Novels by Naomi Dias

Three days.That’s how long it had been since Adrian Castellane laid down his ironclad rules in the dark hush of his luxury car. Now, I was parked outside the Castellane Mansion, staring at the wrought-iron gates and the sprawling façade beyond them. A place I’d been invited to just thrice, and as Bruno's girlfriend. A place I wasn’t supposed to belong.My cousin’s beat-up sedan looked criminally out of place on the gravel drive as I killed the engine. I smoothed down the front of my blouse, adjusted my sunglasses, and tried to pretend my stomach wasn’t twisted into knots.This wasn’t just brunch. This was war.Because inside that mansion was Bruno — my ex, Adrian’s little brother, the boy who’d tossed me aside like I was nothing. He thought I’d cry, crumble, disappear. Instead, I was about to walk into his family’s house on the arm of the brother he never measured up to.If that didn’t rattle him, nothing would.The front doors opened before I could knock. Adrian stood there, immacu

The purr of the engine faded into silence as I killed the ignition. For a moment, I sat there in the stillness of the car, fingers tightening around the steering wheel as if I could squeeze the heat out of my veins.Nova sat beside me, looking smug, arms crossed over her chest like she’d just won a prize fight. Maybe she had.I shouldn’t have agreed. I shouldn’t have let her push me into this corner. But there she was, a living reminder of every rule I’d broken the second I let her words get under my skin.“Nice car,” she said, running her hand along the leather seat like she was caressing it. Her voice carried that same teasing lilt she’d used all night—mocking, daring. “Bet it makes women fall over themselves for you.”I forced myself to look straight ahead, jaw tight. “It’s just a car.”She laughed softly. “Says the man driving a Mercedes worth more than my cousin’s house.”I finally turned, meeting her eyes. Dark, mischievous, unafraid. That was the thing about Nova—fearless to t

I gulped down the glass of chilled liquid in one go. My dark eyes watered a little. The burning sensation that tinkled my throat and the slightly sweet aftertaste was strong. “Another shot.” I slammed the empty glass on the bar. Music rattled through the floorboards. Behind me, bodies swayed in a blur of heat and flashing lights, but here, tucked under the soft glow of neon, it felt almost private. Glasses clinked, laughter rose and fell, and the smell of citrus and alcohol clung to the air. This was my corner, my escape, where the world dulled just enough to breathe.“Nova, that’s enough.” The blond bartender gave me a concerned look. “I’m gonna get fired if the manager finds out I’m tending to a seventeen year old.”“I’m turning eighteen next month, Daryl.” I slurred, trying to be firm. “So, get me another shot of tequila.”“I think you’re forgetting that you must be twenty one and above to enter this nightclub.”“Just give me the shot.” I grumbled, leaning further on the bar.Da

Two days to our summer break.Almost sundown.No calls.No texts.Nothing.I paced my dorm room, exhausted — not just physically but mentally.Two beds. Two worlds. My side was a Barbie explosion: pink pillows, pink-and-white blankets, a giant teddy bear, and a dresser crammed with clothes and romance novels instead of textbooks.Crystal’s side? Pure goth queen. Black, grey, and red. Posters of guitars, rockstars, and chaos.But back to the problem at hand. The reason I was mumbling as I clutched my phone like it was my lifeline.Bruno.My boyfriend hadn’t called or texted since last night — the night he said he was out with his C.O.D. buddies. Now he was nowhere to be found.Not at his apartment off campus.Not at his friends’ place.And his phone? Switched off.I let out a heavy exhale and dropped onto my bed so hard the pillows bounced.“God, please, let nothing happen to my sweet boy.” I stared up at the ceiling, hands clasped. “I promise I’ll stop masturbating and stealing Susie’