{UNPUBLISHED FOR EDITING & REWRITING.} Her father tells her she's worthless, but she doesn't know what she did to deserve this. She's fierce and strong as a street fighter, but when she's home, she's nothing more than a mute frozen in fear. Because of her father, she's been mute for over ten years. Damien King, leader of the Serpents; he's dangerous but never to her. She may seem fine, but she's nowhere near it. She's broken, constantly hearing her father's voice screaming in her head, but she remains silent. Two years ago, Damien made a choice. Whether it's in reality or his nightmares, it's a choice that'll always haunt him. When he's around, danger follows, but when she's around, darkness does. What will happen? How will it end? Will she let him in, or will he break her more than she's ever been broken? Just because she's silent doesn't mean she's innocent. Warning ⚠️: Mature Themes. {Highest Rank: #1 In Teen Fiction | #3 In Action} *** "I'm not mad at you," he whispered, "for keeping it a secret. I know you have secrets, secrets you don't want anyone to know, besides Zach. I just kept thinking...maybe if you trusted me, you would have told me. I just wish you trusted me to know those secrets." He turned his head to the right, away from me, and looked at the waves. You're worthless! This is why she left...because of you! My father's words tried reaching me again, but I pushed them out, only hearing my thoughts and Zach's. Baby steps. Trust him, Mae. Trust yourself. "I do trust you," I whispered. He turned his head so fast and looked at me with his mouth open and his eyes wide. That was the first time I spoke to anyone that wasn't my brother or my father in over ten years. And it felt so right.

Deadly assassins Allegra and Ace have been trying in vain to kill each other for years. With a mutual enemy threatening their mafias, they find themselves in an unexpected alliance, and soon discover killing each other isn't the only temptation they need to resist... ****** Allegra Grey is poised to be the next great American mafia leader, and she's more than living up to the name. A skilled assassin, there's only one target who's ever gotten away from her-suave, sinfully handsome Ace De Luca, heir to the Italian mafia and the Greys' biggest rival. When both mafias are faced with a dangerous threat, they're forced to work together to protect their families, and unexpected sparks fly. Allegra definitely isn't one to sleep with the enemy, especially an arrogant womanizer like Ace. But there's an undeniable electricity between them and Allegra's not sure it's all hatred. Ace may be bad news, but Allegra's never been afraid of a little danger. As the fire they're playing with grows to a scorching blaze, one thing is clear: trying to kill each other may have been difficult, but resisting this intense chemistry will be impossible. [[Word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Cover designed by Regina Dionela Content/trigger warning: Contains mature themes, violence and gore