"You want to act reckless? Fine. But don't think for a second you're not being watched. This city is full of men who'd love to carve a message into you just to make a point." "And what message would you carve?" I whispered. He reached out. Brushed the back of his knuckles down my jaw, rough and slow. "Mine." It wasn't sweet. It wasn't romantic. It was a brand. And then he dropped his hand. "You have ten minutes to get out of here before I make a fucking scene." ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ Massimo Bianchi is ruthless, the kind of man who leaves blood in his wake and never looks back. At 29, he's the trusted enforcer for one of the most feared mafia bosses in America - my father, Lorenzo DeLuca, the ghost I never knew but can never escape. I, Francesca DeLuca, have spent my life in the shadows of wealth, too blind to see the truth behind my family's fortune. But when I confront the mysterious man who's been following me, I'm thrown into a world of blood and betrayal, where loyalty is bought and sold like a commodity. Massimo is everything I should fear - cold, dangerous, and bound by an oath to my father. But there's something in the way he looks at me, a dark hunger he refuses to acknowledge. I should hate him, push him away, but the deeper I fall into my family's twisted legacy, the harder it is to resist the pull. But loving a man like Massimo is a risk, and in our world, mistakes are paid for in blood. So the question is - will I be his downfall, or will he be mine?

A journalist with secrets. An officer with a badge and unfinished guilt. A case that should've been simple-if only they could stop touching each other. Laboni Sen has the kind of information that could bring down Kala Haath, the most dangerous mafia in India. Reetika Roy, the IPS officer assigned to protect her, knows this should be about justice. Not past mistakes. Not long stares. Definitely not what happened in Reetika's apartment. They knew each other once-before the pills, before the uniform, before the fire between them had a name. Now, they're playing nice. For the case. But the lines blur with every whisper, every lie, every glass of wine. In the end, someone's going to break. The law. The case. Or each other. ⚠️ Content Warning: This story contains themes of mental illness (Bipolar I), emotional manipulation, references to sex work, bullying, and morally grey dynamics. Reader discretion is advised.

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢 doesn't believe in love. He believes in order. In obedience. In systems so exact they can rebuild a mind-or erase it. Founder of The Lattice, an exclusive wellness retreat with a waiting list and a secret agenda, Silas promises transformation through surrender. Every command is data; every ritual, a recalibration. Every follower, a study in compliance. He calls it healing. They call it devotion. "I don't need your love," Silas says. "I need the silence that comes after you stop fighting." 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐲 doesn't believe in salvation. She believes in surviving quietly enough not to be noticed. When an invitation to The Lattice appears in her inbox-no sender, no signature-she says yes without remembering why. The rooms are white. The air is too quiet. There are no clocks. The guests smile like they've been practiced. She's told that Silas is here to help her heal. She's told it isn't a cult. She's told the doors aren't locked. She's told she can leave at any time. They all lie. Silas doesn't fix the broken. He collects them. Curiosity brought her to The Lattice. Obedience will keep her there.