Ned Leeds

I stepped closer. Close enough to smell his cologne—cedarwood, leather, and power. My hand moved. Smooth, practiced. The pistol slide from under the apron into my palm. I raised it fast. But before I could pull the trigger— BANG. Not my shot. A scream tore through the restaurant as another man launched himself toward Romano’s table, blade flashing. Another assassin. What the hell— Romano didn’t flinch. He shoved the table forward, knocking the attacker off balance. The blade scraped across wood, not skin. I ducked instinctively as the room erupted into chaos. Gunfire cracked. Glass exploded. People screamed and dove for cover. “Get him out—NOW!” one of the guards barked. I aimed for the second attacker. Didn’t even hesitate. One shot—head. Gone. The guard saw me. Confusion flashed in his eyes. Then rage. I ran. I weaved between overturned chairs, plates, and screaming bodies. The smell of blood was real now, thick in the air. One of the guards grabbed me. I slammed my elbow into his ribs, twisted, and brought the butt of my gun down on his skull. He dropped like a sack of bricks. Out. I had to get out. My boots pounded the floor as I tore through the narrow hallway. But then— “Elisa.” His voice stopped me cold. I turned. Antonio Romano stood in the middle of the carnage, suit untouched, blood spattered behind him like art. His eyes were on me. And he was smiling. It was darker. Slower. Like a hunter seeing something worth chasing. Somehow, he knew who I was. “Interesting,” he said softly, tilting his head. “They sent you.” I didn’t answer. I ran. But that voice followed me. He knew my name. And he let me go. This wasn’t over. It had just begun.

In my past life, I used the little one in my womb to force Richard Reynold into marrying me. On the day of our wedding, his beloved, Elise Brie, leaped into the sea, taking her own life. She left behind a letter saying: "True love is no match for power and money. It is my loss." Richard, after learning the news of her death, was unaffected. In fact, he went through our wedding with a smile on his face. However, on the day of our son's third birthday, Richard took us to a diving trip. While 300-feet underwater, he ripped off the tube of our oxygen tanks, drowning me and my son. After my death, my consciousness remained as a spirit. I watched on as he placed my corpse in front of Elise's grave as an offering. He said, "Ellie, I've finally avenged you. I hope this will bring you some peace in your afterlife." Soon after, my vision darkened. When I opened my eyes once more, I realized I was back at the night when I was trying to use our son to force Richard into marriage…

Jane Duncan is able to secure a job at the best publishing company in the country, France Publishing, where she does her best to achieve her dream of becoming the best writer in the country. But what happens when Jane falls in love with her Superior? A love so strong that she's unable to set herself free from that, felt like she has been chained to him. That she would love him for the rest of her life as if she was bound to him. And what if a very determined ex-boyfriend comes into the picture? Will she be able to get the love she so yearns for or not? Will she be able to achieve her dreams? Have you ever fallen for someone so bad that it hurts? You get this burning sensation in your chest like someone is ripping your chest out, or maybe it's just your heart that's shattering into pieces bit by bit? Have you ever fallen for someone you knew it would be impossible to have, but you couldn't stop yourself from falling deeper? I know it sounds cliché and all, but that's how I feel right now. And the surprising part is that I don't know when it happened or how it happened, but it just did. ----Jane Duncan

Alessia Franco, 21 years old Junior Journalist, has been kidnapped by The most dangerous mafia of Palermo because she is in the Palermo territory, that area is very strict and prohibits foreigners from entering the area apart from the Palermo mafia. Alessia became a prisoner of the Palermo Mafia because she was forced to look for controversial news as news headlines by her boss, if she didn't do it, she will get fired from her job and if she did a great reward are awaiting, she is afraid if she rejected that risky task because her family depends on her, she is coming from a poor family, lamentably she ended failed so miserably about this difficult task because Mafia's Palermo is caught her and know about her existence, so they send her into their boss Riccardo Palermo the most handsome, the cruelest mafia who thirsts for power, he loves to torture his enemy and the rebels who betrayed him. But when Riccardo saw Alessia, his cold cruel heart instantly melted, and he felt he fell in love with her, he forced Alessia to sign their marriage contract and have a baby together with him, as he would release her as a prisoner and give her a lot of money for her dad who is in critical condition and needs surgery, Alessia can't refuse all of this until finally, she is pregnant's the most dangerous mafia boss's baby.

Aidan Allesia Moretti, the youngest daughter of the head of Moretti family was my key to revenge. Her parents had taken everything from me and now I was going to take everything right back. Starting with their youngest child, their golden girl. Only by the time I am finished with her she won’t be so golden. I plan on owning her, using her and leaving her broken. Let them pick up the pieces, just like they had forced me to but things are moving in the underworld and new threats are looming. Threats that not even the combined power of the Mafia and Bratva can survive. When it comes down to it, what side will I choose? To take down the Moretti family, how far am I willing to go? (This is a next generation story, but you don’t need to read the original 3 book series to enjoy!)

“I am in love with you, Silvia. I want us to start our love story together. I am sorry for everything I have done because I need you.” Ralph's words stunned Silvia. For Silvia, she was expecting a day like that. Ralph has always been a cruel boss to her. She had reached a contract with Ralph, solely because of her mother's health, enduring each day in a toxic space that seemed designed to break her spirit. Living with Ralph had always been hell…a nightmare. But it all changed when Ralph realized his love for Silvia. However, Ralph was already engaged to Silvia's friend, Rebecca. The impossible tangled webs of love and loyalty were about to unravel. What is going to happen from here?

Phoebe Salcedo doesn't want anything in this world, except for one thing… that is Steven Montero, the swimmer’s love.

Dalawang bagay lang ang gustong magawa ni Grace Morales sa buhay niya. Una ay gusto niyang maipagamot ang kapatid niyang si Gerald sa sakit nito sa puso at ang pangalawa naman ay ang matustusan niya ang pangangailangan nilang magkapatid. Ulilang lubos na silang dalawa kaya naman lahat ng trabaho ay papatusin na ng dalaga... kahit ang pagbibigay aliw sa lalaki ay gagawin niya na rin. Ngunit hindi niya pa man naibibigay ang sarili niya sa una niyang customer nang alukin siya nito ng isang kasunduan. He wants her to carry his child! Noong una ay nag-aalinlangan pa ang dalaga kung papayag ba siya sa kabaliwang iyon ngunit agad na rin siyang sumang-ayon nang sapilitan silang palayasin sa tinitirhan nilang barong-barong. Isang kasunduan na bumago sa buhay ni Grace. Akala niya ay siyam na buwan niya lang dadalhin ang bata sa sinapupunan niya ngunit hindi niya pa man nagagawang ilabas ang bata ay sunod-sunod na ang pasabog ang malalaman niya. Ngunit isang bagay lang ang sigurado siya, magigising nalang siya isang araw na hindi na siya ang nagmamay-ari sa buhay niya. Because after she signed the agreement, she is now absolutely and definitely owned by the Mafia Boss.

Celine Amadeus never thought about her life if she will be sold to Alpha King Roman and needed to agree with the wedding agreement from that cruelest, evilest, but most handsome and charismatic man the King from the Dawn Kingdom, so because the force marriage she needs to agree with that to married to the Alpha King to help her family. She needs to follow him, to help her family from debt, she raise from poor family, and this is what Alpha King Roman waiting for a long time, and she need to give birth to werewolf hybrid Alpha that will be the next abdicated from his throne Dawn Kingdom. Celine really disappointed and frustration because of her dad's decisions, especially Alpha King Roman was well known as the heartless and cruelest handsome King, she feels so afraid and need to escape from him, but would that happen, or what will be happened later between their deep, dark romantic relationship, can she survive with this?

He's the greatest enemy of my father, but I am bound to make him own me, as part of the plan. But falling in love with my enemy, wasn't part of the plan.