Novels by Censia

The late evening shadows stretched long across the city skyline, the golden hour light fading into a dim, solemn hue as the sun dipped behind the horizon. Inside the Voltaire penthouse, the silence was thick, almost reverent, like the calm before a coming storm.In the vast library, Nirvana sat cross-legged on the Persian rug, a single brass lamp casting a warm halo over the red ledger opened before her. The soft ticking of the antique clock on the wall was the only sound that filled the room.Her fingers trembled as she flipped page after page, eyes scanning numbers, signatures, receipts, bank statements. A knot had lodged in her throat hours ago, tightening with every damning word she read.She had started from the beginning again that afternoon. Something had urged her to. A feeling that the truth was near—aching, waiting to gut her.And then she saw it.Page 274.The ink was different on that page. Bolder. Angrier.Castillo Holdings. Nevada Project. March 20, 2022.She leaned clos

The polished floors of Castillo Holdings gleamed under the sharp morning light. Nirvana stepped into the building like a storm cloaked in silk…black tailored suit, red-bottom heels, a glint of fire in her eyes that made onlookers step aside without realizing it.Whispers followed her like a second skin.“She’s back.”“Isn’t that Jordan Castillo’s daughter?”“She looks dangerous...”The whispers didn’t slow her.She had a goal.Today she officially resumed as Assistant CEO…her half of the empire rightfully reclaimed.The elevator doors ahead slid open. Nirvana moved faster…"Welcome back, sweetheart."Adrian Holt’s voice oozed mockery as he leaned lazily against the elevator wall, arms folded, a smirk etched across his arrogant face.Nirvana’s steps didn't falter, but her hands curled slightly at her sides."You’re late," Adrian said smoothly, eyes raking over her in a way that made her want to stab him with her stiletto. "But I guess royalty is allowed to make an entrance."She steppe

Nirvana didn’t care that she was barefoot. She didn’t care that the chilly morning air bit into her bare legs. She just wanted to get away.. from the suffocating house, from the mocking puppy love looks, from him.She pushed through the heavy front door, stepping into the sun-drenched driveway.The crisp breeze hit her skin, raising goosebumps. The world outside felt too bright, too open, too mocking.Behind her, the heavy door slammed open."Nirvana!" RAyNe's voice sliced through the air like a whip.She ignored him, lifting the hem of the satin dress so she could move faster across the pebbled drive."You’re really going to run away again?" RAyNe barked, fury threading his voice.She spun around."I'm not yours to keep!" she shouted back.RAyNe strode after her, slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world. Like a storm building behind deceptively calm skies."You’re mine because you made yourself mine," he said, voice low and dangerous."I didn’t make myself anything!

The morning light filtered in like a damn spotlight, too sharp, too bright, highlighting every detail of the disaster that was the bedroom. Nirvana blinked awake, slowly, groggily, her cheek pressed to something warm and firm.She tilted her head and stared. RAyNe.Naked.Asleep.The calm rise and fall of his chest looked deceivingly innocent, lips parted just a little, lashes so long they almost dusted his cheeks. She should punch him in the face, but her fingers betrayed her. They reached out, brushing over the deep frown between his brows. Gently, she massaged the tension out.He didn't stir.She turned her head and surveyed the room. Holy hell. Clothes scattered like they'd been in a brawl with gravity. The sheets twisted on the bed like a crime scene. There were handprints on the floor-length mirror. And... was that a bra hanging from the ceiling fan?"Ugh... fuck my head..." she muttered, sitting up slightly.RAyNe's eyes opened. Green and wicked.She froze.Slowly, carefully, s

RAyNe kicked open the double doors to his room, still carrying Nirvana over his shoulder like she was nothing more than a stubborn little package that had pushed every one of his damn buttons."Put me down! RAyNe! You psycho! Put me the hell down!" Nirvana shouted, pounding her fists against his back, her heels long discarded during the chaos."Be quiet, wild rose," he muttered darkly, voice low and dangerously calm.He walked into the grand bedroom…floor-to-ceiling windows, low lighting, the scent of leather and cologne clinging to the air. The heavy door slammed shut behind them.He finally tossed her onto the massive bed. She bounced slightly, hair splaying out over the pillows, chest rising and falling with her anger."You’ve really lost your fucking mind," she spat, crawling backward on the bed, her eyes flashing.RAyNe's blazer was already off. His shirt was halfway unbuttoned, revealing a hint of his chest, tattoos peeking out like dangerous secrets."Maybe," he said, stalking

The chandeliers dripped light like gold melting from the ceiling. Crystal flutes clinked against manicured nails, laughter trilled through the air like champagne bubbles, and soft classical music rose beneath the rich murmurs of elite society.Nirvana stepped into the grand hall, her arm looped with her uncle Darius Voltaire's, her presence enough to steal the breath from the room. She wore deep emerald silk that hugged her curves in reverence, her red hair cascading in sleek waves down her back, a sapphire pendant resting just above the swell of her collarbone."You look more like your mother every day," Darius said, his voice warm.She glanced up at him, the barest smile tugging her lips. "That’s the fifth time you’ve said that tonight. Are you trying to make me cry in the middle of a ballroom?"He chuckled. "Just trying to remind you who you come from. She’d be proud of you tonight. And so am I."Nirvana’s smile softened. "I hope so.""Now," Darius said, pausing as he glanced acros

The sunlight streaming through the tall windows warmed the edge of the bed, tracing golden fingers over the white sheets tangled around Vincenzo and Noel.Noel stirred first.He blinked slowly, eyes adjusting to the room…the rich wood, the gold-framed portraits, the subtle scent of leather and cologne. Then the weight beside him shifted. Vincenzo’s arm was still draped around him."You’re awake?" Noel whispered.Vincenzo didn’t open his eyes. “Have been for a while.”Noel’s throat tightened. “You scared me, y’know.”Vincenzo finally turned his head. “Scaring you wasn’t the plan.”Noel sighed, sitting up slowly. “You almost died.”“I didn’t.”“Because Lucas gave his blood. And I passed out trying to do the same.”Vincenzo’s hand found Noel’s waist under the sheet. “You always try to do the most dangerous thing to protect me.”“Because you always do the stupidest shit to protect me.”They sat in silence for a moment.Then Noel asked quietly, “Where do we go from here?”Vincenzo arched a

The television flickered in the corner of the smoke-filled bar, its grainy screen catching the attention of the man hunched over his whiskey. Hooded and half-shadowed, he looked up slowly, glass paused at his lips.BREAKING NEWS: OPERA SHOOTOUT TURNS BLOODYThe footage was shaky, captured by a panicked bystander, but it was enough. The camera caught a brief glimpse of a woman collapsing to the floor, her head jerking violently with the impact of a bullet.The caption read: *Elene Ricci presumed dead in the aftermath of the Opera House ambush.*The man’s grip tightened on the glass until it cracked. His eyes, a cold storm beneath his disguise, didn’t blink.Don Vittorio Ricci.Alive.He muttered, barely audible beneath the music and chatter, “You killed my daughter...”And then, like steel being tempered in flame:“I’ll burn the De Lucas to ash.”Meanwhile, in the De Luca estate...The return was a slow procession.Noel supported Vincenzo with gentle hands, guiding him up the marble st

The air was suffocatingly still.It had been thirty-seven hours.Thirty-seven hours since Noel had walked into that room and refused to leave Vincenzo’s side.Doctors had come and gone. Nurses whispered in corners. The rhythm of machines continued its haunting lullaby, every beep a breath stolen, every silence a cliffhanger.Noel hadn’t moved.Lucas had stabilized, resting in another room with Nico refusing to leave his side.Aria had gone to get clean clothes and food. She cried when she hugged Noel but left quietly, promising she’d return soon.But Noel...He stayed.He slept curled on the edge of the bed, his arms around Vincenzo’s waist, his cheek pressed lightly against the cold hospital gown.He hadn't said a word since last night.Not even to Isadora, who had come with a bowl of soup and a fresh change of clothes.She stood by the door now, Leontis beside her, both of them silent."He's still not speaking?" Leontis asked quietly.Isadora nodded. "He's holding it all in."Leonti

The hospital lights burned too bright, too sterile.Noel sat crumpled on the hard bench outside the operating room, his face buried in his trembling hands.His body shook violently, silent sobs wrecking through him.Aria sat beside him, arms wrapped tight around his shoulders, tears streaming down her own face.Nico crouched in front of him, gripping his knees, whispering something..anything…but Noel couldn’t hear him.He couldn’t hear anything over the deafening roar in his ears.The image of Vincenzo collapsing in his arms played again and again behind his eyelids.Blood.So much blood.Hot, sticky, soaking his fingers.The doors to the OR burst open.The doctor…young, sweat beading his forehead…rushed out, removing his gloves."His condition is critical," he said, his voice clipped and urgent. "The bullet tore through an artery. We’ve managed to stabilize the bleeding, but he’s lost too much blood."Noel's head snapped up."I’ll donate," he said immediately, voice cracking. "Take m

The opera house ruins loomed like a carcass in the night.Fog curled over the broken steps, swallowing the splintered marble columns and shattered stained glass windows.The SUVs crawled to a silent stop a block away.Vincenzo sat in the backseat, staring out the tinted window.Beside him, Noel shifted, his legs bouncing with nervous energy he couldn't suppress.Lucas spoke first, keeping his voice low. "Visual confirmation. Ten of their men outside. Unmarked vans. Heavily armed."Vincenzo nodded once. "Positions?""East and west entrances covered. Main hall's open." Lucas paused. "But it's a kill box. They want to herd us through it."Vincenzo’s lips curved into something that wasn't a smile."They think we're that stupid."Lucas shrugged one shoulder. "They think you're desperate."Vincenzo leaned back, turning his head toward Noel."You ready?"Noel swallowed hard, nodding."I'm not leaving without them," he said."You won’t have to."Noel hesitated. "You’re not either."Vincenzo r

The room was dark, save for the low orange glow of the antique lamp on the bedside table.Vincenzo lay on his side, arms locked tight around Noel, feeling the slow, soft rise and fall of his chest against his own.For the first time in what felt like eternity, it was peaceful.Warm.Real.He buried his nose in Noel’s hair, breathing in the soft scent of him…clean, faintly like vanilla. His heart tightened. If he could, he would stay like this forever. No wars. No blood. No betrayals.Just them.His phone buzzed, sharp against the silence.Vincenzo cursed under his breath and reached over Noel’s sleeping form for it.The screen read: Elene Ricci.His jaw flexed.He carefully shifted out of bed, covering Noel with the heavy comforter, and padded across the ridiculously large bedroom Isadora had given them. It was nearly the size of his penthouse master suite. Gilded mirrors, marble floors, velvet drapes that made no sound even as they swayed with the wind.He answered on the third buzz.