11 Minutes

When the mafia heir, Marco Gallante, barged into the family vault with his mistress, I was standing before the Virgin Mary statue, cross-checking bloodstained ledgers. Fiore Albero cowered behind him, pointing at the ledgers in my hands and shrieking, "Marco, I'm scared..." I did not even bother looking up, just flicked the ash off my cigar. However, Marco kicked the desk over with one swift boot. "Chiara Moltisanti, Fiore can't stand the sight of all this blood and violence. Sign the divorce papers, now!" I stared at the mess scattered across the floor, thinking back to the pregnancy report the family doctor had handed me just ten minutes ago. The Gallante bloodline was dying out in this generation. Ever since the eldest son, Luca Gallante, died in that accident, Marco became the sole heir. The Don, Carmine Gallante, dreamed of nothing more than a legitimate boy of pure blood to carry on the family name and glory. So, I smiled, bright and sharp, with unmistakable mockery. "Perfect. Since you want true love, then the Don's throne will never be yours." Besides, I never wanted Marco, that useless fool. What I wanted was the Gallante empire, a mafia dynasty spanning three continents with 100 years of roots, and the control that left him with nowhere to run and no legs to stand on. This time, I would cut him out completely, keep the bloodline, and sit at the head of the family.

[Wanna do it?] I accidentally sent the message meant for my bestie to her brother, Gerald Cooper. Ten minutes later, I received his reply. [In the Maybach downstairs. Come down.] To my surprise, her brother was very well endowed too. That night, things got heated and we almost lost control. When we sobered up, he promised me that he would bear responsibility for his actions. He treated me well and doted on me, giving me anything I asked for. However, there was only one rule: I must never admit in public that I was his girlfriend. Five years later, he brought another woman home. With his arm wrapped around the woman, he told me that she was his girlfriend. I confronted him, asking, "If she's your girlfriend, then what would that make me? I waited five long years for you!" He chuckled indifferently and said something that chilled me to my bone. "Wait for me? Did I tell you to wait? Nyssa Bennett, don't ever fall in love with someone so desperately. It's terrifying." So it turned out that my love for him was nothing but trouble. From then on, I tried to live without him, let go of my feelings, and finally left him. But one week later, when I was exchanging my vows with another man, Gerald was standing there in the aisle, looking up at me with reddened eyes.

When Harper wakes up that morning with a headache and prepares to get dressed to go to her little brother's graduation ceremony, she does not imagine that that same day, a handsome gentleman with an enigmatic look and a flirtatious smile will cross her path and that will dazzle her completely as soon as she sees him sitting in that subway car. One thing will lead to another, and in a matter of minutes, a pair of new acquaintances will surrender to their desires, in the bathroom of a subway station. For him, Daniel Ansdell, it will be one more experience, one of so many he has had throughout his life. He is a very confident man, with extensive experience in lovemaking arts, with a strong obsession for sex. He is uninhibited, cheeky and very direct when it comes to asking for what he wants. And although in the eyes of any lady he is perfect, he is not the type of man that a father would wish for his daughter. For her part, Harper is not a white dove, but she is not a veteran in love matters either. Her complicated life has led her to consider a couple of priorities. And having a romantic relationship is not among them. She is a fun woman, without prejudice, but with many responsibilities. Together they will have to face a series of emotions and feelings that will emerge in the midst of a whirlwind of passions. She will not be able to understand why that man awakens her most primitive side. It will be very difficult for him to recognize that she has taken over his thoughts and his will.

Lorenzo De Angelis is an Italian tycoon who runs his empire with an iron fist. He is gorgeous, powerful, young, and very wealthy. His enemies are several and quite ferocious, so Lorenzo trusts no one. This is why when he discovers a woman hiding in his office, listening to some important and extremely confidential information, his first instinct is to keep her ‘prisoner’ for a few days while trying to discover who is this beautiful ‘spy’. She is Phoebe Stone and she is just doing her job cleaning offices, without knowing she is ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’. So, in a matter of minutes, against her wishes, she will start a thrilling adventure, next to a stunning but frightening man. This adventure will change both their lives forever. (Excerpt) The reality hit her hard. She was standing in a dimly lit room, half naked in front of the man who kidnapped her… who threatened her... The most beautiful man in the world. He lifted her hands and put them on him as if it was the most natural thing in the world that she should touch him. She caressed him again, just to make sure he was really there. He covered her small hands with his and stood perfectly still. “If you want me to stop, I will. If you want me to leave this room, I will. ‘Piccola’ (Ita. Baby), the decision is yours.” “Don’t stop, please… I just want to be yours tonight… and always…”

Alexander's mistress was pregnant. He turned his back on me without a shred of hesitation, canceled our marking ceremony, and brought her home instead. As he passed by, he didn't even look at me. He just left a brief order hanging in the air. "She's weak. You know medicine. From now on, you'll handle her meals." When he reached the first floor, he paused again. "She's pregnant. She can't be frightened, and she needs me to sleep beside her." His voice was flat, devoid of any feeling for me. "There are plenty of empty rooms. Move out of mine." I packed my things quietly, without a word, and walked out of the estate. The butler tried to stop me, but Alexander's voice cut through the hall, cold and final. "Let her go. Once she cools off, she'll come crawling back on her own." His men, watching the scene unfold, exchanged amused glances. They even placed bets right in front of me—how many minutes before I'd regret leaving and come running back. But none of them knew the truth. The Alpha King my parents had chosen for me had already sent a car to wait for me outside the gate. This time, I wasn't coming back.

What makes a hero? They say a hero is someone that has given his life to something bigger than himself. I say a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, he is just braver for five minutes longer. All soldiers are brave, it's what they do with their bravery that makes them heroes. Am I a hero? Clayton Jackson dedicated his life to serving his country. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at the young age of eighteen, he never imagined following any other path. However, fate had other plans for him as a life-altering accident during his last deployment left him disabled and forces him to return home. Hiding in the small town he grew up in, Clayton tries to keep his secret from his loved ones at all costs. One day while seeking refuge from his troubled mind, his path crosses with Isabella Jones. Their connection is instantaneous as if the universe conspired to bring them together. Isabella, a mysterious and enigmatic woman, is haunted by the demons from her own past. As their relationship quickly blossoms, the unspoken truths between them threaten to tear them apart. When Clayton is presented with the opportunity to rejoin the Marine Corps, Isabella is faced with a decision: whether to accompany him or remain behind. Caught in this web of secrets and lies, they try to navigate their love through the murky waters, desperately hoping to find solace in each other's arms. But will love be enough to conquer the shadows that lingered in their hearts? Or would the truth ultimately be their undoing?

Jake Ryan had been best friends with Jay Morgan since they were in middle school. Jake had always valued being an only sibling, especially when Jay’s younger sister, Rachel, was always in the picture. Her personality always rubbed Jake the wrong way, and the fact that she always had to butt into her big brother’s business annoyed him more than he could say. Rachel, on the other hand, had way too much fun bothering Jake, he let it be known that she always rubbed him wrong, and she took great joy in making sure to always let it happen. Even after their drunk, and oh stupid night, she still teased him. But when the Jake came to be her personal one man rescue mission to help her out of a blizzard, she wanted no part of it. And a few minutes too long of arguing and annoying each other meant that they were stuck in her family cabin until help came, if they came. What could happen with two people, who clearly hated each other, were forced to spend the unknown amount of hours together? Could they get over the bickering along enough to figure out how to get help? Could they actually pull together and work through their problems? Better yet, could they finally stop denying the attraction they’ve both buried since high school?

Just because his first love's younger brother accidentally fell into Shadow River, my Alpha mate, Ethan Horn, forced me, the only Spirit Soother of our pack, to go and rescue him. When I sank to the bottom of the river, I chose not to save him. When the man was pulled out of the river, the healer lamented, "If it were a few minutes earlier, Leo might have been saved. What a pity." Ethan's first love, Serafina Pike, had her wolf soul shut off and soon passed away because she missed her younger brother, Leo Pike. From that moment on, Ethan, who had once loved me, hated me to the core. Without giving me a chance to explain, he slit my throat with a silver blade and ruthlessly sealed my wolf soul. Later, he believed the heresy of the witch about soul sacrifice and nailed me and our young daughter in coffins before burying us alive by Shadow River as sacrifices to resurrect his beloved Serafina. In the end, the woman he deeply loved did not come back to life, and my daughter and I died with endless resentment. When I reopened my eyes, I had returned to the night when Ethan forced me to jump into the river to save Leo. I tied up the specially made rope and asked him for the last time, "Are you really sure that you can bear the consequences after I rescue him?"

So, Mrs. Knight,” he said, voice dripping with mockery, “do we have a deal?” I stared at his hand. Then at his face. Then at the empty shot glasses. I slapped my palm into his. “It’s not Mrs. Knight anymore,” I said, squeezing hard. “And you, Mr. Arrogant, just hired the most vindictive assistant you’ll ever have.” His fingers tightened around mine, warm and strong and promising all kinds of chaos. “Welcome to the dark side, Isabella.” Behind us, Kayla whispered to herself and few people in the coffee shop, “Y’all, I’m literally witnessing the start of a mafia romance…” Lucian’s eyes never left mine. Something electric and dangerous crackled between us. And in that moment, drunk off tequila and vengeance, I signed my soul with the Devil. I said no to Alexander Knight at the altar. Then I said yes to Lucian Voss in the rain, still wearing my wedding dress... Because my fiancee betrayed me twenty minutes before we tied the knots. With Lucian, it was a fake relationship stringed with mind-blowing nights. I gave him my body He offered me revenge Neither of us expected to give our hearts... Or that the enemy warming my bed every night ...was the brother everyone thought died fifteen years ago. Now I'm pregnant and only one knight get's to keep the empire and me

Athena Delos Reyes is a nineteen year old lady born in a poor family. All that she desires in her heart is to break free from the bondage of poverty. At the age of 11, she witnessed the death of her mother. Consequently, being the eldest daughter, Athena has a responsibilty to be a mother also. For she has a younger sister- Abby. Sadly, the young girl seeks for mother's love. Therefore, Athena's obligation has doubled. She thinks every possible way to land a job but life has been hard for her. It's a sunny afternoon, when she met the love of her life- Elijah Samaniego.They met in a very unusual way. People think they met in a dating app or parties. However, Athena's recklessness brought her to encounter this man. The supposed to be accident turned out to be the beginning of their love story. Elijah, at a first glance can passed as a GQ model. Not only that he seems loads of money but also has a good heart. Fortunately, the man is also attracted to Athena during their first encounter. Coincidentally, he is also a professor to the University attended by Athena. Funny thing is he's the professor of the young lady. Hence, although a student-teacher is forbidden Elijah still pursue her. At first, Athena seems hesitant but her hunger for freedom has blinded her. Therefore, even though she is clueless about Elijah's whole existence, Athea said her yes. The young girl feels that she's been living above the clouds ever since she met him. However, five years had passed but Elijah is still secretive. His love is consistent but transparency is absent. Therefore, Athena decided to conduct an investigation. Without the knowledge of her bestfriend- Bobby. What will be her discovery? and Is she really saved?