Pete Marino

The year the Rossi famiglia falls, my personal Underboss, Lorenzo Santoro, rises to power—becoming the Don and seizing control of the underworld. Once, I was the untouchable Principessa. He was the Soldato, ready to die for me at a moment's notice. For something as trivial as a paper cut on my finger, he would drop to his knees with red-rimmed eyes, blowing on it for half an hour. Now, to earn a smile from his new flame, Elena Marino, he forces me to sign a contract and makes me his live target. He watches with indifference as I am battered and bloodied under a hail of bullets. During a blast-resistance test, shattered glass slices the corner of my eye, but Lorenzo merely looks on. "The once-delicate Principessa Rossi can't even handle a little pain?" During attack-dog training, I am bitten to the bone, yet he shields a trembling Elena instead. "Animals don't know any better. Why are you holding a grudge against a dog?" Then comes the real kidnapping. To save Elena, who is desperate to become Donna, he personally cuts off my escape. "This is just a drill, Isabella," he scoffs. "Stop acting like it's real." On the surveillance monitors, flames engulf me as I take my final breath. A bloodstained termination contract is delivered to him. "Don Santoro, I return the life I owe you." Only then does the man who believes he rules the world finally lose his mind.

"Isla," he called, his voice brutally stern, "you know it was a terrible mistake that shouldn't have happened in the first place. You're my best friend's daughter and he has entrusted you to my care for Pete's sake!" "Is that your excuse? But that doesn't mean we can't feel something for each other," I retorted, my voice rising. "You kissed me back, Robert. You didn't stop me; infact, you seemed to enjoy it!" Isla's dad had entrusted her to Robert Hardy, his best friend. His goal was for Isla to learn the core of handling business under the scrutiny and watchful eyes of a dear and very trusted old friend, who was to become Isla's mentor, and guardian, but Isla only saw this as an opportunity to finally be able to pursue the strikingly handsome man she has had a huge crush on ever since her young girly heart knew what it meant to feel. As she settles into Robert's world as his office assistant, sparks ignite dangerously between them as a forbidden steamy romance evolves. Their secret office affair faces a huge threat from Robert's manipulative and materialistic Ex, who also works as his manager. Amidst the uncertainty, Isla comes face-to-face with the heart wrenching secret of her very dear Robert. As she confronts this secret, her heart breaks into a million pieces on who Robert Hardy truly is. Isla also brutally finds out the most unbelievable truth about her always busy and hardworking parents. How does Isla handle the emptiness she feels, and the bile life threw directly at her face?

My husband, Don Cassian, just survived an assassination attempt. He limped in, bleeding, and ordered me to stitch him up. But when I reached into his blood-soaked suit, my fingers brushed against something soft. Black lace panties. Not mine. My hand flew to my still-flat stomach. For our child. How could he do this to us? Ice flooded my veins. “We’re done, Cassian.” His gaze was heavy, exhausted. He gave a single, sharp nod. “Fine. I’ll have my lawyer draft the papers.” But then, a frantic little voice—one that wasn't mine—screamed from deep within my womb. [Mom, don’t leave him! Dad didn’t cheat! The family isn’t going to fall. It’s a setup!] [Oriana Gallo planned all of this! She wants your place! She put those panties in his pocket herself!] [If you leave, her men will grab you. They’ll take you to an abandoned warehouse and dump your body in Lake Michigan. Then she’ll play the grieving friend, comfort Dad, and become the new Mrs. Marino!] [Mom, I came back to stop this! Please, don’t fall for it again!] I snapped back to the present. Spinning around, I launched myself into Cassian's arms, my body wracked with sobs. “I was just trying to scare you! How could you agree so easily? Are you that tired of me?” I jabbed a finger at his chest, tears streaming down my face.

I've been in a three-year relationship with Antonio Bianco, the successor of the Bianco family. Everyone knows very well how much he loves me. But everything has changed the moment Antonio's older brother passes away, leaving behind his newly-widowed wife, Rosetta Serra, who's also pregnant. Antonio heeds Augusto Bianco's last wish by taking great care of Rosetta. He even ditches me at the altar numerous times for her sake. On our 51st wedding, Antonio still ends up leaving with Rosetta, who keeps crying her heart out. I just gaze at the way Antonio scrambles to come up with a new excuse. I notice how skillfully the wedding planning company is cleaning up the wedding venue in advance. I also spot the flash of a provocative smile Rosetta has shown to me behind Antonio's back as she links arms with him. Suddenly, I feel like a total joke for being with such a man over the past three years. When the hotel manager gives me the bill, he asks casually, "When will the 52nd wedding be held, Ms. Marino? We can make the preparations in advance." "There's no need for a wedding anymore," I respond with a smile. "Even if a wedding is to be held, the groom won't be the same person anyway." After leaving the hotel, I dial the number of the person in charge of the International Medical Organization. "Hello, I'm Cecilia Marino. I'd like to accept your invitation to join your organization, and I can leave anytime soon."

Caterina Marino, the daughter of the great doctor Dante Morano, grew up in La Vendetta, the largest mafia group in Mexico. Following in her father's footsteps, she also became the chosen doctor who was given the task of treating every mafia member injured on the battlefield.   Caterine loved mafia leader Leonardo Bianchi, but her love was unrequited. Leonardo disliked her and was often rude to her. All the attention she gives him is considered very annoying by Leonardo, so he often says harsh words.   Dante advises his daughter to stop bothering Leonardo if she doesn't want her life to be difficult. The love she has been giving is considered a burden and a shame.   Caterine felt hurt, so she decided to leave La Vendetta and go to the city to work in a hospital. Since Caterine left, Leonardo was lonely and missed her terribly and forced her to return. Caterine refused, because she had fallen in love with Gabriel Russo, who was her coworker at the hospital. Which turns out Gabriel is also favored by Rossie, who is the sister of Leonardo's biggest enemy.   Until suddenly Caterine disappeared without a trace. Everyone was very panicked, and finally Leonardo realized that he had fallen in love with Caterine.   “Just kill me; Leonardo won't care. I'm not important to him; my death won't mean anything.”   “It's a pity if you have to die now. Be my pet; I'll let you live until I get bored.”

After I, Rosalie Ricci, was stood up 17 times, the mafia don, Daniel Marino, finally holds the perfect engagement banquet for me. In our second year together, we are ready to get married. But every single time, he has an excuse to hold our engagement off. He says he's busy with work, the timing isn't right yet, or that he isn't quite ready. I never blame him because I love him. I have loved him since our school days. In fact, I have loved him for seven whole years. This is the 18th time. I stand in the banquet hall wearing the gown he personally chose for me and watch as he slips the ring onto my finger. He kisses me with a passionate intensity he has never shown me before. At that moment, I believe that I have finally secured my perfect happiness after waiting seven long years. My happiness only lasts until the guests leave. As I step into the back garden, I see Daniel holding my twin sister, Leah Ricci, in his arms. He says in a hushed voice, "I announced my engagement to Rosalie 18 times. This time, you're finally back." That's when I realize that the engagement banquet that I have longed for is nothing more than a ploy by Daniel to draw Leah back to him. But when I decided to let them be together, Daniel panics.

BOOK #2 MARINOS' MAYHEM SERIES A large, strong hand grabbed Jayce by the neck, slamming him face-first into the wall. A weight pressed against his back, pinning him in place, while a thick cock pressed against his ass. A thick, husky voice groaned into his ear. "You have three seconds to decide: be mine, or die with them?" "Please, please don't make me choose," Jayce pleaded, feeling his life flash before his eyes. "One. Two..." Jayce gritted his teeth when he felt a hand pulling his pants down, leaving his ass bare. "I can't be with you, Renato," he yelled, fighting for dominance. "My duty is to bring you down, not to fall for you." Renato grinned, biting down on his ear. "Nothing ever stops me from getting what I want, Sweetcheeks. So, what's it going to be?" * •—• * What do you get when you mix work, pleasure, and affection together? Jayce Beckett, desperately in need of the bonus pay to fund his nephew's surgery, took over an undercover task to bring down the most dangerous mafia organization in New York City. The task seemed easy, or so he thought. What would he do when his cover got blown and the only way to survive was to date the mafia boss who had eyes for him? He either had to fall in love or get buried by Renato Marino, the infamous mafia boss who was known for not giving anyone a second chance.

My husband Bruno's goomah was pregnant with their second child. At the family dinner, he caressed his lover Ava's rounded belly. "This one will be a boy, the future heir to the Marino family. As my wife, it is your duty to raise him." This was the second time he had openly acknowledged one of his bastards. I didn't make a scene like I had before. I just calmly lifted my head and looked Bruno straight in the eye. Raucous laughter erupted from the family members around the table. "Remember last time, when she acted like a madwoman? Looks like she's finally learned her place." "The Rossi family's businesses have all been carved up. What can she do besides be an infertile trophy wife? She'll be kicked to the curb sooner or later." Bruno's face was expressionless, allowing them to hurl their insults at me. I fought back the tears burning my eyes and even managed a small smile. "Bruno, let's get a divorce." Bruno looked as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world, his lips curling into a dismissive smirk. "Liliana, if you can come up with the hundred million dollars you owe this family, I'll sign the papers right now. Otherwise, stop making a scene." I didn't argue, and just dialed an encrypted number. "I accept the terms we discussed." A lazy laugh echoed from the other end of the line. "A hundred million? Merely the cost of a port. I can have it for you anytime, my princess."

"This is all your fault!" he seethes. His eyes ablaze, I could feel his rage creeping up my skin and leaving goosebumps behind. "We never should have met. You should never have gone down that alley, and we would never have met. I should have just listened to Marco and killed you." "I should never have taken you to... to..." his voice trails off as his expression mirrors that of anguish. He is in pain and it's all my fault. A knot forms in my throat as I attempt to reach out and touch him, to tell him that I had meant no harm. But for some reason, when I opened my mouth, nothing came out. It was as if I had suddenly lost my ability to speak. ***** Alessia Di Napoli accidentally witnessed a murder in an alley on her way back from work on a rainy night. She manages to escape and attempts to bury that traumatizing memory, but all hell breaks loose the next morning when the whole town of Verona seems to be talking only about the murder of the only son of Antonio Cappello, the second most dangerous mafia Lord in the city, and she had witnessed it. Betrayed by her best friend and with two mafia gangs after her, she falls into the hands of Dante Marino, the leading Mafia Lord in Verona. The need to protect his gang from a war with the Cappellos compels Dante to take responsibility for Alessia because she is the only person that can link him to the crime, and because his nemesis, Antonio, would do anything to get his hands on her. Alessia is thrown into the dangerous world of these Mafia Lords, and she gets a private insight into the life of Dante Marino.

Beth Marlowe’s life is turned upside down when she is forced to marry Vitali Marino a Powerful mafia boss. She wasn’t just forced to marry him, she was sold to him as a means of settlement for a debt her father owed him. Vitali, a ruthless and cunning leader is determined to protect his empire at all costs . As he gets to know Beth he begins to see her as more than just a pawn in his game of power . He is drawn to her innocence and finds himself wanting to protect her from the danger that lurks in the shadows . As their worlds collide , Beth discovers that nothing is as it seems . She discovers a huge secret from her past and begins to question everything she has ever known and believed in . As things escalate, she finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her growing feelings for Vitali. She must use her wits and resourcefulness to stay one step ahead of the danger that surrounds her, she must decide where her loyalties lie and whether she is willing to risk everything for a chance at love and redemption. Throughout the story, Beth undergoes a transformation from a timid and submissive woman to a confident and assertive individual who takes control of her own destiny. Meanwhile Vitali’s demons are closing in on him, his past mistakes come back to haunt him and he’s forced to confront the consequences of his actions , he must also confront the possibility that he may lose the one person at has come to mean everything to him. Eventually, Beth and Vitali must work together to overcome their enemies and secure their future ,they must also confront the secrets and lies that have threatened to destroy them.