edwardsauthorsally

Sold to the highest bidder to pay off a blood feud, I never imagined I would be the pawn in my father's fatal game. Still, here I am before Enzo De Luca, the most vicious mafia leader in the city. Though appealing, he is cold, deliberate, and as lethal. Though my heart races just from his proximity, it is his touch that ignites me. My body betrays me and reacts to him in ways I am powerless over. And I melt as he softly, commandingly says my name.

Enzo loves neither me nor another. In his deadly kingdom, I am only another bargain, another transaction. But every time we are alone, the conflict between us snaps—desire becomes a terrible addiction. Although I detest him for everything he stands for, I yearn for the way he consumes me, body and soul.

He has made it quite evident—our marriage is more about power than love. Still, every angry gaze and every snatched moment in the shadow reveals something different. Benevolent underneath his icy façade lies something broken that appeals to the darkest sides of me. But depending on a man like Enzo may mean losing everything.

Bound to him now, for better or worse, I am caught in a world where loyalty is brittle and treachery carries a bullet. Our friendship gets more perilous the more truths about his empire I find. And as the past calls for us, I have to question myself: will our passion be the thing that ruins us both or can I survive loving a guy like Enzo De Luca?

Burning in his arms is me. But in his universe, I could roast alive.

OWNED BY MR MAFIA

As Enzo and I squeeze against the shadowy wall of the little passageway, the chilly air cuts at my skin. Blood stains his clothes crimson red, and every ragged breath he takes seems like a knife turning in my chest. The thunderous footsteps of guards resounding off the stone walls became louder. There is no time to squander or space for doubt. We perish trying or battle our way out.

"Enzo," I say, my voice tight with haste and terror. You are losing entirely too much blood. We must halt and locate a spot for—

"No," he says, cutting me off with a hard but firm voice. " Stopping is not a choice. We had to keep on traveling.

He's correct. We are deep in enemy territory, and every second we linger—or worse—another second toward captivity. I nod, swallowing my anxiety and get hold of the pilfer's taken rifle. Alright. lead by example.

THE COST OF FREEDOM