After her mother's unexpected passing, Gemma is sent to live with a group of strange men who don't seem overly fond of her being there. Their secrets, their strange rules and behaviour make Gemma want to run; to hide, to go back in time to when everything felt safe again. But life doesn't always play the way's expected, and Gemma's life of before can only stay as that: in the past. Top Rankings: 6/11/2025: #1 in grief 7/1/2026: #1 in friendship 9/1/2026: #2 in siblings 13/1/2026: #1 in mystery 1/2/2026: #2 in selectivemutism 13/2/2026: #1 in bullying 1/3/2026: #1 in oregon 31/3/2026: #2 in overprotectivebrothers 7/4/2026: #2 in brothers 8/4/2026: #1 in anxiety

She has lived hidden for eleven years, never allowed outside, never told the truth about her father. Her mother is famous. Her past is dangerous. And the secret she's hiding could destroy two mafia empires. Born from betrayal and a single night of manipulation, the girl carries an impossible truth in her blood-she belongs to two dons. One American. One Italian. Rivals who have no idea their legacy lives in the same child. When the truth begins to surface, it won't just expose a secret. It will start a war.

Luke Owens is a personal trainer, struggling to survive his parents' train-wreck of a vow renewal without his newly-married best friend. Marley Thompson is a college dropout and part-time pianist trying to convince her father she can take care of her sick grandmother without moving her into a long-term care facility. When their lives collide, it's supposed to be for one night of blissful distraction---but Marley's grandmother isn't getting any better, and Luke could use a break from his parents' love-gone-wrong. The two form a simple agreement, complete with rules to make sure it stays uncomplicated; but what happens when friends with benefits, simple and uncomplicated, starts to become so much more? . . . . . . . . . . DISCLAIMER: This story does contain mild sexual content. Warnings will be provided at the start of chapters that include this content; please read at your own comfort level. All characters, events, and statements in this book are a work of fiction; any resemblance to real people or events was unintended and unplanned. This book is a sequel to my other work, Love, Emma, but can be read as a stand-alone book.