Cassandra de Ville, the daughter of a powerful mafia lord, inherits her family's crime empire after her parents and elder sister are brutally murdered. Haunted by survivor's guilt and memories of that tragic night, she struggles to navigate the dangerous world of organized crime. Ten years later, as she tries to prove herself worthy of her family's legacy, Cassandra faces betrayal, violence, and inner turmoil. Caught between the ruthless world of organized crime and her heart's desires, Cassandra is drawn into a dangerous, forbidden romance that threatens to unravel everything she has fought to protect. As she uncovers dark secrets buried within her family's past, she begins to question her role and the legacy left for her. With enemies at every turn and her own allies doubting her, Cassandra must find the strength to claim her rightful place at the head of her mafia dynasty, where loyalty, power, and love come at a deadly cost. All rights reserved. Achievements 🏆 Reached 500 reads ✔ Reached 10k-word mark. ✔ Reached 1k reads ✔ Reached 20k-word mark. ✔ Cover by sugaramry07

Women are turning up dead in the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in, they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this case: Special Agent Riley Paige. Riley is on paid leave herself, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes on board, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families, and into the darkest canals of the killer's mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. In a frantic race against time, she finds herself pushed to her limit, her job on the line, her own family in danger, and her fragile psyche collapsing. Yet once Riley Paige takes on a case, she will not quit. It obsesses her, leading her to the darkest corners of her own mind, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted. After a series of unexpected twists, her instincts lead her to a shocking climax that even Riley could not have imagined. A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE GONE marks the debut of a riveting new series-and a beloved new character-that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #2 in the Riley Paige series is now available.