Stella Ruiz has been in the limelight since she was ten years old. She's known as the princess of the Mexican Cartel, the perfect socialite, and the eldest daughter of the head of the Mexican Cartel. Malik Rahim keeps in the shadows and likes to keep his private life private. If he could stay out of the public's eye forever, he would. There's nothing he hates more than people and socializing. What happens when the head of the Cartel wants to run for Governor? He'll need all the backup and support he can get. The Rahim Clan offers their support, but there's a catch, of course, a marriage, something binding. The two can barely stand each other in private but are oh so very much in love in public. Instead of fighting over every little thing, they agree on an arrangement. Married with benefits, but with one rule. No falling in love. Easy right?

Stella Ruiz has been in the limelight since she was ten years old. She's known as the princess of the Mexican Cartel, the perfect socialite, and the eldest daughter of the head of the Mexican Cartel. Malik Rahim keeps in the shadows and likes to keep his private life private. If he could stay out of the public's eye forever, he would. There's nothing he hates more than people and socializing. What happens when the head of the Cartel wants to run for Governor? He'll need all the backup and support he can get. The Rahim Clan offers their support, but there's a catch, of course, a marriage, something binding. The two can barely stand each other in private but are oh so very much in love in public. Instead of fighting over every little thing, they agree on an arrangement. Married with benefits, but with one rule. No falling in love. Easy right?

Serena Fiori has finally found a sense of belonging within her newfound mafia family, yet the darkness of her past continues to haunt her. Navigating the world of the Italian underworld, the young beauty is determined to break free from the chains of her traumatic past and embrace the protection offered by her powerful brothers. However, her newfound happiness is threatened when a chance reunion sparks a dangerous obsession from a man who was once her tormentor. Forced to confront her deepest fears, Serena must make a choice - succumb to the shadows, or find the strength to fight back with the aid of the one man who burns for her completely. Enter the ruthless Alexei Volkov, heir to the Russian Bratva. Alexei is a man driven by primal, possessive instincts - he will stop at nothing to shield Serena from. With an iron will and a body honed for dominance, he'll crush anyone who dares to stand between him and the captivating woman who has ensnared his blackened heart. As the Fiori and Volkov families join forces to eliminate the sinister forces closing in, Serena finds herself caught in a deadly game of power, passion and retribution. Can she trust Alexei to be her champion, or will the emerging secrets and lies tear her world apart once more? This is Book 2 of the Empire of Blood series. Book 1, Veil of Secrets, is recommended to be read first.

Beaten, broken, and discarded - that was Serena's life for so long. Trapped in a nightmare of abuse and suffering, she had resigned herself to an early grave. But fate had other plans. Plucked from the shadows, she found herself thrust into a world of power, wealth, and danger - a family of notorious mafia dons who offered her a chance at a new life. Serena thought she had finally escaped her haunted past, but fate has other plans. Now she finds herself torn between the safety of shadows and the burning passion of a man who sees through her carefully constructed walls. Alexei is darkness incarnate - a powerful mafia king with blood on his hands and ice in his veins. But when it comes to Serena, his control shatters. She awakens something primal within him, a possessive need that threatens to consume them both. As enemies close in from all sides, Serena and her dangerous lover must face impossible odds to survive. Family secrets, betrayal, and a looming threat push them to their limits. In a world where trust is a luxury and love is a weakness, can their fragile bond withstand the storm? This explosive finale brings the "Empire of Blood" saga to its stunning conclusion. When passion collides with duty and darkness threatens to eclipse the light, Serena must decide if she's willing to risk everything for a love that defies all boundaries. This is Book 3 of the Empire of Blood series. Book 1, Veil of Secrets and Book 2, Web of Secrets are recommended to be read first.

**This book may contain triggers. This book is part of a series and ends on a cliffhanger.** This empire is built on the bones of our enemies, surrounded by shadows that hide our twisted deeds and quiet wealth. Sienna After a decade, what remained was a lone pendant and a shattered heart. If not for the photo, I’d think he was a ghost. With no other choice, I redefined my life, mending the broken pieces. But like all things that haunt us, he’s back, engulfing my once simple life into a raging storm surrounded by crime and bloodshed. The trouble he brings is more than just his secrets; it's the weakness he brings out of me. But just one taste can’t hurt, can it? Elio My existence is tangled with darkness and mayhem, where we live by a code —family, power, loyalty, and protection. Until her. She was the light. And I left. Everything I’ve done has been to protect her. She resists our connection, consumed by the betrayals of the past. Too bad. I refuse to stop until she becomes mine again.

"We had a chance at paradise. Then I watched it all burn. Lies. Secrets. Shadows. Blood. My world is filled with these things. I thought I knew how to navigate them. I was wrong. And it's about to cost me everything. My empire is crumbling, because I made the same mistakes my father did. But it's not just riches I'm losing. It's also the only chance I ever had at happiness. My woman... Our son...They are the last things left that matter to me. I'll sacrifice everything to save them. My only question is...Will that be enough?"--page 4 of cover.

Serena had spent her entire life feeling like an outsider, never knowing the truth about her family's dark legacy. Raised in the shadows by an abusive stepfather, she was unaware of the powerful crime syndicate that claimed her as its own. That all changes when a chance encounter brings her face-to-face with the infamous Fiori family - her biological relatives. Thrust into their world of luxury, danger and well-guarded secrets, Serena must navigate the deceitful halls of the Italian mafia to uncover the truth about her past. As she grows closer to her newfound brothers and her new life, Serena finds herself irresistibly drawn to Alexei Volkov - the dangerously tempting heir to the Russian Bratva. He promises Serena the answers she craves, but at what cost? Serena becomes entangled in a web of lies, betrayal and deadly ambition. Someone is out to destroy the Fiori empire, and they'll use Serena as the perfect pawn. In a race against time, Serena must unravel the explosive secrets of her lineage before the dark forces closing in tear her new family apart. With her own life on the line, she must decide who she can trust - and what she's willing to sacrifice - to finally belong. This is the Book 1 of the Empire of Blood series. It can be read as an Standalone.