Alessandra Benedetti, known for her beauty and carefully guarded innocence, is the daughter of the Vincenzo Crime Family's consigliere. Fondly called "Sessie" for her dutiful nature, she's expected to marry Tiziano, the Don's volatile second son - a match she despises. Her silent rebellion leads her into a fleeting romance with a classmate, but when her father uncovers the affair, he enforces her loyalty with brutal consequences.
Shattered by her fling's death, Alessandra attempts to flee her restrictive world, only to find that survival is more dangerous outside her family's control, especially in Chicago, where her last name holds weight. Amid her struggle for freedom, she crosses paths with Renzo Santoro in the most mysterious of ways. She saves him from an assassination attempt, risking everything her family has ever taught her, finding herself drawn to his dark charm.
Renzo, equally captivated by the mysterious woman who saved him, senses she's hiding something-but not her true identity. He begins to crave her attention, showing up unannounced, wanting her. While Alessandra, discovering the power of defiance, finds herself entranced by the very man she was raised to fear.
When he learns about her true identity, he's torn between rage and the undeniable pull he feels toward her. With love in play, forgiveness becomes easy, and his steps to protect what they share put their affair on a dangerous path. Alessandra is willing to risk it all for a taste of true freedom and the thrill Renzo offers.
As they spiral into a forbidden affair, Renzo's fascination with her deepens into obsession. He's unwilling to let her slip back to the very people he's set out to destroy. Their relationship evolves into a conflict of interest that soon gives way to darker meanings and emotions. But in a world where revenge and passion cannot coexist, their desire to make it work ignites a war that consumes them both.
"Remember how wet you were when you decide to start avoiding me again. Remember how you came all over me. Remember how you felt in this exact moment because I know you'll deny it."
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She knew falling in love with him was wrong.
She still fell anyway.
Now she will have to live with the debt of temptation
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When Poppy witnesses a robbery gone wrong and gives evidence to the police to catch the perpetrators, she finds herself in witness protection after discovering the criminals are part of a dangerous gang.
But when her witness protection comes to an end, she is soon captured by the gang leader and told she'll give eight years of her life for the man who was sentenced to prison for the same amount of time. Poppy is forced to work for the spiteful leader, Rexx, who uses her natural beauty to swindle valuable information from wealthy men for his own benefit. She's been counting down the seconds until her freedom.
When she stumbles across Gabriel Dalton, the underboss to the mafia, he's charming, attractive and tempting. Poppy expects him to be like the rest, only ever after one thing. But that's when Gabriel proves her wrong. After Rexx discovers her acquaintance with Gabriel, he demands that she spies on him to get information about his family and business. Reluctantly she wants to say no, but she has no choice. If she fights it, she'll get hurt-or worse.
As Poppy becomes closer to Gabriel, she doesn't expect to fall for him. And little does he know, she's been lying to him this whole time. There is only one thing Gabriel absolutely despises and that is heartless backstabbers.
Tropes:
- mafia romance
- forced proximity
- who did this to you?
- angst/betrayal
- dual POV
- spice with some kinks
18+