Athena Complex

John Handful’s first client is a member of the local Polish community wanted by the police for the disappearance of his pregnant wife. A new miracle cancer drug is stolen from a pharmaceutical complex located on a shingle spit, just off the Suffolk coast. A wealthy local financier is blackmailed, and a ripple of malice spreads across the village of Oxmarket. Each household of a cul-de-sac have a secret that could point to them being the murderer of a man found shot dead in his bedroom.A perplexing case unfolds with the revelation of secret lovers, flowers from the garden and a death that is not as it appears.John Handful finds himself enmeshed in a violent, multi-layered plot at a luxury hotel on a remote island. A man kills himself despite receiving the good news that his lover’s husband has agreed to a divorce.A woman is witnessed shooting herself by her husband even though she had already been dead several hours.A man has been found shot through the head in a locked room with suicide well and truly ruled out. How did he die?Severed limbs in a concrete block, leads, John Handful to believe that a cold calculated killer with a thirst for revenge is on the loose. Ten cases, one connection. What is it?

In the shining skyscrapers of Manhattan’s multi-million dollar executive suites, two rulers dominate the entertainment industry yet not without conflict, cleverness, and fierce allure. Ace Rotherwell, merciless CEO and media tycoon, does not offer apologies, express emotions, or provide second chances. Particularly not for Noah Sinclair, the fugitive heir transformed into a pop culture figure who disappeared after their hidden relationship nearly set the company and their emotions ablaze. Now, Noah has returned… fiercer, more daring, and prepared to take back what he left behind: his legacy, his influence and possibly, Ace. Plunged into a chaotic office setup devised by PR, the duo must “co-lead” Sinclair Studios to salvage its deteriorating reputation. However, boardroom gatherings transform into sharp exchanges, late-night planning discussions evolve into playful confrontations, and every exchange of looks sizzles with mounting tension. One possesses a crown forged from dominance. The other dons celebrity as protection. Beneath the opulence and joy, there exists a past too complex to dismiss… and a connection too volatile to withstand. Amidst plotting aides, viral controversies, and old scars that remain fresh, Ace and Noah need to determine: Will they battle for their realm united …or allow it to disintegrate once more?

After moving to a new school, Pearl finds herself caught in the crosshairs of the school's notorious bully, Lucas Whitlock. However, to her surprise, the bully soon finds himself falling for her. As their relationship grows, Pearl is torn between her feelings for the bully and the danger he poses. It seems he has many secrets which he always hides.  He is a rich, cold, and aloof figure, known for his cruelty and intimidating demeanour. Yet, Pearl soon discovers that beneath his tough exterior, Lucas has a soft side that he only shows around her.  Pearl: "Watch where you're going, you blind bull!" Lucas turns around, still intimidating but surprisingly soft-spoken when his eyes fall on her. His heart skips a beat.  Lucas: "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. It won't happen again." “ Gasp! ” The students around them are shocked by Lucas' unexpected politeness. She called him a ‘ blind bull! ’ and he not only apologised but actually smiled at her! But who is more shocked is none other than Pearl herself.  As their relationship develops, Pearl must navigate the intense and complex dynamics of falling for someone notoriously difficult to please.

Previous book name: Constantine Blurb: Constantine Leone has built his empire with cold, calculated ruthlessness, earning him a reputation as a man without a heart. As one of the city's most powerful figures, few dare to cross him—until April Danielle crashes into his life, quite literally, by wrecking her old Ford into his Lamborghini. April, an eccentric artist with a sharp tongue, quickly catches Constantine’s eye. Intrigued by her fiery spirit, he forces her into his world, blackmailing her into working off the debt. What begins as a tense power play soon escalates into a daily clash of wills, with Constantine taking twisted pleasure in pushing April’s explosive temper. But as sparks fly, Constantine finds himself softening, seeing in her what no one else has. And April, despite her best efforts, starts to unravel the myth of the heartless businessman, discovering a man far more complex than his reputation. Yet, both are trapped in futures they didn’t entirely choose—engaged to others, bound by obligation. As stolen glances and forbidden touches fan the flames, they are forced to confront the impossible, A choice between love and responsibility... ××× Other books like this: Sold To The Cruel Mafia.

Is it possible to fall in love when you don't know what love is? Turns out it is. Chiara had no idea what love meant, she could not comprehend complex emotions. She had lived her life based on logic and certain principles, until he comes in and the sensible way no longer seem right. Murder came easy to her, it was like breathing, yet she could not kill him. For the first time ever, she could feel and it was all because of him. Feeling was something unexpected and strange, it was something she could not control, yet she wanted it. Nothing would make her give up the feeling, not even him. She was everything he despised, covered up in an alluring beauty. Death surrounded her, it lurked around her and so did he. He ought to stay away from her because she was a psychopath, but he could not. There was something about her that attracted him, pulled him in when he should have been repulsed. He hated her with about the same amount of passion that he loved her. Everything about her made him crazy, but he was ready to be crazy for her.

Ember’s world shattered the moment she was ripped from her family—her mom, her brother—and sold to Alpha Thorne, the man who killed her father. Thrown into a harsh world full of pack politics and dangerous secrets, Ember’s only goal is to survive. But everything changes the day she meets Thorne. Their bond is electric, messy, and impossible to ignore, even if neither of them wants it. Alpha Thorne is tough and ruthless, but beneath all that is a man carrying his own scars and a fierce loyalty to his pack. Ember doesn’t trust him, and she sure as hell won’t bow to him. With rival Alphas scheming, betrayals waiting around every corner, and loved ones caught in the middle, Ember is forced to make a choice: protect the family she’s trying to rebuild, or give in to the one man she swore she’d never trust. Packed with loyalty, sacrifice, and a passion hotter than any war, this story is about survival, love, and finding where you truly belong—even when everything’s against you. And in the end, the biggest war Ember will face… is the one between love and revenge. *This book starts in first person, then shifts to third person from Chapter 7 on — opening up the world to reveal complex characters and their goals.

In a city where the Morano family's grip on power is suffocating, loyalty is a luxury that few can afford. For Alex Morano, the youngest son of the family, the weight of his family's legacy is crushing. When a prominent businessman is murdered, Alex is accused of the crime and must navigate the treacherous world of organized crime to clear his name. The Russos, a rival mafia family, are seeking to take down the Moranos and claim the city's underworld for themselves. But as Alex digs deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a web of deceit and corruption that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear, and Alex's own family is hiding secrets that could destroy them all. As Alex's world implodes, he finds himself torn between his loyalty to his family and his growing feelings for Sophia, a mysterious woman with ties to the mafia world. But Sophia's true intentions are shrouded in mystery, and Alex must confront the possibility that she may be his greatest enemy. “The Mafia’s Reckoning” has gritty realism, complex characters, and heart-pumping action, "The Mafia's Reckoning" is a gripping tale of loyalty, power, and survival. As Alex navigates the dark and treacherous world of organized crime, he must confront the ultimate question: what does it mean to be loyal to oneself and one's family in a world where loyalty is a luxury that a few can afford?

Avery's world is shattered when her pack is raided by the bloodhounds, and she's thrust into a living nightmare of slavery. Torn from everything she's ever known, Avery must endure unimaginable torment, her spirit tested to the limits of human endurance. Yet, even as pain and betrayal haunt her every step, a glimmer of hope sustains her - the promise of a special life awaiting her. When Avery is finally brought face-to-face with the enigmatic Red Alpha, a man of untamed power and lethal charm, her world is shaken once more. Despite her wild fear of him, Avery feels an undeniable passion ignite between them, a connection that's both exhilarating and terrifying. But the Red Alpha is a complex and conflicted figure, hot and cold in his treatment of Avery. His tender moments only deepen her torment, his cruelty a brutal reminder of her captivity. Desperate for freedom, Avery escapes, only to discover that betrayal and manipulation extend far beyond her prison walls. As Avery navigates a treacherous landscape of ancient secrets, buried prophecies, and powerful enemies, she must rise above her suffering to unlock a strength she never knew she had. But will Avery conquer the darkness and take back what is rightfully hers? Or will the pain of her past and the wrath of her enemies destroy her chance at redemption?

Princess Valery of Vesperia is a cheerful hardworking woman with a massive saviour complex that strikes at the most inconvenient times. So when she has a chance encounter with a potentially dangerous masked stranger with a bad sense of direction, her first instinct is to be unnecessarily helpful. Then her life takes a completely unexpected detour when she finds out that someone had nominated her for the Prince of Astanza's upcoming Courtship. A broadcasted event where the last girl remaining gets to become the Queen of an empire. The most beautiful, talented and accomplished girls from all over the world apply, but only 50 will be chosen as Nominees. Valery considers herself none of those and does not understand why her name was even on the list. Unfortunately the whole world seems to be conspiring against her, because despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding her nomination, her uncle actually insists that she participate in the occasion. So, she resigns herself once more to the King's whims and tries not to be too resentful about it. Fortunately she has her masked stranger, who she strikes and unexpected friendship with, to anonymously confide her injustices to. As fate would have it, the masked stranger is the very prince she will be competing for in a few months, but what she doesn't know can't hurt her right? Right?

THE ALPHA KING AND HIS PRISONER Ashina never thought she would be captured by the rival pack, let alone become a bargaining chip in their alpha's quest for power. As the daughter of her own pack's alpha, Ashina was raised to be strong and independent, but now she finds herself at the mercy of her captors. However, Ashina soon discovers that the rival pack's alpha, Draco, is not what she expected. He's not the ruthless and heartless leader she imagined, but rather a complex and conflicted man with a troubled past. As Ashina spends more time with Draco, she begins to see him in a different light, and a forbidden attraction starts to grow between them. Caught between loyalty to her own pack and her growing feelings for Draco, Ashina must navigate a dangerous and unpredictable world of werewolf politics and power struggles. But as she gets closer to Draco, she realizes that he may hold the key to ending the conflict between their packs and bringing peace to their World. As the tension between their packs reaches a boiling point, Ashina and Draco must decide whether to follow their hearts or their loyalties. But when a common enemy threatens them both, they'll have to rely on each other if they want to survive. Will their love be enough to overcome the odds stacked against them, or will they be forced to choose between their families and their happiness?