Shadows of the Underworld A Dark Mafia Thriller | Psychological | Crime | Romance When Ariana Steele discovers the truth behind her father's mysterious death, her carefully built world begins to crumble. Drawn into the shadows of a powerful crime syndicate, she must navigate a treacherous web of lies, betrayal, and deadly secrets. Trust is a luxury she can't afford-and yet, she finds herself inexplicably tied to the most dangerous man of all. Dante Rossi is heir to the criminal empire Ariana swore to destroy. Cold, calculating, and haunted by a violent past, Dante is both her enemy and her only chance at survival. As they're forced to work together, a dark, magnetic pull grows between them-one that threatens to unravel everything. But not everyone wants the truth to come to light. As alliances shift and buried secrets resurface, Ariana realizes the war she's fighting is bigger than revenge. It's a fight for her soul. And the deeper she falls into Dante's world, the harder it becomes to know who she's truly fighting for-or against. In a world ruled by shadows, love might be the deadliest weapon of all.
Ariana Steele sat at her desk, the soft hum of her computer the only sound in the otherwise quiet office. The city's skyline gleamed through the windows, the bright lights of New York stretching beyond her reach. She had worked hard to carve out this life-one of structure, control, and safety. After her father's violent death years ago, she had vowed to never get tangled in the dangerous world that had consumed him.
But no matter how hard she tried to outrun it, the past always found a way to reach her.
The phone on her desk buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. A glance at the screen showed a number she didn't recognize. Hesitating only for a moment, she answered.
"Ariana Steele," she said, her voice even but guarded.
"Ariana Steele, the financial analyst?" a smooth, calm voice asked on the other end. "I'm glad I've reached you."
Her instincts tightened. Something about the voice felt too smooth, too controlled, like it belonged to someone who knew exactly how to manipulate a conversation.
"Yes, this is Ariana," she replied cautiously. "Who's asking?"
The man on the other end paused. "I'd prefer to discuss this in person. Can you meet me tonight?"
Ariana frowned. She'd had enough experience in her career to recognize the tone of someone who wasn't offering a choice. "I don't meet strangers," she replied firmly, her eyes narrowing. "And I don't appreciate being called in the middle of my workday."
"Don't worry, Ms. Steele," the man continued, unfazed. "You'll want to meet. If you don't, well... let's just say the consequences for your brother could be... unpleasant."
Her heart skipped a beat. The mention of her brother, Lucas, was enough to pull her to the edge of panic. Lucas was all she had left of her family. After her father's death, he became her world. And yet, no matter how carefully she'd shielded him from their past, it seemed that the shadows of her family's connections had finally caught up with them both.
A chill ran down her spine. "What do you want?"
"I want you to help with a little financial transaction, something you're well-versed in. I'll explain the details when we meet. I'm at the Blackstone Hotel. Room 1215. Don't keep me waiting, Ms. Steele."
The call ended abruptly. Ariana stared at the phone in her hand, her thoughts spinning. She had no idea who this man was or what he wanted from her. But she knew one thing: she couldn't risk Lucas's safety. She had to go.
Later that night, the Blackstone Hotel stood tall and imposing in the heart of Manhattan, a symbol of wealth and power. The lobby was busy, filled with businesspeople and well-dressed elites, but Ariana couldn't shake the feeling that something darker lurked just beneath the surface. The glass doors seemed to close behind her with an almost ominous finality as she walked inside.
She made her way to the elevator, her palms damp with anxiety, and pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator ascended slowly, as if taking its time to allow her thoughts to race. Who was this man? What could he want from her? And what did he mean by 'unpleasant consequences'?
When the elevator doors opened on the twelfth floor, Ariana stepped out into a hallway that felt too quiet. There were no other guests in sight, no sounds of life or laughter. Just the faint hum of the building's air conditioning.
Room 1215.
Her breath caught as she reached for the door, her hand hovering above the handle for a moment. Then, with a steadying breath, she knocked.
The door opened almost immediately. Standing in the doorway was a man in a tailored suit, dark hair perfectly styled, his features sharp and striking. There was something about his presence-something dangerous-that immediately put her on edge.
"You must be Ariana Steele," he said, his voice low and smooth. His eyes, dark and unreadable, scanned her briefly before meeting her gaze. "I'm Dante Rossi."
Her heart stuttered. The name hit her like a punch to the gut. Rossi. The Rossi family. The mafia family her father had been tied to before his death.
"I... I didn't expect..." Her words faltered as she tried to steady herself.
"No one ever does," Dante said, his lips curling into the slightest of smiles. "But you're here, and that's what matters."
Bloodbound: A Curse of Eternal Desire In a world where shadows whisper and blood binds destiny, Lucien, a cursed vampire prince, walks the thin line between hunger and humanity. Marked by an ancient curse, he is doomed to an eternity of darkness, a pawn in the Bloodbound Order's relentless war. But when he crosses paths with Isolde, a vampire who stirs something deep within him-something beyond thirst-his fate begins to unravel. She is the key to a past he cannot remember and a future he never dared to hope for. As war looms and the Bloodbound Relic-the source of all vampire curses-resurfaces, Lucien and Isolde must defy the forces that seek to control them. Love wars against fate, desire burns against the curse, and the line between savior and monster blurs. In the end, Lucien must make a choice: embrace the beast within and destroy everything... or fight for a love that could break even the oldest curse. Bloodbound: A Curse of Eternal Desire is a tale of dark romance, forbidden love, and redemption, where eternity is both a curse and a temptation.
Elena Carter never wanted to be anywhere near Damien Wolfe-the cold, calculating billionaire known for destroying anyone who crosses him. But when she's offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to infiltrate his empire and expose his darkest secrets, she can't say no. What starts as a dangerous mission soon turns into something far more treacherous. Damien isn't just ruthless in business-he's ruthless in desire. He sees through Elena's lies, playing a game of seduction and power that leaves her questioning who the real villain is. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of deception, betrayals, and a secret that should have died years ago. But the deeper she falls, the more she realizes she's not just investigating Damien-she's becoming his obsession. And in his world, obsession is just another word for possession. When a ghost from his past resurfaces, threatening to tear them apart, Elena must decide: walk away before she loses herself completely, or risk everything for a man who might be more dangerous than the enemy they're fighting. In a world where love is a weapon and trust is a lie, one thing is certain-this game has no rules, and the winner takes all
"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? "
"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!
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
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?
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.