Kou Empire

What's that saying about never looking a gift horse in the mouth? Well, I did. I looked it straight in the eyes, after I called it a moron, drooled a little, remembered I hate the oposite sex and then I ran. The life I have had changed the moment my mother passed. The life I struggled to adapt to after college tore me apart emotionally. I thought he was my saviour. He helped me grieve. He was there when I didn't want him to be, when I didn't know I needed him to be. He was everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. He fought my demons with me and for me, he watched me and over me. He creeped me out, but made me feel safe in many ways, so tell me why this specific gift came with only one stipulation. Who hurt me? The gift horse would be Lorenzo Russo. Empire builder and underground Mafia man. He's a smart man with good charms and psychopathic tendencies who ensures he gets what he wants, so he doesn't take kindly to being told no. By me.

Sold to the highest bidder to pay off a blood feud, I never imagined I would be the pawn in my father's fatal game. Still, here I am before Enzo De Luca, the most vicious mafia leader in the city. Though appealing, he is cold, deliberate, and as lethal. Though my heart races just from his proximity, it is his touch that ignites me. My body betrays me and reacts to him in ways I am powerless over. And I melt as he softly, commandingly says my name. Enzo loves neither me nor another. In his deadly kingdom, I am only another bargain, another transaction. But every time we are alone, the conflict between us snaps—desire becomes a terrible addiction. Although I detest him for everything he stands for, I yearn for the way he consumes me, body and soul. He has made it quite evident—our marriage is more about power than love. Still, every angry gaze and every snatched moment in the shadow reveals something different. Benevolent underneath his icy façade lies something broken that appeals to the darkest sides of me. But depending on a man like Enzo may mean losing everything. Bound to him now, for better or worse, I am caught in a world where loyalty is brittle and treachery carries a bullet. Our friendship gets more perilous the more truths about his empire I find. And as the past calls for us, I have to question myself: will our passion be the thing that ruins us both or can I survive loving a guy like Enzo De Luca? Burning in his arms is me. But in his universe, I could roast alive.

"Why aren't you ready for me?" His voice cut through the darkness, sharp as a blade. His hands gripped my hips, fingers digging into soft flesh. "How often do I have to tell you about the rules?" "I'm sorry," I whispered, my throat tight. "I was sick again today, and work was—" "Excuses." He ripped away my underwear, the fabric tearing. "You smell like a kitchen maid. Disgusting." I bit my lip until I tasted blood, fighting back tears. Three years. Three years of being his unwanted wife, forced on him by his grandfather's deal. The old man's words still echoed: "You saved my life, child. Let me give you a good life in return." ***** Five years ago, Elena thought she’d left her nightmare behind. Forced into a loveless marriage with the ruthless Nikolai Ashford, she endured his cold accusations and cruel indifference. But when their toxic relationship threatened the life of her unborn child, she vanished, reinventing herself as Mia Thompson—a confident heiress with a powerful empire of her own. Now, Mia’s carefully rebuilt world is crumbling. One of her twins is gravely ill, and the only hope for survival lies in Nikolai, the man who shattered her heart. Returning to his world isn’t just a desperate gamble to save her child—it’s a chance to exact the revenge she’s dreamed of for years.

Anita Hayes thought she had it all—a luxurious life, a devoted husband, and a future filled with promise. But behind the glittering facade of her marriage to self-made billionaire Alexander Grayson lay a truth that shattered her: Alex’s empire always came first, leaving her as a mere shadow in his life. On the night of their fourth wedding anniversary, Alex misses yet another important moment, choosing a business deal over their marriage. Heartbroken and determined to reclaim her identity, Anita walks away from the penthouse and the man she once loved, returning to her small hometown to rebuild her life. But Alex isn’t the kind of man who lets go easily. As he fights to win Anita back, her childhood friend, Ethan Carter, steps in, reminding her of the love and support she’s been missing. Torn between the memories of her past and the possibility of a new future, Anita must decide: will she give Alex a second chance, or is it time to close the door on their shared history forever?

Elena Bennett, the illegitimate daughter of the Bennetts, was never supposed to matter. The unwanted daughter of a powerful family, hidden away like a dirty secret. But one night—one reckless, alcohol-soaked night—changed everything. Elias Vanguard, billionaire bad boy, notorious womanizer, and a man with enough family drama to sink an empire. Their drunken encounter becomes front-page news, and suddenly, they’re both drowning in a scandal neither of them wants. His solution? A fake marriage to clean up his reputation. Her motivation? The chance to finally claw her way out of the shadows and show everyone who they messed with. But playing house with a man who treats her like dirt wasn't part of the fantasy. Elias brings home his mistresses like it’s nothing, and with every insult, Elena’s heart cracks a little more. Until one day, he shoves divorce papers at her—because his precious mistress is supposedly pregnant. Elena signs the papers, disappears, and rebuilds herself from the ashes. Five years later, she’s a tech powerhouse, running the biggest company in the States, raising her son alone. Meanwhile, Elias is down on his luck, crippled from an accident, and abandoned by everyone he thought he could trust. When fate brings their worlds crashing together again, Elias isn’t the man he used to be. And Elena? Well, she’s the woman he should’ve never let go. But with betrayal, heartbreak, and an empire of her own to protect, forgiveness isn’t on her list of priorities. He wants her back. But this time, Elena's playing by her own rules.

Iris, her unborn child and husband were murdered by her family on the night of here coronation as the heiress to Vanchez Empire, unknown to her enemies Irish and her husband was given a second chance to live again, six months later she's not only returning as an heiress but her husband who was regarded as a poor dog was a secret heir to a trillion dollar group the most influential company in south Korea the Kuwaiti Group.

Marianna Kingwicke lived for love, and died because of it. Betrayed by those she trusted most, her life ended in pain, her justice unserved. But death wasn’t the end. Given a second chance, she awakens in a world that’s colder, crueler, and far more dangerous. This time, she won’t make the same mistake: love no one, trust even less, and destroy the ones who destroyed her. But fate has other plans. Trapped in an arranged marriage to Vincenzo Lombardo—the second heir of a ruthless mafia empire—Marianna is forced into the lion’s den. Her instincts scream that he’s part of the threat. Her heart? It’s slowly forgetting the rules. Because Vincenzo isn’t what she expected. Under his cold exterior lies a man shackled by his own demons and drawn to the woman who threatens everything he’s built. Haunted by their pasts and hunted by enemies in the shadows, Marianna and Vincenzo must decide—will they fight each other or the forces determined to destroy them both? In a world of blood ties and broken vows, revenge has a price. And love? It might be the most dangerous game of all.

**She thought she knew the man she loved. She was wrong about everything.** Vanessa Rodriguez's perfect life shatters in a single morning when she overhears her boyfriend Marcus discussing "loose ends" and how to "handle" her. The sweet daycare teacher who thought she was dating a banker suddenly finds herself running from a man she no longer recognizes—and straight into the arms of the most dangerous man in the city. **Alexander De Luca doesn't trust anyone. He can't afford to.** The ruthless mafia don has built an empire on fear and blood, but his six-month-old daughter Aria is his only weakness. When his longtime housekeeper can no longer care for the baby, Alexander needs a nanny he can trust. What he gets is a woman with secrets as dark as his own. **Some lies are worth dying for. Others are worth killing for.** When Marcus is gunned down in what appears to be a random mob hit, Vanessa has nowhere to turn except the penthouse of the man who just hired her. But as she settles into life caring for Aria, Alexander begins to suspect his new nanny isn't the innocent woman she appears to be. **In a world where trust is a luxury and love is a weapon, Vanessa and Alexander must decide what they're willing to sacrifice for the truth.** *Because some secrets are too dangerous to keep... and too deadly to tell.* --- *A dark mafia romance filled with betrayal, passion, and the kind of love that's worth going to war for.*

"When Mandy marries billionaire Lucas Vanderbilt, she thinks she's found her happily ever after. But their lavish lifestyle and fairy-tale romance come crashing down when a tragic accident sparks false allegations and shattered trust. As Lucas turns against her, Mandy's world collapses. His grandmother, the formidable matriarch of the Vanderbilt empire, offers her a way out: escape to a new life abroad. But Mandy's heart refuses to let go. She's determined to clear her name and reclaim her love. Will she overcome the darkness of deceit and betrayal, or will the price of love be too high to pay?

When betrayal leaves Daisy Turner with nothing but her father’s gun and a burning hunger for justice, she makes a devil’s bargain: marry an enigmatic stranger, Liam, to reclaim her stolen inheritance. But their paper-thin union—forged in lies and mutual distrust—soon ignites a passion neither saw coming. As Daisy battles her stepmother’s ruthless schemes to control the family empire, she uncovers a web of lies deeper than she imagined. Allies become enemies, old flames turn lethal, and the man she vowed to use might be the only one she can trust. To survive, Daisy must decide how far she’ll go for revenge… and what she’ll sacrifice for a love that could destroy them both.…Or will love cost her everything?”