Erin Strauss Criminal Minds

‘She was his salvation. He would be her damnation.’ To escape her Father’s choking cage over her, Eve Bianchi didn't need a knight. She needed a monster. And she chose Lucille ‘Hellhound’ Hellfire— a man the Mafia world feared for his madness and cruelty. He agreed to be her husband. He never agreed to be gentle. His obsession is a collar around her soul. He doesn't want her obedience; he wants her surrender. To feel her pulse throb against his palm as he reminds her that every gasp of air is a gift from him. ⸻ Content Warnings: obsession, possession, stalking, manipulation, toxic power dynamics, dubious consent, worship/degradation, breath play, BDSM, violence, cursing, criminal activity, morally grey characters, unhealthy romance and of course, explicit sexual details.

When Nathan Rio, a guarded stripper with a haunting past, catches the eye of the city’s most powerful bachelor, his life plunges into a world of seduction, secrets, and betrayal. Donald Ervin is stinking rich, dangerously charming—and hiding more than just his criminal empire. One night of steamy passion between them ignites a fire neither can ignore. But when Nathan becomes his personal bodyguard, the line between love and hate blurs dangerously fast, and he finds himself pulled deeper into a world of crime. As the past claws its way back and enemies scheme to tear them apart, Nathan must choose: betray the man he has come to love in order to protect himself, or risk everything for a chance at redemption. In a world where love is lethal and secrets destroy, how far will he go to protect his heart?

Dona McNair thought her biggest problem was figuring out how to talk to August (Augie) Reynolds, the dreamy new hockey captain she’s been crushing on from a distance. But that all changes the day she finds out he’s her stepbrother. Now trapped in a tangled family mess with a boy who barely looks her way, Dona’s quiet life suddenly feels like a crazy soap opera. Augie has a lot of secrets, and so does his father. The more Dona learns, the deeper she falls for him and for the truth. Between rivalries on the ice, forbidden romance and a criminal past that won’t stay buried, Dona and Augie are forced to choose: walk away or fight side by side. Forbidden love was never part of the plan, but neither was falling for your stepbrother while exposing his father’s crimes.

Harley was the product of an affair. After her mother died, she decided to make contact with her father, Ron Hale, a criminal and leader of a felon-filled, biker outlaw club, The Savage Scorpions. After months of virtual communication, she decides to visit him in his small Californian town of Pleasant-Tree-Ville. When she arrives, she gets less than a warm welcome from the other SS members. As the days pass, she starts forming friendships, bonds and something a little more with Alexander Coates, Her father's second-in-command... and best friend. It's not till Harley opens up to one of her new friends that some old, dark family secrets come to light. Mother betraying Daughter, Wife Betraying husband.. And Friend betraying Friend. All Harley wanted to do was meet her father... but she is about to get a lot more than she bargained for!

Blade is an omega and a promising female warrior in the Greenstone Pack, and a member of a certain group that subdues rogues and revolutionaries. She's also the personal guard of Colleen Greenstone, the eldest daughter of the Alpha and Luna. However, when Colleen was to be sent off to the crazy Alpha King, Blade was ordered to pretend to be the lady she served, and Colleen ran off with her real mate. Blade disguises herself as Colleen out of fear of upsetting the Alpha King, which could lead to the annihilation of her pack. But while on her way to the palace, they were ambushed and taken by unidentified enemies. After she wakes up, Blade doesn't take long to realize that she is now a captive. For a warrior like her, it's just a piece of cake to deal with her kidnappers. Her captor, however, is no ordinary man, but the notorious criminal and famous rogue Alpha Lorcán, her long-time target.

In the ruthless underworld of Los Angeles, an ancient feud between the Moretti and Volkov mafia families has simmered for decades. After a fragile truce is established, Alessia Moretti, a headstrong university student, believes she can escape the criminal life that has defined her family. But when her reckless brother, Lucas, accumulates a five-million-dollar debt with the infamous Nikolai Volkov, everything changes. To settle the debt, Nikolai demands Alessia’s hand in marriage. Forced into a union with the enemy, Alessia finds herself trapped in a dangerous game of power, deception, and forbidden desire. Nikolai has harbored an obsession for her since childhood, and now that she is his, he refuses to let her go. As secrets unravel and long-buried betrayals come to light, Alessia must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she fight for the family that raised her, or will she surrender to the man who has vowed to claim her as his own?

Michael Scott is a werewolf special agent, working for the CIA. He’s their best detective and he’s sent to the toughest missions out there when the bureau needs successful completion of an assignment. Despite his young age, he’s caught some of the most dangerous criminals in the US. However, the newest task he’s given seems to be slightly different. Michael is not only sent to the other side of the world where he’s expected to prove one of the richest and most respected businessmen in the world- Richard Gallahard is a mafia boss and head of a criminal empire, but Michael’s also expected to perfectly blend-in in the world of politicians, royals and top-notch businessmen. And all of that would have been perhaps slightly easier for Michael if the cruelest among them- the cold-hearted, rumored future head of the gang and Richard’s young protege and lover- Killian O’Dwyer wasn’t his mate.

"What doesn't kill you fucks you up mentally."---- Anonymous. A tale in which the best day of King Ryder's life becomes his worst when the love of his life is killed on their wedding day. He is determined to find out who assassinated Isabella Sanchez until a certain Elena Greene crashes her way into his life, and causes more harm than intended. Her past comes to bite her in the butt and she's not the only one affected by it. "When you're being blamed for something you didn't do, you run expecting to save yourself. You escape at any cost. You focus. You think like the criminal you're not. You deal with the trauma later, or don't. Survival and happiness comes at a cost... one you pay because you have to."

Natalia Punongbayan. They call her "extraordinary," and for good reason. She's not just someone who stands out in a crowd; she's someone who can fundamentally alter the course of lives with a single, calculated step. They say she can ruin someone's life just by stepping into it. Her friends call her "troublemaker," a term that speaks volumes about her cunning. It means she's a force of nature, someone who can navigate any situation, escape any consequence, and always come out on top. She's a con artist, a master manipulator, able to weave intricate webs of deception that leave people tangled and bewildered. She can twist people's minds around her little finger, making them believe anything she wants. And when things get tough, she simply disappears, leaving behind a trail of shattered lives and unanswered questions. But even the most skilled manipulator can make a mistake. And for Natalia, that mistake was a monumental one. She was supposed to target a specific man, disrupt his life, and leave him reeling. But she got it wrong. She ended up targeting the wrong groom, the wrong wedding. She pretended to be his mistress, claiming to be pregnant, all for a scheme that was supposed to be flawless. But it wasn't. Argo Greensmith, the groom of the wedding Natalia mistakenly attended, refused to let her slip away unscathed. Fueled by a desire to ensure she faced consequences for her deceitful actions, he stood firm in his decision to hold her accountable for her misdeeds.

"Run as fast as you can, little criminal, because if I catch you're mine." Rosalie De'Evangaline was born the child of a lowly omega and a powerful alpha. Because of this, she was brought back to her pack in hopes of being the packs successor, but when tragedy strikes, she becomes nothing more than a pawn to gain even more power. It is because of this tragic turn of events that she finds herself in the auctions that only criminals are sent to and while there she catches the eye of Diego Aguilar a cold and ruthless lycan that wants only thing from her, her death in exchange for saving his pack. However, Diego soon takes an interest in her, causing the lines between desire and duty to become crossed. What will Rosalie do? Will she sacrifice everything for what is right, or will she make the selfish choice to do what is right for her and her heart? Read The Lycan King's Forbidden Fruit to find out!