She was broken, pregnant, and abandoned. He was grumpy, guarded, and done with love. But somehow, they became each other's safe place. When Amiyah Le'Rae Vynter's abusive ex finds out she's pregnant, he does the cruelest thing he can-kicks her out, leaving her homeless and heartbroken with nowhere to go. Carrying a child she didn't ask for but already loves, Amiyah vows to do everything on her own...until a caramel-skinned, tattooed stranger with a permanent scowl changes everything. Cassian Rhyse Holloway doesn't do relationships, and he definitely doesn't do drama. But when he sees a shivering, pregnant woman at a bus stop in the middle of the night, something inside him snaps. He takes her in, promising himself it's only temporary. Yet, the more he's around her-the late-night conversations, her soft laughter, the way his big hands fit over her growing belly-the harder it is to keep his distance. He's grumpy, overprotective, and quick to threaten anyone who even looks at her wrong. She's sweet, vulnerable, but stronger than she gives herself credit for. Together, they're messy, complicated, and falling for each other in ways neither expected. But when Amiyah's toxic ex tries to crawl back into her life, Cassian has to prove that he's not just her shelter-he's the man who's ready to love her and the baby she's carrying, no matter what.

un·der·bel·ly /ˈəndərˌbelē/ noun A hidden unpleasant or criminal part of society. "the dark underbelly of a ghetto" "I do for me and mine how I see fit. Even if I have to wage war against everything in my path." His voice so powerful it felt like it cracked the earths core. With such precision and not even an ounce of remorse, he pulled back the top piece of his gun, the man beneath him began to beg. "Please Ce-" was all he let out before his body twitched as bullets riddled his body, followed by a loud thump. Welcome to the twisted tango of the Underbelly. ****Unedited/Unrevised****

Two guarded souls who recognize the ache in each other, trying not to fall too hard but drawn together anyway. Their love simmers beneath the surface-fierce, quiet, and complicated. He's her storm in silence; she's his peace in chaos *Unedited 𝑷𝑼𝑹𝑷𝑳𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑨𝑰𝑵 _® Started: 12/13/22 Published: 12/23/22 End: 12/29/23

Sa'Lani Monee Jeffries has always been the thick girl who gets overlooked or played. At 27, she's done with love, focused on stacking her money as a nail tech and minding her business. But when a fine, chocolate, six-foot-three gangsta with a low voice and dangerous reputation starts showing up at her job, all of that changes. Kaizer "Kai" Rashaad Wynn isn't the type of man she ever wanted. He's quiet, mean to everybody but her, and runs the streets with a heavy hand. Yet when he looks at her like she's the only woman in the world, Sa'Lani finds herself letting her guard down piece by piece. What starts as playful flirting turns into late-night phone calls, expensive gifts, and nights that leave her body aching for more. But falling for a man like Kai means stepping into a world of hood politics, jealous exes, and enemies who will use anything-including her-to get to him. When street drama hits too close to home, Sa'Lani is forced to decide if she can love a man who lives by a code that could get him killed... or if loving him will be the very thing that breaks her heart. Because Kai doesn't just want her body-he wants all of her. And when a real gangsta falls in love with a thick girl, he ain't letting go, no matter who has to get out of the way.