Gentle Sinners

Nera never wants to be a burden. After an accident she can't remember leaves her partially blind, Nera struggles against her sheltered life. Acceptance to culinary school is an opportunity to test her limits. Her only regret is that she'll no longer catch glimpses of the man she's loved ever since she was a child. Giovanni is dangerous and gorgeous and out of her league. Giovanni always watches over her. During the shared dark incident in their past, Giovanni vowed to protect Nera as she once protected him. Someone sweet and kind like her was never meant to be touched by the mafia world he was born into. Soon she'll be out of reach and safe from his failures. Only when he goes to her family's bakery one last time, she does the unthinkable and saves him yet again, despite the painful consequences. Hiding her at his estate brings a comfort that Giovanni has never known, but Nera pushes for more: a life at his side. Soon he spirals into an obsession for the less than innocent woman his savior has become. But when they survive another mafia hit, Giovanni realizes that Nera has been the one targeted all along. A hidden enemy wants Giovanni to feel the devastating pain of losing the one he loves. Nera isn't afraid. She revels in his need to kill anyone that might threaten her. She'll even strike first if it will keep them together even a moment longer.

Alina has never truly lived. As the daughter of the Pakhan, Alina is raised in a pampered cage for only one purpose. When her father is murdered, instead of the forced betrothal she grew up expecting, Alina falls into the hands of an enemy family. Tortured and broken, she finds a glimmer of hope in an unlikely rescuer. Luka has only lived for vengeance. After witnessing the massacre of his family, Luka becomes what he once hated. As a hitman for the Bratva, his hands are soaked with blood, but not the death he craves. During a contract, he stumbles across someone who reminds him of his past, and the flicker of life still within him refuses to leave her to her fate. Luka hides Alina away while she struggles to accept what she's become; someone willing to do anything to live, no matter the cost. But when the growing warmth between them flares into desire, Luka's aversion to touch makes him realize all he has to offer her is ashes of who he once was. Needing to free the one he loves, Luka returns to the only skills he has. They have a shared enemy, one Luka vowed to kill long ago. Only Alina's own needs have changed. Instead of hiding, she'd rather burn the world down at Luka's side.

Beatrice wants to punish all who have hurt her. Beatrice had more than accepted her role as a daughter of the mafia. She relished the passion she found in her arranged husband's arms, never anticipating that the marriage contract would be broken to appease her father's sins. Beatrice is left to an abusive monster instead, where her hopes disintegrate past her breaking point. Montrell knows he'll never earn forgiveness. Without the proper pedigree, Montrell struggles for power among La Cosa Nostra. He's overwhelmed when the mafia princess he's betrothed to gives herself to him before the wedding, and is left reeling when she then backs out of the contract. Too late, he realizes she hadn't been part of the betrayal. When Montrell sees firsthand the life Beatrice has endured, blood spills. He forces her into their promised marriage as the only way to protect her, but on their wedding night has to face how deep her scars run. As he slowly shows her the respect she deserves, her mistrust begins to thaw. Soon they are making decisions for the family together, and Beatrice revels in the power and control she always craved. Desire grows again between them, but with it comes new doubts and returning enemies. They vow to face them together, and this time Beatrice is willing to raze the earth to hold onto her future with the man she loves.

Vespa has only trusted one man. As a daughter of the Mafia, Vespa proved herself to the family and earned her position as her best friend's enforcer despite her gender. She's the only one aware of the scars left behind from attempts to put her in her place. She finally has everything she ever wanted, and a one night stand with the most annoying man she's ever met isn't going to change things, no matter how perfect the hours were. Antonio believes all women will betray. Growing up shadowed by his mother's toxic ambitions, Antonio instead dedicates his life to the brother he loves. He will do anything in his loyalty to La Cosa Nostra. Use anyone. He sets out to seduce the opposing family's enforcer, but ends up seduced instead. Her steadfast honesty, especially in her desires, makes him want more for the first time. When shared enemies target their families, Vespa and Antonio are forced to work closer together. The ease that comes from relying on one another only stokes the growing flame between them, and turns it into something gentler. Both understand that their first loyalty remains with their individual families. But when the target shifts to one of them, the other will see blood spill before they will ever lose the person they've grown to love.

Ludovica Barone has always known her place as a daughter in La Cosa Nostra, but after her father is taken out, she's left with few options. Manipulating the remaining capos in her family to keep the business afloat while fending off their advances is exhausting. She knows marriage would be the best way to stabilize the family, but her choices are less than ideal. The only support she receives is from Enzo Di Salvo, the spy from the family who destroyed her father. He sees way too much, about her and about the family, but instead of using it against her, he begins stepping in to help. During her most vulnerable moment, he's there to clean up the mess. He'd make the perfect husband, if she has to have one. Only, when she proposes, he turns her down. Ludovica can't let him get away with that. Enzo is appalled when the much younger Mafia princess asks him to marry her. Even if he were twenty years younger, he'd never wanted to lead. But the longer he watches Ludovica, the more he realizes she doesn't need a leader for a husband. No, she needs someone willing to stand at her back and help her carve out her own unique path. Exactly the skills he brings to the table. Ludovica isn't one to wait for him to change his mind, though. When she takes matters into her own hands to convince him of how perfect they'd be together, Enzo is shocked by how far she'll go to have him. Shocked and enthralled. Enzo Di Salvo belongs to her. And soon everyone will know it.