Crime Novels

Cassandra Foster was held captive by Mr. Moshimo Tokoyama,a very well known Mafia leader in New York City. He took Cassie in their home in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania where she was left alone by her parents with a hired nanny. She was only eleven years old when he kidnapped her . "Are you Cassie?",Moshimo asked her. " Yes I am",she answered and a horrified looked appeared on her face when he suddenly raised Cassie on his lap and whispered these on her ears. " Welcome to my world my slave!",he said with a devilish laughter filled the room. *************** I was Sold to a Billionaire Mafia Preview (Cassie) Note: This scene maybe disturbing to a minor so parental guidance would be needed. For 18+ age could read this but read it professionally and with self discipline. This story of mine was dedicated to all woman out there who suffered any kinds of human trafficking. ---Demonlady25--- Cassie pov I curled my body into a ball at the corner of my room. He let go of me after he finished messing up with my body. I thought he's my babysitter when he knocked on our door but I was wrong. Letting him stepped his shoes inside the house was the day I felt like my life had been shattered into pieces especially my own dreams. I wanted to have a good memories of my childhood but this man ruined it and I couldn't make it back to it's normal way. Thump... Thump Thump... "He's coming to beat me again",I mumbled softly making my voice a whisper while my heartbeat was palpitating abnormally. " please someone help me! I'm scared! oh my... hmf ",I covered my mouth with my hands in order to lessen my sniffing sounds I got from crying. I prayed to God Almighty that he would come and saved me from my abductor who was like he's in hell madness. I kept on holding my crucifix necklace that my mom gave to me when I was only a baby. She mentioned it to me when I asked her about it when I was seven years of age. I wrapped my arms around my body to lessen the pain he did awhile ago. He kept punching, kicking,stroking every part of my body as if I was like a hard cement. I'm only a little girl who loved to be pampered not to be destroyed. I didn't know why he's doing this to me as if I made a huge mistake on him. He was just a stranger who knocked in front of our door and came inside as if he was the owner of our house. It was like a fiesty beating of an old man to a powerless and innocent little girl. Every part of my body ached and my head throbbed after he slammed it on the floor once before he started his cruel action. I could hardly ...

She could hear his footsteps coming closer. Pressing her trembling hands to her mouth she even tried not to breath. Her bruises were throbbing with pain and chest was heaving. She could smell her burnt skin telling her that it was deep this time. She knew it wont take him long until he finally locates her in his wardrobe. Oh, Lord, Please, help me out.She cried in her brain as hot tears slide down her cheek. All of the sudden, the room was echoing with his favorite music. She banged her head on the wall ahead on her helplessness. That creepy violin was at the max. She knew the reason too well. He had found her. Rishika just sit there waiting for her blow. She tried to numb herself. Like every other time she tried to tell herself that this is not happening to her but the moment she heard him say, "Oh, my dear Shikha, here you are." She broke into tears. She didn't have it in her to look at his face. "Please,.please, "She pleaded as she tried even more to hug her legs. "What? Am I not the same guy you so muc *************** Too Late Too late She could hear his footsteps coming closer. Pressing her trembling hands to her mouth, she even tried not to breathe. Her bruises were throbbing with pain, and her chest was heaving. She could smell her burnt skin, telling her that it was deep this time. She knew it won't take him long until he finally locates her in his wardrobe. Oh, Lord, please, help me out. She cried in her brain as hot tears slide down her cheek. All of a sudden, the room was echoing with his favorite music. She banged her head on the wall ahead of her helplessness. That creepy violin was at the max. She knew the reason too well. He had found her. Rishika just sat there waiting for her blow. She tried to numb herself, like every other time she tried to tell herself that this was not happening to her, but the moment she heard him say, "Oh, my dear, Shikha, here you are. " She broke into tears. She didn't have it in her to look at his face. "Please, please," She pleaded as she tried even more to hug her legs. "What? Am I not the same guy you so much wanted to marry? " Rishika Mehra, the daughter of the wealthiest person in India, was disowned by her family at the age of 17, for a reason never revealed to the world. She went to Germany with the help of her friend/childhood crush, Paul Schmidt. Finally, for the first time, she was able to breathe without any baggage until the day her friend asked her out and made her live under the shadows she never deserved. This story has entered Vote ...

Tied to the mafia man Luca Vitiello is cold, aloof and the Mafia boss of the New York underworld. But he seized so many other outfits into his control, making him the Ultimate boss of half of the US. He was seen less, and talks even less. He is ruthless and emotionless. People will either freeze or shiver when they see him.He is colder than the Arctic. What happens if he was forced to protect a warm-hearted and innocent girl, who starts to melt the ice around his heart since the moment she met him?Emma Costello is the unwanted daughter of Frank Costello. He treats her like a maid and a commodity. What happens, when she was taken away from her sad life into a life of luxury. What happens when her savior starts to fall for her.He is 10 years older than her.Will she love him back?Will he be able to protect her when her father comes back for her?What will Luca do, when he finds out that her father sold Emma to a highest bidder? *************** Emma is tied to a chair, blindfolded and gagged. She is scared out of her mind. 'How did I ended up here? All I remember is going out of the house to escape from the wandering hands and eyes of Ambers's friends. She is throwing a party again tonight, and all Emma wanted was to stay away from being raped by one of her male friends. So she usually sneaks away until the party is over. Her room is in the basement, which is not a very safe place to sleep in when there is no lock on the door to hide inside. "Did she wake up?" a gruff voice asked, making her jump with fright. Everyone around laughed at her. "She is scared easily. Are you sure she is the Costello's daughter?" one of them asked. "Yes," the other one said confidently. "Then remove that cover over from her head. I heard she is a beauty" One of them commented. Then suddenly, the black cover that was thrown over her head was removed. Emma blinked a couple of times to adjust to the harsh lighting over her head. She looked around a little and confirmed that she is in a warehouse somewhere. "Disgusting" one of the guys shuddered looking at her face. She felt a little relieved that her face is repulsive to these guys. Emma looked at the man who just commented. He is a made man and she never saw him in their villa before. So she understood some other outfit planned to kidnap Amber but instead kidnapped her. "Who are you?" the guy who removed the cover away from her head asked. He jumped away from her with disgust. "I am Emma, I am a maid in the Costello villa" she whispered with fear in her face and voice. The guy who removed the headcover glared at the one who is standing away from the group of made men surrounding her. He is standing alone and alert. "Is she the daughter of Costello?" he asked the lone man with confusion. "She is" Marco replied. "But she is claiming herself as a maid," Steve said with confusion. "Wait for the Boss. He wanted me to kidnap this girl" MARCO said with a blank face, playing with the small pocket knife, he usually carries with h

Crystal Jake: The Complete EDEN Series Box Set Read Free *************** PROLOGUE Crazy ‘NOOOOOOO,’ I HOWL, but there is gravel or grave soil in my throat, and nothing other than an ugly, dried-up rasp travels out of my mouth. My head shakes back and forth like a mindless wind-up toy. Even my body is denying the horror before my eyes. Without warning my knees buckle under me, and I find myself in a heap at the doorway of his flat. Frantically, I begin to crawl toward him, screaming, babbling. I can’t lose him! Not him! Oh God, not him. Please. Not him. Two feet away from his body and it occurs to me: this is just a nightmare. Of course it is. It has to be. Any moment now I’ll wake up. And the first thing I’ll do? Call him and tell him how much I have missed him, how much I love him. I feel the floor scrape against my bare knees. It isn’t a nightmare. It is real. We haven’t spoken for two weeks. I had exams and when I called his mobile, it went straight to voicemail… Shit excuse. I should have called again, I should have emailed. Why hadn’t I? I should have known. I hunker down over his body, my pose ungainly, heavy, that of a suffering beast. My buttocks hit the floor and my legs fold up and cross under me. I press my fingers against my open mouth and stare at him. His lips and fingers are blue and the rest of him is ashen and still. He can’t be dead. It can’t be real! The stillness of a dead body is impossible to describe. And yet when you see it you refuse to believe it. You always think it is a trick. A mistake. A ploy…. But a needle is embedded in his arm, which is blackened with the skin stretched and unreal. It looks as if it belongs elsewhere. That is not my brother’s arm. I know my brother’s arm as intimately as I know my own. My breathing is shallow and trembling. I suck a huge burst of air into my lungs and pull the offending needle out. My stomach twists. It should never have entered his body in the first place. I throw the syringe away. It hits something and rolls on the wooden floor. It also leaves a tiny hole in my brother’s flesh that does not bleed. I swallow hard. My hands are shaking badly. That means he didn’t suffer, a voice whispers in my head. He did not even have time to pull it out before he was gone to wherever it is he went to. Oh God! He is nineteen. He can’t be gone. CPR. I should give him CPR. There must be something I can still do. I grab his shoulders and try to drag him across my thighs, but his body is so heavy, so cold, and so stiff and foreign that my shocked hands fly away from his shoulders as if they have touched fire. I gaze at him as he lies unmoving. The blood that ran without rest during his short life has stilled within his veins. Everything has cooled and hardened. He is like a piece of wood. With a sob of intolerable, indescribable anguish I reach for him and with every ounce of my might I drag his cold, dead weight toward me and lift it onto my lap. I touch the soft brown hair that flops across his f

Razor's Edge (Underworld Kings) Read Free *************** Chapter 1 ELLISON “I really don’t understand why we’re moving so far away.” I’d repeated the same statement every hour of the last eight during our drive cross country. One day my dad came home and announced he’d gotten a huge promotion and we would be moving. Police Chief. South Vale: AKA, Ellison, somewhere you’ve never heard of. No one asked if moving was what I wanted, no one cared I’d be leaving the only home I’d ever known, not to mention, every single memory of my older brother. Those I couldn’t get back once they were gone. Starting at a new high school in a new city with absolutely no friends ranked high on the list of the worst things that could happen to a sixteen-year-old girl. That, topped with moving away from the only community I’d ever known, made me feel like my life was over. My parents didn’t even acknowledge my question, for them, the bottom line was that my father would be making more money. “Fresh start,” was all they kept saying. It really didn’t matter what I thought. It seemed to me like they were running from the pain. We pulled up to our new house, a quaint Cape Cod that would be very picturesque if I wasn’t in such a shitty mood. The medium-sized grey house with a white picket fence, a giant yard, and cute blue shutters framing all the windows might have lifted my spirits if it hadn’t already felt like a dungeon. It was much nicer than our old house—presumably, this was the kind of house any girl would want to grow up in, but I wanted all of my old and familiar stuff back, including my brother. My life in Hartford was like a pair of worn-in shoes, comfortable, reliable, you knew exactly what to expect and how they’d make you feel. Now I was in uncharted territory and I was alone. Ever since Adler died, half of my heart had been missing. He’d always protected me and made me feel safe. Now I was walking into a new life I didn’t even want to be a part of. Calvin “I’m going over to the new neighbors’ place. They have a boy around your age, maybe you want to come with me?” My mother suggested while standing beside me holding a warm casserole. I’d been in the house all weekend and my reclusiveness was driving her crazy. She was used to my older brother, Fox, who set her bar for normal. Normal to my mother being a boy who stayed out all night getting into trouble. The fact that I preferred to read and would rather play my guitar at home than go out on a Friday night, seemed to disturb her. That was a normal expectation for being the offspring of the president of a motorcycle club and his old lady. My mother had always been attracted to danger, she liked the fast life and found her niche with my father and his crew. My dad’s whole persona screamed criminal. He looked like an ex-con and the only reason he wasn’t in the slammer was that his club always took the fall for him—the perks of being president. They probably couldn’t figure out how they ended up with a kid like

Property of Drex (Death Chasers MC 1) Read Free EVE What’s the most selfless thing you’ve ever done? What price tag would you put on the ability to save the ones you love? They say the worst decisions are made by the desperate or the fools. I was desperate enough to make a foolish decision to save my family. The cost? Me. They may be a motorcycle club, but in all honesty they’re really an elite unit of criminals who just happen to drive motorcycles. They’re a business. An organization. A fully functioning army… What I’ve learned? They work in the gray area; life and death is real; and everyone wants everyone dead. Okay, so maybe that’s dramatic… No. No it’s not. It’s legit. I prepared for the worst, fully anticipating hating my new life. Turns out, I finally found out where I belonged. Oh, and I discovered I’m a little twisted or crazy. Maybe both. Drex Caine, the man without a conscience, didn’t ruin me the way I thought he would. Instead, he made me feel like I was living instead of just waiting to live. And I can never go back to the way things used to be. *Graphic Language*Sexual Content *Dual POV Please note: Book 1 does end on a cliffhanger, but book 2 has the conclusion and will be released March 28, 2016. After book 2, the rest of the series can be read as stand-alone novels without cliffhangers and will have different main characters featured.Cover Model: Derrick Keith Shane MeachamPhotographer: Eric Battershell PhotographyCover Designer: Book Cover by Design *************** Chapter 1 EVE “You should strip. These clothes aren’t going to cut it. And I also need to search you. Everywhere.” He removes his hand and steps away, watching and waiting, and I swallow hard. The painful knot in my throat only grows as I reach for the hem of my shirt. Taking a deep breath, I pull it off quickly. His eyes are on me, watching with open interest as I move to my jeans. As much as I’d like to draw this out and delay the inevitable, I also don’t want to keep dreading the first time. The sooner I’m naked, the sooner the suspense ends. I’ve prepared myself for what I hope is the worst. “You know what’s going to happen to you, right?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest as I push the jeans down my legs. He takes a deep breath as I step out of them. In nothing but my pink, cotton underwear, I try to find the courage to meet his gaze, keeping my expression as impassive as possible under the grim circumstances. “I know.” Chapter 2 EVE Two Days Ago… “So you came to me because you need money. For your family,” Benny says, stroking his beard as he eyes me. It’s not a question; he’s just laying the facts out there, summarizing. Swallowing back my nerves, I chance a glance at Ben, my best friend since grade school. When he suggested asking his dad for help, I wasn’t planning on it being this intimidating. Then again, I should have. Walking into the clubhouse for the Hell Breathers motorcycle club—one of the biggest around—should have reminded me how st

Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part Three (King 7) Read Free *************** PROLOGUE Dre There’s the type of evil that dwells deep within men’s souls, the kind that makes them do cruel things because they’re driven to do so by the demons whispering inside them. Evil can be subjective. At least that’s what I’ve learned in my time with Preppy. Not all acts of malice are created equal. Not all men who have those demons choose to unleash them into the world. There are those like Preppy, like Bear, like King, who’ve chosen to channel that need, compartmentalize it into something they only draw upon when needed. When threatened. Preppy is capable of both cruelty and mercy, of both murder and salvation. He’s been the victim, the villain, and the hero. What I don’t think he’ll ever realize is that this gives him a power most men would dare not aspire to. Throughout his entire life, he’s walked a fine line between heaven and hell, between sinner and saint, between endless love and hardened hatred. Then he died. And although his death didn’t include ceasing to breathe, he still found himself in a living hell. Preppy had every reason to harbor resentment so deep there would be no coming back from that dark place. He could have let the devil turn him into one of those men who answers his demons without question. I don’t want to say Preppy had been tamed. Tame is the last word I’d use to describe him. He’s too wild. Too unpredictable. Too Preppy. Taming Preppy would be like trying to put a leash on the wind. However, he did have this eerie sense of calm about him. He became focused. Precise. If you looked past the smile and jokes, you’d see someone who held his cards close to his chest and knew when to play them. Like now. With the echoes of my son’s cry playing over and over again in my head I knew Preppy would come for me. He’d play those cards. And he’d win. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The way back will be paved with blood. CHAPTER ONE Dre I was jolted into consciousness, my head slammed against the side of whatever confines I was trapped in. I opened my eyes, but nothing but blackness stared back at me. The occasional bump and hum of an engine made me realize I was in some sort of vehicle, but I wasn’t in the cab. I was in the trunk. My hands and feet were bound together. A gag was tied so tightly around my head the fabric prevented my mouth from closing, so I was forced to bite down on it. My heart was beating a million miles a minute. I felt my fingers turn cold. I felt dizzy, and when I tried to swallow, I found that I couldn’t. Don’t panic. I took a deep breath and set a mental image of Preppy and Bo in my mind. An acute sense of focus took over. A determination to get out of that trunk and back to my family. But how? Eventually, someone was going to open the trunk, I had to be ready. I felt around with my fingertips and bare feet for anything I could use as a weapon but disappointment set in quickly.

Ruthless Bastard (Dangerous Love 3) Read Free *************** Prologue Kinsley Knight’s lush body was temptation. Her pouty lips, pure seduction. And the lust in her eyes pulled Rhett West in until she left him dizzy. She was also totally off limits. The blistering heat on the tropical island remained, even though the sun had gone down hours ago. Rhett’s entire inner circle of friends were celebrating tonight. His two childhood friends, and fellow detectives, Boone Knight and Asher Sullivan, were standing at the bar ordering up another round of drinks. On the beach, twirling on the makeshift dance floor, was Asher’s wife, and Kinsley’s best friend, the vivacious Remy, with her bright green eyes and sunny blond hair. The gorgeous blonde with hazel eyes full of happiness, and wearing the white wedding dress, was Peyton, Boone’s new wife. And among them were all of Boone and Peyton’s family, as they’d all come to witness the intimate ceremony, which also included a week-long trip in the tropics. Tomorrow they’d all leave, while Boone and Peyton stayed for another week to enjoy their honeymoon. Rhett was counting down the hours. All week long, Kinsley was getting in his head, making him want things he shouldn’t. With the bulb lights twinkling off the trees they were hung in, Kinsley spun, her arms in the air, when suddenly she caught him looking at her. A slight smile curved her lips. The temptress knew exactly what she did to him and played on that, and the fun way she danced shifted. She held his gaze, slowing rolling her hips, her dress flowing with the curves of her body, hardening Rhett to steel. He shouldn’t take the bait, but he couldn’t help himself either. He leaned back in his chair and sipped his scotch, watching every sexy move she made. She spun around, her gorgeous ass moving slowly, the satiny dress revealing every perfect curve. When she turned back again, and gave him a little smile, he groaned and polished off his second glass of scotch. For the past three years, after retiring from the military, he’d worked as a detective for the Stoney Creek Police Department, and he took pleasure where he could find it, ensuring he kept Kinsley at arm’s length. But it was this damn tropical island. Seeing her strutting around in a string bikini with barely anything covering her had fueled his desire for her. He wanted a taste of her sun-kissed skin. And she knew it. “Something caught your eye?” “Shut up.” Rhett snorted, glancing at Asher. His friend’s light green eyes were all but twinkling as he took a seat beside him. No one except Asher knew that Rhett had a soft spot for Kinsley. Rhett had never told him, but Asher always had a way of reading people. Those people skills made him a damn good detective. Luckily, Asher only hinted that he knew; he never came outright and said the truth Rhett wanted to avoid. “Shouldn’t you be dancing with your wife?” Rhett asked, giving him a shove to go away. Asher grinned. “And miss this fine show happening o

Adrian's Vengeance (Mafia Heirs 1) Read Free I'll kidnap her before she says I do.ADRIANShe’s sweet, innocent, beautiful, and she’s going to be mine no matter what.Mafia princess Marzia De Luca made me a promise when we were children.She broke that promise. Now it's time to teach her a lesson.Marzia thinks she's going to celebrate her arranged marriage at a masked ball.But this party is the perfect opportunity for me to kidnap her.It’s time for me to show her that my love... means pain.MARZIASince I was a little girl, I've been in love with him - dark, twisted, menacingly handsome Adrian Bernardi.But my father, the mafia don, decided I'd marry someone else.Except I don’t want to marry the other man. I only want Adrian.I pray for help, asking Adrian to save me.But saving me means taking everything from me.Adrian’s Vengeance is the first book of the Mafia Heirs series. Adrian and Marzia's story begins in Broken Promises. This is a dark mafia romance. *************** 1 Adrian Eleven years ago "Hey, it's the outcast! Outcast, reietto!" Laughter follows the cruel words, filling the streets of the docks with its melodic tone. I grit my teeth together and do my best to ignore the mean boys like papa told me to. But they're determined to be heard, especially one of them, the one who hates me the most. When I look up from the water, a boy a couple years older than me is standing above me, smirking down with a disgusted expression. Like I'm nothing but trash. Quickly, I raise myself until I'm standing up and we're facing-off. I can take Vitto. I don't care if he's a Donati. He's got nothing on me. "Got a problem, cazzo?" I hiss at him. He curls his lips up in disgust. "Dirty mouth on a dirty kid. What are you doing here, Bernardi? I thought I told you and your brothers not to come to the docks anymore." "You don't own the world, Donati." We face off and he smirks at me. He knows he's got a one up on me. He may not owe the world, but his family owns the docks, which makes them royalty in Palermo, and he knows that as well as I do. "You're treading on dangerous ground," he grinds out. "Watch your step around here, reietto. Wouldn't want to hurt yourself. This is a dangerous place, especially when someone like me doesn't want you here." "Fuck you," I hiss. "You don't tell me what to do." "My papa tells your papa what to do, though," he smirks at me. "And he won't like hearing about this one bit." I stare at him sullenly, knowing full-well how right he is. Papa did tell me to be on my best behavior while he went for a meeting in the offices here at the docks. He won't be pleased to know I acted out. Again. I swallow thickly, knowing full well I can't fight this boy. But dio, the temptation is there. I want to smash his face into the dirty ground. "So, reietto. You better get the fuck out of here before I make you." Vitto steps forward, his face a menacing snarl as he advances on me. "You're nothing but trash, Adrian. You're not even a real Italian. Papa told m

Logan (Filthy Rich Alphas) Read Free *************** Prologue The Good Boy Logan W hen I was a kid, I would run around with a cardboard sword. I’d drawn skulls at the center of its brown papery blade and used red marker to represent the blood of my enemies. Growing up with five little sisters would do that to a boy. “Mom, I’m going out to play.” I bounced my ball, excited to hit some baskets. “Take your sisters with you.” I turned to her and pleaded. “Aww, come on, Mom!” “You’re the oldest.” And then she gave me that look, the one that said I better shut it. So, I always dragged myself back into the house, put my ball under the bed, grabbed my cardboard sword, and took my time gathering each one of my sisters. Celia always needed help finding her damn left sneaker. It was always the left one, never the right. Once, I’d tried to glue it to her foot while she was sleeping, and Mom went ballistic. Celia and I looked the most alike, both dark haired with green eyes and tanned skin. Reece and Rina, the twins, always held each other’s hands and waited for me outside—always the dutiful princesses, happy to make their big brother’s life easier. They were the only blondes in the family. Meanwhile, my other sister, Patricia whined about having to go outside. She was always stuck between the pages of a thick book and despised things like fresh air, human beings, and the sun. Then, there was my baby sis, Monica who always jumped her tiny self on my back and made horsy sounds. “Charge, horsy, charge!” Monica always roared. “Yeah. Yeah.” I would roll my eyes. “Hold on so you don’t fall off.” “You would never let me fall, horsy!” And then I would leave the house pouting and surrounded by pig tails and pink bows, headless dolls and stinky little fingers holding my hands. Happy, Mom would always stand in front of the door, watching us and giving me that special smile—the one that made me feel like my sacrifices were all worth it. “There’s my little man. You’re such a great prince. Don’t forget to watch out for them.” “Yes, Mommy.” “Always stay around them.” “Yes, Mommy.” When I turned twenty, Mom passed from cancer. I still had that cardboard sword, although it was crumpled, and the red skulls appeared faded and rusty brown. Presently, it was nailed to the main wall in my man cave. “Don’t forget to watch out for them.” And sometimes when I looked at that sword, I wished Mom had told me to protect her . She’d worked too much. We had lived in a house that looked like a mansion, but it was nothing of the sort. Eight bedrooms, five baths, and a small pool house. There had been no staff, just my mother cleaning and cooking, mopping and dusting, constantly with something in her hands, tired and stressed.

Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One (King 5) Read Free *************** PROLOGUE PREPPY PRESENT Tiny flashes of dim light spark in the darkened corners of my mind. Slowly, it turns from dusk to dawn, awakening my thoughts as the inner light grows brighter and brighter. I hear a sound, a faucet running, and I realize it’s the blood rushing through my ears. When it reaches my heart I choke as it comes back to life like a bass drum. Boom. BaBOOM it beats, on and on, until it falls into a quick yet steady rhythm. The new life inside me grows louder, stronger, until death fades away and I awake on a gasp. My eyes spring open. I try to take in air, but nothing happens. I try again and my lungs burn as they finally decide to cooperate. I can breathe, but it hurts like a son of a bitch. I’m fucking alive. My first thoughts shock the shit out of me. They’re of a girl. A sad looking girl with shiny black hair and huge dark eyes sitting on the edge of the water tower. My heart falls out of rhythm, beating faster and faster until it’s thrumming against my chest like the vibration of a jackhammer. Her. Although my vision is blurry as shit, my thoughts of her are clearer than they’d ever been, and for the first time in my adult life, I’m fucking scared. I don’t even need to see the big motherfucker standing over me with a baseball bat to know I am completely and totally fucked. CHAPTER ONE PREPPY THREE YEARS EARLIER… FUCK that’s some good shit. I wiped the excess powder from under my nose and rubbed it on my gums. “Grade A blow. Thanks, man. This shit day sucks just a little bit less,” I said. We’d just pulled up to Grace’s house after dropping King off to start serving his sentence. We’d see him again, but not for 2-4 years. “Fuck,” Bear said, echoing my thoughts about the coke as he snorted a line off my dashboard. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head from side to side, his long, blond hair flapped around his face like a wet sheepdog shaking itself dry as the rush from the blow slammed into his brain. I knew the feeling. I knew it well. I fucking loved it. Bear wiped any residual evidence of our pity party off the dashboard with his hand. He got out of the car, but I hesitated with my hands on the wheel. I glanced up at Grace’s little cottage and sighed. “You coming?” Bear asked, leaning down in the open window. He lit two cigarettes and leaned up against the car, obscuring my view with his jean covered ass. Reluctantly, I got out and as I rounded the car, I smoothed down my khakis, straightened my bow tie, and took a deep breath. I joined Bear against the car as we both stood in silence, staring up at Grace’s front porch. He handed me one of the lit cigarettes and I took it, taking a long deep drag. “You pissed he told us not to visit?” I asked. Bear hooked a thumb into his pocket, kicking a loose shell with the toe of his boot. I took another drag and exhaled slowly. Bear shrugged. “Some of my brothers, when they get

Ace of Hearts (Vegas Underground 3) Read Free THE SWEET LITTLE SONGBIRD’S IN MY CAGE NOW. She owes the Family money. Big money. And I’m the guy they sent to put the squeeze on her. So now she’s playing at my casino. Strutting around on my stage in her tight little shorts. Killing me softly. I promised she’ll be treated with respect, so long as she does as she’s told. But I didn’t count on her barging in my office and tempting me, begging for a taste of my authority. I didn’t count on her getting under my skin. And the last thing I want is to see her debt paid. Because then I’d have to set her free… Note: This steamy stand-alone romance is the third in USA Today bestselling author Renee Rose's Vegas Underground series. No cheating, no cliffhangers. *************** Chapter 1 Pepper You know your career’s reached a new low when you’re booked for eight weeks in Vegas. I stare at the giant neon marquee with my name in lights as the limo pulls up to the Bellissimo Casino and Hotel. I don’t care if the Bellissimo is the swankiest, hippest place in Sin City, it’s still Vegas. The shithole performers go to for low stress, easy money. Usually after they’re burned out. So why the hell am I here twenty months after the release of an album and less than fourteen hours after the last performance of a grueling tour? Because Hugh, my asshole manager, sold me out. And now my parents, Hugh and I are in a world of trouble only I can fix. Anton, my bodyguard, gets out first, then offers a hand to help me. I ignore it, because, yeah—I’m twenty-three, so fully capable of getting out of a car on my own, and not prissy enough to want help, although I appreciate the gesture. I climb out and shake down the skirt of my strappy, babydoll dress, which I paired with a beat up pair of brick red Doc Martens, and pop my earbuds out, the RadioHead album still playing. A forty-something woman in a blue dress and heels clips out of the door, making a beeline for Hugh. Behind her, a huge, broad-shouldered man stands just outside the gold-trimmed door watching. Watching me. That’s not unusual. I’m the pop star, after all, but it’s the way he watches that sends rockets of warning shooting through my veins. His unimpressed, quiet observation and fine Italian suit give him away. He’s Tony Brando, the man who now owns me. I recognize him. He showed up to my concert in Vancouver, and again in Denver. He’s the reason we’re here, despite the fact that I’m three hours from a total collapse, about to lose my voice and in desperate need of some alone time. Of course, even if the mob wasn’t after me for close to a million dollars, Hugh probably would still have me booked until the next century. My well-being never factored into his or my parents’ plans for my career. I told Hugh two years ago I needed a break. Time to find my muse again and make the music that catapulted me into stardom in the first place. I wanted to hole up in a studio to record my next album, which would fix the cash flow

Ruthless Princess (Mafia Royals 1) Read Free A mafia romance about best friends turned enemies by Rachel Van Dyken, the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series.The enemy of my enemy is my friend…I never thought my father would ask this of me, to become the second generation at Eagle Elite University, to rule with an iron fist, and to take care of anyone who gets in our way.But ever since the incident.Ever since Him.There’s been a war in our little clique.After all, a house divided cannot stand.He’s the problem, not me.He used to kiss me like I was his oxygen.Now he looks at me like I’m his poison.But we both drank it, again and again, never believing there would be a day when our love would start a war.And our friendship would shatter into a million pieces.Then again, the worst thing you could do in the mafia is hang on to hope that your life will be normal.The second worse thing?Fall in love with your best friend.Enemy.And heir to the Nicolasi throne. *************** A little kingdom I possess, where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find of governing it well. —Louisa May Alcott Prologue Serena “Shhhh,” Junior clapped a hand over my mouth as voices sounded around the corner. Our dads. Both of them. I grinned against his palm while he rolled his eyes and leaned in, pressing me against the wall, we were blanketed in darkness, just us. His scent wrapped around me in a way that felt like a fantasy. He tasted like cinnamon; the heat between our bodies would sear a normal person alive. But we weren’t normal. We were best friends. Who just happened to be sleeping together. At sixteen. And he was a few months older—the dads would flip if they knew—all of them. They wouldn’t approve. It was one of their many rules. And only they knew the real reason they didn’t want any of us together. But telling me I couldn’t have what I want was basically like begging me to do it, I snuck into Junior’s bedroom when I was fifteen. And the rest was history. We’d been inseparable ever since. “Mmmm…” Junior ran his hands down my sides, his fingers grazing skin as he tilted his head at a different angle. The hushed voices coming from the living room only made the moment hotter, more urgent. They’d kill us for being together. I wasn’t even exaggerating. That was the price we paid for being born into mafia royalty. And yet, I didn’t care, maybe I would if I had a gun pointed at me, but right now? All I wanted was him. With every kiss, I lied and said it was worth a life, life is fleeting anyway, why not spend it in someone’s arms? Better yet, why not spend it in his bed? “We’re going to get caught.” Junior pulled away and sighed, then pressed his forehead against mine, his eyes were an ocean blue almost teal, I always had trouble focusing when he watched me like he wanted me to know he saw everything and what he saw, he wanted—desperately. “Not today, we won’t.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Besides, we know how to fig

Owned (Dellucci Mafia Duet) Read Free *************** Harper Running from a mobster is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I never thought I’d find myself in this situation. That I’d be chasing a lie, wishing the people who raised me really were my parents, and that I hadn’t seen my true father die right in front of me. I wished I could pretend and stay with him, the man who saved me from the people who stole me and raised me as their own … Marcello. But he lied to me. He knew the people who took me weren’t my parents, and he never told me. And I can’t ever forget that he chose not to tell me. So I run. I run like hell because that’s all I can do when faced with the impossible. The impossible choice between what is right … and what my heart desires. Because I know, deep down, that I have already fallen for this man. But this forbidden love is not meant to be. He used me. Treated me like a pet. Like something he owned. Just because he bought my soul. But my love is not for sale. He may have saved me from that fire at my fake parents’ house, but that doesn’t make him any less of a monster. I refuse to look back over my shoulder even though I know he must be following by now. When I saw him at Andrea’s home, I feared he might find me, so I kept on running and left her there. Guilt oozes through my bones, but I don’t stop. I must keep going, for the sake of my pride, for the sake of my safety, for … the sake of my heart. There’s only one way to get out of this mess, and that’s to get as far as I can away from Marcello. So I run until my legs feel heavy, until my lungs are tight, and my vision gets blurry. My energy is fueled by my adrenaline, but that too is running out. I don’t have much strength left to give. It’s paramount that I find shelter soon. The city has plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in, and when my body is finally ready to give up, I run into an alley and sit down behind a dumpster. It isn’t much in terms of protection, but at least I won’t be spotted from the streets now. With my back against the wall, I sink down to the ground and suck in deep breaths, one after the other, until my lungs no longer feel constricted and my head no longer feels like it’s going to explode. I’m tired, so tired. I need to find a place to rest. But where? Where do you go when you have nowhere else to go? When nothing is safe? The thought of having to survive out here all by myself makes my skin crawl. I won’t be able to go to any of the places I used to go to because Marcello will be looking for me there. Despite knowing I shouldn’t be angry with myself, I can’t stop the rage at my own weakness from burning up my core. Because I’m not just upset at the choices I made. I’m upset about everything I’ve lost, everything I learned. I’m angry because of him. Because of everything I’m going to miss about him, about us. Everything that made me feel so damn good. And I hate that. I hate that I already miss him. He’s bad for me, and I know that. But a part of me ca

Redemption (The Protectors 8) Read Free *************** redemption re·demp·tion \ri-'dem(p)-sh?n\ Redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake Prologue Phoenix “Hello, my girl,” I said while simultaneously signing the words as soon as the door opened. The little girl beamed up at me as she stood in the open doorway. Her little fingers began moving lightning fast. So fast that I had to interrupt her with a reminder to slow down. Her sheepish grin was almost too much for me. “Phoenix, Daddy Seth is taking me to see Ace. Uncle Magnus says I can ride him.” I smiled at that and bent down to her level since she had to crane her neck to see me otherwise. I’d never met the horse Magnus DuCane owned and had recently brought with him to Seattle after leaving Texas, but I’d heard, or seen rather, Nicole asking her fathers if she could go see the big animal often enough. I suspected the men had a horse-crazy daughter on their hands. “That’s exciting,” I said as I slowly signed out the right words. “Phoenix, hi, come on in,” I heard Seth call as he made his way down the hall towards us. I wasn’t surprised to see his and Ronan’s youngest child, Jamie, in tow, the boy’s cherished Spiderman doll clutched between his chubby fingers. It had been nearly five months since Ronan and Seth had taken in the three orphans as foster children and from everything I’d seen, they’d managed the impossible and made themselves into a family. I knew they were eager to adopt the children and had already started the process of making the situation permanent. While the kids had initially been reserved around both men, they’d warmed up quickly once they’d realized they were finally safe and in a home that would give them the love and security they’d lost after their parents had died in a car accident. I’d been surprised by Nicole’s attachment to me, especially considering both the fact that she was deaf and shy around strangers and that I wasn’t what someone would consider a non-threatening guy. With my dark skin tone, heavy build and tattoos, I wasn’t the kind of man a kid like Nicole would have gravitated to. But for some reason, she’d been intrigued by me from the get-go and I was more than happy to return her affection. Even if being around her was both joyous and painful for me at the same time. “Hey, Seth,” I said as I rose and moved into the house. “Heard you have a big afternoon planned.” The young man had his hands full with a couple of jackets, a large tote bag slung over his shoulder and a smaller bag that looked packed full of snacks, sippy cups and several carrots. And I’d never seen him looking happier. I’d known Seth for less than a year, and while I hadn’t met him before he’d become involved with my boss, Ronan Grisham, it hadn’t taken a genius to know how difficult the young man’s life had been and how much he’d suffered. At the tender age of fourteen, he’d lost both his parents in a brutal home invasion which had also left him severely injured and traumatized. A few

Joker's Wild (Vegas Underground 5) Read Free HE KIDNAPPED ME. HELD ME PRISONER. I knew Junior Tacone was dangerous. I worked for him once taking care of his mother. I thought when the job was over I’d be safe. Out of his awareness. Out of his reach. But his brother took a bullet and Junior chose me to be his nurse. So I’m his prisoner, trapped in his beautiful house, subject to his rule. And it seems he’s developed a thing for me. Which means he may never let me go... Note: This steamy stand-alone romance is the fifth in USA Today bestselling author Renee Rose's Vegas Underground series. No cheating, no cliffhangers *************** Chapter 1 Junior It’s supposed to be a civil meeting after dark at Caffè Milano. Trouble is, you never know when you’re dealing with Russian mafiya. Fucking unpredictable feral bastards. We’re here today to talk territory. They’ve been encroaching on our neighborhoods. Moving drugs. Working prostitution with females I suspect are enslaved. I don’t give a shit what they do anywhere else, and fuck knows we don’t have much business in our old neighborhoods anymore, but I consider it a Family obligation to keep them clean. Keep the fucking Russians out of them. We meet in the open, at a sidewalk cafe in Cicero. We call it the old neighborhood, kinda like how my father’s generation used to refer to the Old Country. We’re in the business of lending money, same as always. It’s legit, unless you count the beatdowns that come with not making payments on time. These days, business has grown to huge proportions and we’re now living in mansions in the suburbs. Which doesn’t mean I don’t care about what happens in my territory. I see one of the younger bratva sitting at a table—Ivan, I think. Vlad, their leader, doesn’t seem to be there. Cazzo. I don’t like the way this is going. My brothers, Gio and Paolo, and I get out of the Range Rover, along with our soldiers, Mario and Luca. We’re all armed, although we don’t make a show of it by openly carrying weapons. “Where’s Vlad?” I ask Ivan. Gio comes with me, the other three hang back, as arranged. Ivan shrugs, looking bored. “Coming.” The girl working the counter—a slouchy millennial in skinny jeans and a fitted top comes out. I recognize her but I don’t know her name. She’s the granddaughter of the original owner, Luigi Milano, my father’s friend. “Mr. Tacone.” She greets me but her face is anything but friendly. In fact, her lips are drawn in a thin line and a muscle jumps in her jaw. She darts a glance at the Russian and back at me like she’s afraid of having both of us in her place at the same time. I named Caffè Milano as the meeting location because I consider it friendly territory for us, but I wonder if, with the new generation, things have changed. Maybe they’ve made deals with the Russians. I should be angry by the thought, but it registers as a low buzz, hardly an interest. “Can I bring you anything? An espresso? Cannoli?” “Get lost,” the Russian snaps and she visibly je

Wild Card (Vegas Underground 8) Read Free *************** Chapter 1 Caitlin Fists at boob level, elbows back, I lead my dance cardio class through some booty shaking to the song, Sweet but Psycho. Yeah, it’s pretty much my theme song. “Step touch, throw your hand down in front,” I sing into the headset, exaggerating the movements to help the class follow along. Dance cardio is my jam. I teach it four nights a week at the campus rec center and take other movement classes on the off-nights. Anything to keep me moving, which probably seems strange for a computer science geek. It does border on obsessive, but it’s not one of those body-hatred kind of things. I’m not working out to achieve some body ideal or to look a certain way. I just need to move. I have a hard time staying in my body, otherwise. Dissociative disorder is the official diagnosis. I check out when things get intense for me. Movement helps. Pain and sex work even better. General consensus—I’m broken. But that doesn’t matter much, because my time is running out. The siphon I put on the Tacone family’s casino business—the one where I skimmed a fifth of a penny from every transaction—got shut down two weeks ago. And even though I used an off-shore account for storing the funds before they paid for my brother’s and my college tuition, there’s a decent chance I’m going to end up swimming with the fishes, as they say. But I knew that going into my little revenge scheme. “Wide second position, deep breath in.” I start the cool down. It’s always over too soon. I lead the class through the closing stretches and thank them all for coming. “Thank you, Caitlin.” My students wave and smile as they leave. Here, I’m almost normal. I could be just like any of them. A pretty, wide-smiling graduate student getting her workout. It’s when people get to know me a little better they see my crazy. Decide I’m the girl to give a wide berth around. Which is totally fine with me. I grab my towel and head to the showers, picking up my phone to check messages. Not that I ever have any. It’s just an anxious habit from when my brother Trevor was still in foster care, and I would freak out if he didn’t contact me every day to let me know he was still alive. Still okay. Not living the nightmare I’d lived. It’s one of the many quirks I have the Tacones to thank for. The side effect of having a dad murdered by the mob. Except now that I’ve had my revenge, now that they’re coming for me, I’m thinking I shouldn’t have stirred the hornet’s nest. I was probably better use to Trevor alive than dead. Even if I did generate enough funds to pay our college tuition. I’d better warn him. I dial his number and he picks right up. “Hey, Caitie.” He’s the only person I let call me that. “Hey, Trevor. Everything okay?” “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” It’s sometimes weird to me how normal he turned out compared to me. But he had a decent foster family. And he had me. I had only ugliness and myself to rely on. “Hey, I have to tell you som

Indebted (King Crime Family 1) Read Free *************** Prologue Enzo Past “Momma!” My body shakes with every breath. I can’t find her even though I heard her scream. I have never heard my mother scream like that before. I run through the house I’ve lived in my whole life and feel disoriented, like I’m in some kind of alternate universe. Everything feels wrong. My stomach is twisted in knots as fear courses through me. Maybe the maid just snuck up on her? I circle down the stairs and down the hall to her room. I am just outside her door when I hear her scream again. “Just take me! Leave my son alone!” She cries out. I want to run to her, to hold and protect her. Something was holding me in place, though. Something told me to be quiet and stay put. I know if whoever has my momma saw me, they’d take me. Where are the guards? Why are they not saving her? “We don’t want you. We came here for the boy, and that’s who we are leaving with.” What do they want with me? I’m only a ten-year-old kid. “You are useless to us now,” another man says as if he is disgusted with my mom’s offer. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I continue to listen to her pleas. “The boy is ours,” the first man says. Then I hear it, the last plea leaving my mother’s lips, her last cry, begging for my life. Bang. I flinch and stumble backward. Both of my hands come up to cover my mouth to keep from screaming. A gun had gone off, the sound echoing through the house and reverberating through me. One shot that will forever change my life by taking away the only person I loved, the only person who loved me. “Remove her body from the house. I don’t want the boy to find it.” At the man’s words, I feel like my heart stops beating in my chest. My mother. My beautiful, kind, and loving mother. Why had these people killed her? For a moment, I was frozen, unable to move my body. It was as if my limbs were petrified. Maybe I was in shock. Only when I heard men approaching did my survival instinct kick in. My mother died protecting me. I will not let her death be in vain. I turn on my heels as the man’s voice comes closer to the door. Everything in me screams the need to run, to hide. I can’t let them see me, and I didn’t want to see them. I run up the stairs to my room as fast as I can, where I shut the door and lock it. I know it will do no good against their guns, but I had to try. Whoever they are, they are bad men. Not even a minute later, the door handle shakes. My body quakes in fear as I take as many steps away from it as I can. I can hear the wood splintering against the weight of whoever is on the other side. Looking around the room, I can’t think of a place to hide. Then my eyes land on the closet. I scurry across the floor, my socks causing me to slide and fall. I just manage to close the closet door when the door to my room comes crashing down. Fear is rooted deep within my body, making it impossible for me to move. The small crack in the closed door lets me see a sl

Obsessed with His Bride Read Free I’ll kill to keep her.I’ll do much worse to make her my bride.Aida was supposed to be a gift from her father. She was an apology for stealing from the wrong man and starting a war with the Russian mob.But I killed him and kept her anyway.Now the Russians want to use her against me. They’ll burn the whole city to the ground trying to take her away.I won’t let that happen. Aida’s all mine, from her pouty, delicious lips to her curvy hips. It doesn’t matter how many soldiers the Russians send at me, they won’t take what I protect.I’m a monster. A killer. I’m not the kind of man that settles down, much less for the daughter of a thief.But I want her, and I get what I want.The war doesn’t matter. In the end, I’ll make her my bride.Welcome to the Leone Crime Family! This is the first in a new series of steamy, exciting, and gritty mafia romances. Dante might be a killer, but he protects those he loves! As always, there’s no cheating, no cliffhanger, and a guaranteed HEA. Enjoy! XO BB *************** 1 Dante The asphalt was slick with rain as I stepped out of my black SUV and into the pitch dark night. I shut the door, making the sound echo off the old brick building’s walls, bouncing around the block and out of sight. The only other sounds were the patter of rain in puddles and the soft idling of the SUV’s engine. I knew Steven was watching carefully, a loaded Glock in his lap, as I stepped into the SUV’s headlights and let them silhouette me from behind. My eyes moved over to the abandoned school, my gaze passing over the boarded-up windows. It’d been closed for a few years now, and the city always said they were going to knock it down, but so far, they hadn’t followed through. Not that I minded much, the parking lot was big and far enough away from any high-traffic spots to act as a good meeting place. The parking lines were beginning to fade, and the lawn around the school was beginning to get overgrown. I’d have some guys come out and cut it later in the week, but for now, it looked like a jungle about to sprout and take over South Philadelphia. I watched as another car came down the block, heading toward the school. It was a red thing, beat up with nearly black tinted windows, rust around the bottom, and duct tape holding on the front and back bumpers. One of the headlights was out, but the thing still managed to drive despite the fact that it seemed as though it was about to fall apart at any moment. The car pulled into the parking lot, swung around, and stopped about twenty feet away from me. I crossed my arms, my pulse beating slow. I let the rain tap against my black jacket, not caring much if I get wet. I had on jeans, black boots, a gray button-down shirt, and a nylon jacket over it all. My dark hair was pushed back, almost haphazard and lazy. I took pride in my appearance, only insofar as it intimidated my enemies. On a normal day, I wore a suit. Form-fitted, expensive. But I didn’t want to be visible that

Tease Me Once (Shame On You 1) Read Free *************** Declan Prequel “I said, get on your knees.” My repeated command is murmured in a voice as soft as the dim light in the room. The dark wooden bench beneath her lets out a creak as her trembling limbs move ever so slightly. She’s still shaking from the last of her orgasm, but it isn’t enough. There is no amount of pleasure I could give her at this moment that would steal the thoughts from her pretty little head. At least that’s what she told me; that’s what earned her this punishment. “You pushed me, Braelynn. What did you think would happen?” The question comes with the leather paddle moving from my right hand to my left. As the light shines down on her, her bare skin is highlighted. With my hand splayed on her stomach, I move her myself, but she’s weak. The sleepless nights of worry and all the ways this is going to end have destroyed the woman I know. The curious woman who wanted to play with fire no longer looks back at me with the desire she once had. She’s broken and burned. And it’s all my fault. Her back rises and falls with each deep breath she takes, her belly pressed against the bench and her fingers gripping the wood beneath her. Is she purposely disobeying? Or is she so lost now that it doesn’t matter what I say … maybe she’s given up. I haven’t prayed in what feels like an eternity, but if God ever listened, if he ever cared, I pray she isn’t so destroyed that I mean nothing to her anymore. “On your knees, my little pet.” My words are spoken with a softness that draws her doe eyes to mine. Tears fall from the outer corners of her eyes. Trailing the paddle up the curve of her ass and then higher, her thick lashes lower as she shudders. Fuck. My pulse races and I swallow thickly from the sight of her. She doesn’t cry from the pain. It’s because she can’t escape. She saw something she shouldn’t have, and the terror has never been more evident than it is tonight. She’s slow to move, and just when I think she’ll obey, she’ll give me control, she’ll let it all go and forget about the harsh reality, submitting to the pleasure I can give her, her shoulders hunch over and she buries her face between her forearms on the bench. The leather paddle clatters to the floor at the same time a sob hits her, ruling this woman in a way I should be. Her cries take over, and the apology she utters is strangled as she covers her face. Fuck. Not my Braelynn. Fuck! With one arm slipping around her waist and the other cradling her reddened ass, I lift her to my bare chest, needing the skin-to-skin contact, heat to heat. My bare feet pad quietly on the floor as I kiss her hair and move us both to the antique canopy bed. The one she picked out. Like everything else in this room, it’s for her. It’s all for her. The mattress protests as I lay her down gently, careful with my motions as her ass rests against the sheet. Even that gentle graze causes her to wince, but it’s hardly noticeable. All I can see is a

What's Your Price Read Free Gabe Moore gets everything he wants, and right now, he’s got his sights on Laura Smith. Unlike any other woman, she’s not intimidated by his power. His wealth doesn’t delight her. Only when he fires her does he get her attention.The harshness of life has taught Laura she can only rely on herself. This crime lord monster won’t make her beg. If he wants her, he can have her, but she’ll never fall in love with him.For the first time in his life, he’s the one doing the chasing. Laura won’t let him into her heart, only allowing sex. He’ll possess her body, but what he really wants is to own her heart, where he sees the pain she tries to hide.He’s fifteen years her senior, but she's the woman he’s been waiting for, and there’s no way he can let her go—even if it means putting her life in danger to be with him. *************** Chapter One Laura Smith didn’t like being told what to do. After getting out of the foster care system at eighteen, she’d sworn to never allow herself to be in a vulnerable position and to certainly never show fear to any man. Gabe Moore wasn’t just any man, but one of the most feared men in the city. He commanded attention and power wherever he went. He owned everyone in it. Even people who had no idea of his presence were owned by him or connected to him in some way. Be it a workplace or restaurant. Sitting opposite him now, she stared right into his blue eyes. He was a handsome man and could have any woman he wanted. She’d heard the rumors about him. How women would gladly strip naked just for a chance to be with him. Each piece of gossip she heard sounded even more absurd than the last. “You’re not happy to be here?” he asked. “Why would I be happy?” “It’s a beautiful restaurant. Your clothes look stunning. You don’t have to pay for a single thing.” She glanced around the dimly lit restaurant. Other diners were present, but she saw the tension in each of their gazes. They were scared of this man. A mob boss, crime lord, she didn’t know how to describe him. He was a businessman and a crook. “This restaurant has a bad reputation for firing the staff that don’t fit their mold. The dress is a size too small for my chest. I’m not stupid. Nothing in this life comes for free.” She covered her glass as one of his men went to fill it with wine. Drinking wasn’t on the cards for tonight. This meeting shouldn’t be happening. “Interesting. You don’t like wine.” “I don’t like being told where to go or what to do. Your men gave me no choice.” Gabe smiled but made no sound. The biggest mistake in her life was not backing down from his gaze. Yesterday, he’d gone to the bar where she worked. It was after hours, so the place had been a mess. As per instructions, she stayed to help clean up said mess, only Gabe had been intent on punishing one of the bosses who owned the place. She’d never seen him before. The other employees had looked away, bowed at his command. Not her. He’d looked at her, and she’d stared right bac

Submitting to the Billionaire Read Free She is mine...she just doesn't know it yet. NikolaiWhen people look into my eyes they realize instantly that they'll find more pity looking into a cobra's eyes.I'm ruthless and heartless, and I have the Midas touch. Everything I touch turns to gold. There is not one thing I wanted that I have not ultimately conquered and made mine.Now I want her. There's one problem though. She hates my fucking guts.But I'm licking my lips. I know how to fix that. I'll make her submit, then I'll take her, over and over until she's in no doubt who she belongs too. Star It isn't meant to be anything more than a contract I have to fulfill. One month and it will be over. I'll get through this, then I can go back and pick up the pieces of my life.When I meet the Russian, the owner of the contract, any worries that I need to harden my heart and keep my emotions locked up, disappear.This man makes it easy to hate him.He is the most arrogant, cold-hearted brute I've ever met. I hate him...Well I do...until the unthinkable happens.This is a standalone romance with a HOT ALPHA male and guaranteed HEA. *************** Chapter One Nikolai Thump, thump, thump. Fucking hell! Someone take my head out of the drum of this washing machine. The wash cycle continues as my cell phone vibrates against the surface of the bedside table. The sound is like a nail gun going crazy. I unglue my eyes. My lofty, gilded ceiling comes into view. I stretch out my arm, fumble around, locate the blasted thing, hold it over my face, and squint at it. The blue light from the screen blinds me. Screwing my eyes, I hit the green button and put it to my ear. “Boss, I’ve been pushing the bell for some time, and didn't get a response. Are you okay?” Semyon’s alarmed, booming voice tips the washing machine into the spin cycle. “What time is it?” “After seven, Boss.” “So?” “At night, Boss.” “What?” I took four pills and decided to lie down for a few minutes, but I must have been more wiped out than I thought. I should have been at the club by seven. “Bring the car around to the front in fifteen,” I instruct, pulling myself off the bed. My shoes are haphazardly kicked in two different directions, but I’m still in my clothes. Rolling my shoulders, I make my way to the bathroom. I open my mirrored cabinet, and reach for a new box of tablets. Discarding the plastic wrapper, I go into the drawing room and head for the bar. It’s an antique, made from wood reclaimed from a Russian church. Warning. Do not take more than twelve tablets in any twenty-four hour period. Fuck that. I pop out eight pills into the palm of my hand. Grabbing a bottle of Grey Goose, I unscrew the top, and take a generous swig of neat vodka. Nice one. Fortified by the best legal anesthetic available, I go swiftly to the bathroom. In ten minutes, I’m showered and dressed in a fine Saville Row black tailored suit. I grab my phone and wallet, and glance in the hall mirror. No time to shave. Still the five

American Savages (Ruthless People 3) Read Free “Villains by Choice." Betrayed. Melody is nowhere to be found, Liam is in jail, and the Callahan family is cracking, just as Avian Doers, the FBI Director and puppet master behind their downfall, planned.But just because they’re down doesn't mean they’re out. To fight back, Liam and Melody will have to put everything on the line. The kid gloves are coming off, and no one is getting out alive. Nothing will compare to the reign of terror that is about to envelope the entire country. First they were Ruthless, now they are pure Savages. The end is here, and no one is safe…18+ Adults Only for violence and sex. *************** PROLOGUE “I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.” —John Steinbeck ORLANDO FOURTEEN YEARS AGO His fist collided with her face, sending her to the ground so quickly that her hair whipped around her face before she hit the mat. She stayed there for a moment, frozen on the boxing ring’s floor, almost dead, before she tried to push herself up. Her arms wobbled, and her chest rose and fell as she desperately tried to get the air back into her lungs. She managed to get to one knee before crumbling back onto the mat. Pitiful. “Get up, Melody,” I said to her, as I leaned back against the wall of the old boxing gym outside of the city. It was just as run down as the town itself. No one but our people came over here anymore—sweat of sweat, hot blood of hot blood, we were Italians; one people. And she was disgracing herself in front of the very people who needed to respect her the most. She didn't move, she just lay there like a dead thing. Neither a human nor an animal. “I said get up, Melody!” With a small, frustrated cry, she pushed herself to her feet, and threw herself onto the ropes of the ring in order to stand, as Gino held on to her. “Miss? Miss Giovanni? Are you alright?” Gino asked her, glancing at me, wide-eyed when she did not answer. “Let her go. And I swear to God Almighty, Melody, if you fall again…” “I’m fine.” She pushed the loose strands of her dark hair behind her ear and stood straighter as she raised her wrapped fists. She shook her head a few times, and tried to maintain her composure. “See? She’s fine. Now start again,” I said to him.

Stealing His Thunder (Masters of Adrenaline 1) Read Free From the author of the Masters Unleashed series, Sparrow Beckett revs things up with two lovers on a collision course in the first Masters of Adrenaline novel.   Nothing gives Addison Kennedy a rush like stealing cars. The Lexus was the perfect target, but before she can get its engine purring, she's cold-cocked unconscious. When she comes to, she finds herself on a bed with a blonde, tattooed god standing over her.   Fox Larson is shocked to discover the thief he knocked out is actually a hot girl. Bringing her home may not have been the smartest move, but he wasn’t about to leave an unconscious and defenseless woman in a parking garage. Besides, if she’s part of an auto theft crew infringing on his territory, he needs to pump her for information.   However, Addison has personal drive that won’t be denied and she’s desperate to prove Fox’s group needs her skills. Submitting to his kinks in the bedroom is a hot yet complicated bonus. When a big job goes bad, and Addison finally gets her chance, will she succeed in stealing his thunder? *************** Chapter 1 Energy buzzed through Addison as though lightning had invaded her bloodstream. Sweat beaded on her forehead despite the dry Nevada night. Awkwardly, she held her body as close to the window of the vehicle without touching it as she could. Her ass was dangerously close to bumping the car in the next spot over. She made a mental note to avoid crowded parking lots from now on, even if the ritzy apartment complex did have some of the finest engines she’d ever seen. After disabling the alarm on the silver Lexus, she slid the blank key into her hacking device and waited for it to upload the car’s computer information. It was her first time using the new software—something she had modeled after an existing gadget thieves who actually had money could afford. It was hard to believe she’d gone from mostly law-abiding undergrad student to criminal all because of a news segment on high-end car theft. The idea that it was now about hacking instead of hotwiring appealed to her inner nerd. Time to put her electrical engineering degree to the test. Busting her ass for her master’s was a waste of her time and potential when, in less than ten minutes, she could drive off in a hundred and fifty thousand dollar Lexus. So far, she hadn’t resold any of them to chop shops or done anything that illegal. Ditching them on the side of the highway was enough to feed her adrenaline addiction. The whole thing was harmless and barely broke any laws. It was more of a prank, really. At least that was what she told herself as she went to sleep at night. She might have been slinking around in the dark, wearing black, stealing cars from rich people, but she had principles, damn it. Eventually, she might travel down the cash-paved road of organized crime, but she had a plan to keep her karma scale in balance. She’d donate a large percentage of her income to charity.

Reparation of Sin (The Society Trilogy 2) Read Free *************** 1 Ivy I am blind. I reach up, my wrists bound, to touch the blindfold. Instinct. A hand captures one arm. Strong. Cold. I smell leather and realize it’s a glove. “Keep it on,” he orders. I nod, but I’m not sure if he can make that out because I’m shaking so badly. The dampness of this place has gotten into my bones, the stone cold beneath my bare feet, dirt wet between my toes. I smell a forest. Is that possible? Where am I? “What’s happening?” I ask for the hundredth time since he brought me to this cellar-like space. “You take it off while I’m here, and I’ll bind your arms behind your back again. You don’t want that.” “No,” I agree although I’m not sure he was waiting for my reply. I’m sure he doesn’t care. I’m still dressed at least. Though the gown is ruined. Has it been hours or days since he took me? Hours or days since Santiago lay dying—dead—on the floor of the formal dining room set for an elaborate, elegant dinner. That was ruined too. Tables and chairs turned over. The finest crystal shattered in the chaos when the lights went out. Dead. “Where is Santiago?” I ask, knowing he won’t tell me. He has hardly spoken to me since he brought me here. “Where am I?” I hear him move around and turn my head to follow the sound even though I can’t see him. He’s careful not to touch me, and when I feel him close, feel his clothes brush against me, I shudder and pull away. But when I hear him open the heavy metal door, I rush toward it, arms outstretched even though I know there isn’t anything to fall over. I’d managed to get the blindfold off before he’d come back. “Wait!” Powerful hands close around my shoulders, catching me. Fingers dig into bare flesh, my body forced to a jarring stop. “Please!” I cry out, tears wet on the blindfold. “What’s happening? Please just tell me what’s happening!” He makes a sound from deep in his throat. A groan. Like I’m a nuisance. Like he doesn’t have time for me. Then he shouldn’t have kidnapped me. “Santiago,” I start, clearing my throat when I choke on his name. “My husband.” Another pause. “He’s…is he…?” I can’t say it. “Eat. If you don’t eat the food, the rats will come to have it.” “Rats?” I panic. “You don’t want that, either.” He walks me backward, skeletons of small dead animals crunching under his shoes, cutting the skin on the bottom of my feet. The backs of my knees hit the metal bed frame with the smelly, ancient mattress on top. He pushes me down abruptly, then releases me. I remain seated because I know not to fight this man. I hear him walk away. To the door, I guess. To leave me alone in this darkness again. Maybe I should be grateful, though. He hasn’t touched me. Not like that. The door creaks as he pulls it closed. He’s almost gone. “Please just tell me if he’s okay,” I plead in a whisper. “If he’s…alive.” He stops, and I can just about make out the silhouette of his giant body through the blindfold. He’s big. Like Santiago. And

Repo (The Henchmen MC 4) Read Free MAZE: In concept, the plan was simple: prospect at The Henchmen MC. In practice, however, it was anything but. One, because I was a woman. Two, because it was a brotherhood. And three, because Repo, the man who was in charge of making my life a living hell until I quit or screwed up enough to get thrown out, also happened to be the hottest guy I had come across in ages. The problem was, if I didn't get in and stay in despite the hazing from the members and the undeniable attraction building between me and Repo, there was a very good chance I would be found by them. And if I was found by them, well, I was dead. REPO: How the hell was I supposed to get her out of the MC when, one, I didn't agree with the fact that because she was a woman, she had no place in The Henchmen. Two, because she was strong, smart, capable, and determined to get a patch. And three, because, well, I wanted her. The problem was, if I didn't get her kicked out, I would be screwing up a job that was important to the prez. But the problem was also that if I kicked her out, there was no way I was going to get a shot with her. I didn't know, however, that the real problem was a lot more complicated and a lot more dangerous than disappointing my boss or not getting laid... the problem was Maze had demons and they were hot on her trail... * This can be read as a stand-alone and has an HEA but has side characters from the other Henchmen books. *************** Prologue Maze I've been a magnet for trouble my entire life. It has never been by my own doing, mind you. I've always been on the up and up, the straight and narrow, the right side of the law. But as for the people around me, yeah, therein was the problem. It all started with my mother who somehow managed to illegally obtain social security benefits she wasn't entitled to for ten years before they found her. By that time, they had attempted all the nice ways of contacting her and trying to get her to settle her debt. My mother, being the selfish, stubborn woman she was, never responded. So then one day, they stopped by and dragged her to jail and me into the system. It only lasted for two weeks before my grandmother from Vermont made the trip down to the city and picked me up. For the next eight years, there was no trouble, no fear of the police, no pit in my stomach. I had a good, albeit rather boring, childhood and adolescence. About two months after I turned eighteen, my grandmother died. She left me the house and her car and what little money was in her bank account as well as completely and utterly alone in the world. Then, well, what is a story about trouble without involving a boy, right? I was nineteen, attending the local community college, taking classes in accounting, going home to an empty house filled with the ghosts of the woman who had lived there for sixty some-odd years, studying and eating dinner alone. Then one day, behind me at the line at the coffee shop, I met him

N9ne: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater (King 9) Read Free Stalking is such sweet sorrow...Nine lives. Nine inches. One chance to make her his. Preppy's brother is about to live up to the family legacy in more ways than one.This is the story of Nine, The Tale of Kevin Clearwater.Nine can be read as a complete standalone. *************** “The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls.” Edgar Allan Poe Prologue Time has no master. It’s elusive, yet as real as greed. It presses on when you need it to stand still and comes to a halt just as you’ve hit full speed. No matter how fat your wallet is, you can’t buy more time. It won’t be bargained for or reasoned with. Willing it to stop or fast-forward is of no use. All-powerful. Godlike. Time does not require your love or devotion. It commands only respect, sans fanfare and misguided faith. Time is the one thing we all have in common. Its roots are planted deep within everything. A constant reminder that although it is infinite…it isn’t for us. Our breaths are limited. Our days are numbered. Save yourself…before time runs out. Tick motherfucking tock. Chapter One KEVIN Seventeen Years Old Serial killer and mass murderer, Andrew Kehoe, once said, “Criminals are made, not born.” Maybe, that was true for him, but it’s not for me. I was born into chaos, with theft in my blood and rage boiling in my heart. Pushed out unceremoniously into the world, unwanted by everyone I crossed paths with, including my own piece of shit mother. I’ve had to fight for anything I’ve ever had. Earn it by way of scars on my knuckles and hate in my soul. My only family has been the streets. My only long-term home has been juvie. A month ago, I was released from the latter of the two. Now, I find myself in one of the places I hate most, but the only place I could legally be released to according to the powers that be. Yet another foster home. My personal purgatory until I turn eighteen or get locked up again, whichever comes first. I open the envelope given to me by my caseworker, Mrs. Peterson, at our most recent follow up meeting. Usually these transfer packages come with the standard stuff, copies of legal forms, release papers, wrap sheets, and is usually accompanied by a pamphlet Mrs. Peterson likes to toss in there about how to manage anger without violence. That particular literary treasure is my personal favorite. It features a diverse group of smiling children plastered on the front who look like they not only drank the Kool-Aid, but bathed in it twice. Of course, those kids don’t use violence to deal with their anger. They’re heavily medicated—preparing for a suicide trip to Mars with their cult leader. But this package isn’t like any of the others I’ve received. No pamphlets. No transfer papers. It’s a letter from my case worker. * * * Dear Kevin,

Dubious (The Loan Shark Duet 1) Read Free *************** 1 Valentina I never take the yellow glow of a light bulb or the blue staccato flicker of the television screen for granted. Looking for signs of life is an ingrained habit for people like me, people who live in fear. Already from the corner, I strain my neck to look at our floor. Then I stop dead. The rectangle of our window stares down at me. Black. Dark. Oh, my God. Charlie! My palms turn clammy. I wipe them on my tunic and sprint up the remaining stairs to the second floor, almost tripping on the last step. A jerk on the handle confirms the door is locked. Thank God. Someone didn’t break in, attack Charlie, and leave him for dead. I drop my keys twice before I fit them in the lock. From inside, Puff starts barking. The damn lock mechanism resists. One of these days, the flimsy nickel is going to break off in the door. I force until the key turns. In my rush to get inside, I stumble over Puff who runs out to greet me. He scurries away with a yelp and his tail between his legs. The darkness is menacing. Flicking on the lights doesn’t expel the emptiness or the sick feeling pushing up in my throat. A hollowness settles in my chest as I take in the bowl of half eaten Rice Krispies and the glass of milk on the table. “Charlie!” Even if I know what I’ll find, I run to the bathroom. No one. “Dammit.” Leaning on the wall, I cover my eyes and allow myself one second to gather strength. Something wet and warm touches my calf. Puff stares at me with his hopeful, sad eyes, his tail wagging in blissful ignorance. “It’s all right, baby.” I pet his wiry hair, needing the reassurance of his warm little body more than he needs my caress. Lightning rips through the sky, the sound lashing out a beat later. I close the curtains. Puff hates thunderstorms. After feeding him, I lock up and knock next door, but, like ours, Jerry’s flat is dark. Damn him. Jerry promised me. It’s a wild guess, but I’m betting on Napoli’s being Jerry’s favorite hangout. It’s the only place he ever goes. The rickety framework clangs under my trainers as I charge down the two flights of stairs. It’s after eight. Having a car thief as a neighbor keeps me protected to an extent, but only from criminals lower in the hierarchy than Jerry. There are the drug dealers, mafia, and gangs to be reckoned with. I remain alert as I go, checking the abandoned houses, parked cars, and alleys. Staying under the streetlights, at least the ones not broken, I walk like my mom taught me––like I’m not a victim. The brewing storm dissolves, taking with it the rain that would’ve washed away the neighborhood’s stench and soot. It’s summer, but the smoke from the cooking fires gives the Johannesburg air a thick, wintry smell as I cross from Berea into Hillbrow. Most buildings in Hillbrow no longer have electricity. When crime took over, people who could afford municipal services moved to the suburbs, turning the city center into a ghost town. Shortly afte