Barely Synonym

Marcus Adrian Lee. Adrian. Just saying your name makes my heart race so fast that I could barely breathe. I never wanted to fall for you...but I did. It was a cliché really, but I just couldn't help myself. I'm not sure if was your subtle charm or that certain sadness in your voice that drew me to you but all I know is that you're a habit that I could never kick. Will you ever see me the way that I saw you? Will I ever have the courage to finally admit my unrequited feelings? And will the day ever come when I'll finally be able to hear the words, "Madison Rain Rivera, I am in love with you, too."? Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Brandon Kane, The Gamma of The Southern Werewolves Pack, volunteers for a dangerous undercover mission to locate a long list of missing girls who are all rumored to be auctioned in the largest sex-trafficking business run by a vampire named Kennedy Strauss. Going in with no backup and very little reliable information, Brandon has to face the ugly reality of the underworld business. He has to make his way in and out without blowing his undercover and not putting the people he was sent to rescue at risk. Celeste Diamond is the underworld's renowned assassin known as the Blind Bandit, who works for diamonds. A highly skilled and incredibly sexy, the Blind Bandit is the elite bodyguard of Kennedy Strauss who barely leaves his side. While it seems she is driven by her duty to protect her employer, Celeste's true motive is far greater than her duty to the vampire businessman. She is blind, but it's not her inability to see that concerned him. She sees him coming.

Love is not part of why billionaire CEO, Kane Beaumont marries his virgin bride, Emilia Taylor. It was purely a contract deal to him and nothing more. Saving her family's business from the claws of evil loan sharks is Emilia's motive for marrying a man she barely knew. However, she doesn't count on being hopelessly attracted to him even when he treats her like a worthless peasant. Their relationship is chaotic, thanks to Kane's lover who is determined to ruin any opportunity of their romance ever blooming. Even if it means putting Emilia's life in danger, setting her up and turning the world against her. When sparks begin to fly between Kane and Emilia after an unfortunate accident, their relationship goes through a tough test that destroys the tiny flames of love burning between them. Will love eventually find a way in the end or will this marriage continue to be a high-stakes business deal with dangerous rewards?

On Mom's death anniversary, drug dealers break into the cemetery and take me away. To get revenge on my brother, Zack Smith—a forensic pathologist—they torture me until there isn't even a single uninjured spot left on my body. I hold on for almost three days, barely surviving, until I finally get a chance to call him for help. However, Zack replied, "Why didn't they kill you for good? A jinx like you who killed your own mother shouldn't be allowed to live!" When the drug dealers notice my action, they shatter all of my bones. The next day, a janitor discovers several large bags of human remains in the trash can. Zack painstakingly reassembles my body back together with his own hands—yet he fails to recognize that it's me, his younger sister he always claims to hate. When the drug dealers are finally arrested, he descends into madness.

Mila Carson thought her life couldn’t spiral further out of control. One night shattered her future—a drugged betrayal, a fiancé she barely knows, and a crime she didn’t commit. Framed for the hit-and-run death of her fiancé’s mother, Mila faces betrayal from her own family and a death sentence for a murder she didn’t commit. But when she discovers she’s pregnant with her fiancé Lowe Sterling’s child, Mila refuses to give in to despair. As the truth unravels, secrets and lies threaten to ignite a war between love, revenge, and survival. Mila has one shot to clear her name, protect her unborn child, and expose the real culprits behind the conspiracy. In a world of manipulation and deadly alliances, can she find justice before time runs out? For fans of Betrayal, second chances, secret babies, arranged marriage, high-stakes betrayal, and unexpected twists, this book is your next obsession.

There’s one rule in the Alpha’s house: do not touch the traitor’s daughter. Vanessa was supposed to die the night Alpha Alec took her father’s throne. Instead, loyal servants smuggled her into the palace under a false name, raising her in silence, training her for one purpose: kill the Alpha heir before he discovers who she is. But fate has its own plans. When Alec returns from war to claim his title, he barely notices the quiet maid scrubbing his floors—until the mate bond snaps into place. The pull is instant. Violent. Dangerous. Now Vanessa is torn between the revenge she was born for and the mate she never asked for. Alec swore never to be ruled by a woman again, especially not one with enemy blood. But her scent is wildfire, and the bond is unraveling his control. Choosing her could cost him his crown. Killing her might destroy his soul.

Ezra’s never been wanted. An omega with no pack, no rank, and a mouth that gets him in trouble, he’s spent most of his life just trying to stay invisible. In a world where alphas rule and omegas are expected to kneel, Ezra has learned one thing: keep your head down, and maybe you’ll survive. Then Kael chose him. Kael—powerful, cursed, and heir to a crumbling legacy—was supposed to pick the perfect mate. Someone noble. Obedient. Safe. But under the moonlight, in front of the entire shifter council, he broke every law and claimed Ezra—the outcast nobody. Now Ezra’s caught in a bond he never asked for, tethered to an alpha who’s barely holding back the monster inside him. Their connection is dangerous. Their enemies are gathering. And as Ezra starts to feel something real for Kael… He can’t help but wonder: What if the wolf who chose him is the one who will destroy him?

I left Seaport for Crellan, thinking I was about to marry Bryson. Instead, I got drugged and kidnapped on our engagement day. Barely conscious, I caught him talking to his assistant. "Doctor and kidnappers—handled?" Bryson said. "Get her kidney. Lily's out of time." The assistant wavered. "She's not in great shape. This could ruin her." That gave Bryson a flicker of guilt—but it vanished quick. "She's not fragile like Lily. She's a broke student. If her kidney didn't match, she wouldn't be living like this. That's worth it." His face stayed ice-cold. I clenched my fist so hard my nails dug in, blood pooling in my mouth. So that was true Bryson—a monster in disguise. He thought I wanted to sell my health for some empty marriage. Too bad I never wanted it.

Excerpt: "Kaleb I am still married to Roman. There is nothing that I want to say right now other than yes to you...but the marriage certificate binds me to your brother," I voiced out, lifting my hand to touch the side of his face. His eyes were still closed, but he leaned on my touch. ************** Barely a year into her marriage, Ayla, an orphan, does not expect to be cheated on by her husband, or to be forced into working as a maid to repay the money used to fund her wedding. Within just a blink of an eye, her life changes for the worst, that is until her husband's stepbrother, Kaleb, comes into it. He is a forbidden fruit, but she struggles to stay away from him. Rivals are made, sides are taken, battle lines are drawn, crimes are committed and secrets are revealed. Will Ayla jump over every hurdle thrown in her way with the help of Kaleb, will they manage to stay away from each other, or will they get swallowed by the traps of their rivals?

Hadden's sister had merely choked on some water at the pool while she was swimming, and for that, he shoved me into the pool after tying me up. He left me with only a small hole for air that was barely an inch. He said I would have to pay double for every grievance Julia suffered. I never learned how to swim. There was nothing I could do but try my best to breathe as I sobbed and begged him to let me out. Yet all I received was a lecture. "You'll never learn if I don't teach you a lesson now." I struggled to stay afloat, but… It took five days before Hadden's anger dissipated and he put me out of my misery, but it was already too late. "I'll let you go this time, but you'd better not make the same mistake again!" I had already drowned to death.