They were her sentinels, her saviors, the reason that she refuses to let her past consume her. 𝐆𝐈𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐎, a young girl who's never known stability. Raised by a reckless, unstable mother, she spent her childhood caught between drug runs and police raids, ruining her right for a normal childhood. One night when her mother goes missing, Giulia's whole life changes... again. Will being under the guardianship of her new older brothers give her a chance at normalcy in her life or will they cause even more mess than before? Healing isn't easy and trust doesn't come free. ☆ ☆ ☆ As I lied there in the hospital bed with a pounding headache, practically suffocating me while barely conscious, I heard that familiar, raspy, deep, sleep deprived voice that I've recently come to find comfort in. "Nessuno oserà toccarti di nuovo senza perdere le mani, amore," they whispered. (No one will dare touch you again without losing their hands, love.) I felt two hands hold my face with a soft kiss on my forehead. Their rough and large hands a contrast to their gentleness. The comforter over me shuffled as the familiar person brought them up to my chin and tucked me in. "Riposati ora sei al sicuro, bambina," they murmured, stroking my hair. Before I knew it, simply the presence of them reassured me as I felt myself drift off again into a deep sleep. (Rest now, you're safe, baby). ☆ ☆ ☆ 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 (noun): a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.

⚠️ CHAPTER 41+ ARE PAID CONTENT VIA KO-FI ⚠️ ── ─ ┈┈┈┄┄╌╌ The De Luca brothers reign supreme in the underworld, holding dominion over the ruthless realm of the Italian Mafia. They are cold, merciless, driven by madness, their loyalty solely to blood. Yet, their lives take an unexpected turn when they discovered their thirteen years old little sister. *** "When she was choking me, is that... love?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, each word trembling as if afraid to leave her lips. Her eyes, wide and glassy, searched mine desperately, seeking a truth that she couldn't grasp amidst the fog of confusion and despair that clouded her mind. My heart seethed with rage, a torrent of emotions crashing against the walls of my restraint, threatening to betray the stoic facade I had carefully constructed. I wanted to scream, to shake her out of this misguided belief. Hestia, my little sister, stared back at me. Her innocence tainted by the cruel hands of someone who had twisted the meaning of love into something unrecognizable. She couldn't differentiate the painfully obvious truth, the clear distinction between love and control, kindness and cruelty. It was as if the very essence of her spirit was being suffocated, just as her breath had been. ── ─ ┈┈┈┄┄╌╌ [⚠️ Chapter 41+ are paid content via Ko-fi ⚠️] ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This story contains sensitive and potentially distressing themes, including abuse, sexual assault, rape, psychological trauma, and mature content. Note: - Cover by Canva - Update: Random

14-year-old Aria is in the foster system and has what most people like to call "an attitude problem." In her eyes, it's not an 'attitude'-it's survival. Sarcasm is her shield, silence is her weapon, and if she rolls her eyes hard enough, maybe no one will notice the way her hands shake when doors slam too loud. She's been with her current foster family for the past five years, and their abuse has been the worst of them all. The kind that hides behind locked doors and perfect smiles for the neighbors. The kind that teaches you not to flinch in public, but never lets your bruises fade in private. ♬⋆.˚ Aria doesn't cry anymore-she learned young that tears only made them angrier. Instead, she grits her teeth, sharpens her tongue, and waits for the day she can get out. Her social workers call her "difficult." Teachers call her "disruptive." But really, she's just a girl with scars people don't bother to see, carrying secrets she's too smart to share. What no one knows -not even Aria- is that the blood running through her veins carries a legacy far darker and more powerful than anything this foster family could imagine. A legacy that comes with 5 brothers who would quite literally burn the world for her

Anastasia never had an easy life, not one she could remember. Brought up in a cold, abusive way whilst fighting her own inner demons, she somehow still manages to see the good in people and smile but who will show her the light in herself? One late night, One dark alley, One moment that seems to change her life forever but is it for the better or worse? A life where she has 8 siblings, all older, all boys with a secret to keep but how much longer till the truth is forced out? She's presented with this new start, a loving family and happy home, but will they be able to bring her walls down and heal the once joyful little girl before they lose her forever.

BOOK 1: Started in Seattle: Fayette Monet has dreams, one of those dreams are to move to Seattle all the way from Paris to pursue to career. Fayette carries baggage though, her ex who dumped her before she left for Seattle. Now she is moved in and is forgetting about him, when she bumps into the handsome hockey captain that catches her eyes instantly. Elias Graham has been known for hockey his whole life. His life has been easy going for the most part with only some drama following him and his friend. He plans to pursue hockey for the rest of his life and nothing else, not even a love interest. That is until the new girl from Paris pays for his drink after insulting it.

Meet Bambi, a sunbeam in human form-sweet, bubbly, and full of wide-eyed wonder. Fresh from a cozy village, she's thrilled to take her uncle's invitation to explore the city, a place she's dreamed of for as long as she can remember. Unbeknownst to her, the adventure of a lifetime is about to unfold. In a quiet corner of the city, Emir runs his quiet bookshop, a sanctuary of pages and shadows, guarded by his loyal black Rottweiler. A man of few words, his life is as predictable as the turning pages of his favorite novels. That is, until a petite whirlwind with big, curious eyes wanders in, picks up a job application, and turns his world upside down. This is the charming tale of Emir, the calm and introspective bookseller, and Bambi, the effervescent dreamer-two souls on a collision course for a sweet, feel-good romance.

"Hey, can you hear me? Say something, at least." Nikolaos Mutas is an aspiring photographer, going against his parents wishes of him being an accountant and living in a mediocre cottage at the edge of the city. Despite his family complications, he could travel the world whenever he wanted and lived quietly, wishing for loneliness after his girlfriend of five years ended their relationship. The young woman appeared beside him at night one day, causing his desires to turn upside down. She had no name, could barely say a coherent sentence, and struggled to walk on her own two feet. He chose to take care of her, having nothing else to do, and promised to bring her home, no matter how far away it may be.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭." ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── Saint Ash, who comes from a family with a history of mental illnesses, isn't surprised when he grows up and quickly realizes that he lacks empathy and morals. After moving to America for a few months to act on these impulses he has felt his entire life, one night when he goes to commit his first murder, he can't bring himself to once he sees the girl with captivating beauty in front of him. So he decides, that if he can't kill her, He'll make her his.

Daisy Lancaster is a 23 year old romance author who yearns for the love in her own books. She is a lover of books and any fluffy animal that she sees. She has a heart of gold and believes in true love. Ares Romano is a 28 year old Mafia Don of the Italian Mafia. He has cold eyes and doesn't believe in love. People cower at the sight of him, and freeze when his smirk lands on them. Daisy just released a new mafia romance book. Ares goes to the book release signing for her new book with his sister and his best friend/second in command. What happens when their eyes lock and they meet for the first time? What happens when Daisy finds out that the man who she sees good in is actually a mafia Don like the fictional one in her new book? Will Ares' cold heart be able to fight against this pull he feels towards Daisy, or will his heart finally open up? ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Pandabear1430 2026

The mention of his name is enough to bring all who know him to their death bed. He is the Don of the Italian Mafia, one man feared by many. He has led with an iron first fist, but what will happen when he meets the one woman who will bring out a side of him he never knew existed? What will he do when his own mother has sworn to rather be dead than have him be with a woman below her standards? She is innocent, lovely and a friend to all. She lives in her own little fairytale world where everyone is nice and good. What will happen when she falls in love with the Don of the Italian mafia? How will she survive in their world where everyone has a hidden agenda and do not all mean well? Will she learn to survive in his world and lead with him, or will she choose her life and safety "If looks could kill, I am sure Marco would be dead by now. Relax Andro, she is not yours" "You are wrong Matteo, she became his the moment he set eyes on her" 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 ©All Rights Reserved