Novels by BooksbyAnnie

IsabellaIsabella stood in front of the floor-length mirror in what remained of the estate's guest wing, staring at her reflection like she was looking at a stranger. The deep emerald gown hugged her hourglass figure perfectly, the silk catching the light as she moved. Her long dark chestnut hair was styled in an elegant updo, her warm brown eyes enhanced with makeup that couldn't quite hide the fear underneath.In one hour, she'd walk into a ballroom full of New York's most dangerous families. In one hour, Catalina would force her to choose between Sofia's life and Dante's trust. In one hour, everything she'd built with the man she loved would either survive or shatter completely."You look beautiful," Dante's voice came from the doorway, making her jump. "Terrified, but beautiful."He moved into the room, devastatingly handsome in his custom Italian suit, his steel-gray eyes taking in every detail of her appearance with an intensity that made her breath catch. His powerful frame fil

IsabellaIsabella sat in the back of Dante's armored SUV as they raced toward what remained of the estate, her mind spinning with Catalina's threat. Three hours until the gala. Three hours until every secret she'd kept, every plan she'd made behind Dante's back, would be exposed in front of hundreds of witnesses."We need to cancel," she said, breaking the tense silence. "The gala. We need to cancel it, Dante. Catalina's planning something catastrophic. She has recordings of…." She cut herself off, barely catching the confession before it spilled out."Recordings of what?" Dante asked, his steel-gray eyes sharp despite the exhaustion evident in his powerful frame. "Isabella, what does Catalina have?""I don't know," she lied, the words tasting like ash. "But if she's threatening to reveal things at the gala, if she has some kind of….of evidence against us….""Then we face it," Dante said firmly. "We don't run from threats. We don't hide from enemies. We show up, we fight, and we surviv

IsabellaIsabella stared at the photo of the burning estate, her hands shaking so violently she nearly dropped the phone. Catalina. It had been Catalina all along. Not just Antonio's ally—the actual mastermind."We need to move," Dante said, already heading for the warehouse exit with Sofia in his arms. "Marco, get teams to the estate. Now. Everyone we have. And…..""Wait," Antonio interrupted, still standing with his hands raised. "You don't understand. Catalina's not working alone. She has someone inside your inner circle. Someone close enough to know every security protocol, every backup plan, every…..""Shut up," Dante snarled. "You don't get to help now. You don't get to……""It's Marco," Antonio said flatly.The warehouse went silent.Isabella watched Marco's handsome face shift from shock to fury, his warm hazel eyes turning cold as ice. "You lying son of a….""Am I?" Antonio challenged. "Then explain how Catalina knew Dante would come to this warehouse. How she knew the estate w

IsabellaIsabella stared at the video link Antonio had sent, her finger hovering over it while Marco's men surrounded her and Dante in the kitchen. Every instinct screamed not to click it, not to see whatever horror Antonio had prepared."Don't open it," Dante said quietly, his hand covering hers on the phone. "That's what he wants. He wants you traumatized before the gala. Wants you broken and desperate. Don't give him that power.""But Sofia….""Is alive," Marco interrupted, his warm hazel eyes serious as he moved closer. "Boss, we traced the video link. It's not live. It's pre-recorded from two hours ago. And the location metadata…" He pulled up his tablet. "It's the old Carbone warehouse in Red Hook. We have teams moving there now.""Two hours ago?" Isabella's voice shook. "Then she could already be…..""She's not," Marco said firmly. "Antonio needs leverage. He needs Sofia alive to control you at the gala. Killing her before then eliminates his power over you. He's bluffing, Isa

IsabellaIsabella stood in the penthouse kitchen at seven in the morning, mechanically going through the motions of making coffee while her mind raced with impossible calculations. Eight hours until the gala. Eight hours to figure out how to save Sofia without betraying Dante. Eight hours until everything she loved shattered beyond repair.Her phone buzzed in her pocket—another message from Antonio with a photo timestamp showing Sofia still alive, still terrified. The silent reminder that one wrong move meant her sister's death."You're making espresso," Dante's voice came from behind her, rough with exhaustion. "You hate espresso. You always make regular coffee."Isabella's hands froze on the machine. She hadn't even realized what she was doing. "I….I thought I'd try something different.""At seven AM on the day of the most dangerous event we've ever planned?" Dante moved into the kitchen, his steel-gray eyes too perceptive, too knowing. "Isabella, what's wrong?""Nothing," she lied,

IsabellaIsabella stood on the penthouse balcony at midnight, the city glittering below like fallen stars, trying to memorize this moment. In less than twelve hours, the annual Valentino charity gala would begin. Antonio would make his move. Everything they'd planned, everything they'd risked—it would all culminate in one violent, desperate night.And she might lose everything."You're thinking too loud," Dante's voice came from behind her, rough and familiar. His powerful arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. "I can hear it from inside.""I'm scared," Isabella admitted, her hands covering his. "Terrified, actually. What if something goes wrong? What if Antonio….""He won't," Dante interrupted, his lips finding her temple. "Marco has fifty men positioned. The FBI has backup teams. We've planned for every contingency. Sofia's safe at the compound with Lorenzo. You're going to be protected every second.""That's what scares me," Isabella said quietly. "Not m