Erin Strauss Criminal Minds

Ayla Monroe’s life shatters the night she returns home to find her apartment ransacked — and herself abducted by strangers in black suits. The reason? Her reckless brother Mason has vanished after stealing two million dollars from the D'Argento Syndicate — the most feared criminal empire in New York. And now, Lucian D’Argento wants payment. But money isn’t what he’s after. Lucian, the cold and calculating mafia enforcer known only in whispers as the “ghost advisor,” gives Ayla an ultimatum: work for him for six months to repay the debt — or disappear like her brother. He wants her mind. Her gift. Her ability to break ciphers, read patterns, and strategize like a war general. What begins as forced servitude soon evolves into a twisted game of power, secrets, and slow-burning obsession. Ayla is determined to find her brother and destroy Lucian’s empire from the inside. But every move she makes pulls her deeper into a world of blood, betrayal, and temptation. As walls close in and loyalties shift, Ayla faces an impossible truth: Sometimes the devil doesn’t take your soul. He teaches you how to burn with it.

When 24-year-old Elena Cee steps into her twin sister's shoes, assuming her identity, she knows she's risking everything, especially her quiet life as a nurse in Michigan. But she must find the courage to infiltrate the powerful Cali Mafia and avenge her sister's death. All she has is a long suicide letter her sister left, detailing the Mafia's operations, and a fierce will to stay strong despite her soft-heartedness. She must do everything possible to keep her true identity a secret. However, she soon realizes that the Mafia boss, Jeremy Cali, isn't the heartless monster she expected. Now, with the CIA closing in and both Jeremy's mother and his right-hand man growing suspicious, will Elena continue on her path to disrupt their criminal empire? Faced with the challenge of nearly identical names, can she still uncover who in the Cali Mafia was her sister's true tormentor? And will she ultimately surrender to her unexpected desire for Jeremy Cali, who has vowed never to let her go? "He who seeks revenge must dig two graves". Enjoy this intriguing story to discover just how many graves Elena will dig.

“You're just like your mother! Nothing but a whore's daughter. I reject you." Hunter's words shatter Marietta's heart in front of the entire pack. Humiliated and broken, she flees into the forest, straight into the hands of rogue wolves. Their ruthless leader makes her a deal she can't refuse: spy on her own pack, or die. But when Marietta discovers the terrifying truth about her mysterious captor, everything changes. Kyros isn't just the most wanted criminal in the realm. He's her second chance mate. And he killed her father. *"Your blood has unusual healing powers, little spy. Tell me, what else are you hiding?"* Forced into a deadly game of deception while promised as a concubine to the man who destroyed her, Marietta must choose between revenge and redemption. But in a world where the crown belongs to whoever can claim it, she's about to discover that her blood holds secrets that could destroy her and everything she loves.

Jacob Blake never expected to be married to a man who might kill him in his sleep. But when his brother's life is threatened by the mafia, he signs a contract with the devil himself, Leo Moretti. Rich, ruthless, and wrapped in shadows, Leo is the dominant heir to a criminal empire... and Jacob’s new husband. The marriage is a transaction. No love, no promises, just power, silence, and secrets. But Jacob quickly learns that Leo’s world runs deeper than blood and bullets. Behind the cold exterior is a man hiding an identity no one dares speak of. And behind Jacob’s defiance is a heart that refuses to stay untouched. They hate each other, but that hate burns. They fight each other, but every fight draws them closer. And when danger closes in, what began as survival becomes obsession. This is not a love story. It’s a war, between control and chaos, lies and longing. And when you fall for your killer, happily ever after isn’t guaranteed. In a world of lies, power, and blood, can hate burn into something even more dangerous?

Do you ever just look out of the window watching the clouds go by and question what your life is meant to be? What am I meant to do? Will I ever meet him? Hi, I’m Nova, a 17 year old about to turn 18 and go join the elites of the wolf world at the elite college known as Winter Garden Academy. It’s the place in which those that are powerful in the packs or have unique abilities go to hone their skills. I am merely the daughter of an omega but I have the ability to read people’s minds, the alpha found it very useful when having to negotiate with other neighbouring packs. I’m unsure why I have such an ability though as usually the children of omegas aren’t blessed by the moon goddess is this way. But now it’s time to take the next step in life and join the elite and royals..

Zara James thought she had it all—a promising journalism career, a passion for uncovering the truth, and the guts to expose the powerful. But when her exposé on a corrupt politician backfires, her world comes crashing down. Blacklisted, penniless, and humiliated, Zara is desperate to rebuild her shattered life. Enter Adrian Cross, a tech billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is alluring. Adrian’s empire is on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal tied to his enigmatic and estranged brother, Nathaniel. Desperate to salvage his public image, Adrian offers Zara an irresistible deal: become his fake fiancée, and he’ll give her the exclusive story that could redeem her career. It’s a win-win—or so it seems. Thrown into a world of glittering galas, high-stakes boardrooms, and shadowy secrets, Zara quickly realizes Adrian is hiding more than just a tarnished reputation. Beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by betrayal, bound by dark ties to his family’s criminal empire. As their staged romance starts to feel dangerously real, Zara finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Adrian and the truth she’s determined to uncover. But Adrian isn’t the only one with secrets. Ethan Blackwood, a charming stranger who sweeps Zara off her feet, has his own hidden agenda—one that ties him to her worst enemy. Caught in a web of lies, power plays, and dangerous alliances, Zara must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition. When betrayal strikes from all sides, Zara faces an impossible choice: trust the man who’s kept her in the dark or risk everything for the one who might be playing her.

In the shadowy corners of New York City, where danger lurks at every turn, Lena Hart is a 21-year-old psychology student struggling to finish her degree while making ends meet. Fascinated by the complexities of the human mind, Lena aims to understand the dark motivations that drives people to do the things they do. Little does she know, her curiosity will soon lead her into a world darker than she ever imagined. Vincenzo Maranzano, is the powerful and enigmatic kingpin of the city’s criminal underworld. With deep black eyes and a charm that masks his ruthlessness, he commands respect and fear in equal measure. His obsession with control fuels his empire, but it also isolates him—until the night he catches sight of Lena at a club. Drawn to her fiery red hair and spirited nature, he watches her from afar. What begins as a chance encounter soon turns into a passionate and dangerous relationship. As Lena and Vincenzo grow closer, she is captivated by his dangerous allure but equally aware of the risks. The deeper she falls, the more she realizes that Vincenzo embodies the very darkness she seeks to understand—and fears. Caught between her love for Vincenzo and the perilous world he inhabits, Lena must confront her deepest fears and desires.

BLOODY THRONE A gripping and emotionally charged Mafia romance set in the heart of Italy’s criminal elite. Rosana Marcello never imagined her life would change at the altar. She thought she was about to marry the man she loved and begin a new chapter—until the chapel doors flew open and her world came crashing down. Sergio De Niro didn’t arrive with violence. He arrived with purpose. And he wasn’t there to stop her wedding. He came to take what was his. Raised in an orphanage and unaware of her bloodline, Rosana never knew she was the last living descendant of the powerful De Luca family—the very name Sergio had sworn to wipe from the earth. But instead of ending her life, he bound it to his with a vow written in blood. Now held captive in a world of ruthless men and whispered secrets, Rosana must navigate a dangerous new reality. Every glance, every silence, every shadow around her is a test. As she unearths the truth about her past, she also discovers something far more dangerous—who she’s becoming. Trapped between a man who sees her as both threat and prize, and the legacy of a family drenched in violence, Rosana faces a brutal choice: surrender to the forces trying to shape her, or rise against them and claim the power they never meant for her to hold. This isn’t just a love story. It’s a tale of survival, of identity, and of the razor-thin line between vengeance and loyalty. In the end, she may wear the crown—but it will be forged from blood.

Some people find fortune… while some people find a dying criminal on a random Tuesday. "Is this the part where you kill me?" she asks. “Don’t worry, sweetheart.” He traced her jaw with the blade of the knife. “I’m still mulling it over.” Clover lives a very unlucky life. Getting fired job after job, it’s hard to make ends meet. And as if fate is playing with her, she saves an unconscious man who ends up to be the most dangerous person in town: Phoenix Volkov, the rising don of the underground world. Bad luck got her helping the wrong stranger—worse luck got her accidentally kidnapping a mafia boss. Just like that, their lives became entangled in a mess of bullets and danger.

“You are not my mate. But you are my soul’s obsession. I will never share you, not even with your true mate.” He confessed as his thrusts grew. **** Sera thought she had her life figured out—college plans, a sweet human boyfriend, and parents who had successfully hidden their werewolf past. Then rogues hunt her for power and kill her boyfriend. Alpha Kael and his son, Damian arrive to take her safe since she was betrothed to Damian years ago. When they meet, their mate bond sparks instantly. Neither wants it. Damian is in love with his male partner, and Sera is too broken to fall in love. They agree to fake their bond publicly while living separate lives privately. At the pack, Sera can read everyone’s minds except Alpha Kael’s. Drawn to the silence she’s found since her powers manifested, she becomes obsessed with him. He’s her father’s best friend and her godfather forbidden in every way that matters, and twice her age. He’s supposed to help her survive the rogues. Instead, they become lovers. Kael takes her as an incarnation of his ex-wife. The pack watches but stays silent. After all, who questions him? But when Damian’s partner betrays him, he starts investigating what makes Sera so valuable, everything changes. The mate bond he’s been ignoring flares to life, and he finds himself genuinely falling for the woman he was supposed to fake-marry. Now they’re fighting over a woman. Then Sera discovers she’s pregnant with the Alpha’s child. The pack council calls it an abomination and demands she terminate the pregnancy. Sera must choose between the forbidden love that could destroy everything, or the fated bond that promises safety but might never feel like home.