In a world of drugs and guns that men dominate, Kaya Okoro is feared amongst them all for the standing her father's mafia holds and the reputation she has built by carrying out deeds that no other can do without leaving a trace. However, with her father's sudden passing she and her family are now left extremely susceptible to the dangers of the male dominated world that would rather burn than to see a woman, her mother, lead the mafia. Unwilling to back down, Kaya's family do their best to put on a brave face by attending the annual gala of peace between all mafias, where she is reunited with Dakari Adisa, a childhood friend.. Dakari Adisa is a well respected and connected man who built his empire with his own two hands, drugs being its strong foundation. He isn't close to his family due to issues with his parents, so in his world are only a small circle of friends who replace them. When all hell breaks loose at the gala of peace and Kaya is at the center of it. Unable to set herself free, Dakari gives her a hand per her mother's request, but this hand comes with the proposal of marriage, something Kaya didn't think she would involve herself in, though with her life on the line she has no choice but to accept. And unsurprisingly being married to Dakari not only saves her life but reawakens feelings she can't understand and doesn't want to because ironically in a world as deadly as this one she fears nothing but emotions.

She fought in courtrooms with precision. He ruled studios with pain turned platinum. Together, they were power - but love made them human. He loved her carefully, like a man who'd lost before. She loved him steadily, like a woman who refused to break. Their story wasn't loud. It was intentional - built in silence, sacrifice, and the kind of fire that doesn't explode... it glows.

He holds her heels. She lets her guard down. And in the space between city lights and silence, two people who weren't looking for love start to feel something they can't explain. No drama. No rush. Just raw connection and a spark that won't quit.

"𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲"

Imani Grace Holloway has always lived by the rules-her father's pulpit, her mother's watchful eyes, and the strict walls of her sheltered life. But when Malik "Saint" Rivers, a street-smart charmer with ties to her church, starts appearing in her world, everything she's been taught to believe is challenged. Caught between her parents' iron grip and the thrilling pull of freedom, Imani must navigate desire, rebellion, and self-discovery. Can she honor her upbringing while finding her own voice-or will temptation tear her world apart?

Sixteen-year-old Danica has always flown under the radar-quiet, observant, with her head buried in romance novels and her heart tucked safely behind well-built walls. After transferring to a new school, she's relieved to finally escape the judgmental stares and mocking whispers of her old one. She's not here to stand out-just to survive. But then she meets him. Xavier Moreau is everything she's not-charming, magnetic, and universally adored. The golden boy of the school. The one who makes her laugh in English Lit, steals glances when he thinks she isn't looking, and somehow knows she likes apple juice and purple highlighters. She tells herself it's nothing. That he treats everyone like this. That a guy like Xavier doesn't fall for girls like her. Except... maybe he does. As whispered rumors swirl and lines blur between friendship and something more, Danica must decide if she's willing to risk her carefully guarded heart-or let it slip away in the name of playing it safe. Because sometimes love finds you when you least expect it. And sometimes... it writes a story all its own. A slow-burn, coming-of-age romance full of bookish banter, unlikely friendships, and that aching question: What if he actually means it?

❛ 𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥. 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧? ❜ ❛ 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 ❜ ❛ 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 ❜ 〔 🎆 〕 𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗛 .ᐟ they've always argued in class. they're constantly comparing their grades and calling each other names. 𝗯𝘂𝘁... one day, their teacher finally got so sick of their bickering that she paired them together for a project in hopes that it would finally put an end to their rivalry. little did she know, this only lead to a complicated relationship. and even more bickering. 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 sturniolo 𝖷 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲!oc 𝙣𝙤 smut rated 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 for strong language 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 : may 31st, 2023 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 : may 31st, 2023 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 : september 2nd, 2023 © 𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆𝗻𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀, 2023

~ 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚.

' 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆'

Your a broken hearted girl not wanting to get hurt again 😔