For Keeps

“You saved my life. Name your price.” “Take responsibility for me.” Asaraiah Montova is the invisible daughter of a brutal mafia bloodline. Born from her father's affair, she survives abuse, cruelty, and betrayal in silence. Her only sanctuary? A shed hidden deep in their estate, until she finds a bloodied stranger inside. Malrik Kaine is the name whispered in fear. A vampire and the ruthless mafia boss of the Kaine Syndicate. Cursed. Untouchable. Dangerous. When she saves his life, he owes her a favor. She demands the unthinkable: marriage. What starts as a desperate bargain spirals into an obsession between a girl with nothing to lose and a man who has lost everything. What if the shed wasn’t the first time they met? What happens when she finds out she has died by his hands more than once? And when her past collides with his curse, neither blood nor death will be enough to stop them. Dare to follow her into the darkness. Because once the blood debt is owed, there is no escape. Step into the shadows of the syndicate. Here, debts aren’t forgiven—they’re collected... in blood. “In the mafia, blood isn’t thicker than water—it’s the price you pay for power.”

Celia Johnson, my boss's sister-in-law, joined the company as the finance director and announced that all reimbursements must strictly follow the standards. I spent an entire week running around for the company and finally closed a five-hundred-thousand-dollar deal. Because the client had used two extra packs of paper towels, the per-person amount for their meal ended up eight dollars over the limit. Celia folded her arms, glanced at the reimbursement form on my desk, and sneered. "Five hundred and eight dollars?" "Yes. Last night at The Peak Restaurant, where we closed Richard's deal. Zack was there too," I explained patiently. "Eight dollars over the per-person limit. Not reimbursable," Celia said coldly. I tried to reason with her. "This was a special case. The client is high-level, and the deal amount is large, and Zack personally said it would be fully reimbursed last night." She returned the reimbursement form to me. "I don't care who said that. Don't think closing a five-hundred-thousand-dollar contract lets you ignore company rules. Reimbursements must all follow policies. Everyone will follow them to the letter." I took a deep breath. I knew arguing with her head-on would get me nowhere, so I called Zack directly. Zack said, "I did say it would be reimbursed, but I never said company rules could be ignored. It's just five hundred. And you still get commission from closing the deal. You young people need to have perspective." I stopped arguing. I turned around and refused the delivery containing the hard copy of the five-hundred-thousand-dollar cooperation contract, smiling as I explained, "Company rules say all cash on delivery packages must be refused. "Also, today is my last day here. Starting tomorrow, I work for Richard's company. As the client, I will be setting the rules this time."

What would you do if Mr Dark and Frosty crashed right into your life and made you question everything you thought you knew? Jackson Hayes has always played it safe. Straight-A student, part-time bookstore job, perfect son with his entire life planned in detail. He dates girls because he's supposed to, never understanding why he felt no form of attraction towards them. Then he witnesses a hit-and-run on Christmas Eve. The stranger he pulls from the road shouldn't be alive. The gash on his head heals in hours. His body is ice cold. He's gorgeous, intense and has zero memory of who is and why he was left bleeding in the snow. But the moment their hands touch, Jackson feels something he's never felt before—a heat that terrifies and thrills him at the same time.

BLURB:    Nathan's mother exclaimed, "It would be best if you left as you bring nothing but trouble. Additionally, kindly take all your belongings with you." The hostility in her eyes was evident, which was a stark contrast to the love that she previously had for me. These were the same eyes that reminded me of Nathan, my dear lover who had valiantly sacrificed himself for my safety as well as ours.   **** Anita, a Blood Fang wolf, finds herself welcomed into a new family when she is taken in by Natalie. However, tragedy strikes when Natalie's son, Nathan, passes away, leaving Anita heartbroken. In her grief, Anita is blamed by Natalie for her son's death, leaving her with nowhere to go as she is sent out of the house. The situation is emotionally charged, and the future for Anita remains uncertain.   ***    The statement “Come live at the pack house with me” was met with a cold and resistant response from the me. There was a strong sense of bitterness and hatred towards the person who made the offer, who I believed to be responsible for the death of my beloved Nathan. Although there was no other place to go, the reluctance to live in the pack house was apparent, as it was as the abode of a devil.            

Leo Payton has been straight for the past 20 years of his life. However, he realizes he's gay after sleeping with his best friend's elder brother, Archer Lacelle. Leo ties himself up with Archer's tie and says, "Archie, you know that I've never had a girlfriend since I was young."

Willing to do anything for her sick mother, Mulan Lexington returned to the family that once despised her for help. With her mother's life hanging in the balance, she agreed to get married within a week—only to catch her boyfriend cheating on her. Devastated, Mulan sought solace in a drink, where she met a crippled Kaiser Walker, who was facing a similar heartbreak. United by their desire for revenge, they signed a six-month marriage contract. What will happen when Mulan discovers that her contracted husband is none other than Cross Voss, the conglomerate heir and CEO of the largest company in the country? And with just a few weeks left on their contract, what will she do about her growing feelings for him?

I breathe heavily as he pins me to the wall, his hands wrapped tight around my throat I could barely breathe. ‘You hear me, Sera? I found you first. I noticed you first! I fell for you first. No one else, I mean, no one should put their hands on you, because if they do, I swear to God, Sera, I'll fucking break their arms and legs and serve it to you to eat!’ He growls. Seraphina Puckett is the perfect definition of trauma. A walking trauma. She tries to navigate her life, trying to bring in sunshine but as the world is determined to make it rain on her, what does she do? Does she get beaten in the rain or walk through it? When her abusive father gets out of prison and is out to get her, how does she face her fear?

I always get what I want. Every time. But not with her. The beautiful woman my father forced on me through our billion-dollar firm has curves that make me ache. Never in my short life did I imagine falling for her. Office romances are forbidden in my company. But she’s a rule breaker. I guess I am too, but no one knows that side of me. This single mother with brilliant business sense has a side hustle and still kicks ass at my firm daily. There’s no way in hell she’s giving in. No matter what I try. Not even when Valentine’s rolls around. And I pull out all the stops. Her denial has me needing her like I’ve never needed anyone else. Where this girl is concerned, I’m not asking for a friend. I’m asking for me. For today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Abandoned, betrayed and sold by the people she called family, Alexandra’s life is a nightmare. When she is sold to the man who she believes killed her parents and brother she swears to take revenge. But what happens when a more powerful emotion overshadows her hatred for him? Kieran battles with his dark secret but things look hopeful when the remedy shows up. The problem? The cure is unwilling and secretly plots his death!

My husband insisted that I wear high heels at the company’s annual meeting despite being pregnant. He compared me to his female secretary with a look of disdain. "Can’t you learn from Lucille? She’s eight months pregnant and still comes to work in full makeup, handling her tasks efficiently. If you don’t wear them, don’t go. I’ll be embarrassed!" He even tried to give the high heels to his secretary and take her as his date. Left with no choice, I forced myself to wear them. However, on the balcony, the secretary tripped me, spilling red wine all over me. Limping, I found my husband, only for him to sneer, "Tripping on flat ground? How clumsy!" Furious and pale with anger, I turned to leave. Someone urged him to chase after me, but he only got angrier. "How bad could it be? She’s so timid—she can’t survive without me! Just wait. When the event’s over, she’ll definitely be waiting in the car to drive me home." Alas, he was wrong. I turned and went straight to the hospital for an abortion.