Db_Novels

Isla Romano’s world crumbled the night Antonio DeLuca, the notorious mafia boss, murdered her father before her eyes. As her father’s lifeless body hit the cold ground, Isla swore vengeance on the man who tore her family apart. For years, she’s plotted and waited for the perfect moment to take him down. But fate has a way of playing cruel games.

Infiltrating the DeLuca empire as a skilled Seductress, Isla’s plan is simple: take down Antonio, the man who deserves nothing less than death for his cold-blooded actions. But her mission becomes far more complicated when she crosses paths with Dante DeLuca, Antonio’s son. Charismatic, powerful, and ruthless in his own right, Dante is everything Isla despises—but also everything she can’t seem to resist.

As she gets closer to her goal, the lines between duty and desire blur. Every encounter with Dante only intensifies the forbidden attraction she feels for him, and her focus on revenge begins to falter. Beneath the layers of hatred and resentment lies something darker, something she cannot control.

Dante, who once considered himself a ruthless heir to his father’s throne, is captivated by Isla's strength, beauty, and fire. He is drawn to her in a way he can’t explain, but something feels off—her bitterness, her hidden secrets, and the way she seems to be everywhere he goes. As their undeniable chemistry burns hotter, he begins to question everything, including his loyalty to his father.

With every step, Isla finds herself entangled in the DeLuca web, inching closer to destroying Antonio—yet the closer she gets to Dante, the more she risks losing herself. But Dante has his own demons. As the darkness within him rises, so too does his obsession with Isla. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her close—even if it means holding her captive, bound by their unspoken desires.

As the stakes grow higher and the danger around them intensifies, Isla must decide if she’s willing to sacrifice everything she’s worked for in her quest for vengeance—her heart, her soul, and maybe even the life of the man she never thought she’d love.




---

Bound By Blood And Desire

The mansion was silent, the weight of its history pressing down on Isla as she made her way toward the study. Luca had requested to meet her, and though she still didn't trust him completely, she was curious about what he had to say.

She pushed open the heavy door to find him seated behind the desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He didn't look up immediately, swirling the amber liquid with a contemplative expression.

"You asked me to," she replied, shutting the door behind her.

Luca finally met her gaze, his dark eyes assessing. "You think you know who Dante is."

Isla crossed her arms. "I know exactly who he is."

Luca let out a low chuckle, devoid of humor. "No, you don't. You know the man he's become. You don't know how he got there."

Luca leaned back in his chair. "You hate Antonio DeLuca, don't you?"

At the mention of Dante's father, Isla's fingers curled into fists. "More than anything."

Luca nodded slowly. "And what about Dante?"

Luca took a sip of his drink before setting the glass down with a quiet clink. "Dante is the way he is because of Antonio."

Luca exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "Dante was born into power, but that didn't mean he had an easy life. Antonio isn't just ruthless with his enemies—he's ruthless with his own family."

She swallowed hard, her chest tightening.

"He raised Dante to be his heir, his soldier, his weapon," Luca continued. "From the time he could walk, he was taught one thing—obedience. Disobedience meant punishment. And Antonio never punished lightly."

"He forced Dante to fight from a young age," Luca said. "Not just sparring. Real fights. If he lost, he was beaten. If he showed weakness, he was locked away for days. Antonio believed that fear made a man weak. That pain was the only way to build strength."

"He was fourteen the first time he was ordered to kill," Luca murmured. "One of Antonio's men had betrayed him. Instead of handling it himself, Antonio handed the gun to his son and told him to pull the trigger."

"Dante hesitated," Luca admitted. "Not because he couldn't do it—but because he wanted to understand. He asked why the man had to die."

Luca's expression darkened. "Antonio beat him unconscious for questioning him. When Dante woke up, the man was still tied to the chair, still bleeding, still waiting to die. And Antonio put the gun back in Dante's hand."

"This time, he didn't hesitate," Luca finished. "He pulled the trigger. And from that moment on, Antonio knew—his son was finally his."

The room was suffocatingly silent.

Isla's fingers trembled at her sides.

She had always thought of Dante as Antonio's shadow, his perfect successor. But she had never considered what it meant to be molded into that role.

"He's not the man you think he is," Luca said softly. "He never had a choice."

She clenched her jaw. "We all have choices."

Luca studied her for a long moment before shaking his head. "Do we?"

Luca stood, stepping closer. "Dante may love Antonio, but he fears him, too. Even now, he's still under his control."

She wanted to deny it, to believe that Dante was as powerful as he seemed.

Luca's voice was quieter now. "You think you're the only one trapped, Isla?"

Luca took another sip of his drink. "You can't walk away while you can."

Dante's Dark Past