Michael Connelly The Crossing Novels & Stories

On the night of their wedding anniversary, Bella's marriage falls apart when she receives a video clip of her husband Luke, kissing his best friend, Serena—Bella drowns her pain in alcohol and ends up in a compromising situation. When Luke catches her kissing another guy in a bar, betrayal turns into a devastating misunderstanding neither of them can take back. What Bella doesn't know is that everything was carefully planned by Serena. Driven by jealousy and obsession, Serena manipulates events to destroy their marriage. Blinded by anger and convinced Bella has betrayed him, Luke makes the worst mistake of his life, crossing a line with Serena and turning the suspicion into reality. Broken beyond repair, Bella walks away and serves him divorce papers. Three years later, fate throws them together again when a prestigious modeling campaign chooses them as its star couple. Forced to work side by side, old wounds reopen and buried feelings resurface. But as Luke uncovers the truth behind the scheme that destroyed their marriage, he realizes Bella was innocent all along. Now desperate for a second chance, he must fight for the woman he never stopped loving. But Bella is no longer the woman who begged to be chosen.And this time, she must decide whether some mistakes deserve forgiveness... or whether Luke's greatest punishment is losing her forever.

I'm the daughter of Don Falcone. After I got back from studying abroad, my family threw a welcome-home banquet, conveniently setting me up to meet the fiancé my father had handpicked for me—Santino Moretti. My father praised the guy to the skies in his letters: he was the heir to the Moretti family, elegant, ruthless, drop-dead gorgeous, and holding half the city’s underground operations in the palm of his hand. I arrived at the Elysium Hotel right on the dot. Just as I was about to take a seat, a hand shoved me hard. A woman's shrill voice pierced my ear. "Livia, what's a Sicilian peasant like you doing here? This is the Imperial Suite. Do you think you even deserve to breathe the air in a place like this?" I recognized the woman. It was Bella, a bitch who had always had it out for me back in college. She was clearly trying to humiliate me. Instead of getting mad, I smirked. "Whether I deserve to be here or not—is that for you to decide?" Bella sneered, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm Mr. Santino's personal assistant. Today, Mr. Santino is hosting the eldest daughter of the Falcone family here. This isn't an occasion for bottom-feeding trash like you." "Be smart and crawl back to your slum." I pulled out my phone and dialed my so-called fiancé. I wanted to ask him if it was a tradition in the Moretti family to let their dogs bark at the front door.

My father, the Beta of our pack, had sworn our bloodline to serve the Alpha King, Andrew Amadeus. By tradition, I was destined to be his mate. The night before our mating ceremony, I risked everything to save my stepsister, Emma Hughes, crossing into rogue territory—Wild Nest. I fought fiercely but was overpowered. At the ceremony, a cursed projection stone revealed my assault by the rogues. The pack recoiled in disgust. Andrew, seething with rage, rejected me and marked Emma instead, making her Luna Queen. To them, I was a disgrace, unworthy of an Alpha’s mark. As they called for my exile, Andrew’s younger brother, Anthony Amadeus, stepped forward. "Sophia Hughes, I have loved you in silence. By the name of the moon, I vow to be your mate for eternity." His words saved me. A year later, the healer told me I could finally carry a pup. Overjoyed, I rushed to find Anthony—only to overhear a chilling conversation. "Anthony, we helped the rogues infiltrate, lured Sophia to Wild Nest, and spread the video. She trusts you now… did we make a mistake?" He sighed. "For Emma to become Queen, Sophia had to be sacrificed. But it doesn’t matter—I’ll spend my life making it up to her." Betrayal cut deeper than any wound. My suffering had been planned. But if they thought I was broken, they had underestimated me. I would carve my own fate—with claws bared.

"Forty Flames" An erotic anthology of 40 scorching stories where desire ignites in the most unexpected places. From the quiet intensity of a late-night office confrontation between a demanding professor and his brilliant graduate student, to the charged silence of a stuck elevator, a storm-lashed lighthouse, and forbidden hotel rooms—each tale explores the raw, electric moment when restraint finally snaps. Whether it’s rivals turning lovers, age-gap temptations that refuse to be denied, best friends’ siblings crossing sacred lines, or carefully negotiated nights of dominance and surrender, these stories dive deep into the delicious friction between intellect and hunger, power and vulnerability, shame and need. Featuring blistering boy/girl encounters, passionate boy/boy connections, intoxicating girl/girl seductions, plus stories rich with age-gap tension, taboo longing, and explicit BDSM/kink dynamics, Forty Flames delivers a full spectrum of desire. Every story is packed with slow-burn sexual tension, sharp emotional insight, and scenes that will leave you breathless—intimate, consensual, and unapologetically hot. Step inside these pages and surrender to the kind of heat that rewrites the rules. --- Content Warning: This collection contains explicit sexual content, graphic depictions of sex, strong language, and mature themes including power dynamics, age-gap relationships, taboo/forbidden scenarios, and BDSM/kink elements. Intended for adult readers (18+) only. Reader discretion is strongly advised. All encounters are consensual.

Born into a world of pain and betrayal, Winnie never knew love—only survival. Abandoned by a father who never cared, tormented by a stepmother who sold her innocence for profit, and forced into a life she never chose, she learned that mercy was a luxury she could never afford. When her only family—her beloved brother—is ripped from her, Winnie is left with nothing but the scars of her past and the fire of revenge burning in her soul. She refuses to be another victim, refuses to be just another forgotten girl. With the help of Carter, a man with his own demons, and Michael, a protector forged in blood, she fights back. But Damien—the monster who ruled the shadows of her life—won’t let go so easily. He built his empire on broken lives, and he won’t fall without a war. As Winnie uncovers the secrets that could destroy him, she must decide: will she run, or will she burn everything down with him? “shattered chain” is a harrowing tale of survival, revenge, and the power of resilience. In a world where monsters wear human faces, Winnie must break free from the past—or be consumed by it. Will she rise, or will the darkness finally claim her?

I brought my son, who was around a year old, to visit my parents’ graves, only to run into my childhood friend’s mother. She asked me whether I had returned because I was no longer angry. “Yelena, you’re finally back! You must’ve returned to marry Niel. “I’ll make sure your wedding goes smoothly this time. I won’t allow any random person to ruin it!” Niel Stalner was my childhood friend and ex-fiance. During my engagement party, Cloud Stalner, his foster sister, had barged in while wearing the same gown as I did. She also said that she would kill herself if Niel refused to leave with her. The guests burst into a ruckus, and in the end, I was left alone in the venue. Everyone criticized me, and Niel’s family abandoned me. Eventually, I left the country like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs. I smiled at Neil’s mother, Iris, and pushed the baby stroller forward. “Iris, are you seriously telling me that Niel hasn’t married Cloud yet? Anyway, Michael, say hello.”

Lucifer the God of Destruction, son of the infamous King of the Underworld, Hades, has come into a predicament that he isn't sure he will be able to handle. His power and anger grow daily, his father believing Kronos is trying to inhabit his body. He spends his days and nights torturing the souls of hell but it is not enough. His desire to run to Earth and destroy every living thing like his grandfather, Kronos, grows by the day. No longer thinking a mate would sate even his evilest desires, he continues to try and control himself all on his own. Goddess of Innocence, Uriel was born from Hera and her mate, Michael, an archangel. Since her birth, they have kept her hidden away, trying to keep her innocence. No one in Olympus or the Celestial Kingdom knew of this beautiful angel-like goddess, until one day she makes a glorious appearance at a baby announcement in the Underworld. Stealing the show, and completely oblivious of stares and whispers, she eats her fill of food only to be recognized by the woman-hating God of Destruction, Lucifer. What could possibly happen next? ***The female lead is extremely naive and innocent. She is unaware of the outside world and how it works, including people's true intentions***

Book 2 of The Badboys' Series (CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE) Lea Annabelle McCartney grows up becoming a self-conscious girl. Ryder Wyatt, an arrogant rich brat living a simple life where there are many girls but no commitments, is one confident guy. She avoids everyone due to the fear her father instilled into her. He is feared by many because he has a cold heart. She feels vulnerable, powerless and in extreme pain. He never lets anyone step on him. She is given a chance to unravel the wrongdoings of her father and start her life anew. Will she grab on this opportunity? Now that Ryder Wyatt has set his eyes on the poor girl, will he help Lea rebuild her confidence when her past life becomes a threat to his own secret? With a new town, new school, new beginning, will she trust Ryder? Not when they get off on the wrong foot straight from the beginning. Will he help her when he realizes that his elder brother, Michael set him up by thrusting Lea into his life? With the danger lurking by, can Lea face up to her childhood fears and stops history from repeating itself? Trigger warning: Contains physical abuse, mental trauma, suicidal thoughts and bullying. Thank you.

My wife, Sarah, died unexpectedly. My in-laws made an absurd request. "Why not have Stella play both roles? After all, Luke can't be without a mother." My brother-in-law, Greg, yelled at me, calling me shameless, and stormed out in anger. I looked at my sister-in-law, Stella, who looked exactly like my late wife. I could hardly conceal my grief. I was about to urge them to abandon their ridiculous idea, when I accidentally overheard a conversation between her and her parents. "It was Stella who died, so why did you lie and claim it was you?" Sarah sighed. "I love Greg. I staged my death so I could be with him legitimately. As for asking me to play both roles, don't even bring it up again. As for Michael, I have already given him a child and a respectable marriage. I owe him nothing." Turning around, I saw Luke with reddened eyes, asking me softly, "Daddy, does that mean that Mommy no longer wants us?" I bent down and pulled him into my arms, forcing myself to soothe him. "Your Aunt Stella wants to protect the person that she loves. We shouldn't bother her. It's time for us to prepare a new life."

Only the broken can heal a broken. Five years after the death of his fiancee, Caitlyn Smoak, Dario has been living a miserable life. His father, the famous billionaire Michael Simpson decides to interfere. He has a hundred days to find a bride that will be suitable for the Simpson family or his position in the Simpson Enterprise will be given out to his younger brother Theo. What happens when Diane Jones, a struggling single mother and Dario Simpson, the cold hearted billionaire crosses part, they'll discover that only the broken can heal a broken. Book 2 Catherine Stone's life takes an unexpected turn when Dario Simpson, the son of a famous billionaire, is involved in a life-altering accident that leaves him in a state of vigil paralysis. The only way to bring him out of it is for Catherine to agree to Mr. Devon's proposal to pretend to be Dario's fiancée. Desperate for money, Catherine agrees to the , believing that all she has to do is act. However, as she begins her charade, she finds herself unexpectedly falling in love with the opulent surroundings of the billionaire's mansion and the lavish lifestyle that comes with it. As she navigates the challenges of maintaining the deception, Catherine must confront the growing feelings she has for Dario's brother and decide whether she is willing to risk everything for a love that may not be real.