In our world, emotions are a weakness. A liability. A mistake. I learned that lesson young, watching my father rule with an iron fist, his heart nothing more than a rumor. I swore I'd never fall into the same trap-never let a woman tear me apart. And yet, here I am, standing at the altar, binding myself to a woman I barely know. A woman who despises me as much as I refuse to care for her. A contract. A deal. A promise sealed in blood. She is Katya Salifov-fierce, beautiful, and the daughter of my family's sworn enemy. And I am Ivan Yozhikov-heir to an empire built on violence, betrayal, and fear. This marriage isn't about love. It's about power. Control. Survival. But no matter how much I lock my heart away, something about her chips at the ice in my veins. A fire in her eyes that tempts me to break my own rules. And in this life, temptation is just another word for destruction. Welcome to our world. Where vows are made in blood, love is a dangerous game, and betrayal is the only truth.

| Mafia, Drama, Romance Story| Completed ✓ Teresa, a 22 year old stripper moved to Atlanta 2 years ago, abandoning her home, Brazil, to take care of her mother. Life was great, she had a best friend, a boyfriend, money, happiness. But still she had a hard upcoming as a child. But then a certain man, Luciano Rossi better known as Don Rossi , Don of Rome, Italy, sent his Capo in look for a Pawn to carry out his plan. And just so happens, Teresa targeted him, all the while, he targeted her. From being abandoned by her mother, finding out her boyfriend's transgressions, and being taken away 5000 miles away to Italy, she's been dragged into the mafia world as a seductress. But she was too good. Instead of making just one man eat out of her hand, she made the most important... Don Rossi himself. * * * She wanted him to make her forget. She abandoned his lips only to place them on his neck making him groan. Provoking his urges. "Tesoro" He whispered, seeing as her motives were different from his. That she wanted more than he could give. Her hand slid down his chest, ignoring him as she reached his zipper and he grabbed her hand, stopping her and whispered, "No" He raised up, cupping her face as he said, "I understand you're emotional, but this is not going to make it better" She grabbed his hand, leaning into his touch as she said, " Yes it will. You make me feel better" He averted his gaze, hiding his emotion. Those words reached him like she wanted them to, but he wouldn't show it. " I can't" Was the first time he said those words. Because he always could, but not now. Not with her. " Aren't you the kind of man to take advantage of someone's weakness?" She huffed and he heard the slight attitude in her voice. But he knew it was because he said no, and not that she really meant it. "I take advantage of time and opportunity, not people" He brushed her hair back, and placed his lips over hers so sweetly that she instantly kissed him back. "And not you

When she was 14, Dalia was sold to Matteo Martinelli, the former leader of the largest Italian mafia. Flash forward with his son, Vittore Martinelli as the new leader, Dalia is given to him as a birthday present after years in spent in the "safe house". Dalia struggles to fulfill a promise she made and get her old self back as Vittore tries not to fall for the black beauty. Will they go through all the lies, jealousy, betrayal, envy, lust and murder together all in the name of love? Because at the end of it all, she is still Property Of Vittore Martinelli. * * * "Lift your hand," I said looking at how he held onto his bicep with a tight grip. "Let me take a look at the bullet wound." "No tesoro. I can do this myself," Vittore grumbled and I gave him incredulous look. "Don't start that bullshit with me Vittore. Remove your arm and let me help you or..." I trailed off, not able to say more. I was still in shock but I could do this. "Just... just let me help." "No." I glared at Vittore. "Why are you being so damn egotistic?! Let me help you! Do you know what it was like to find you like... and to..." I couldn't even get all the words out. "Let me help you. Please." Begging wasn't something I'd ever do but I just needed him to let me help him. "No-" "Why?!" I suddenly exploded. "Why won't you just let me help you?!" "Because I don't know how to handle it ok?!" Vittore suddenly exploded, his dark eyes glaring at me. "I don't know how to handle these... feelings. Fuck tesoro you drive me crazy! Don't you see that? You make me question everything I've ever known and... I can't..." I watched Vittore as his expression turned determined. "Fuck it." He leaned forward and pressed his lips on mine. * * * WARNING! Mentions of death, torture, gore, abuse and other things related to the mafia.

"He was the mafia's most feared king. She was the world's most fragile doll. Neither expected to belong to each other." When sheltered, innocent Liya is forced into an arranged marriage to settle her father's debt, her quiet world shatters. Struggling with her ADHD and a lifetime of being treated as fragile, she suddenly finds herself bound to Adrian De Luca, the ruthless Italian mafia boss whose name alone sparks fear. Adrian lives in shadows, calculated, merciless, untouchable. Marriage was never in his plans, but the moment he sees Liya's trembling hands and wide, unguarded eyes, something unexpected stirs inside him. She isn't like anyone from his brutal world, she's light where he's darkness, innocence where he's sin. Thrown into a world of blood oaths, betrayal, and power, Liya must learn to survive in a mansion of secrets while trying to understand her enigmatic husband. But behind Adrian's cold exterior is a man who, against all odds, finds himself captivated by her laughter, her courage, and the way she sees the broken pieces of him no one else dares to touch. What begins as a marriage of debt slowly turns into a dangerous dance of trust and devotion. In a world built on violence, can love bloom between a fragile heart and a man made of fire and steel, or will the shadows consume them both?

Isabella is desperate for her own independence, but her overprotective father stands in the way of her future. When she demands that she attends a University two hundred miles away from her home, her father only has one exception; a bodyguard. Elio is dedicated to his career to honour his late sister, but when he owes a favour to an ex-mafia boss, he takes body-guarding to a completely new level. Isabella is reckless and likes to push her bodyguards limits. Elio has zero patience and a desire to punish his client. When things start to get heated and unexpected feelings get in the way, their forbidden relationship becomes a distraction when Isabella's life is on the line. Elio is desperate to not let down another important woman in his life. But he can't save everyone, including his own bleeding heart. Tropes: - Mafia Romance - Bodyguard - Age-gap (8 years - FMC is 21 and MMC is 29) - Forbidden Love - Brat FMC/Grumpy MMC - Light BDSM (sub/dom vibes) - Size difference (5'4 & 6'6) - University/College Setting - Past Trauma/Healing - ANGST (so much of it)

We were off-limits from the start. I'm the governor's daughter. He's a Bratva mafia boss. Falling for each other was out of the question. But when I met Dante Levitsky at his nightclub, I thought he was my prince charming- not the monster waiting to destroy my world. Tall, tattooed, and dangerously handsome, with Mediterranean blue eyes you could drown in- Dante was impossible to resist. After the accident that nearly killed me, he felt like my second chance at life. So when he asked me to be his secret, I said yes. Until the lies unraveled. Until I found out he had a plan... One that involved revenge against my father. I wasn't supposed to fall for the villain. But I did. And now, I'm his new obsession. He's taking everything. Including me. When love collides with vengeance, who walks away unbroken?

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.

Forced into a marriage neither of them wanted, a fierce Greek mafia princess and a ruthless Sicilian underboss must navigate a storm of power, passion, and betrayal-only to discover that their greatest battle might be against their own hearts. *** They hated each other from the moment they met, but little did they know, they were destined to be together. Millicent Rhea Darmos: Princess of the Greek Mafia. At 25 years old, she's established herself as a self proclaimed boss bitch, running her own publishing company. But now it's time she fulfils her duty to her family's organisation. It's time she gets married. Costantino Salvatore Accardi: Underboss and Heir to the Sicilian Mafia. At 28 years old, he has no interest in settling down-he already has it all. He believes in family above all, so why bring in an outsider? Yet, after a strange string of events, the two of them find themselves thrust into married life. It's full of chaos, drama and all kinds of tension. The question is, how do they survive their marriage and the storm that follows? *** "I've never kissed anyone." My voice trembled with a tinge of vulnerability - something I hated. But Costa didn't seem to mind that I was nervous or anxious. "Good. You're mine." He spoke so seriously, without a flicker of doubt as he took my hand in his. "So you want it be special, principessa?" "Every girl's first kiss is special." I whispered, watching as he brought my hand up to his lips. "I only care about yours."

Izebel Katz has lived her entire life trapped with her psychotic foster parents. Until one day they are found dead. Suddenly she's being shipped across the country to meet the five brothers she never knew she had. Who happen to be the leaders of the most ruthless mafia in the world. She thought her dark past was behind her, but as she settles into her new life she quickly realizes she's mistaken. *EXCERPT* "Where are you going?" I turn around and sure enough there is Ryland LaRue. Standing there with his dark green eyes and perfectly slicked back brown hair. All of it disgusts me. "You followed me." I smile. "You...look familiar." "And you're drunk." He smiles. "Let me take you back inside." "I'm not drunk." I pout. "Promise." He rolls his eyes, yet he's still smiling. Then he walks towards me and gently grabs hold of my arm, pulling me back to the door. And I let him, only until we're close enough to the wall. Then, I twist his arm back and hit him in his gut with my knee, driving him back to the wall where he hits his head against the brick. "Like I said...I'm not drunk." I smirk. I put my right arm underneath his throat, holding him in place and use my free hand to grab my knife which I taped to my leg. "You little liar." He smirks looking down at me. "Shut up." I snap, bringing the knife to his throat. "I want you to tell me everything." He chuckles and then leans his head back against the wall. "You're going to have to be a bit more specific than that, princess."

Rebel Simmons was just a girl who was dealt a shitty hand in the game of life. Despite her harsh and abusive upbringing, she worked hard, and studied harder. With an IQ of 252. she's a certified genius and is working towards her Masters Degree in Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University. When tough times hit and she's desperate for money, she steals $5 Million from an offshore bank account. Little did she know she was stealing from the most ruthless Mafia Boss in the world: Dante Vino. • MATURE THEMES 18+ • Cover designed by Holly Thurston