Zharai Monét Kevelle and Kaelvion Rhys Montel have been in each other's space for years-she's the loud, funny girl who always has a comeback, and he's the quiet, too-cool type that everybody assumes doesn't laugh. They aren't official. They're not even "talking"... but they can't stay out of each other's way. Every time they link, Zha-Zha teases him-about his waves, his serious face, his music, his "grandpa glasses." What starts as playful arguments slowly turns into them catching real feelings. But Kael moves low-key and doesn't give his heart easily, while Zha-Zha is scared of loving someone who might break her like her past dudes. The question is... will they both stop playing before it's too late?

𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐘. " A rare and nearly obsolete word meaning 'the act of loving in return' or 'loving someone in the same degree'. " 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 © 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐌𝐘𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐄. (not edited).

𝘦𝘯·𝘥𝘶𝘳·𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 /𝘪𝘯ˈ𝘥𝘰͝𝘰𝘳ə𝘯𝘴,𝘦𝘯ˈ𝘥𝘰͝𝘰𝘳ə𝘯𝘴/ 𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘺.

Zamyrah has never believed in fairy-tale endings, and Dayvon has never been the type to follow rules. But when their families force them into an arrangement neither asked for, they're left with no choice but to play the part of the perfect couple-or risk everything their loved ones have built. From staged interviews and handholding under flashing cameras to living under the same roof, their lives become a performance for the world. But behind closed doors, sparks fly-sharp words, stolen glances, and touches that feel too real to be fake. Zamyrah is determined to keep her guard up, convinced Dayvon's smirk is nothing more than trouble in disguise. Dayvon, on the other hand, is sure he can break down every wall she's built. What starts as a contract soon turns into something neither of them can control. Because somewhere between pretending and resisting, their hearts stop following the script. publish on- september 29,2025 Finish on-

Book One//: Arianna carved her empire with her own two hands. At twenty-three, her Brooklyn salon is more than a business-it's proof she doesn't need anyone. Independence is her armor, and success is her safe place. Love? That's a distraction she doesn't have time for. Keshawn built his reputation on Harlem's streets, moving with a quiet kind of power that demands both fear and respect. At twenty-seven, he's focused, untouchable, and not the type to chase anyone. But when Arianna crosses his path, the walls he's built start to crack. Their connection is undeniable-magnetic, dangerous, impossible to ignore. But jealous exes, shifting loyalties, and the weight of the streets threaten to pull them apart before they've even begun. In a world where love feels like a weakness and survival is everything, Arianna and Keshawn have to decide if two hearts hardened by concrete can really hold onto something real.

When Kiki visits Chicago for her cousin's wedding, she never expects to get piped down by a man who talks with his hands and growls her name like he own it. Messiah ain't like these New York dudes she's used to-he move different. Ain't loud, ain't flashy, but got that hood alpha energy that make her melt. She was supposed to be there for five days max... not fall in love with a Chi-Town gangsta who flips bricks and lifts her like she weightless. But when her past follows her to Chicago and his street life bleeds into their sex-fueled situationship, the line between love and lust starts to blur. He never chased women-especially not loud, sex-crazy, no-nonsense New York ones. But Kiki? She got him talkin' about "what we is" and pressin' her spot like he tryna build a future. But love between two people who been hurt don't come easy. And in a city full of secrets, money, and murder? Somebody always gotta pay.

For her son, she'll find the strength to let go, love again & rebuild.

𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣, 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩. This was the saying for many of those who ran with the Southside. In a story where two people reconnect over a terrible loss, they pour into each-other while mourning the loss of their beloved cousin and friend. Will the pair end up together or will they both just become another statistic in the Chicago streets? FOR THE BLOODIEST. JULY 24'

" 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞..."