Zero Days Ruth Ware

Master Khalid was known as the cruel leader of his group of bad companions - a group known to be involved in all forms of illegal activities. Dignity had no meaning to them as their bodies could be used at anytime; anywhere. They were worst than a mafia group. Innocent Octavia shows up one day and begs to be a part of his group for reasons best known to her. Her sister had tried so hard to make her leave because she knew the place would be too dangerous for her, but Octavia wouldn't listen. Staying there was necessary for her and she wouldn't tell anyone her reasons. So, she decided to stay. But in order to achieve that, she had to let go of her innocence, had to let go of her cold lifestyle and act like one of them. She had to obey all the Master's rules. And his first rule: you can't be a Virgin and work for Master Khalid.

"So who would have a motive to kill Hailee?"". . .Me"~~~Vanessa Hawthorne. The one who always loves a good mystery. The one who eats sleeps and breathes a good thriller. The one who never thought her life would turn out this. . . Deadly.

PART1&2 OF LOLA AND NIKO'S STORY. . . .Wives are for children and whores are for fucking. Learn to be both and you'll do just fine. . . ~Page 2 of the mafia rules as written by Eva Camilla Salvatore, wife of the previous capo dei capo of la Italian famiglia~ Lola is not your normal average teenage girl. She has always known that her family is part of the Mafia. A few days after her eighteenth birthday, she comes back from school and hear the most shocking news that leaves her frightened to the bone. She had been promised to the most ruthless man in the New York Family, the underboss and soon to be Boss, Dominiko Salvatore. And he is coming to collect what is His.

Adelaide is a wolf who has been scorned all her life. Being the daughter of the Alpha to the Brairwolf pack, she has been an utter disappointment from birth. She is demoted to the post of pack slave despite being the Alpha's daughter and after she is almost beaten to the point of death, she finally makes a decision to run away. Her parents get to her first. Their plan for her is simple. Sell her off to the Lycan king of the north. But what happens when Adelaide gets to the Lycan king's home and meets a man more complex and scary than she could have ever imagined? Lyros is a cold hearted and ruthless man, but when the small, scared omega is offered to him as a sacrifice, he finds himself sparing her life. First out of spite to her parents. But then later, out of something else. Something that confounds him and makes his heart beat in an unwelcome way. Will she be the one to unravel the folds of ice the Lycan king has wrapped around himself, and will he ever find it in his heart to love another? He tells her from the onset "I can never love someone like you." But slowly, even in the midst of the difficulties around them, feelings blossom. Adelaide tries to look past her resentment for Lyros and see the warmth in him, but the Lycan king has proposed a deal. "Instead of being a wife I'll kill soon, become a weapon for me Adelaide. If you can do that for me, then I'll set you free, but if you can't, I'll make your life a living hell." Will she refuse this, despite all her suffering? Or will she become the weapon that kills the Lycan king instead?

To make up for past regrets with his first love, my husband, Pierce Ronan, lied that he could see everyone’s lifespan. He told me I had sixty years left, but his first love, Jessica Stone, had only seven days to live. So, for those seven days, he said he had to fulfill the promises of their youth. He brought her home, cared for her, and when they went back to their old college campus to relive their love, I didn’t protest. When he confessed his love to her and planned the wedding of the century, asking me to be the bridesmaid, I didn’t raise my voice. It wasn’t until he wanted to break the final taboo — in our marital bedroom — that he looked at me with guilt in his eyes and begged me to move out. The housemaids watched, snickering behind their hands, but I only smiled and nodded in agreement. I packed my bags, carried our child, and moved into the guest room next door. Seeing how obedient I remained, Pierce was touched. “I promise, this will be the last time I wrong you. Once Jessica passes, I’ll make it up to you.” What he didn’t know was that I had already seen through his lies. What he also didn’t know was that the one truly dying of cancer, the one with only seven days left to live, was me. Three days remained. Then, I would be gone.

“Am I selling myself!?” I asked as I looked at the documents in front of me. He looked up, and with a sly smile said: “Yes.” Just like that, I was forced into a marriage with the most eligible bachelor of NY. He was the heartless boss everyone feared, the enigmatic CEO that I worked for until I desperately needed money for my mom’s treatment and had to “sell myself”. But what would happen when his truth came out that he, in fact, was also a mafia boss? Scratch that – what would happen when every time he hurt me, I wanted to help him? Could I make the heart less boss feel something, or would I kill myself trying? I'm Hailey, and this is my story. I didn't know how it would go, until he came in and took control. Now all I yearn for is him, but would he ever feel the same about me?

Emaline Liliana's dreams and sleep have always been erotic and lustful, fueled by intense touch, passionate kisses, love, and care. She dreamed of a man with red eyes and two pointed fangs who always smiled and laughed before ending the dream with a bloody scream. A nightmare that is both beautiful and endless. Once the Vampires had taken over the world, the ruthless Vampire King gave the humans a choice: become a source of blood for them, or become their beloved. A place where a human who is both naïve and blind would perish.

"You have no right to be here, I've already made it clear that I don't want you around. What you're doing is called stalking, and a pathetic thing for a cursed alpha to do." Wilder struggled to catch his breath, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. *************** Having to chose between being banished and being a mistress, her savior arrived turning out to be Alpha Wilder. Running to the human world was a blessing, until both men from her past returned and began the unveiling of truths, love, hatred and deceptions. "You have no right to be here," Olivia said sternly. “I've already made it clear that I don't want you around. What you're doing is called stalking, and it's not only illegal, but also a pretty pathetic thing for a cursed alpha to do." Wilder struggled to catch his breath, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. He wanted to protest, and say something but with a heavy heart, he turned and began the long walk home. ******************* Being a wolfless orphan, Olivia is rejected and reduced to nothing by her own mate who hated her but covets her body. She was so furious that she ended up having a one night stand with a random stranger, the same one her parents had died to save. Having to chose between being banished and being a mistress, her savior arrives. Behold, it turned out to be the renowned cruelest Alpha King Wilder. He rescues her and takes her back to his pack where she fakes her own death just to escape. Running to the human world with her pregnancy was like a blessing, until both men from her past found her and began the unveiling of truths, love, hatred and deceptions. Will she be able to accept such fate?

Dylan grew up with no fear and a distaste for being controlled. He wasn't friendly nor able to humble himself. However, he had no option except to serve the arrogant and demanding son of a chairman after taking over his father's job as a personal bodyguard. Alexander wasn't satisfied with his life. His ultimate goal to seek justice for his mother's death drove him to obey his father. He was admired by most people, except the lofty bodyguard responsible for his safety. As these two individuals engage in a game of toying with one another, who will first surrender control and fall into the trap of frivolous fate? Who will succumb to the manipulation game and end up on top or bottom?

The first thing I do after coming back to life is swap out every single pair of my husband, Augustin Reed's boxers for those in black. In my past life, my sister-in-law, Sephine Fidel, cheats right under our roof on my brother, Jonah Merrick. And when I catch her and tell Jonah the truth, she turns it all on me. Then, two pairs of men's black boxers, not Augustin's, appear in my bedroom. I try to explain, but Augustin slaps me across the face and calls me a whore, while Jonah looks at me like I'm filth. "I know you hate Sephine. You've never shown her any warmth since she married me, but I didn't think you'd sink this low to cheat in your own house and frame her for it…" He disowns me while Augustin files for divorce. I remember stumbling onto the streets in a daze, only to get run over dead by a speeding truck. When my eyes snap open, I wake up to the day Sephine brings her lover into our home.