In a city run by a crime organization, Isabella "Izzy" Moretti is a smart law student torn between wanting a normal life and being drawn to a dangerous lifestyle she tries to escape. But when she accidentally gets involved with the infamous DeLuca family, led by the ruthless Santino DeLuca, Izzy's life changes completely.With all its bloodshed, power struggles, and treacheries, she has to find her way through an era of crime and love where even affection can be as perilous as treachery.
The gala was just like other events: a fancy gathering in a decorated room, filled with beautiful dresses, tailored suits, and the scent of quality wine. Izzy Moretti wished she could escape every minute of it.
She could see her brother Giovanni, far across the room, engrossed in an animated discussion with several of the family's associates. She could guess already what the topic was going to be: more business, more threats, and more deals sealed with a handshake. Her family existed in a constant realm of power, betrayal, and an unspoken understanding that if you didn't play the game, you were dead.
Promising herself that she would never be like them was the one vow Izzy kept. But there she stood, surprisingly at such a place as no one else ever anticipated in a black gown of value surpassing the annual salaries of most people, playing the role she had never wanted to play.
One of the men in the group stood with his back to the far wall scanning the crowd and when she looked up, fixing their gaze at once, his own recognition hit her like an electric shock.
Santino DeLuca.
The heir to the DeLuca crime family. A name she had heard spoken in both fear and respect. He was a shadow in her life for as long as she could remember-always there, never too far from the chaos her family was involved in. Still, she'd never seen him face to face.
Izzy quickly turned back to her glass, pretending not to notice the way his eyes seemed glued to hers. But there was something hypnotic in Santino, something perilous that made her feel simultaneously safe and insecure around him.
A soft voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Izzy," came the low murmur from her side. Turning, she found Sofia Romano, Santino's enforcer, and a childhood friend of his. Sofia was everything Izzy wasn't: cold, calculating, and completely loyal to the DeLuca family.
"You're staring at him," Sofia said, her keen gaze not leaving Santino for a second. "Be careful, or you might give a wrong impression."
"I wasn't staring," Izzy lied, forcing a smile. "Just... noticing."
Sofia raised an eyebrow. "Awareness of his presence or awareness of his gaze on you?"
Before Izzy could answer, a familiar voice called out her name.
"Izzy!" Giovanni burst out of the crowd, his presence impossible to ignore. He was tall and had their father's dark eyes, as well as the same defined jawline. But where their father had wielded sheer brute force, Giovanni had mastered the art of domination by cleverness. A very dangerous combination.
She forced a smile. "Giovanni. Enjoying the party?"
"As much as I ever do," he said dryly, glancing toward Santino. "What are you doing over here with Sofia? Stay away from him."
Izzy frowned. "From Santino? Why?"
"Don't play dumb. The DeLucas are our enemies, Izzy. Even looking at him is a problem." Giovanni lowered his voice to a growl. "He's been trying to encroach on our territory. We need to steer clear of him and his family."
"I'm not a kid, Giovanni," Izzy shot back, her voice angry. "I can choose who to talk to."
"Not in this world," Giovanni snapped, his eyes ice. "In this world, your choices are taken from you."
Izzy gritted her teeth, wanting to shout back. Being called a kid was the last thing she wanted, especially when it involved stuff she knew all too well. But before she could say anything, the room changed somehow. A faint shift, a species of tension that simply couldn't be ignored.
And then, Santino DeLuca was standing right before them.
"Izzy," he said smoothly, his voice a velvet whisper sending a shiver down her spine. He wasn't looking at Giovanni. His eyes were all for her.
It's been a while. She took a deep breath to stay calm.
"Has it?" she asked, her tone calm while inside her chest raced.
Santino smiled slightly, then the glint of amusement appeared in his eyes. "You don't remember when we last met?"
Izzy tried to remember, but the only hazy memories she had of the DeLucas were just that, vague and distant - whispers of deals, threats, power struggles. Her family had always kept her away from those dealings. But Luca, the infamous heir, was a different story.
She said, "I don't think we've met before," even though she knew she was lying. She remembered his name from a tense, fearful night many years ago.
But it's not like she was about to tell him that.
"Funny," Santino said, his smile deepening, "I remember you."
Giovanni tensed beside her, his body suddenly brimming with hostility. "What do you want, DeLuca?"
Santino's gaze shifted to Giovanni, and his face grew more frigid. "A conversation only. Nothing more. Nothing less."
Izzy's stomach churned. She knew Santino's type; he didn't do anything without an agenda and her brother was not the type to entertain any such conversation.
"We don't have time for your games, DeLuca," Giovanni said sharply. "You are not wanted here."
Unperturbed, Santino raised his hand. "I am not here for your business, Giovanni. I am here for hers."
Izzy's chest tightened. "For me?" she said, in a voice which was barely above a whisper.
His gaze never left her. "Yes, I want to speak with you, Izzy. Alone."
The statement hung in the air, pregnant with meaning. Giovanni tightened his jaw, but before he could retort, Izzy turned to him and spoke in a steady yet emphatic tone.
"I'll be fine, Giovanni. You don't have to worry."
Giovanni warned her, "You don't know what you are getting into," his eyes showing his worry. She looked at him in a way that made him quiet; she was no longer a child.
"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said to Santino, her voice harsh but tinged with interest. "Not like this."
Luca's expression softened ever so slightly. "Fine. I'll wait until you're ready. But just know, Izzy, it's not if you're coming it's when."
As Luca turned to go, he left a single business card, folded into the drapes of her dress, a reminder that the DeLucas weren't simply an aspect of her world; they were already part of her destiny.
"It won't fit," I whispered, my breath hitching as he leaned closer, his lips grazing my ear. His voice was dark, commanding, and impossibly seductive. "You have no idea what your body is capable of. Relax and let me teach you." Alessia never believed in fairy tales. Life had taught her that happy endings were a cruel illusion. Struggling to care for her sick mother, she's spent years working dead-end jobs, her sharp tongue and stubborn nature ensuring she never stayed anywhere for long. Now, she's a bartender in a shady Sicilian bar, juggling rowdy customers and a boss who thinks a raise is only for women willing to strip. Then he walked in. Luca Romano is a man of few words but commands a room with his presence. The whispers about him are conflicting-billionaire, recluse, criminal mastermind. Women throw themselves at his feet, but his cold, detached demeanor makes one thing clear: he doesn't care about anyone. Yet when Alessia crosses his path, everything changes. What begins as a business arrangement-a desperate woman agreeing to play the role of his date for one night-quickly spirals into something much darker. Luca's possessiveness knows no bounds, and Alessia finds herself drawn into a world of power, danger, and unrelenting desire. But Luca has secrets as deep as his scars, and his love is anything but gentle. He's a man consumed by vengeance, his methods ruthless, his emotions raw. Alessia thought she could handle his intensity, but the closer she gets, the more she realizes there's no escaping him. He doesn't just want her. He owns her. And as their twisted romance unfolds, Alessia must decide-can she endure the man who terrifies her and captivates her in equal measure? Or will his darkness consume them both.
Isabella is the powerless omega who was rejected by her destined mate, Alpha Damon, in front of the whole pack because he felt that she was not good for him. Alpha Damon chooses Nadia over Isabella not knowing that the moon goddess made the right choice for him. What happens now? Will the moon goddess choose another mate for her? What about the Alpha? Will he come back to her or go ahead to marry the one he has chosen?
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Sawyer, the world's top arms dealer, stunned everyone by falling for Maren—the worthless girl no one respected. People scoffed. Why chase a useless pretty face? But when powerful elites began gathering around her, jaws dropped. "She's not even married to him yet—already cashing in on his power?" they assumed. Curious eyes dug into Maren's past... only to find she was a scientific genius, a world-renowned medical expert, and heiress to a mafia empire. Later, Sawyer posted online. "My wife treats me like the enemy. Any advice?"
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.