Book One in the Spinelli Chronicles Fiona Higgins' life is shattered when. She uncovers the shocking truth about her family's dark legacy: she's the daughter of a ruthless Mafia king, Don Spinelli. As she fights for her freedom from the Mafia, she's drawn to Kane McGregor, the billionaire who saved her life one fateful night. But as they surrender to their forbidden love, they will risk everything to escape the deadly world that binds them. ★ ★ ★ "If you want a war, I'll give it to you," Kane's blue eyes blazed with intensity. "I won't rest until your father, your brothers, and anyone else in that gang rots in jail for the rest of their natural lives." I let out a slow sigh. "I'm not here to compare firepower; I'm just a businesswoman trying to make a deal." Kane's laughter was low and mocking. "Right, and just to be clear, you're not exactly a skilled 'businesswoman.' I almost took you to my bed, and I'm glad it didn't happen." One of my brows arched. "I'm curious, though, would you?" "Would I what?" Kane asked. I leaned forward and whispered into his ear. "Would you still take me to your bed if I wasn't a Spinelli?" The silence that followed was deafening, and I knew I had my answer.
FIONA
"Who is he?" My dad barked, but I pushed my ear closer to my bedroom door. When I was younger, my parents always fought, never shy to raise their voices, but tonight, I could hear the tremble in Dad's tone.
"Lionel, I didn't-" Mom protested.
"...Tell me the truth!" He shouted, cutting her off. I flinched from the echo. "How could you do this to me?!"
I couldn't hear what Mom was saying, but the footsteps in the hallway caused my heart to race. I quickly jumped on my bed and pretended to be asleep.
The door bursts open, and I jolted up as Dad storms inside. His face is red, and tears stream down from the corners of his eyes."Fiona, pack your bags!" He ordered. "You're going to boarding school."
I sat upright, trying to process the news. "What? Why? But... Daddy?"
He pointed a hard finger at me. "Be ready, because we're leaving tomorrow morning."
Tears fell down my cheeks as I struggled to catch my breath. I realized I was being sent away, and also because my mother didn't do anything about it.
We lived in a small town outside New York City; my folks were middle-class, but they could afford to keep me away at a prep school in Boston.
Going home felt like living in hell; I remembered my mom crying after my dad hurt her. He would grab her arm and scream at her until she cried. She didn't try to leave him. She called it love; I called it madness.
Twelve years passed; I'd just graduated from the culinary institute at Boston University and was working at a five-star restaurant in Boston.
"Table nine needs more wine!" The head chef, Donald, barked. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Flinching at the tone of his voice, I nearly dropped the tray of dirty dishes in my hands."I was just returning these." I said, giving the tray to the dishwasher.
Donald's face was red as he thrust the order slip at me. "Get the wine now, Higgins!"
I took the slip and hurried to the wine locker room, and my shoulders slumped in defeat; getting a job as a chef was tougher than I imagined. So I settled for being a waitress, working two jobs and struggling to pay my bills.
I snatched the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from the wine rack and hurried out of the kitchen. Tonight all the tables were filled with Boston's rich and famous chatting over dinner plates filled with vegetables and steaks; the good side was the generous tips.
The bad side, however...
"Unbelievable," one of the men at the table sneered. He had tried to cover his bald head with his hair. "The service here is so slow. I should leave a one-star review!"
I smiled sweetly as I uncorked the wine. "I'd leave your hairstylist the same review, because you aren't fooling anyone." I said innocently.
The look on his face was purely comical. His companions struggled not to laugh. The tables around us went silent. I filled the empty glasses with wine.
"Excuse me?" The man demanded in outrage.I set the bottle down with a feeling of satisfaction.
A man on the next table signaled for me.I walked towards him, my lips parted to speak, when he interrupted me.
"Is that any way to speak to a customer?" He asked, his deep blue eyes hinted with amusement. I couldn't help but notice he was attractive, with a well-cut jaw and broad shoulders from working out. I'd noticed him earlier; he'd looked at me too.
But men like him paid no attention to the help. His partner was an elegant blond woman adorned in a red dress with diamond earrings.I realized he was probably controlling when he ordered a three-course meal without asking what his date wanted.
I took a deep breath and ignored his question. "Is there anything else you'd like to order?"
"Just the bill." He replied, meanwhile his deep blue eyes drew lower. My uniform consisted of a skirt and black sheer pantyhose, so naturally, I felt disgusted by his look.
"What time do you get off your shift?" He asked. "I'll need extra company, but I think you'll probably be more exciting than her."
The blond woman drew her hand back and slapped him across the face. My jaw dropped open.
Heads swung in our direction.
"You sick bastard!" The woman hissed at Blue Eyes and charged out of the restaurant.
Blue Eyes remained calm and took out his wallet. "Bring the bill, please."A hand grabbed my arm, and I discovered it was Donald who flashed Blue Eyes a smile.
"Please excuse us." Donald practically dragged me into his office.
I drew my arm away. "Thanks for getting me out of there," I spoke. "You wouldn't believe what that guy-"
"You are incompetent, lazy, slow, and always bad-mouthing customers!" Donald spat at me.
"What? That guy tried to harass me."
"You're fired!"
"But Donald, I didn't do anything-"
"Twice you've been caught in the middle of trouble tonight, Fiona. You think you can just waltz your way into being a top chef? You are nothing!"
I flinched from his cold words.
"Leave your uniform and your ID behind and get the hell out of my restaurant!" Donald barked.He didn't even give me a chance to explain myself. My heart caught in my throat, tears formed in my eyes, but I brushed them away as I left through the back door.
Rain showers poured over my head, and I wrapped my arms around my belly to keep warm. My other job at the fast food restaurant paid even less.
What am I going to do now?
As I walked down the alley with my head bent low, someone brushed past me, causing me to drop my purse.
I swung around angrily.
"Watch it!" I snapped at the person.
It was nearly dark.
Lightning struck, and I realized it was the bald man from earlier. I started to walk away, but he grabbed me by my arm.
"You think you're really funny, huh?!" He growled.I struggled against him, pounding his chest with my fist, but he was too strong.
"Let me go!"
He pushed me against a wall. "Nobody makes fun of me and gets away with it!"
Helpless, he forces me to the ground, his hand clamped over my mouth as I scream. A hard fist lands on my cheek. A wave of pain washed through me, and I saw stars.
He struck me again, and I felt myself being pulled back to the past, to the memories of my dad hurting my mom.
"No!" I wailed through the hand covering my mouth.Then he pulled away. My vision was blurry, but I see another man fighting him off, and then darkness sweeps me away.
The last time Mike and Christine saw each other, one of them walked away with a broken heart. Mike turned around to see her standing in a maroon suit, holding a briefcase, her eyes filled with hurt and exhaustion. He took a step forward. Longing swept over Mike, and he moved to draw Christine into his arms, his lips fiercely claiming hers. * * * * * * * * Mike Russo's life was perfect-until his ex-girlfriend, six teens, and a little girl moved into his mansion.The last thing Christine Frank wanted was to move in with her ex, the man who broke her heart to pieces. Christine Frank's life is turned upside down when a fire destroys the Foster home she runs, leaving her and seven kids without a place to call their own. Then, Mike Russo, her ex-boyfriend and billionaire hotel owner, offers them shelter in his estate. But Mike has a different motive: using Christine and the kids to boost his hotel's image. As they live together, sparks fly; they can't resist each other. Mike is going crazy from each kid's personality. Can Mike's deceitful plan ruin their second chance at love, or will they find redemption and forgiveness?
The last time Mike and Christine saw each other, one of them walked away with a broken heart. Mike turned around to see her standing in a maroon suit, holding a briefcase, her eyes filled with hurt and exhaustion. He took a step forward. Longing swept over Mike, and he moved to draw Christine into his arms, his lips fiercely claiming hers. * * * * * * * * Mike Russo's life was perfect-until his ex-girlfriend, six teens, and a little girl moved into his mansion.The last thing Christine Frank wanted was to move in with her ex, the man who broke her heart to pieces. Christine Frank's life is turned upside down when a fire destroys the Foster home she runs, leaving her and seven kids without a place to call their own. Then, Mike Russo, her ex-boyfriend and billionaire hotel owner, offers them shelter in his estate. But Mike has a different motive: using Christine and the kids to boost his hotel's image. As they live together, sparks fly; they can't resist each other. Mike is going crazy from each kid's personality. Can Mike's deceitful plan ruin their second chance at love, or will they find redemption and forgiveness?
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."