Forbidden Rose

Anika Hart finds herself involved with racketeers as she gets a job as a simple wine attendant and bar-tender at Santorini's Winery and Brewery Co.

Little does she know, just how familiar she really is with this place, considering she used to work with the owner himself as a teen.

But at that time, he was just Zeke.

The warm, friendly, kind guy that always offered a helping hand, whom she trusted and had an innocent little crush on.

4 years later, he's Ezekiel Vasilios.

The cold, calculating, feared, and brutal leader of the Greek Mafia. The thought of crossing paths with him makes people's stomach churn in the most unpleasant way.

He runs The Royal Chi along with its multitude of business ventures, both legal and on the illegal side.

A ruthless businessman and an even more cutthroat mafia boss. No pun intended.

Alas, things don't always stay the same. They are no longer the two teenagers making pasta together in their small town local restaurant.

Now, they are two young adults following entirely different life paths.

What happens when their world collides again for a second time?

***
"If you're going to try to shoot somebody," Ezekiel gritted.

My hands began thrashing against his hard chest in an angry attempt to push him away, but miserably failed when the weight from my throat went to my wrists instead.

His piercing reflective eyes bored into mine until I watched him bring up his other hand.

Instantly, I felt the icy touch of metal at the temple of my head.

He slowly used the barrel to move a strand of my hair away, trailing it down the side of my face.

Suddenly, I feel his warm minty breath fanning my ear as I froze.

"Don't ever think twice about it." He murmured harshly.

The heat radiating off of his body mixed with the scent of cologne invading my nostrils provided both security and danger, despite the situation we're in.

"It's kill, or be killed in this world, Anika. Never forget that."