They tell me love is a pretty lie. A cruel deception. I wouldn't know-I've never been given the chance to believe in it. A daughter of the Cosa Nostra, passed from one husband to the next like a prized possession, I have learned one thing: a woman's value is measured in obedience. But then I come back, and he's there. Enzo Mancini. Silent. Ruthless. Untouchable. Except... I have touched him. Once, before the lies. Before the fire. Before he left me with nothing but ghosts of a boy who used to stare at me like I was his only sin. Now, he looks at me like I'm his reckoning. Like he's been starving. Like he'll ruin me all over again. The worst part? I want him to. Enzo Mancini She was never supposed to know the truth of that night. The blood on my hands. The fact that I let her believe I was the monster. I told myself I could let her go. That I could watch her slip through my fingers, fall into the hands of men who never deserved her. And I did. She doesn't know what I've done for her. How many bodies I've buried. How many sins I've committed in her name. She's everything I should stay away from. Soft where I am hard. Chaos where I am order. A temptation so dangerous, it should be a death sentence. But I can't stop. I can't stop watching her, wanting her, losing sleep over the way she lingers like a curse in the nightmares she inhabits. She calls me heartless, and like everyone, I let her believe it. She doesn't know that every step she takes away from me is another step toward a man who won't live long enough to touch what's mine. I saved her from the fire long ago, the same one I caused. And now, the flames are swallowing me whole. 17+ Mafia Dark Romance *Standalone*

*WAS DELETED AT 600K READS* Adriana Mancini I was raised to bite, not bow. So when they told me I was to marry Nikolas Volkov-heir to the Bratva, enemy to my blood-I didn't cry, I laughed. They thought they could tame me with diamonds and alliances. And for the first time in my life, I realized I didn't have a choice. As for him.. It's the eyes that speak to me. Blank but compulsive with secrets, empty yet dominating with control. Like stone. I wonder, is his heart made of it too? Nikolas Volkov After a bloody feud with the Cosa Nostra, I'm forced into an arranged marriage-to the one woman I can't control. Adriana Mancini. A hurricane in stilettos with venom in her smile. She tests my patience, taunts my power, and tempts my darkness. She thinks I won't ruin her just because she wears my ring. But this marriage was never meant to be peaceful. It was built for war.

Running from hell isnʼt easy. Especially when someoneʼs dragging you back down into it. Belligerent, brash and always in shades of black, Freya is hardly a lady. Hidden away by her father, sheʼs lived a normal life despite being born into the dark waters of New Yorkʼs underworld. Heʼs cold, cruel and calculating, with a proclivity for destruction. Feared by even Made Men, Torren is the boss of the stateʼs most leachorous crime syndicate. Freya hates his crudity and possessiveness, but she canʼt deny the way her breath hitches at his rough touch, the deep timbre of his voice, and his dark, heated gaze. Torren hates her disobedience, her recklessness, and her chaos. To him, sheʼs only something to be tamed. And after he slips a ring on her hand, snatching away her future, she makes only one vow---to become his biggest torment.

A man claimed by the devil. A woman claimed by no one. Until him. 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎 is a monster. His family relies on him to torture and kill. It's his birthright, curse, and the most delicious punishment for a gluttonous sinner. He's no stranger to violence and depravity. Soldier of the Romano crime family, he might be stranger to everything else. 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐄 is an outcast, the hidden gem of the Genovese crime family, shunned by her father and forgotten by the world. She's utterly alone, until she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kidnapped by the man with dark eyes, tattoos, and a soul to match. And he isn't planning on letting her go. The deviant killer with the angelic name, her intended torturer, the devil of the underground. Santo is quickly becoming something to Nina that seems impossible, something that neither of them are ready for. She threatens to uproot everything he's always known and been, and when secrets are revealed, when demons come out to play, it's not only a matter of how willing Santo and Nina are to salvage something that seems to be the only beautiful corner of both their worlds. It's a matter of whether any kind of beauty can survive in a world so dark. ✚ Dark Saint is a slow burn, enemies to lovers, dark mafia romance with mature content and dark themes. Read at your own discretion. [ Book 1 in the Romano Brotherhood Series | COMPLETED ✔ ] Featured on @Romance Featured on @StoriesUndiscovered

C O M P L E T E D : 24/02/22 Sienna Callum was popular - scratch that - she was the queen of high school. She had tons of gorgeous friends wishing to be her, smoking hot flings, and an unbelievably trendy fashion sense. But, she needed one more thing. Decent grades to graduate. Roman Lawrence was a nerd - scratch that - THE nerd of high school. Yet, his exceptional intelligence made him stand out among those seeking to learn. He had one problem though, the girl he'd been crushing on since kindergarten didn't like him back. One of the reasons? His lack of experience.... sexually. This isn't boy meets girl. This is mouse meets vixen. This is what happens when these two opposites strike a deal and things get hot. "So, here's my offer: you tutor me in school, and I tutor you in sex." _____ W A R N I N G T H I S S T O R Y C O N T A I N S : ❤︎ sexual/mature content ❤︎ explicit language ❤︎ alcohol consumption ❤︎ mild violence _____ H I G H E S T R A N K I N G S : 1 #virginboy 1 #goodboybadgirl 1 #nerdboy 1 #scandalous 1 #populargirl 1 #tutor 1 #badgirlgoodboy 2 #forbidden 2 #eroticromance 3 #sexy _____ S T A R T E D - 05/03/2021 C O M P L E T E D - 24/02/2022 (word count: 200,000 - 250,000)

He had hunted me, captured me, and locked me in a tower.

Two girls. Two secrets. Only one can survive. Years before Nelle Wychthorn plans her escape, Tabitha Catt may unearth something in a Horned God's lair that is the key to freedom. Cover Design by Ren Tachibana

Travel writer Stella comes face-to-face with ex-boyfriend Killian when she's forced to give him a ride to her best friend's wedding in South Africa, pushing her to confront their past-and maybe even consider a future. Season 1 of Against All Odds *** Twenty-something free-spirit Stella Huxley is used to going solo, opting for a life of impulsive adventure and often ending up in less than savory situations she only just manages to get herself out of. She has a dream life and a dream job, even if it's come at the cost of past sacrifices that still haunt her. When she returns to South Africa for her best friend's wedding, she plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Killian Beckett-the only man she's ever loved...and the man she left behind six years ago. When unfortunate circumstances contrive to fling Stella and Killian together, they share a journey, a car, and a room across the country. At first, their reunion is rocky, but with the gauntlet of wedding preparations keeping them close and old memories bubbling to the surface, the fire between them soon threatens to reignite. Killian might be everything Stella's ever wanted, but can they overcome all the reasons they didn't work out for a second chance at love? And as the universe conspires to unite them in the most unexpected ways, can Stella's heart withstand the pressure from the man Killian has become? WARNING: This story contains depictions of mental health crisis such as grief, topics of substance abuse, strong language, and sibling abuse, which may be upsetting to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

After a devastating tragedy shatters the renowned Romano crime family their fate weighs heavily on Don Leonardo Romano's only heir twenty-two year old Valentina. Determined to uphold the family's power Val will go to any means necessary even if it means selling her heart to the highest bidder. As the Romano family's most notorious hitman Matteo Costa knows the most depraved corners of New York's underground. So when Val arrives home after college he is confident she won't last long. The New York mafia would chew her up and eat her alive and yet... Serving as Valentina's personal guard Matteo realizes Val has grown into a beautiful, smart and cunning woman. He knows it won't be easy keeping the principessa safe especially when the Romano's rivals set their sights on her. But as their relationship grows Matteo realizes that his own desire might be the greatest threat to the Romano dynasty. Season 1 of The Hitman's Mark WARNING: This story contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.

{18 + COMPLETE | FREE STORY w/ Paid Bonus Content • COLLEGE SPORTS ROMANCE} Wednesday Elez's father immigrated to America so he could be with her mother, and it has taught her one thing: love has no bounds. The only thing that Wednesday-or Nessa-wants is to find a love like her parents have. But she's also pretty sure she's never going to find it. She isn't the type of girl who guys fall in love with. She's the type of girl who guys think they can just fall into bed with after one too many beers. That's what college has taught her anyway. But then she meets Grayson Everett, and he's hell bent on changing her mind. Nessa can't quite figure Grayson out. As a member of the Oakland State football team, he instantly gets put on Nessa's no-way list. But then she learns that despite his hard exterior-his very hard, muscled exterior-he's a music education major with a soft spot for kids and a few heartbreaking secrets. It's only a matter of time before he starts breaking her down, too. She just hopes it isn't her heart that gets broken. **Book 3 in the Wildfire Series but can be read as a standalone**