Novels by Charis

0181~ Joan ~He looked at me for a moment.His face stayed completely blank, unreadable. The silence stretched long enough that I almost believed he was going to refuse. My pulse stayed steady anyway. The worst he could do was say no, and I already had a contingency for that.Then he proved himself worthy.“Consider it done.”Three quiet words. There was no hesitation. No questions about why or how. Just acceptance.Guess I have just met my gold luck, I thought, the dark satisfaction curling warm in my chest. A fool who thought I was falling for him, and now a tool willing to help me bury Aria Santoro. Perfect.I stood, rounded the table slowly, and swayed my hips with deliberate, practiced seduction. When I reached his chair I lowered myself onto his thigh, straddling one leg so that the heat of me pressed against the hard muscle beneath his trousers. I leaned in close, lips brushing the shell of his ear.“Don’t you deserve a little reward after all that?” I whispered, the seductive

0180~ Joan ~Today was the day I was finally going to claw my way completely into Emilio’s life.What an absolute fool he was, actually thinking a girl like me was head over heels in love with him. I threw my head back and let out a dark, wicked laugh. My heart beat for Luca, and Luca alone. Emilio was just a convenient tool to be used, fucked, and tossed away the second he served his purpose.He had invited me over to his private house for the very first time. I made sure to look as wildly sexy as possible. I pulled on a tight, cleavage-baring dress, painted my lips in a deep blood-red lipstick, and sprayed an expensive perfume that smelled so intoxicating he wouldn't be able to resist sleeping with me.When I pulled up and stepped out of my car, I was genuinely perplexed. The mansion was massive, giant even. I always knew Emilio made good money in the mafia, but I didn't realize he was this loaded. The entire front lawn was dead silent, not a single guard or servant in sight.By th

0179~ Luca ~An underground racing spot? Interesting. I stared out the window as Emilio parked his sleek sports car near the entrance of a massive, hidden warehouse beneath the city streets. The heavy bass of loud music pounded against the concrete walls, and the sharp smell of burning rubber and cheap gasoline filled the air."Yes, some thrill and fun will make sense, don't you think?" Emilio said, turning off the engine with a wide,confident grin. "It will give you a massive rush of adrenaline. You need to clear your head and think straight if you want to deploy your plans against Joan and the mole. Don't you agree? Besides, I still have one more big surprise for you."He was acting suspiciously cheerful now, and it was putting my nerves right on edge. What on earth could that surprise possibly be?Before I could ask, Emilio jumped out of the car and dragged me toward the registration desk. I wasn't about to use my real name down here in the criminal underworld, so I quickly regis

0178~ Luca ~After Aria vented all her raw anger and practically threw me out of her room, I didn't go back upstairs. I couldn't face the empty hallways of the estate. Instead, I walked out the back glass doors and sat down on a stone bench in the dark backyard.The cool night air hit my face, but I barely felt it. I reached deep into my coat pocket and pulled out a cigar. It was an old habit, one I rarely touched. I didn't think I had smoked a single cigar in over a year. But tonight, I needed it. I needed something, anything, to calm the burning storm inside my chest.I needed to get my shit together. Only problem was, I had no earthly idea how to do it.I was trapped in a nightmare of my own making. I didn’t know the full extent of what Joan was truly capable of,who was helping her pull the strings behind the scenes, or what her next move would be. I couldn’t afford to underestimate her for even a second, because if I did, my innocent daughter Isabella could end up in grave danger

0177~ Aria ~There was an immediate, heavy pin-drop silence in the dining room.My face had changed already, I am completely sure of it. Blood drained straight from my cheeks, but I didn’t even bother to look up from my plate or see how anyone else was reacting. Still, I could feel the burning weight of Luca's eyes fixed directly on me from across the table."Really?" one of the brothers broke the silence, raising his eyebrows in genuine surprise. "Why do you think so, Alessandro?""Well, I accidentally caught a glimpse of the contact name 'Isabella' on his caller ID just now," Alessandro explained, grinning like he had uncovered some top-secret intel. "And knowing Luca here, I almost thought he was gay! The last time we came to visit, he didn’t have a single female contact saved on his private phone!"The brothers instantly broke out into low murmurs, chuckling and nudging each other as the playful teasing rippled around the table.Honestly, I wonder how they were mafia men. Luca d

0176~ Aria ~There they were! Uncle Enzo and Emilio’s four brothers, sitting comfortably right in our living room. Truthfully, I didn’t know them that well yet. I just knew in a vague way that they were my cousins from my father’s side of the family.But seeing them standing here right now felt so surprisingly good. I needed this. I desperately needed a distraction from the heavy, suffocating cloud of heartbreak that had been following me around like a shadow.Emilio did this, I realized with a sudden warmth in my chest. I was completely sure of it. It was such a sweet,thoughtful gesture from him to bring his family over to brighten up the gloomy me.Uncle Enzo stood up first, his warm eyes lighting up as he stepped toward me. "Mia principessa!" he cheered softly, opening his arms wide. "It is so good to finally see you, my lovely niece!"He wrapped me in a big, warm bear hug that made me feel instantly safe and cherished.How were all these men high-ranking mafia guys? Looking at th

0016✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧ Marichuy ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧There was something about Redford that painted him out as terrifying.When he first mentioned giving my resources to Derek to secure the expansion, I thought he was working with Derek.I was convinced he was part of their elaborate scam, but after he said ‘this time’, speaking about all of it in past tense, I was convinced that he knew something and whatever he knew terrified me.There was no telling yet what was going on, but since I could not hear his thoughts and I had reason to believe he knew something, my greatest threat had become Alpha Redford.However it was that he was connected to all of this, I was going to find out.Lily.Her name appeared on my phone screen, accompanied by the buzzing sound of my silenced ringtone.“Hey you,” she sounded excited.Her usual high-pitched tone that made me feel grateful she was in my life to brighten it with her positivity.“Good morning, Lily,” I responded.“Yesterday, I left so abruptly and I never g

0015✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧ Redford ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧I sat across from her at the table and just stared in silence at her beautiful hazel eyes and the way they complimented her light skin and chestnut brown wavy hair.Bruce calling for her was becoming louder than I cared to control.I had gone a lifetime never identifying her and now that I have, not only was she engaged to be married to someone else in a few weeks, she had no idea.It’s unheard of.She had no idea!Something was wrong.There had to be an explanation as to why her wolf could not recognize Bruce and if I was going to have any shot—any at all at fixing this lifetime, I had to find the problem.“So, I’m curious.” She picked up a conversation. I’m guessing the way my eyes would not shift from her, even when I picked food from my plate to my mouth.“Does the Alpha move from pack to pack, insisting on dinner with other Alpha’s mates?” she probed.I smiled lightly and then adjusted.“Only the ones that tend to be my mate too.” I replied.

0014✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧ Marichuy ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧“Are you going?” Derek probed.I was without an answer. Mostly because I was still trying to process my thoughts, but also because I wasn’t sure what Derek would have me say.I had a lot of questions Derek could obviously not answer, so it was pointless to voice out any of them.‘What was really up with this Alpha Redford? What did he want?’‘He seemed to not care that I was with Derek. Why?’I knew this was one of the changes I had to face in this new chance, but was he a good change or a bad one?It was impossible to read what was going on in his mind and my only hope at getting any insight was to spend more time with him, which he clearly wanted to do too, but inviting me over for dinner with Derek in the room seemed to be pushing it.Derek’s countenance made processing this even more difficult.His thoughts were silent and his facial expression was blank.A man had just asked me out in his presence and there was no rage whatsoever in his eye

0013✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧ Marichuy ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧“I’m sorry. I mean… uh… I’ve not had the time.” I quickly tried to save my response. “Between your mother coming here, Lily and trying to set up my apartment… I just haven’t…”Derek took a deep breath.“Mari, you can just sign it and go over it later. This is urgent.”I smiled.“Why? The wedding is still weeks away. Am I missing something?”His silence was profound.I was having too much fun watching all of this play out from a knowing side.“Not at all.” He walked to me, held me by the arms and stared passionately into my eyes. “It’s just, we have to file everything in preparation for the wedding and lead a pack together. I wouldn’t want anything to be last minute.” He argued softly. Persuasively. “But then, take your time.” He added.“I will.” I nodded and pulled away.His face was becoming uncomfortably close to mine and I could not imagine it.“Mari, do we have a problem?”I almost choked on my saliva, convinced that I had given myself up. I

0012✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧ Marichuy ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧I recognized her voice. How could I not?Lily.I quickly slid the document into the drawer under the counter.Lily let herself in after the second knock. Luckily, I had pushed the drawer back in.“Good morning… woah!” she paused and exclaimed.At least she was the first to notice the three boxes at the corner of the living room. The very ones Margaret and Derek just skipped over.“Are you moving out? You’re going to live in Derek’s house before the wedding?” Lily struggled to sound excited for me, but I could see right through her.“No. These boxes aren’t moving out boxes. They are moving in boxes.” I walked over to the boxes.There were three boxes, the next a few inches smaller than the first.“Derek is moving in here?” Lily was mortified.“No!” I tore open the tape holding the smallest box.The smallest box held paintings that I soon began to position on the wall.“They’re mine. I’m trying to make this space… more… home.” I smiled faintly.“Wh

0011✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧ Marichuy ✧･ﾟ: ✧ :･ﾟ✧“Do we have a problem here?”He surfaced out of nowhere at the very minute Derek was already causing drama.Derek froze on the spot.I stood quietly too.There was no way I was giving any explanation, especially after the stunt he pulled on the balcony.“None at all.” Derek responded quietly, “I think Marichuy and I will be on our way now.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the hall.I did not resist, but kept looking back at Alpha Redford’s face.‘What was it about this man and why was he now hovering?’Derek and I had the most awkward ride back.Neither of us said a word to the other, but I was entertained by his thoughts the whole time.I need to do something.Why is she ruining everything?She loves me. She’s supposed to go easy. I’ve spent years cultivating this relationship.Why is she weird all of a sudden?We had her figured out. We were sure.I was greatly amused the entire trip, but had to keep a straight face, until we got to my