Penelope Sky – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Penelope Sky – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.wownovels.com Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:28:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.wownovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Penelope Sky – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.wownovels.com 32 32 The Emperor (Fifth Republic Series #4) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/the-emperor-fifth-republic-series-4-read-online-penelope-sky Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:28:25 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/the-emperor-fifth-republic-series-4-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Fifth Republic Series Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)

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Before the foundation of the Fifth Republic, my father crossed his business partner, and the consequences of that were dire.
The execution of my entire family…except me.
I’ve been on the run from The Oath, assassins that vow to finish every contract they receive. Every few years they find me again, and then I’m on the run once more. I’m working as a sommelier at Septime in Paris when they find me again, and they try to ambush me after work late one night.
I run for the street and hop into the first car I find. “Drive!” To my surprise, he asks no questions and speeds away through the streets of Paris and shakes them off my tail. He tells me his name.
Luca Fournier.
I have nowhere to go, so he lets me stay with him for protection…for a price.
Me.
I quickly learn that the man I’m bedding is one of the French Emperors, a secret society that’s part of the senate, and it’s his job to separate the criminals from the innocents. I could have jumped into any car, but I jumped into his.
Is it luck?
Or is it fate?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

ALIÉNOR

It was midnight when I finished my shift as a sommelier at Septime. The bottles were wiped down and returned to the case, and the wine glasses were dried by hand before being hung on the rack. It was a small restaurant with only a handful of tables, but the cramped atmosphere added to the charm.

I put on my long black coat and threw the rose-colored scarf around my neck before I stepped into the cold. The restaurant was on a narrow one-way street, and most of the other businesses were already closed. There were normally pedestrians on the sidewalks at all hours of the night, but it was quiet in the city in late winter. Spring was in the distance, close enough to see but not close enough to touch.

I headed down the street toward my apartment, my heels making a distinct tap against the cold stone of the sidewalk. With my bag drawn close, I glanced at my phone to check the time before I stowed it in my pocket once again.

My chin lifted, and I noticed a man across the street, smoking a cigar, dressed in all black with a black beanie, looking at me like he knew who I was.

I quickly looked ahead and pretended I hadn’t noticed his silent aggression.

I walked everywhere in Paris. Taxis and ride-hailing services were way too expensive for a bottom-feeder like me. I was a sommelier because I’d grown up privileged—but that was a long time ago.

I’d been poor so long I forgot what it was like to be rich.

Another set of footsteps accompanied mine, and I knew he was following me. I noticed the way the sound changed when he left the sidewalk and stepped onto the cobblestones. His legs were so much longer than mine, his stride would quickly catch up to me.

“Shit,” I said under my breath.

I kept my head down, kept a low profile, did everything I could to be a nobody.

But he’d kept his word and sought me out—even years later. Hell-bent on revenge that shouldn’t be my debt to pay, determined to add my head to one of the spikes outside his castle, desperate to fill his glass with the last drops of my family’s blood.

I finally reached the end of the narrow street, the sidewalk opening to other shops under the lampposts, all closed early in the off-season. A couple cars passed on the street, but it was mostly empty.

There was only a single car, a blacked-out Range Rover with midnight-black rims and blacked-out tinted windows. A muscular man stepped away from one of the shops and headed toward the Range Rover. The side-view mirrors immediately popped open at his approach like it was his vehicle, and he hit the button on the key fob before he came into my sight.

I didn’t have time to think.

Just before he opened the driver’s door, I sprinted down the stone pathway next to the trees and the park bench, aware that my assailant was in pursuit even though I couldn’t hear his boots in my hustle.

I threw open the passenger door and jumped inside. “Fucking drive!” I slammed the passenger door shut and hit the lock button—like that would stop a bullet from shattering the window. I turned to the driver and expected to have to yell or explain, but he hit the gas and took off down the empty road, his powerful engine making us accelerate with the speed of the wind.

I turned back to stare at the man who had pursued me and then heard shots fired, hitting the back window of the Range Rover. Two little cracks appeared in the glass, but it somehow didn’t break. “Fuck.” I faced forward again and glanced at the driver.

He was calm, almost indifferent.

The light at the intersection was red, but he turned left on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine like it was just a normal day. He dropped his speed, like he believed the gunman would never be able to track us on foot.

Once the immediate danger had passed, I looked at the driver of my getaway car.

Dark hair and dark eyes, his muscular arms stretching the sleeves of his long-sleeved shirt, he was the definition of calm and collected. An Omega watch was on his wrist, the kind worth over one hundred thousand euros, and the only reason I knew that was because my father used to have one very similar. A shadow was along his jawline, like he had to shave every morning to keep a clean look, but the darkness was back by midnight.

One hand remained on the wheel while he relaxed in the seat, eyes on the road. “Where to?”

In shock, I stared for a solid three seconds. “That’s it? No questions?”

“Your business is your business.”

“You aren’t going to demand that I pay for your back window?”

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The Saint (Fifth Republic Series #3) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/the-saint-fifth-republic-series-3-read-online-penelope-sky Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:19:05 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/the-saint-fifth-republic-series-3-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Dark, Erotic, Mafia Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Fifth Republic Series Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >80

I drowned to death. I held my breath as long as I could, but then my lungs sucked in water hoping it was air, and it was a painful and brutal ending, an internal drowning, my heart beating so hard desperate for oxygen...until it just stopped. I could never forget it...even if I wanted to.

Bastien assumes our relationship is over. That I'll run for the hills and wash my hands clean of the most dangerous man in Paris. But I'm not going anywhere. Not now. Not ever. I ran before, but not anymore. I can tell it means the world to him.

But the dangers haven't passed. The Aristocrats want blood for their leader's execution. Bastien and his brother are still sworn enemies, and the gangs are beginning to riot against the Fifth Republic. It's the most dangerous time to be a French Emperor.

Bastien tells me all this...but I still won't leave.

I believe Bastien will keep me safe from all the monsters that lurk under the streets of Paris...until he doesn't. Until I'm captured by his enemies and taken from the City of Light. I know Bastien will come for me. I know Bastien will kill every single one of them for taking me.

But will I be dead by the time he gets here...like last time?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

FLEUR

I sat on the couch in front of the TV, the news showing the charred body that hung from Notre-Dame. Sunrise had hit the city and I’d been up nearly all night, but I felt no fatigue, not when the adrenaline was still pumping away. Until Bastien walked in that door, I would be on alert.

I was in his t-shirt and his boxers because I had nothing else to wear. I wasn’t in the mood to blow-dry my hair, but after being locked in a wet coffin, I needed to be bone-dry. A blanket was draped over my shoulders and snug around my body because I was still cold, despite the hot shower and the steam that fogged the glass in the bathroom.

Gerard had left food and water for me, and I’d drunk all the water but ignored the food because I had no appetite.

I guess dying was an appetite suppressant.

The last thing I wanted to be was alone right now, forced to think about everything that had happened over and over. Anytime I visualized that coffin, tears welled in my eyes. I still felt the sting of the splinters that had impaled my fingertips. I still felt the cold rainwater against my skin. It had been so dark in that coffin that I’d only known where the water was by touch.

And I remembered how it felt to drown…quite vividly.

I’d held my breath as long as I could and pounded on the coffin lid even though it was hopeless. I’d wanted to die while fighting rather than die while submitting. But then my lungs took over and forced me to gasp—and that was when all the water flooded in.

It was painful…so fucking painful.

And to spend the last few seconds of your life knowing you were going to die was the worst part. To wait for it to end, to want to rush it just to make it stop, to be in complete darkness while it happened.

I didn’t feel my tears until they reached my lips. My eyes were glued to the TV, seeing the same clip they showed over and over, the body ablaze, because someone had caught it on camera from their apartment window.

That was the man who had ordered my death.

Good riddance.

I heard footsteps approach, and I turned to the door, knowing Bastien was finally home now that the deed was done. I already felt the relief before he walked in, felt the peace that only he could give.

The door opened, but it wasn’t just him. Adrien was with him.

Bastien was still coated in filth and mud because he hadn’t changed since pulling me out of that coffin. It was even on his face and neck, dried in place. He glanced at the TV to see the news before he looked at me again.

My eyes were on Adrien.

All that relief, all that peace…just evaporated.

Adrien stilled at the sight of me, hesitating at the ferocity that must have been in my gaze.

I released the blanket and got to my feet, wearing clothes that were far too big for me, and I walked up to him, seeing him tremble slightly at my approach. His eyes remained locked on mine but were packed with fear. So many things I wanted to say, so many things I wanted to do. I nearly asked for Bastien’s gun so I could shoot Adrien in the arm. But he wasn’t worth the emotional investment. “I wish I’d never met you.” I wished I could take back those years, take back my vows, take back my heart.

He flinched like I’d punched him, like those simple words were sharper than a dagger. “They were going to come for you, no matter what I did, Fleur. I saved you. I called Bastien and saved you⁠—”

“Bastien saved me.”

“Because I called him⁠—”

“All of that could have been avoided if you’d just told them that Bastien and I are together. That’s all you had to fucking say, and they would have let me go.” My eyes burned with furious tears. “I died, Adrien. Fucking drowned in mud.”

He clenched his eyes closed to shut out the pain of my words. “I know⁠—”

“You don’t know. You don’t know what it’s like to fucking die.”

He opened his eyes again, soaking wet with tears that were sincere. “I was so scared, Fleur. You have no idea.”

“No, you have no idea how scared I was. Trapped in the dark with a fucking camera in my face. The cold water inching closer to my mouth, and every move you make just sucks up the oxygen and makes the water pour in more.”

He closed his eyes again, like he couldn’t bear it. “It all happened so fast. I knew Oscar and Bastien did business together, so I assumed he would honor the code. I never imagined my beef with him would come anywhere near you. If I’d known that, I would have caved to him immediately. I would never risk the person I love most⁠—”

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The Carver (Fifth Republic Series #2) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/the-carver-fifth-republic-series-2-read-online-penelope-sky Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:25:25 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/the-carver-fifth-republic-series-2-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Crime, Dark, Erotic, Mafia, Suspense Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Fifth Republic Series Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >77

I'm fully in this with Bastien now. The kingpin of all kingpins, a man who oversees all the gangs of Paris, President Martin's right-hand man. If I were smart, I would leave, but I'm pretty sure I'm already in love with this man...

Adrien continues to challenge my divorce until Bastien gets involved. And like always, that man fixes all my problems.

But little do I know, the Aristocrats are out for Adrien. My ex continues to ignore the warnings that Bastien gives, only giving them out of a courtesy to me. It's not my problem, and if Adrien wants to get himself killed, that's his prerogative.

It quickly becomes my problem when the Aristocrats target me instead of Adrien, because technically, we are still married. And I'm still the woman Adrien loves. I find myself in a world of trouble and the only person who can save me is The Butcher, a French Emperor, leader of the Fifth Republic.

The man that will kill anyone and everyone for me

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Fleur

I arrived at the courthouse on Monday morning. It was overcast, with rain coming and going in waves. With a heavy heart, I walked up the stairs and entered the building to begin my divorce trial. I wore one of the outfits I’d bought for work, a black pencil skirt with a dark blue blouse tucked into the waistband.

My marriage had been over before the paperwork was filed and I’d moved on with a man way out of my league, but it still made me somber to divorce a man I’d thought I would be buried next to, someone I’d known for years but who turned out to be a stranger.

I walked down the hallway to find the room where I would meet with Adrien and the judge, but I was stopped by a man in a gray suit, glasses, and a briefcase.

“Fleur?”

“Yes,” I said. “How can I help you?”

“I’m Antony.” He shook my hand. “I’m your attorney.”

“Oh…I didn’t ask for an attorney.” I didn’t think it would be necessary for a simple divorce case. I didn’t want Adrien’s money, so there was nothing to contest. It would be the smoothest divorce trial ever recorded.

“Bastien Dupont asked me to take your case.”

I’d told him my trial was today, but I didn’t share any details, like the fact that I didn’t have an attorney. That meant he was one step ahead of me, looking out for me when I didn’t ask him to. “I—I don’t think that’s necessary⁠—”

“He’s already paid my fee.”

“Oh.”

He moved to the door and opened it. “Shall we?”

I looked in the open door and saw the back of Adrien’s head. He had a man next to him, so I assumed that was his own lawyer. The judge sat at a table that faced Adrien and the empty table beside it—where I would sit with Antony.

I was about to be divorced, and I wasn’t even thirty.

Fucking fool.

I held my head high as I walked into the room, not looking at Adrien as I took my seat and crossed my legs. All I had was my purse with me because I didn’t know what else to bring. I didn’t have a list of things that I wanted, didn’t have receipts for anything, didn’t have any photographic evidence to use against him to get a bigger sum.

Antony took his seat beside me. “I’ll be representing Fleur Laurent for this case.”

I felt Adrien stare at the side of my face, felt him look in the hope I would look back.

I ignored him.

“Alright.” Judge Alberto got straight to the point. “Let’s begin.”

Antony started. “Because the marriage ended due to Mr. Laurent’s multiple infidelities, Fleur is asking for half of the communal property they’ve earned throughout their marriage⁠—”

“Whoa, I did not say that.” I looked at my lawyer. “I don’t want anything.”

“You’re entitled to it⁠—”

“I don’t want it.”

Antony continued to look at me, like Bastien had given him instructions that were to be followed.

“Perhaps you should speak to your client in private,” Judge Albert said. “Take a recess⁠—”

I looked back at the judge. “I don’t want anything—except my clothes and personal belongings that are still at the house. I married him because I loved him, and his punishment is to know he betrayed the only woman who actually loved him for himself. I don’t care about his money—and I’ll prove it.”

Antony released a frustrated sigh, as if he knew he was going to get an earful from Bastien when this was over.

Judge Alberto turned to Adrien and his lawyer. “If you agree to these terms, the matter is settled.”

There was a long pause. The lawyer stared at his client.

Adrien stared at the table, looked like he was about to be sick. “She takes half of the estate.”

“What?” I asked incredulously.

Adrien wouldn’t look at me. “I contest your demands. Take half of the estate.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” I looked directly at him now, unsure what was happening. “I said I don’t want your money.”

“I know you don’t,” he said quietly. “But I want you to have it.”

“Well, I don’t want it.”

The judge folded his hands and gave a sigh. “I’ve been in law for nearly forty years, and not once have I seen a marriage that ended through infidelity unfold this way—with the wife not wanting his money, while the husband wants to give it. In my personal opinion, there is still love here, so perhaps this marriage should be given another chance…”

“No.” Out of the fucking question.

Adrien gave a sigh.

“I won’t take his money.” I said it again, put my foot down.

The judge looked at Adrien.

“I don’t accept her terms,” he said quietly.

The judge closed his folder and brought his hands together. “Then we’ll schedule another meeting three weeks from now. Perhaps at that time, you can decide how you want these assets to be divided. This meeting is adjourned.”

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The Butcher (Fifth Republic Series #1) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/the-butcher-fifth-republic-series-1-read-online-penelope-sky Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:15:45 +0000 https://www.wownovels.com/the-butcher-fifth-republic-series-1-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Crime, Dark, Mafia, Suspense Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Fifth Republic Series Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 68688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >73

I found out my husband of three years had cheated on me and his mistress is the one who told me—because he didn’t have the balls to do it himself.

I move out and get a new apartment, a job as a bartender, and try to move on with a broken heart. I wonder where it all went wrong, if I hadn’t been enough for him, if I’d been stupid for marrying him in the first place.

I’m at work one night when he walks inside—the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He sits at the bar and a forest fire burns between us. I was depressed the moment before he entered, but the second I look at his blue eyes, I forget the dumpster fire that my life has become. I invite him back to my place and it’s the most passionate night of my life. I expect to never see him again.

I just want him as an anti-depressant—but he wants me all to himself. I just got my heart ripped out of my chest so I want something easy and no-strings-attached, but he wants all the strings because he’s hooked.

I don’t get much of a say in the matter, and that’s not surprising when I learn why—because he’s the Butcher. The crime lord of all crime lords, the boss that overshadows all of Paris, that makes everyone abide by his rules—or pay.

And now I’m his.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Fleur

I entered the building, walked up the five flights of stairs because the elevator had been busted since I moved in, and then got my key in the lock. The door opened, and I entered my small apartment, the one-bedroom flat with a kitchen that also served as a laundry room. I flicked on the light switch and then gave a small jump at the sight of the man sitting in the armchair like a goddamn gargoyle. “Jesus…” I gave my keys a squeeze before I tossed them on the table and set my purse down. “I told you to stop doing that.”

He continued to sit there with his elbows on his knees, his shoulders broad in his jacket, his eyes down on his fingers as he gripped his phone. It took him a moment to lift his chin and look at me, his hazelnut eyes full of self-loathing. “If you don’t want me here, then pick up your fucking phone.”

“I don’t have to do anything, Adrien.” It was nearly two in the morning, but the City of Lights still had people on every corner, riding their bikes to the opposite side of town or smoking in the cafés downstairs. Au Pied de Cochon was right near my apartment, one of the few restaurants in Paris that basically never locked their doors or turned off their lights because it was open almost twenty-four hours. I’d eaten there a couple times after my shift, but mostly just to wind down with a cigarette.

He rose to his feet, in dark jeans and a leather jacket, raindrops visible on the material like it had sprinkled on him during his walk from the car. He left the green armchair and came close to where I stood by the round dining table, which held a vase full of flowers that I’d grabbed from the market yesterday. “I found a marriage counselor⁠—”

“I don’t want to go to counseling,” I snapped. “I want a divorce.” I’d asked for a divorce the moment I’d discovered his infidelity, a treason he didn’t even have the balls to tell me himself. But he’d made that request impossible to grant. Made me jump through endless hoops, just to get rejected by the court—because he’d paid everyone off.

“We’re Catholic. We don’t believe in divorce⁠—”

“So you fucked around under the assumption I would never leave?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“I don’t want to make this marriage work. I’m a fine piece of ass who doesn’t need this shit. I want a man who keeps his word and is so brutally honest that it’s almost cruel. You are not that man, Adrien.”

The anger flickered across his face, but he tightened the reins on his rage. “I made a mistake. I told you it wasn’t an affair. She meant nothing to me.”

“But she was worth your marriage?”

His nostrils flared, but he still didn’t yell like he normally would. “There was a lot of shit going on at work and I had too much wine to drink, and she came on to me. I had a moment of weakness. I’m fucking human.”

I rolled my eyes. “More like a Neanderthal.”

His desperate eyes were locked on mine. “I said I was sorry about a million times.”

“I don’t want an apology. I want a divorce. I want you to stop popping up in my apartment like you still own me.”

“You’re still my wife⁠—”

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It Destroys Me (Betrayal #6) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/it-destroys-me-betrayal-6-read-online-penelope-sky Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:06:08 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/it-destroys-me-betrayal-6-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, Erotic, Mafia Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Betrayal Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >87

I chose the wrong man…and I chose him for the wrong reasons.
Now all I want to do is repair the broken relationship with the man I’ve always wanted.
But he’s wounded by my rejection and it’ll take time to heal what I’ve broken.
But I know there’s hope…otherwise he wouldn’t have come for me.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Theo

I was in the study on the couch, staring at the fire in the hearth with my feet on the coffee table. My arm hung over the back of the couch as I held my cool glass on my thigh. It’d been a couple days since Astrid and I had spoken. Talking about Shayla had forced me onto a trip down memory lane that left me bitter. It would pass, but it passed quicker in silence with a scotch in hand.

My butler George came into the room. “Axel and Scarlett are here to see you.”

“Why?” I didn’t take my eyes off the fire.

“They’re taking Astrid to dinner. Wanted to say hello before they left.”

“What?” I blurted out the question on instinct because it made no sense.

“Shall I tell them you’re unavailable?”

“No.” I set the glass on the coffee table and rose to my feet. “I’ll handle this.” I walked past him into the entryway, seeing Axel in a button-up shirt with his sleeves pushed to his elbows. Scarlett was in a black dress with her hair back, gold earrings in her lobes.

Axel grinned when he saw me. “You want to join us?”

“Join you for what?”

“Dinner. Astrid and Scarlett made plans, and I decided to tag along. You know, just in case.”

My eyes flicked back and forth between them, detecting deceit but unable to pinpoint it. “And why was none of this mentioned to me?”

Axel gave a shrug. “I don’t know, man. All I care about is paying for dinner and getting a blow job afterward.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes, but she wore a smirk she couldn’t hide.

“You want to come?”

I looked at the stairs and expected to see Astrid standing there. “I’d rather Astrid stay here, under the circumstances.”

“You think I’d let anything happen to her?”

“She’s not your responsibility, Axel.”

“Then come to dinner with us,” he said. “Problem solved.”

I heard footsteps on the stairs and turned to see Astrid holding the banister as she made her way down in heels. She wore a skintight black dress. Her cleavage was on display, given the low-cut of the neckline. Her long hair was in curls and a lot thicker than it normally was. Along with the dark makeup around her eyes and the pink shine to her lips, she looked like she was begging to be fucked.

I watched her as she came closer, my eyes locked on her sexy-as-fuck appearance. If this was all a ploy to get my attention, then she succeeded—with flying colors. I watched her green eyes meet mine, her confidence mixed with that same vulnerability she showed me during our intimate conversations. It’d been a rough couple of weeks, and I’d felt no desire. But seeing her like that made me remember what I had under my roof.

“I would have invited you, but I figured you’d pass.”

I wasn’t sure where she’d gotten that dress. It fit her so well, it looked like it had been tailored to her exact proportions. She had nice, perky tits, so that dress was made to display her unbelievable rack. I felt everyone’s stares on me, a veil of invisible pressure that smothered my senses.

“Come along,” Axel said. “So we can talk about guns and tits while the girls talk about makeup and whatever else women talk about.”

“We don’t talk about guns and tits.” I looked at him.

“Well, now we have a topic of conversation.”

“Why do I feel like this is a setup?” I looked at Scarlett next, knowing she wouldn’t lie to me.

“We’re going to be late for our reservations,” she said. “So if you want to come, get dressed.” She spoke to me in her mom voice, manipulating me to get me to behave the way she wanted.

I looked at Astrid next, a goddamn smokeshow. “Just give me a minute.”

Axel drove while I sat in the passenger seat.

The girls talked in the back. Scarlett showed her pictures of the kids while Astrid said how cute they were at least a million times.

Like a cow in a herd, I had been corralled right into the pen. This had been a setup to get me out of the house, and I suspected Scarlett was the mastermind of the entire thing. Astrid went along with it because she’d shown me her cards the other night—that she still wanted me even though I was a fucking train wreck.

We arrived at the restaurant and were guided straight to our table. It was a nice place with candles and white tablecloths. It was midweek, but the place was still packed like it was a Saturday night.

Astrid was about to take the seat beside me, but Axel grabbed the back of the chair. “I’d like to sit across from my wife, if that’s okay. You know, because of the view.” He gave her a playful wink.

Astrid smiled. “I don’t blame you. She’s a hot piece of ass.” She went back around the table.

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It Pains Me (Betrayal #5) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/it-pains-me-betrayal-5-read-online-penelope-sky Mon, 08 Jul 2024 20:39:10 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/it-pains-me-betrayal-5-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Crime, Dark Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Betrayal Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >70

When Bolton asked for the open marriage I was revolted by it.

But then I met Theo…and I didn’t know men like him could exist.

Now he wants me all to himself.

Do I forgive him…or do I stay?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

ASTRID

My apartment was small—but it was mine.

I’d chosen a one-bedroom with a small kitchen and a sitting room that could only fit a couch. It was furnished because I’d rented it that way. I had a month-to-month lease, so it was just a placeholder until I found something worth the investment of my time. Staying at a hotel was way too expensive for the long-term.

It took me a couple days to prepare myself to return to what was now only Bolton’s house to retrieve the rest of my stuff. Not because I wanted to avoid him, but I was just too broken to muster up the energy. A part of me hoped a text from Theo would come through with an apology. Or he would call to check on me. Something.

But he never did.

I wasn’t sure what devastated me more. Bolton’s betrayal or Theo’s departure.

How did two men break my heart in such a short amount of time?

Now that I wasn’t living with Bolton, I didn’t know his schedule. Grabbing my things while he was out on a contract was the best decision, but I had no idea when he had his assignments anymore.

I suspected he’d stopped taking them—and just waited for me to come back.

I pulled up to the house instead of parking in my usual spot because I didn’t live there anymore. It was a foggy night, the cold heavy in the air, the light gone before five. The rain had finally let up, so I thought now was the best time to retrieve a load of my things.

I walked up to the front door and put my key in the lock, but then I quickly withdrew it and knocked.

Footsteps sounded a moment later.

My heart dropped to my stomach in disappointment.

Bolton opened the door, wearing his sweatpants and one of his black tees. With his hand on the doorknob, he stared at me with those eyes that were so blue they looked unnatural. He absorbed my appearance, his eyes trying to pull me in hard, like he wanted me right next to him.

“I just came to get a load of my things.”

He continued to stand there.

“I can come by when you aren’t home⁠—”

“I’m always home—waiting for you.”

When his stare became too much, I broke contact first. “Then let me get my things.”

He stepped aside and shut the door behind me.

The warmth of home surrounded me. It smelled the same. This had been his place when we got together, and I moved in a few months after we met. I’d been love-sick, and everything had happened so quickly, a rush that hadn’t stopped until he told me he wanted to fuck other people.

I took off my coat and hung it on the rack.

“Are you hungry?” he asked from behind me. “I made dinner.”

“No. I’m just here for my stuff.” I approached the hallway and the staircase.

“Astrid—”

“Bolton, don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” I stilled, feeling him behind me, picturing his stare.

After a pause, he spoke. “I’m just worried about you. It seems like something is wrong. Something besides our problems.”

I continued to look at the stairs and the photographs that hung on the walls on either side. Pictures of us on our wedding day. Vacations to Positano—our favorite place. Was my sorrow for Theo so obvious that Bolton could see it? Did I wear my broken heart on my sleeve?

I didn’t turn around, and he reached for my elbow. “Astrid.” When I didn’t yank my arm away, he gently turned me toward him, inch by inch, until our eyes met. “Talk to me. You’re my favorite person in the world to speak to…and I miss you. This time apart has only shown me how little life I have without you.” His fingers remained on my elbow, like I might fly away at any moment. His eyes continued to drill into my face with a hint of desperation, and he wore his heart on his sleeve in a way he never had before. “Talk to me.”

I was heartbroken over another man, and that made me feel guilty. Thinking of someone else when he poured his heart out to me like that. “It’s okay, Bolton. I’ll just get my things and be on my way⁠—”

“Astrid.” He tightened his fingers on my arm. “You can tell me anything.”

“I’m not your problem anymore⁠—”

“You’re my wife. You will always be my problem. I want you to always be my problem.” He moved closer to me, sliding his hand up my arm as he drew close. He stepped into my space, close enough that I could catch a whiff of his scent, the smell that was on my sheets, in the bathroom after he took a shower. “Have dinner with me. You can get your stuff afterward.”

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It Hurts Me (Betrayal #4) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/it-hurts-me-betrayal-4-read-online-penelope-sky Mon, 27 May 2024 20:58:22 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/it-hurts-me-betrayal-4-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Dark, Mafia Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Betrayal Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >76

My husband of two years tells me he wants an open marriage.

I'm stunned. I'm hurt. And I'm livid. I don't want to be married to a man that wants to open our bed to other people.

But then I get a flat tire in the pouring rain and a sexy-as-hell gentleman helps me out.

My husband is in the game, so one look at the skull ring on this gentleman's left hand tells me exactly who he is.

The Skull King.

I didn't want an open marriage...but I definitely want this man.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

ASTRID

It was pouring rain when I drove down the narrow streets of Florence. A storm had just swept through the beautiful city, but the rain lingered, pounding into the cobblestones and making them shine in the moonlight. It was so heavy the raindrops thudded like rocks on the rooftop.

I heard a loud pop, my steering wheel lurched to the right, and I slammed on my brakes as I landed on the curb. Thankfully, there weren’t any cars parked there. Otherwise, I would have sideswiped them as I lost control of the vehicle.

The car came to a harsh stop, and my face almost hit the steering wheel. “Jesus…” I could barely see through the windshield, the downpour was so extreme. There were no other cars on the road because everyone was smart enough to stay home on a night like this. But I’d had an event at work, so I didn’t have a choice.

The screen on my dashboard told me what the problem was.

I blew out a tire. Must have run over a rock or a nail that I couldn’t see in the downpour.

I reached for my phone in the cupholder and tapped the screen, but it stayed black. I tapped it again, but it remained black.

It had been low on battery at the gala because I’d forgotten to charge it that morning. Looked like it had died in the meantime. I pulled out the charger from the glove compartment and plugged it into my phone. It was so dead that it still didn’t turn on. It would need a few minutes before it had enough juice to make a call.

Headlights were visible from an SUV, and then it pulled up in front of me, the red taillights in circles instead of squares, telling me it was a Range Rover. The lights went dark when they released the brakes, and the car was shut off.

I continued to watch, wondering if this person had pulled over for me.

A man left the driver’s seat and stepped into the pouring rain, just a silhouette at first, a tall man with thick arms that were visible because he didn’t wear a jacket. When he came closer to my car, he was displayed in my headlights.

And wow…he was fiiiiinnne.

Dark hair and eyes, a hard jawline, a very distinct and unmistakable “I don’t give a fuck about a damn thing” attitude. When he came to my window, he tapped his big knuckles against the glass, standing in the rain like it was a warm shower.

I hesitated before I rolled down the window, taking a second to snap out of the reverie. The second the window was down, the sound of the rain became amplified, a cacophony we had to yell over to hear each other.

He put one hand on the roof of the car and leaned down to speak to me, already soaked to the skin. There was a shadow on his jawline, popping tendons up his neck, veins down his muscular arms. “You alright?” A deep and masculine voice released into the night air, authoritative without aggression.

There were no words on my tongue because I was paralyzed by the sight of him.

“I saw your tire blow out when you ran over that scrap metal.”

“Oh, I didn’t see it.” I felt dwarfed by his confidence, felt hideous even though I’d looked my best for the art gala I’d just attended.

“You shouldn’t be driving in these weather conditions.”

“I-I had work.” I had a tough time just stringing a couple words together. All of my confidence was gone, and I didn’t like it.

“Pop the trunk. I’ll change it for you.”

“What?” I asked in disbelief.

He reached inside my car, and that was when I saw the ring on one of his fingers, a large diamond carved into the shape of a skull. He hit the button, and the mechanism clicked in the trunk to provide access to the spare tire.

“You don’t have to do that. If I could just borrow your phone⁠—”

“It’ll only take me five minutes.”

“It’s pouring down rain⁠—”

“Trust me, sweetheart. You don’t want to be on this street in the next fifteen minutes.” He walked to the back of the car, and the vehicle shifted as he pulled out what he needed to get to work. The car tilted sideways as he used the jack to lift it and the tire iron to loosen the lug nuts.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >76

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It Ruins Me (Betrayal #3) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/it-ruins-me-betrayal-3-read-online-penelope-sky Sat, 11 May 2024 14:57:48 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/it-ruins-me-betrayal-3-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Contemporary, Dark, Erotic, Mafia Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Betrayal Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >81

I married you because I was in love with you.

Those words have echoed in my mind ever since he said them, and despite the way my heart races for him every time he steps into the same room, I can't say it back. Not after he hurt me. Not after he betrayed me.

Every time I feel us come close together, my heart pulls away. Every time I fantasize about our future children and growing old together, or just living in the moment during a romantic evening, I picture Cassandra walking by...replacing me.

Axel wants to repair our broken relationship and be what we once were, but my resentment is constantly in the way. He says he has something to tell me, a secret I must take to the grave, a secret that could change my life forever...

He says my father forced his hand, forced him to hurt me, forced him to march in there with Cassandra just so he could break us apart. Then he gives me an ultimatum. Believe him and give this marriage a real chance.

Or don't believe him...and leave.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter 1

Axel

It was a cold night, the fog flooding the cities and the streets. It pressed up against my window and masked the views of the Duomo lit up in the distance. The fire was in the hearth, hot like a summer desert that was unwelcome when my temperature already ran so high. My elbow was propped on the armrest, and I stared at nothing in particular, ignoring both my cigar and the drink on the table.

Theo sat with me, his cheek against his closed knuckles, his eyes on the fire.

I wasn’t in the mood for conversation, so silence was fine by me.

Several days had passed, and Scarlett’s bruising had started to fade. It had been the worst the next day, all the signs of trauma amplified in the morning. It was hard to look at her, not because she wasn’t beautiful, but because I knew how hard they’d hit her.

If she hadn’t been smart enough to drop her location, she’d be dead right now.

I’d be a fucking widower.

Theo turned his head slightly and looked at me.

My eyes shifted to meet his.

“We can cancel.”

I gave a slight shake of my head. “No. Life goes on.”

“I can just meet with him.”

“I’m not going to kill him.”

“You sure?”

My stare hardened. “Why do you think you’re here?”

“I’ll keep you on your best behavior.” The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “How is she?”

“She’s fine.” She didn’t complain about the pain. Did her best to cover it with makeup for my benefit—so I wouldn’t have to look at it. But the air between us had been tense, not just because of the shit that had gone down, but because I’d told her I loved her and forced her to acknowledge it. “She’s a tough woman.”

“I’m sure it gave her a reality check.”

“Yes…it did.” A single moment had changed her attitude about this world, given her a bitter taste of reality. While I was relieved she took it seriously, it also hurt to see the defeated look in her eyes. Her ambition was snuffed out like a low-burning candle…and now all that remained was the smoke.

Aldo entered the parlor. “Dante is here to see you, sir.”

I sucked in a slow breath. “Show him in.”

Aldo left to fetch my favorite person.

Theo grabbed his glass, shook the ice, and took a drink.

Dante entered a moment later, his face still discolored from the hits he’d taken. I hit him the hardest, making him slam against the wall and crumple to the floor like a rag doll. We hadn’t gotten along since the night he’d threatened me to stay away from his daughter, but that dislike had intensified into the strongest form of hate. He’d be dead right now if I didn’t love his daughter.

He looked at Theo longer than necessary as he took a seat. He unbuttoned his jacket before his eyes shifted to me. It was a simple look across the table, but the moment our eyes locked, there was a fiery exchange of rage.

Silence stretched, and so did the stare.

Theo broke the tension. “There will be no bloodshed tonight.” He grabbed a cigar and lit up. “Not when we have too much shit to do.” He puffed on the end a couple seconds, getting the ashes to burn at the tip and start to produce the flavorful smoke. “I’ve halted upcoming orders because production has stopped, so we need to mitigate this before it turns into a serious problem. You know how upset people get when they’re denied what they want.” He shifted his look back and forth between us.

I was slumped in the armchair, wearing my sweatpants and a long-sleeved tee, my wife upstairs and unaware that her father had come for a visit. These meetings used to take place on his turf, but now that he was my bitch, they took place on mine.

Dante finally withdrew his gaze. “We’ll need to find another supplier. The Colombians won’t do business with us after we killed their men.”

I wanted to wring his fucking neck for what he’d done, for nearly getting my baby killed. It was hard to sit in the same room with him, even if we were only discussing business. “You don’t know that.”

His eyes came back to me. “In fact, we should prepare for retaliation.”

“The Colombians are going to come all the way over here to start shit?” Theo asked incredulously. “I find that unlikely.”

“You never heard of hit men?” Dante asked. “We should have just given them what they wanted.” His accusation turned back to me, potent and throbbing. “But you had to have a fucking ego⁠—”

“I’d rather have an ego than be a fucking liar and a fucking psychopath.”

Dante moved both of his arms to the armrests as he stared at me.

“She’ll see your true colors.” I relished the day he was no longer in our lives, either because he was dead or ostracized. “You’ll learn.”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >81

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It Breaks Me (Betrayal #2) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/it-breaks-me-betrayal-2-read-online-penelope-sky Sat, 30 Mar 2024 18:34:12 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/it-breaks-me-betrayal-2-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, Erotic, Mafia, Suspense Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Betrayal Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >75

Axel betrayed me.

As hard as I tried to keep him out of my heart, he broke through it like shattered glass. Even though my father didn't approve and our relationship would always be a secret, I didn't care. He was worth it...until he wasn't.

Six months have passed, and that's exactly how long it's taken me to get over what he's done. I never see him at my father's estate. My father never mentions him. Like he never existed at all, he's wiped from the face of the earth.

Until my father tells me he's going to stab Axel in the back and replace him with someone new. I know what a mistake that will be, but my warning falls on deaf ears.

We finally come face to face for the first time. His ingenious plan knocks my father off his feet and he takes the business for his own. If my father wants it back, it's going to come at a price. A price that he won't have to pay--but I will.

And that's to marry him.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

1

AXEL

SIX MONTHS LATER

I hadn’t seen my parents in six months.

They’d blocked my number, so I couldn’t text or call, and whenever I showed up to their residence, the guards barred my entry. Trust meetings took place in their absence, their lawyers acting as their puppets. The message was quite clear—I would never speak to them again.

But I knew they would be at the art auction this year, a social event they’d attended every year for the last thirty years, and while it wasn’t the best place to provoke them, I needed a chance to say my piece.

I didn’t inform anyone that I was attending, because if I did, they were certain not to show up. And sneaking into a hoity-toity party like that was easy. Security only watched the main entrance, but no one hit the main entrance when they snuck into a party anyway.

I walked down the alley and used the back entrance, waiting for one of the workers to step out and carry the trash to the dumpster against the adjacent building. He didn’t notice me, so before the door closed and would require his keycard to unlock it, I slipped inside. In my tux with my hair slicked back, I moved down the hall and encountered one of the workers. “Bathroom?”

“Down the hall to the right,” he said.

“Thanks.” I ignored the directions I didn’t need and stepped into the ballroom where the party was being held. Art pieces were on display, from both new and old artists, and champagne and hors d’oeuvres were being served by waiters. A small symphony played music in the corner, clichéd musical entertainment, and everyone there was rich and intent on showing everyone else just how rich they were.

I scanned the crowd and spotted my parents. My mother was in a black gown with sleeves and diamonds in her earlobes, and my father wore a tux identical to mine. They spoke with a couple I didn’t recognize. As I stared, I wondered if anyone ever asked them about me, and if they did, how did they react. Did they just ignore the question? Did they really pretend they didn’t have a son?

Someone appeared at my side. “You made it.”

I kept my eyes on my parents. “The back entrance is more my style these days.”

“So I’ve heard.” He cocked a smile.

I hadn’t smiled in six months.

Theo took a drink from his glass. “How do you want to play this?”

“Tell them you have a special piece you’re only showing a certain clientele. Their egos will diminish all suspicion.”

“Alright.”

“And then make sure they don’t leave until I’m finished.”

“Easy enough.”

“But no guns.”

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at me. “What if they try to call the police?”

“Then take their phones.”

“What if they scream?”

“Then tell them to stop.”

“Just showing a gun gets a lot more done⁠—”

“No guns.” I stared Theo down.

He stared me down in return. “You know, family reunions aren’t really in my job description.”

“But I am.”

He stared at me before he took another drink. “Ready for this?”

“Yeah. See you in a minute.” I headed down the long hallway and into the empty room that we’d already selected. It was far enough away from the party that a commotion would be inaudible. I moved to the other side of the door, so they wouldn’t see I was there until they were fully inside and the door was closed.

I waited for several moments, my heart pounding in my chest, a drum against my ribs. The sight of me standing there would be unwelcome, would probably cause a panic, but I was left with no other choice.

The door opened a moment later, and Theo let my parents enter first before he shut the door.

My father looked around the empty room, which only held a table and six chairs. There was no artwork on the walls either, so there was nothing for them to examine. “Where is the painting?” He turned around to face Theo, and he froze when he saw me leaning against the wall. He didn’t gasp, but the breath he sucked inside was audible like the wind on a stormy night.

My mother turned next, and she was the one who gave a gasp. “Alexander…”

My father looked at Theo again like he wanted to make a break for it, but when he saw the way Theo leaned against the door with his arms crossed over his chest, he didn’t try. He swallowed before he grabbed my mother and tugged her close. “Get behind me, Dorace.”

I started to approach them, my hands in my pockets. “I just want to talk.”

He continued to back up, keeping my mother behind him, his hands up like I had him at gunpoint.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Theo snapped. “He’s not going to hurt you.”

My father glanced at him before he started to move away from him too.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >75

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It Kills Me (Betrayal #1) Read Online Penelope Sky http://www.wownovels.com/it-kills-me-betrayal-1-read-online-penelope-sky Fri, 15 Mar 2024 06:57:51 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/it-kills-me-betrayal-1-read-online-penelope-sky Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Dark, Forbidden, Mafia Authors: Penelope Sky Series: Betrayal Series by Penelope Sky
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Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >80

My father has chosen me to succeed him in the family business.

But if I want the job, it comes with stipulations. And one of those stipulations is to never mix business with pleasure. AKA, don't sleep with anyone on the job. My father leads by example, and not once have I ever seen him get involved with anyone, not even his beautiful assistant. That was an easy rule to follow...until Axel.

Axel is an expert distributor, someone who knows how to get our product past the ruthless regulations mandated by the government. My father has never had a partner, but he makes an exception for Axel because he's good at what he does.

But the second our eyes meet...there's fire. He's by far the most handsome man I've ever seen, and his I couldn't care less attitude makes me weak. But I put up boundaries and reject his advances.

But this man doesn't stop until he gets what he wants.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

PROLOGUE

SCARLETT

After a long, dark winter, spring arrived. When I opened my windows that morning and saw the cloudless blue sky, I knew the warmer season I craved had arrived. Instead of wearing a sweater and jeans, I opted for a springtime dress. It was a little premature for that, but I didn’t care.

I left my apartment and drove down the quiet streets to my father’s home, a large estate that took up an entire corner of the block. It was one of the few properties that had spacious outdoor terraces, shielded by high gates with fine greenery. I pulled up to the gate, and the guards let me pass without a single glance.

It was the place where I’d grown up, the historic Duomo in sight, the markets just blocks away, the streets heavy with the past that was still a part of our present. I walked by the large fountain in the center of the courtyard, the shadows long across the ground because the sun was already setting when it had only risen to its full height hours ago.

I entered the house, finding my father sitting in the parlor, comfortable couches across rugs, an enormous hearth against one wall that was already lit. He sat at one of the small tables, wearing a navy-blue suit with a shiny watch on his wrist. He was on his phone, his thumbs typing against the screen like he was writing an email. On the surface, it was a relaxing scene, but his men lingered in opposite corners of the room, blending into the gray-wallpapered walls and the artwork that hung there, always hovering over the man they served.

He must have heard the sound of my heels on the hardwood because he immediately slipped his phone into the inside pocket of his jacket and stood up to greet me, a nice smile on his face, a dimple in each cheek. Whenever he saw me, he had this brilliance in his eyes, this unspoken affection that he reserved for only me. “Sweetheart.” He circled his arms around me and hugged me hard before pressing a kiss on my forehead. “You look lovely.” He pulled out the chair for me like he always did.

I sat at the table on his right and hung my purse over the back of the chair. “Thank you. I like your suit.”

He looked down at himself as he brushed away a nonexistent piece of dust. “I can’t take credit for any of this. If Hannah didn’t dress me, I’d probably be in sweatpants.” He grinned as he smoothed out his jacket.

Hannah was his assistant, but I wondered if she was more than that. He kept his personal life a secret from me. I’d never met one of his lovers, and he never acknowledged if he ever had a girlfriend. I was a grown woman, but he still hid that part of his life from me. My father was fit and very good-looking, having become a father when he was very young, so he was still young now that I was an adult. My friends always told me how hot they thought he was…which disgusted me.

“Ramon.” My father didn’t turn his head to address him. “A bottle of red for the table. Barsetti Vineyards.” He looked at me again. “Are you hungry, sweetheart?”

“Maybe for something small…”

He gave more orders. “A charcuterie board.”

His men immediately got to work and, a moment later, brought everything he requested and disappeared as quickly as possible once the job was done.

My father poured the wine for us and took a drink.

I did the same.

“So, how’d it go?”

I reached into my purse and withdrew the ring. It was a glorious white diamond, one of the rarest in the world, flawless and whole. Historic and old, it was a one-of-a-kind piece, and I wasn’t sure the owner even realized it was missing yet.

My father smiled, pride in his eyes, and then took the ring to examine it himself. “Good work, sweetheart.”

I took another drink of the wine.

He dropped the ring into the pocket that held his phone. “I’m expecting company for dinner.”

“Yeah?”

“The new prime minister isn’t exactly agreeable to our line of work, so he’s implemented all these nonsense regulations at every border. It’s becoming harder to get our product where it needs to go.”

“Are you going to kill him?”

He took a drink as he considered the suggestion. “He has two young kids… I’d rather avoid that.”

I’d rarely seen the violent side of my father because he purposely hid it from me, but I knew he ran his operation with an iron fist. He must because all his men ran around him like terrified rats about to get stepped on. When I was young and he’d assumed I was asleep, I’d seen him do horrifying things…stuff I would never forget. But whenever I was there, he was eloquent and soft-spoken, a permanent smile on his face, a completely different man.

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