would she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her way? Could she trust her heart, or would the shadows of the past forever haunt her?