loyalty lisa scottoline

“I am sorry if this sounds off but is Mr. Maverick a blind man?” I asked, I didn't fail to notice the frown that appeared on her face and for some reason she looked past me, unable to give me the answer. “Is this how it is now? Asking my maids for information about me.” The husky voice I heard from behind me made me jolt in shock. Ray. Emma Watson's life runs out of control when she is sold to Ray Tucker, a blind billionaire as cold and fierce. Haunted by mock and betrayal, Ray is determined to keep on his own world and he sees Emma as nothing more than a means to an end for him because he believes she was just with him because of his money. But Emma is no fragile possession, she wanted to be out of his wrath. She stood up for him and conquered Ray' heart. In Ray' world of deception and hatred from his family, what happens when Emma is torn in between loyalty to Ray and to his family?

In a world ruled by werewolves, humans are no longer free. After a brutal war, the balance of power shifted—and every year, humans are selected and sent to serve the werewolf elite across the divided territories. Ava Sinclair is a human who has always been a fighter. So where she is selected on her eighteenth birthday to fulfill her duty to the kingdom, she vows not to go down quietly but fate has other plans. She's delivered straight into the hands of the ruthless Alpha King—Xander—the very symbol of the power she despises. But what no one saw coming… was the bond. Ava is his fated mate. Their connection is forbidden. Dangerous. Explosive. As secrets unravel and rebellion brews on both sides, Ava and Xander find themselves standing on the edge of war. Torn between loyalty to their people and the pull of a love written in the stars, they must decide: Will their love unite two worlds torn apart by centuries of bloodshed? Or will it destroy them both?

EXCERPT "Madeline, you are still pregnant, aren't you?" I stared at her, she was still—unresponsive. "Madeline, the baby is still in there, inside your god-damned womb, isn't he, my voice rising several decibels." Still, no response. "Madeline!!!," I growled. I demand an answer. You are still with my child, right?" This time, she looked up at me, fear flickering in her eyes, and I could see the defiance there too. She responded with a negative shake of her head. I just laughed, a cold humorless laughter. I was mad. "I-i am so sorry alpha Konan," she stammered, her voice nearly a whisper. "I didn't mean for this to happen." I scoffed. Did she just say sorry? "Madeline, O Madeline!!!" "Sorry doesn't bring back my baby. it doesn't make up for your incompetence." "You did too much wrong things at once Madeline. You breached the contract Madeline, you lost my baby and took the ability for me to sire a heir because of your carelessness.... **** Because of an unintended one night stand sex with Alpha Konan, the newly installed cruel alpha of Oceanwolf pack, Madeline a servant girl lost her virginity and got pregnant for his child. Alpha Konan got to know about it and since a pregnancy was needed to establish his power in the pack, he decided to contract her to be his mate, and she got no say in it. The pregnancy they both depended on was lost and everything took a turn for the worse. Will Madeline be able to survive the punishment meted out on her? In this story, a web of love, loyalty and adventure is formed. Will the poor servant girl and the cruel Alpha be able to pull through, each answering the call of eternal unbroken love amidst all difficulties?

In a world of darkness and betrayal, Claudine, a captivating human girl, is torn between her adoptive werewolf family and two rival alphas, Denzel and Reid. As she battles the torment of her family and the seductive power of the corrupt alpha, Claudine must make a fateful choice: loyalty or love, family or destiny. Will she find the strength to forge her own path, or will she be consumed by the shadows that surround her?

This is part 2 of “The Temptation of Adultery” The question is whether there is loyalty in love or not. The answer is, of course, yes, but it has never been considered obligatory. If loyalty were mandatory, “adultery” would not exist. Unfortunately, loyalty not only exists but is also a temptation so sweet that it's difficult to break free from. However, the price for loyalty is never cheap, and it never has been. Bella's husband and her close friend are paying the price for the karma they have created—the price they have to pay for betrayal, infidelity, and exploiting others is steep. But Bella is no exception either; the price she must pay may be far higher than that of the two who betrayed her. The man named Levi Karter, with whom Bella has been having an affair, is not an ordinary person. It wasn’t until everything was over that Bella realized she had made a deal with a demon for the sake of revenge. But no matter how much Bella struggled and tried to escape, she couldn't get away from him because… being bound and possessed by Levi was the price Bella had to pay after making a deal with him. To understand more, please read “The Temptation of Adultery” and then read “The Temptation of Adultery 2” The content is for 21+ readers, so please consider this before reading!

Lisa has had a clear relationship with Billionaire CEO, Richard Hart, from the start: dance for him and she earns more than his average staff. His constant request for her services makes her believe the Billionaire is interested in her and she uses this to her advantage to get money out of him. He would never refuse her money, even if she steals it from his office. But when the funds stop coming in and he goes off the radar for three months, he returns being a completely different person. "Marry me," he tells her after he returns from his mysterious journey. He never made any move but he's back and his hands are all over her, his all up in her space, his lips are smirking, his eyes are flirting, her knees are weak and her heart can't help pounding at his advances. Richard will do anything to have her to himself. Even if it meant locking her up till her heart start to beat the same way.

In "The Billionaire's Contract Wife," Isabella Rivera's dream of a better life comes true when she meets Daniel Stone, a billionaire tycoon who offers her a deal she can't refuse: be his fake wife and he'll pay off her debts and give her a new life. But being married to a billionaire is not as glamorous as it seems, especially when Isabella must deal with the conniving Miranda Park and Daniel's biggest competitor, Diego Gomez. As Isabella tries to navigate her new life, she develops real feelings for Daniel, but when she is tempted to betray him, everything falls apart. Isabella must prove her loyalty and win back Daniel's trust before it's too late. With love, power, wealth, and betrayal, "The Billionaire's Contract Wife" is a captivating story of two people fighting to build a future together.

In the moonlit forest, the Alpha and Alora engaged in a secret, passionate dance away from prying eyes and their pack's demands. A deep voice filled with desire rumbled like thunder in the night. "To me, you are the passion that flows through my veins, the intense desire that drives me. I long to have you, Alora, with an insatiable desire." She silently invited him with parted lips, her sultry gaze fixed on him. "You're the storm that ignites my senses. Your touches and kisses fuel my fantasies," she said in a seductive voice. In a world of forbidden love and thrilling action, Alora finds herself in a heart-pounding love triangle while seeking justice for her sister's tragic death. She's torn between mysterious Alpha Cassian and Lucien, her soulmate from a rival pack, and her choices either unite or divide the werewolf packs. As their enemy Orion seeks revenge, her journey reveals a world of mysteries. Ultimately, the conflict demonstrates that even the most chilling secrets can't withstand the destructive power of love, as affection, loyalty, and her unwavering spirit take center stage.

Kaida's life is a delicate balance of survival and secrecy. As the daughter of a fallen Alpha, she’s determined to carve her own path, unaware that her destiny is bound to the one person she strives to avoid—Alpha Atlas, her fated mate. Torn between her growing feelings for a mysterious lover who consumes her nights and the intense connection she feels around Atlas, Kaida finds herself caught in a web of emotions she can’t untangle. For Atlas, the choice is no easier. Protecting his pack means solidifying alliances, even if it means standing by Akira,the arrogant girl he is forced to make a luna. But his wolf’s relentless pull toward Kaida threatens to unravel everything he’s built, forcing him to question where his loyalty truly lies: with his pack, or with his mate. When secrets are exposed and passions ignite, Kaida and Atlas must face an impossible choice. Can they overcome the obstacles and embrace the mate bond?

Abeni's world turns upside down when her father can't repay his debt to NYC's most dangerous man - Dmitry Kuznetsov. With her freedom on the line, Abeni gets sucked into Dmitry's glamorous yet treacherous domain. Though Dmitry commands her obedience, Abeni feels an irresistible spark with the magnetic crime lord. As the stakes climb higher, she faces an impossible choice - submit to Dmitry's demands or put her family at risk. Torn between loyalty and desire, Abeni engages in a high-stakes game with the cunning kingpin. But Dmitry never loses control - he wants Abeni, and he intends to own her in every way. Will Abeni give in to Dmitry to protect those she loves? Or will she defy the Russian Devil to save herself?