Books like 'Empire of Ache & Ruin'
Readers who enjoyed Empire of Ache & Ruin by Diana A. Hicks also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance alpha male super rich hero from hate to love
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King & Tyrant by T.M. Frazier
Book one and two in the King series. King:. Homeless. Hungry. Desperate. Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from. A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, sex or a combination of all three. King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past... -
![Monsters in the Dark by Pepper Winters]()
Monsters in the Dark by Pepper Winters
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsFrom New York Times Bestseller Pepper Winters comes the highly acclaimed USA Today Bestselling Series: Monsters in the Dark. Included in the following edition are:. TEARS OF TESS. "My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect. Then it all changed. I was sold. ". Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror. QUINTESSENTIALLY Q...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love super rich hero dark bdsm suspense contemporary strong heroine -
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![Code Name: Pisces by Janie Crouch]()
Code Name: Pisces by Janie Crouch
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMy code name is Pisces. The stars say I’m independent, wise, and intuitive. Still waters run deep. I’m the leader of Zodiac Tactical’s guardian unit. We’re the bodyguards—the ones who stand toe to toe with danger and refuse to give any ground. We protect people who need it most. But what if who needs it most is a spoiled diva? I don’t normally take on movie stars...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love suspense military contemporary age difference dark mystery -
![Possessive Mafia Vows by Vivy Skys]()
Possessive Mafia Vows by Vivy Skys
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI thought she was dead. Not even my billions or my Irish mafia could save the redhead I’d just claimed from the crash. Then she showed up—scarred, fierce, pregnant with my heir, and hunted by the Russian mob. Six years ago, I was dragged from the wreckage—burned, broken, and told she didn’t make it. My obsession. My punishment? Endless nightmares of her screams...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love mafia length-medium contemporary dark suspense m-f -
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![Shane by Nicole James]()
Shane by Nicole James
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsShane—. I live at the end of this dark deserted dead-end street for a reason. I don't like neighbors coming around my place. There's only one other house down here. It sits across the street from me, and has been deserted for years. I like my privacy, so I'm pissed to learn that that vacant house just got un-vacant... -
![Ivy by Willa Nash]()
Ivy by Willa Nash
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCan you keep a secret? Aston University might be teeming with prestigious and wealthy students, but the currency on campus isn’t their millions. It’s their secrets. And the three women living at Clarence Manor are filthy rich in lies and deceit. Two of the roommates have played this game for years. Some would consider them masters of a ruse... -
![The Savage by Stella Andrews]()
The Savage by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIvan may be my name but I am best known as The Savage. Born and bred Bratva heir and loving every delicious minute of my life. That's why it was easy to kidnap the entitled Charlotte Richmond from her finishing school in England. It was my pleasure to hide her away while her depraved father searched for her. I have no heart, no emotion, and no morals. She is a bargaining chip, a means to an end...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male mafia contemporary dark age difference forced proximity suspense -
![Chasing Him by Kat T. Masen]()
Chasing Him by Kat T. Masen
Our vows were exchanged. We had our whole lives planned out. And even brought our son into this world. Until hours later… when everything stopped, and you were suddenly gone. Life was perfect, until the day the only man she had ever been with, the man who had stolen her heart at the tender age of seventeen, was taken away before his time... -
![Javier by Fiona Murphy]()
Javier by Fiona Murphy
The Castillo Family: Follow Rafael, Matteo, Javier and their nephew Santos a billionaire family they made their fortune in the construction business. When it comes to building relationships all their money can't help them when it comes to women who want what money can't buy. Javier Castillo might be a gorgeous, brilliant billionaire—but he's also a massive a$$hole... -
![The Six Night Truce by Hannah Shield]()
The Six Night Truce by Hannah Shield
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsWhen I stepped into the courtroom this morning, I intended to fight for my client’s life. I never expected to run for my own. Now the courthouse is in lockdown, and I’m trapped in a tiny room with my nemesis—the West Oaks PD cop who hates me most. He’s a single dad with a growly attitude. An ex-Marine. And he’s the star witness against my client...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male suspense contemporary humor dark military length-medium -
![Destiny Mine by Anna Zaires]()
Destiny Mine by Anna Zaires
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFate made us enemies. I made us lovers. In a different world, we were meant for each other. This is not that world. Note: For optimal enjoyment, it’s recommended you listen to the Twist Me trilogy prior to starting this book. -
![The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor]()
The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four by Audrey Carlan, Samantha Brentmoor
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four. What would you do for three million dollars? Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future... -
![Harder Betrayal by Penelope Sky]()
Harder Betrayal by Penelope Sky
I knew a relationship with Cauldron wouldn't be easy. But I underestimated just how challenging it would be. How can you love someone that refuses to love you back? How can you love someone that betrays you not once, but twice?Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love contemporary suspense mafia dark new adult audiobook -
![Dirty Ledger by Alta Hensley, Livia Grant]()
Dirty Ledger by Alta Hensley, Livia Grant
I’ve always chased after the bad boy. I just wasn’t prepared to actually catch one. He crashed into my life in my hour of need with his dark agendas, whispers, and lies. Dirty and dangerous, he’s the keeper of the worst kind of secrets, and now he owns mine. I’ve been thrust into the middle of a war I know nothing about, and he’s my only lifeline to safety... -
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![The Arrangement 10: The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward]()
The Arrangement 10: The Ferro Family by H.M. Ward
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWhen Avery realizes that her latest client wasn't Sean she doesn't know what to do. This person has invaded her life on a personal level and to make matters worse she doesn't even know who he is. The only good thing that came from it has been seeing Sean again, but now that he's in front of her, she doesn't want to let him go...Categorized as:
alpha male super rich hero contemporary dark new adult college cruel hero length-novella -
![Captive Heart: Armani by Stella Gray]()
Captive Heart: Armani by Stella Gray
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNothing lasts forever… except the Bellanti’s hatred for the Bruno family. My family prepared me to fight. My best friend taught me loyalty. My husband showed me who I am. And now I’m caught between them all. The thing about secrets is that they always come out. The past is never gone. No one expected it to explode. I finally understand why my life led me here... -
![Opal: A Wolfes of Manhattan Novel by Helen Hardt]()
Opal: A Wolfes of Manhattan Novel by Helen Hardt
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe lashes out with spite and venom. He fights back with anger and passion. Being held captive on a South Pacific island and forced to submit to the depravity of strange men was horrific, but it wasn’t the worst experience of Kelly Taylor’s life. Abused as a child and abandoned once she turned eighteen, Kelly is now free…except for the threatening text messages she’s receiving...Categorized as:
alpha male super rich hero dual-pov contemporary dark suspense military length-medium -
![Promised to the Killer by B.B. Hamel]()
Promised to the Killer by B.B. Hamel
Her family tossed her aside like a broken doll. But she's my shining treasure and I'll kill to make her mine. Siena Bastone is going to die. She's the cast-off traitorous daughter of a minor mafia family with deliciously pouty lips and a wicked tongue. But after we spend one unforgettable night of sin in a hotel room, I can't walk away. I pull her from her family's clutches and make her my own...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love contemporary new adult suspense mafia pregnancy bad boys -
![A Peek Beyond the Consequences by Aleatha Romig]()
A Peek Beyond the Consequences by Aleatha Romig
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNo longer available: Previous available in BREATHLESS - An Anthology. Due to reader request. .. this novella has been expanded (tripled in length) and will be release in January of 2015 as Beyond the Consequences. Anthony Rawlings is a man most women love to hate or hate to love... -
![Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones]()
Naked Truth by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJax North. He's handsome, brutally so, and wealthy. Our first encounter is intense and sex is my escape. I go with it. I go with him and what a ride it is. And then, I say goodbye. Only you don't say goodbye to a man like Jax if he doesn't want you to. I've challenged him without meaning to. He wants me. I don't want to want him, and yet, I crave him. And he tears me down, my resistance, my walls...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love contemporary dark mystery suspense dual-pov length-epic -
![Amos y mazmorras: Segunda parte by Lena Valenti]()
Amos y mazmorras: Segunda parte by Lena Valenti
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsChegou a hora de encarar o tão aguardado torneio Dragões e Masmorras DS. Entregue-se aos combates. Liberte seus desejos. Na busca pela irmã desaparecida, a agente Cleo Connelly conseguiu se infiltrar no ultrassecreto torneio de práticas BDSM, o Dragões e Masmorras DS... -
![Hell of a Christmas by Abbi Glines]()
Hell of a Christmas by Abbi Glines
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA deep chuckle sent a bolt of pleasure through me. “Damn, you’re sweet. Lucky for you I’ve got a conscience and I’m gonna walk away. ”. Wait, what? Walk away? He reached out and took a lock of my hair, then twirled it around his finger before dropping it with a sigh. “Why … why are you walking away? ” I blurted, desperate to keep him here...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love mafia christmas dark contemporary cowboys found-family -
![Break Me by C.D. Reiss]()
Break Me by C.D. Reiss
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt was always Sarah. And she was always mine. I woke up in a nightmare. I woke up alone. There was a reason I never let myself have feelings before. Emotions make you stupid. They make you miscalculate. If someone gave me the choice, I’d do it all over again. Only this time, I’d stop everyone who ever looked at the woman I love before they had the chance to hurt her...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love alpha male dark contemporary suspense mafia new adult -
![Forbidden Love by Stella Gray]()
Forbidden Love by Stella Gray
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsI chose to become a Bellanti… but no one walks away from the Bruno family. My life was planned for me, down to the smallest detail. I was to be a gift for a man loyal to my uncle, a pretty little prize. When I ran away, I did it for love. I should have known my uncle would never allow it. They say all’s fair in love and war, but sometimes they’re the same thing. And nothing about this is fair...Categorized as:
from hate to love super rich hero contemporary suspense dark arranged marriage angst age difference -
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![Stolen Hearts by Barbi Cox]()
Stolen Hearts by Barbi Cox
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHe obliterated my heart. Now he's back for a second chance to reclaim me as his own. He was my dream date who crushed my hopes, taking my affection only to vanish from my life. A decade passed before fate thrust him back into my world. Now he vows to never let me go. His sensual caress melts my defenses. His kiss feels like salvation...Categorized as:
alpha male super rich hero dark age difference contemporary suspense mafia length-short -
![House of Heathens: The Complete Trilogy by Alta Hensley]()
House of Heathens: The Complete Trilogy by Alta Hensley
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA villain is made. A monster is hidden. A viper who is forbidden. Together, they are the Gods Among Men. Welcome to the House of Heathens. Within these walls, you are captive to a world of decadence and sin. Where dangerous secrets hide in the shadows. And a family tree with roots so twisted, they bind and strangle each unlucky generation...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love super rich hero dark daddy-kink age difference pregnancy tortured hero -
![The Broken One by N.O. One]()
The Broken One by N.O. One
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMy secret is out. My entire existence is shattered, and picking myself up again proves difficult. Leaving Rose behind for a new beginning is harder than I thought, but I need to try for a more independent me with a promising future. One that doesn’t involve the infuriating yet irresistible man who challenges me at every turn. Pushing me. Protecting me. Tempting me beyond any possible resistance...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love alpha male contemporary mafia dual-pov age difference bdsm -
![Fair Game by Amelia Wilde]()
Fair Game by Amelia Wilde
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGabriel Hill has always been too charming for his own good. Women. Money. Information. Sex got him everything he ever wanted, until it almost killed him. A price he was willing to pay, before he met Elise. Before he fell for her. Now revenge isn't enough for him. He wants it all. The most beautiful woman. The most dangerous game. And a happily ever after, if it's not too late to save them both. -
![A Reckless Note by Lisa Renee Jones]()
A Reckless Note by Lisa Renee Jones
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 22 ratings“I can chase you, and I can catch you, but there is nothing I can do to make you mine. ”. ― Morrissey. It all started with a note, just a simple note hand written by a woman I didn't know, never even met. But in that note is perhaps every answer to every question I've ever had in my life. And because of that note, I travel thousands of miles. I look for her, but find him... -
![Bully Me: Class of 2020 by Shantel Tessier, Siobhan Davis]()
Bully Me: Class of 2020 by Shantel Tessier, Siobhan Davis
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLoving your tormentor isn’t easy, especially when they collect broken hearts and parade them around like trophies. They’re the bad boys, the alpha a**holes, and the thorns in our sides. They push us past our limits, turn us on, and break us. They’re our bullies. They’re the class of 2020. Eight bestselling authors are teaming up to bring you eight unique stories about the guys we love to hate...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male suspense new adult contemporary anthologies cruel hero dark -
![Fall by N.V. Roez]()
Fall by N.V. Roez
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhat happens to the broken? … Honestly, I don’t know. My past is catching up to me from all directions. I’m stuck between the girl I was and the woman I want to be. Everyone is blaming me for what happened to Micah, but nothing is as it seems. People are after me, and debts have to be repaid. That’s not the hardest pill to swallow, though... -
![The Break by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob]()
The Break by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsOne woman. Two Rivals. Countless secrets…. Raine Kendall has everything a woman could want—almost... -
![The Con-Artist by Zoe Blake]()
The Con-Artist by Zoe Blake
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIf I have to hurt her to get what I want. .. I will. No is not an option. My little con artist is about to learn I run my criminal enterprise with an iron fist. She is no exception. She will do as Daddy tells her or there will be pain. Little does she know how much I will enjoy inflicting it. This is a dark romance daddy dom series... -
![THE TEST: Secret Society Dark Romance by Elena Monroe]()
THE TEST: Secret Society Dark Romance by Elena Monroe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI woke up to my roommate and best friend missing. In her place was a note on my bedside table that read: You can only find me with your eyes closed. No one thinks a note like that is meant for them. I knew it was meant for me, a clue, a way to seek Justice. Whoever left me that note was hoping I didn’t let my parent’s legacy die when they did... -
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![Mistakes Made by Marie James]()
Mistakes Made by Marie James
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe worst thing you can ever do is make an assumption about me, despite my job resting solely on making people think I’m someone I’m not. I know that makes me crazy, narcissistic, and a little out of touch with the reality of how the world works. I’ll never argue that fact with anyone. Maybe it was the hundred-degree Texas weather. Maybe it was overstimulation from the crowds at the beach...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male contemporary suspense dark bad boys forced proximity length-short -
![SINS of the Syndicate: The Debt by Lexxi James]()
SINS of the Syndicate: The Debt by Lexxi James
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTia/. I've done my best to avoid him. But when his dark eyes lock onto mine, this time,. I know there's nowhere I can go. Nowhere I can hide. Nowhere he won't find me. He is Smoke. Head of the D'Angelos. Gorgeous and haunting. Brutal and ruthless. He rules Chicago, and I owe him a debt. And now…he owns me. Smoke/. I should send her away…... -
![Redemption by Nicolina Martin]()
Redemption by Nicolina Martin
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI can be a good soldier. Or I can claim what is rightfully mine. I have my Get rid of the pretty brunette with the sweet laugh and heart of gold. But as I watch her, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, I’m captivated by her. She is everything I’m not, pure where I’m tarnished, the light to my dark, and I’m suddenly desperate for the sun. Wanting her is a betrayal all of its own... -
![Destructive Truths by Shauna Mairéad]()
Destructive Truths by Shauna Mairéad
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsLies, Saoirse. It was all lies. Those were the last words I heard before my attacker held me under. Left shattered by deceit, with a past I couldn’t outrun, Killybegs destroyed the girl I used to be. But here’s the thing, this queen was born to rise, and those who hurt me will pay for the sins they committed...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love mafia cruel hero new adult suspense contemporary love triangle -
![Double Standards by L. Hope]()
Double Standards by L. Hope
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWe were different in so many ways, polar opposites, stark contrasts; he was night and I was day. Axel fought the law while I represented it and we could never have be more opposite. You know what they say about opposites, though, and as much as I keep telling myself this is wrong, everything feels right. We all have double standards... -
![Griffin by S.M. West]()
Griffin by S.M. West
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWINNER of the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best Thriller, Gold Global eBook Award, and Global Book Award Silver. Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite in two categories: Romantic Suspense and Audiobook: Fiction. Finalist in the 17th National Indie Excellence Award. After one electrifying kiss, I’ll risk everything to protect Cora Jennings...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male forced proximity age difference contemporary suspense insta-love dark -
![Ruthless Heir by Sienna Snow]()
Ruthless Heir by Sienna Snow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI'm the player, the gambler, the one without a heart or soul. There isn't a risk I won't take and a challenge I won't meet. Then she came into my world, melting the ice in my veins and showing me a life a man like me never deserved. But it was all a lie. She chose a safer, easier path, realizing too late, it was riddled with chains...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love alpha male new adult contemporary multicultural suspense bdsm -
![Hawke by Anise Storm]()
Hawke by Anise Storm
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPreviously published in 2019, "Hawke" has been updated with a new POV and some expanded scenes. Arrogant. Sexy. Reminiscent. I felt all three about my newest client. The moment I met the sexy club owner in need of a party planner, I soon realized why. He was the one responsible for the most mortifying night of my life just one year earlier...Categorized as:
alpha male super rich hero contemporary dark bdsm length-medium first-in-series standalone-first -
![The Villain by Nana Malone]()
The Villain by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGuess who's having the craziest week EVER? That would be me. Sunday: I get dumped by my boyfriend—right before a couple's bungee jump. Monday: My little sister informs me that she’s invited our evil, estranged mom to the wedding I’ve spent months helping her plan...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love suspense new adult multicultural vengeance dark forced proximity -
![Beauty and the Beast by L. Steele]()
Beauty and the Beast by L. Steele
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratings"Run my Beauty. .. If I catch you, you are MINE. .. ". Michael Byron Domenico Sovrano. The Capo of Sicily's notorious Mafia company. My father owed him,. so he took me to repay the debt. And married me to further his own ambitions. I hate him, I am determined to resist him. But what happens when I begin to fall for my new husband. .Categorized as:
super rich hero alpha male from hate to love dark mafia contemporary age difference abduction -
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![Wild Ace by Rebecca Gannon]()
Wild Ace by Rebecca Gannon
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsVinny Carfano is determined to show me that his last name doesn’t mean he’s a bad man, and I’m determined not to listen. Until he gives me no choice. .. Ever since my mom got remarried a few years ago, it’s felt like it’s been just my nonno and I against the world...Categorized as:
from hate to love alpha male mafia contemporary dual-pov insta-love dark length-short -
![Betrayal and Ruin by Ember Davis]()
Betrayal and Ruin by Ember Davis
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsDECLAN McCARTHY. I’ve made a name for myself on destruction and favor. It has served me well and kept the wolves at bay, the ones who howl at the edges of my world hoping for the smell of blood in the air. I won’t give them the satisfaction; I’ve worked too hard to be on top. The only woman I care about is my sister, Saoirse. Every other woman is a momentary distraction in my bed...Categorized as:
from hate to love super rich hero mafia bad boys suspense dark contemporary length-novella -
![Brutal Captor 2 by Amber Adams]()
Brutal Captor 2 by Amber Adams
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsSaving his life is not enough. April has learned who her mysterious patient is and it's apparent that he is not going to let her go. When her own secret is revealed, while within the fortressed walls of the Ivankov mansion, there is suddenly more at stake regarding her life than ever... -
![Queen Series Boxset by Penelope Sky]()
Queen Series Boxset by Penelope Sky
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsGet This Entire Series by New York Times bestselling author Penelope Sky for a LIMITED time. Joseph Ingram made the mistake of stealing from me—four million dollars. He took my intelligence without paying for it. And thought he could get away with it. Think again. Now I’ll take something from him—something irreplaceable. His sister. Collateral... -
![Thorns of Malice by Maggie Cole]()
Thorns of Malice by Maggie Cole
For ten years she’s been under my skin and out of my grasp. The last time I saw her, I decimated her and everything she valued. Not a day passes that I don’t crave one more dose of her. And Ivy Ford’s everything I remember. Beautiful. Graceful. Seemingly innocent. I wish that were the case. There’s only one reason she’s reinserted herself into my life. Revenge...Categorized as:
from hate to love super rich hero alpha male vengeance contemporary cruel hero bdsm dark -
![Shattered by Control by B. B. Hamel]()
Shattered by Control by B. B. Hamel
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI don’t do vulnerable. I only do control. When a brutal shooting forces me onto the sidelines of a raging mafia war, I need a discreet physical therapist to help get me back in the game. That’s how gorgeous Mirella Falconet stumbles into my life. I offer her the world: money, power, whatever she wants, so long as she keeps her mouth shut and does her job...Categorized as:
alpha male from hate to love contemporary new adult mafia bad boys dark length-medium
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