Shadows of the Underworld A Dark Mafia Thriller | Psychological | Crime | Romance When Ariana Steele discovers the truth behind her father's mysterious death, her carefully built world begins to crumble. Drawn into the shadows of a powerful crime syndicate, she must navigate a treacherous web of lies, betrayal, and deadly secrets. Trust is a luxury she can't afford-and yet, she finds herself inexplicably tied to the most dangerous man of all. Dante Rossi is heir to the criminal empire Ariana swore to destroy. Cold, calculating, and haunted by a violent past, Dante is both her enemy and her only chance at survival. As they're forced to work together, a dark, magnetic pull grows between them-one that threatens to unravel everything. But not everyone wants the truth to come to light. As alliances shift and buried secrets resurface, Ariana realizes the war she's fighting is bigger than revenge. It's a fight for her soul. And the deeper she falls into Dante's world, the harder it becomes to know who she's truly fighting for-or against. In a world ruled by shadows, love might be the deadliest weapon of all.
Ariana Steele sat at her desk, the soft hum of her computer the only sound in the otherwise quiet office. The city's skyline gleamed through the windows, the bright lights of New York stretching beyond her reach. She had worked hard to carve out this life-one of structure, control, and safety. After her father's violent death years ago, she had vowed to never get tangled in the dangerous world that had consumed him.
But no matter how hard she tried to outrun it, the past always found a way to reach her.
The phone on her desk buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. A glance at the screen showed a number she didn't recognize. Hesitating only for a moment, she answered.
"Ariana Steele," she said, her voice even but guarded.
"Ariana Steele, the financial analyst?" a smooth, calm voice asked on the other end. "I'm glad I've reached you."
Her instincts tightened. Something about the voice felt too smooth, too controlled, like it belonged to someone who knew exactly how to manipulate a conversation.
"Yes, this is Ariana," she replied cautiously. "Who's asking?"
The man on the other end paused. "I'd prefer to discuss this in person. Can you meet me tonight?"
Ariana frowned. She'd had enough experience in her career to recognize the tone of someone who wasn't offering a choice. "I don't meet strangers," she replied firmly, her eyes narrowing. "And I don't appreciate being called in the middle of my workday."
"Don't worry, Ms. Steele," the man continued, unfazed. "You'll want to meet. If you don't, well... let's just say the consequences for your brother could be... unpleasant."
Her heart skipped a beat. The mention of her brother, Lucas, was enough to pull her to the edge of panic. Lucas was all she had left of her family. After her father's death, he became her world. And yet, no matter how carefully she'd shielded him from their past, it seemed that the shadows of her family's connections had finally caught up with them both.
A chill ran down her spine. "What do you want?"
"I want you to help with a little financial transaction, something you're well-versed in. I'll explain the details when we meet. I'm at the Blackstone Hotel. Room 1215. Don't keep me waiting, Ms. Steele."
The call ended abruptly. Ariana stared at the phone in her hand, her thoughts spinning. She had no idea who this man was or what he wanted from her. But she knew one thing: she couldn't risk Lucas's safety. She had to go.
Later that night, the Blackstone Hotel stood tall and imposing in the heart of Manhattan, a symbol of wealth and power. The lobby was busy, filled with businesspeople and well-dressed elites, but Ariana couldn't shake the feeling that something darker lurked just beneath the surface. The glass doors seemed to close behind her with an almost ominous finality as she walked inside.
She made her way to the elevator, her palms damp with anxiety, and pressed the button for the top floor. The elevator ascended slowly, as if taking its time to allow her thoughts to race. Who was this man? What could he want from her? And what did he mean by 'unpleasant consequences'?
When the elevator doors opened on the twelfth floor, Ariana stepped out into a hallway that felt too quiet. There were no other guests in sight, no sounds of life or laughter. Just the faint hum of the building's air conditioning.
Room 1215.
Her breath caught as she reached for the door, her hand hovering above the handle for a moment. Then, with a steadying breath, she knocked.
The door opened almost immediately. Standing in the doorway was a man in a tailored suit, dark hair perfectly styled, his features sharp and striking. There was something about his presence-something dangerous-that immediately put her on edge.
"You must be Ariana Steele," he said, his voice low and smooth. His eyes, dark and unreadable, scanned her briefly before meeting her gaze. "I'm Dante Rossi."
Her heart stuttered. The name hit her like a punch to the gut. Rossi. The Rossi family. The mafia family her father had been tied to before his death.
"I... I didn't expect..." Her words faltered as she tried to steady herself.
"No one ever does," Dante said, his lips curling into the slightest of smiles. "But you're here, and that's what matters."
Bloodbound: A Curse of Eternal Desire In a world where shadows whisper and blood binds destiny, Lucien, a cursed vampire prince, walks the thin line between hunger and humanity. Marked by an ancient curse, he is doomed to an eternity of darkness, a pawn in the Bloodbound Order's relentless war. But when he crosses paths with Isolde, a vampire who stirs something deep within him-something beyond thirst-his fate begins to unravel. She is the key to a past he cannot remember and a future he never dared to hope for. As war looms and the Bloodbound Relic-the source of all vampire curses-resurfaces, Lucien and Isolde must defy the forces that seek to control them. Love wars against fate, desire burns against the curse, and the line between savior and monster blurs. In the end, Lucien must make a choice: embrace the beast within and destroy everything... or fight for a love that could break even the oldest curse. Bloodbound: A Curse of Eternal Desire is a tale of dark romance, forbidden love, and redemption, where eternity is both a curse and a temptation.
Elena Carter never wanted to be anywhere near Damien Wolfe-the cold, calculating billionaire known for destroying anyone who crosses him. But when she's offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to infiltrate his empire and expose his darkest secrets, she can't say no. What starts as a dangerous mission soon turns into something far more treacherous. Damien isn't just ruthless in business-he's ruthless in desire. He sees through Elena's lies, playing a game of seduction and power that leaves her questioning who the real villain is. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a web of deception, betrayals, and a secret that should have died years ago. But the deeper she falls, the more she realizes she's not just investigating Damien-she's becoming his obsession. And in his world, obsession is just another word for possession. When a ghost from his past resurfaces, threatening to tear them apart, Elena must decide: walk away before she loses herself completely, or risk everything for a man who might be more dangerous than the enemy they're fighting. In a world where love is a weapon and trust is a lie, one thing is certain-this game has no rules, and the winner takes all
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.