Elena Russo lost the one person who meant the world to her-her brother, and ever since then, she has been deeply fueled by the strong urge for revenge on the family that murdered him. She dedicated her life to this cause as an understated waitress by day and a renowned genius hacker in the Mafia underworld by night. All her efforts to track down the Moretti family were useless. Everyone knew who they were, yet no one knew them. What happens when Elena decides to loosen up on a certain night and recklessly has a one-night stand with the same man she had been searching for all her life-Luca Moretti? And when she finds herself falling deeply for this same person, and facing a shocking revelation that all she had believed for years was nothing but a lie, what happens next? Why don't you find out?
ELENA'S POV
THERE WAS SOMEONE IN OUR APARTMENT.
It was a cold night, the type which made sense to party and drink all through-which was exactly what I did-but it was a little past 3am, and I was wasted. My vision was blurry, and the world was spinning. I had managed to come home alone, and now I was at the door, but I couldn't get myself to go in.
"Marco!" His name rolled off my tongue.
My brother, Marco would NEVER leave the front door wide open. He knew the risks we faced by living out here, isolated from the entire city, and hence, he was always security conscious.
Therefore, it was very clear. Either someone had broken into our apartment to rob us, or we had been attacked. Either way, this was very wrong timing; I am drunk for crying out loud.
I placed my hand on the wall for support, as I tried to steady myself. I took three deep breaths, hoping to at least have a clear vision. "Come on, Elena. Why did you have to drink so much?" I berated myself, taking a step inside.
I normally don't drink, I barely even leave the four walls of our apartment, but I had this huge fight with Marco, and it was getting difficult to breathe comfortably around him, so I just had to take a break from everything to clear my head.
Now, I wish I didn't.
I barely made it through the doorway when the house shook with a loud sound echoing from one of the rooms. My eyes widened.
Was that a gunshot?
My stomach turned at that moment, and I doubled over our little plant at the door. Everything I had eaten the previous day came gushing out in a disgusting shade of yellow. I tried to get a grip of myself but it was futile. I couldn't stop until it felt like I was trying to throw up my intentions.
As I stood to my full length, for a minute, everywhere seemed to be spinning. When it finally stopped, my eyes fell on a figure in black. He was hurriedly leaving a room I immediately recognized as Marco's, and when he saw me, he froze.
I too, couldn't move. "Who... who are you?" I blurted out.
Everything happened too fast, way too fast for a drunk and wasted me to comprehend. He pulled a gun at me, and I froze into place. His finger was dangerously close to the trigger, and I definitely was not ready to die. The next minute, however, I felt sick and had another episode of unpleasant retching.
When I looked back up, he was gone. I stayed still for what felt like hours, groaning loudly. Then I remembered the sound I had heard earlier, and my mind drifted to Marco.
"Marco!" I shot to my feet, ignoring the pain that soared through my entire body.
My eyes ran through the living room, and it was only then that I noticed its state. It looked like World War III had happened in here. Almost everything was broken.
"Oh God! Marco!" I exclaimed, yet again.
Finding my way through the corridor, I reached his room. The door was closed, but the second I leaned on it, it made way with this creaky sound that I never heard before.
My brain stopped, and so did my heart. "No..."
My feet failed me at this point, and I crumbled to the floor.
Lying there, in the middle of the partially destroyed room, was my elder brother and best friend... in a pool of blood.
No!
"Elena..." I heard his voice, and I immediately crawled to him.
"Marco, you're alive. You're..." My eyes fell on his chest, stained with blood and still bleeding profusely. I pressed my hand over it, not minding the fact that my hand would be stained.
His face was pale, his eyes held a look that was totally different from the Marco I knew. He reached for my hand, tiredly. "Elena, I..."
"No, no, don't say anything. I'll call the ambulance right away. You'll survive, you'll be fine." I tried to rise, but he pulled me right back.
"No. There's... there's no need. I won't make it." He drawled.
The tears fell from my eyes in torrents. "No! Marco, no. You can't leave me."
I saw a tear fall from his eyes, and my heart broke even more. "I'm sorry, Elena."
I shook my head rapidly. "No, don't apologize. I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I shouldn't have gone to that party like you said, it's all my fault."
The room felt silent, broken only by my quiet sobs. He squeezed my hand with the last bit of energy he had.
"I'm going to join mother and father. We'll be watching over you, so make us proud, little sis."
No! "Marco, who did this to you? I'll take revenge, tell me." My voice was shaky. "You can't leave me. You..."
"You have to leave now, Elena. Conner will help you, get a life for yourself. I'm always with you, Elena." The way his voice trailed off told me the hurtful truth I didn't need to know.
"Marco, no!" I buried my face on his chest, letting the tears fall. My heart was shattering, each second made it worse.
I heard him whispering, and I edged closer to hear him. "Luca... Luca Moretti..."
"What? What did he do? Is he responsible for this?" I asked all at once.
He didn't respond. The slow rise and fall of his chest came to a stop, and so did my heart for a moment.
My brother was dead!
I did everything I knew about resuscitation. Clamping my hands together, and pressing down on his chest like I had seen on TV.
"Marco please," I pleaded, the tears stinging. I didn't stop pushing, I just needed a pulse-a hopeless hope.
"Marco, please...please, you can't just leave me. You promised... you promised. It's me and you against the world, remember? Marco... please..." I trailed off, the rest of the words getting stuck in my throat.
I stared at his blood all over my hands, like I was the one who killed him. My heart was broken into more than a million pieces, and the pain was much more than any physical pain I had ever felt.
My eyes fell on my brother's now cold palm. In it was a black object. I reached for it, a gasp escaping my lips as my eyes fell on the symbol engraved on the tag. It was a symbol everyone knew.
The Morettis.
Luca Moretti.
They did this!
***
LUCA'S POV
I stood by the glass windows, my hands buried in my pockets, staring at the night view of the city.
My city!
My phone rang loudly, breaking the silence of the room. I glanced at it, my eyes darkening as I saw the caller.
Heaving, I tapped the "Accept" button. "Speak!"
"He has been taken care of, sir."
I ended the call, tossing the phone aside. With my chin lifted, I resumed my position, with just one thought racing through my mind.
My name is Luca Moretti, and I get whatever I want.
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
[Cute Baby + Secret Identity + Powerful hero and heroine!] Caroline loved Damian with all her heart for five whole years. She devoted herself to him and lived humbly for his sake. However, when the couple faced a crisis, she hoped that the news of her pregnancy would fix their marriage, but what she got in return was just a divorce agreement. And to make things worse, while she was about to give birth, she had fallen into someone's trap and her life was in danger. After managing to survive such a harrowing experience, she was determined to cut all ties with the man. Five years later, she re-emerged with her head held high, being the CEO of a famous company. Those who used to bully her now got a taste of their own medicine. And the truth about the past gradually surfaced... Dazzled by Caroline's newfound confidence, her ex-husband wanted to get back together with her, but she just turned a blind eye to his advances. Damian pleaded desperately, "Honey, our baby needs both his parents. Please remarry me!"
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
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.