Guns n' Boys Series by K.A. Merikan

--- Love like butterfly knives in the stomach. ---Domenico Acerbi. The Villani Family’s best assassin. Ruthless. Vicious. With no patience for weakness.Seth Villani. The Don’s son. Clueless. Stubborn. In dire need of someone to keep him in line.Domenico Acerbi grew up ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.The last thing he wants to deal with is training the Don’s son for his future role within the organization... more--- Love like butterfly knives in the stomach. ---Domenico Acerbi. The Villani Family’s best assassin. Ruthless. Vicious. With no patience for weakness.Seth Villani. The Don’s son. Clueless. Stubborn. In dire need of someone to keep him in line.Domenico Acerbi grew up ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.The last thing he wants to deal with is training the Don’s son for his future role within the organization. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer, Seth Villani is no mafia material. But a man who could never become a threat might just be what Domenico needs. Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when he’s pulled back into the fold. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, letting go becomes impossible. If Seth is doomed to follow in his father's footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living. POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, forced proximityWARNING: Adult content. Sizzling hot scenes. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. ‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

Guns n' Boys needs to be read in order. This is the second part of book one. --- Love is sour like a Sicilian lemon. --- The Family is always right.The Family doesn’t forget.The Family pays for blood in blood. Domenico Acerbi grew up in the shade of Sicilian lemon trees ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor. When Seth, the younger son of the Don is kidnapped, it’s Domenico who is sent to get him back... moreGuns n' Boys needs to be read in order. This is the second part of book one. --- Love is sour like a Sicilian lemon. --- The Family is always right.The Family doesn’t forget.The Family pays for blood in blood. Domenico Acerbi grew up in the shade of Sicilian lemon trees ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor. When Seth, the younger son of the Don is kidnapped, it’s Domenico who is sent to get him back. The man he finds though, is not the boy he knew all those years ago. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer. Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when the Family pulls him right back into its fold after his mother’s death. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate in the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, the venom changes into an aphrodisiac that courses through Seth’s veins. Domenico knows his life is about to change when he gets the order to train Seth up to the role of future Don. Seth isn’t made for it. He isn’t even made. But a man Domenico knows he would never have to fear might just be someone he’s always needed. If Seth is doomed to follow in his father's footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself--with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller Erotic content: Explicit gay sex, coercion Length: ~90,000 words WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

Guns n' Boys needs to be read in order. --- Home sweet hell. ---A wedding should be a joyful affair, but it is far from that for Seth Villani. Thrust into an arranged marriage, back under the same roof with serpents and wolves who are his family, Seth has to watch his back if he is to survive until the despised event... moreGuns n' Boys needs to be read in order. --- Home sweet hell. ---A wedding should be a joyful affair, but it is far from that for Seth Villani. Thrust into an arranged marriage, back under the same roof with serpents and wolves who are his family, Seth has to watch his back if he is to survive until the despised event. Though with his love affair with Domenico Acerbi slipping out of his grasp, and his father forcing blood on his hands, sometimes Seth wishes the dark waves of the sea nearby could swallow him whole.Coming back home to Italy is full of bitterness and regret for Domenico. He knows he will have to see Seth, the first man who’s found a way to his heart in years, walk down the aisle and marry. Seth belongs with Domenico, and having him ripped out of his arms is an offense he cannot bear. Yet despite the tension between them, and the growing resentment, Domenico still needs to watch Seth’s back, because there’s a target on it, and no matter how much Domenico doesn’t want Seth to marry, he will not have him dead.POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crimeGenre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thrillerErotic content: Explicit gay sex, coercionLength: ~90,000 wordsWARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

This is a short story special accompanying Book 1 of ‘Guns n’ Boys’. It doesn’t pick up after the end of Book 1, but is a story of what happened to Dom and Seth on Christmas Eve in Paris. --- Midnight Mass might have to wait --- All Seth wants is a Christmas Eve to remember, with the man he loves. When Dom invites him to Paris, his dreams are about to come true. But the man waiting in the apartment they are to stay at changes the course of the trip... moreThis is a short story special accompanying Book 1 of ‘Guns n’ Boys’. It doesn’t pick up after the end of Book 1, but is a story of what happened to Dom and Seth on Christmas Eve in Paris. --- Midnight Mass might have to wait --- All Seth wants is a Christmas Eve to remember, with the man he loves. When Dom invites him to Paris, his dreams are about to come true. But the man waiting in the apartment they are to stay at changes the course of the trip. To Seth’s surprise, religion is a bigger issue for Dom than he’d thought, and it’s on a collision course with Seth’s atheism. Their first Christmas together might end up memorable for all the wrong reasons. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Themes: Religion, blasphemy, complicated relationships, Paris, Christmas Genre: contemporary gay erotic romance Length: ~ 12,000 words less

-- You can take a killer's memory, but not his instinct -- All Seth wants is to live free with the man he loves. But escaping death at the hands of the mafia is just the beginning of an uphill struggle. When Domenico wakes up from his impromptu surgery and doesn’t even remember Seth’s name, Seth’s world falls apart. Suddenly it’s him who has to plan an escape from New York City and navigate their way to Mexico. All that without even knowing if the man of his life will ever love him again... more-- You can take a killer's memory, but not his instinct -- All Seth wants is to live free with the man he loves. But escaping death at the hands of the mafia is just the beginning of an uphill struggle. When Domenico wakes up from his impromptu surgery and doesn’t even remember Seth’s name, Seth’s world falls apart. Suddenly it’s him who has to plan an escape from New York City and navigate their way to Mexico. All that without even knowing if the man of his life will ever love him again. Domenico doesn’t know who to trust and what to believe. The man who introduces himself as his brother seems to hide dark secrets behind a cheerful smile. With the mafia breathing down their necks, there is no time to piece together the puzzle of Domenico’s life, and each time he thinks he’s solved it, a new part appears to be missing. Dom needs to find out who he really is, what he’s capable of... and what is the real story hidden behind Seth’s intense eyes. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Themes: mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, amnesia, road trip, chase Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller Erotic content: Explicit gay sex Length: ~88,000 words WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. ‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

--- Faking their own death was the easy part. --- After months of recovering from his injuries, Seth struggles with who he has become. Afloat in a reality he never planned, he tries to find the lost pieces of himself again. Find the purpose, motivation, and strength to get back into shape. He is sick and tired of being a burden for Domenico, who seems to have it all together... more--- Faking their own death was the easy part. --- After months of recovering from his injuries, Seth struggles with who he has become. Afloat in a reality he never planned, he tries to find the lost pieces of himself again. Find the purpose, motivation, and strength to get back into shape. He is sick and tired of being a burden for Domenico, who seems to have it all together. When Domenico’s jealousy pushes them into the spotlight of a biker gang with connections to their former mafia family, Seth decides to step up, and make his own decisions, no matter what risks they might entail. Domenico Acerbi can’t trust anyone. Nightmares of Seth’s torture are still haunting his dreams, and if he and Seth are to leave the country quietly and disappear off the mafia’s radar, he needs to stay in charge and keep everyone under control. What he doesn’t need is Seth giving him attitude, keeping secrets, and distancing himself for no reason. And as if Domenico didn’t have enough on his plate already, Seth forces him to help some hooker. Being stuck in the swamp with a kid hunted by a bunch of bikers is not Domenico’s idea of laying low. POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime, outlaw bikers, human trafficking, runaway, trust issues Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller Erotic content: Explicit gay sex Length: ~117,000 wordsWARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. ‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

--- The ugliest truths blossom into the prettiest lies. --- A year into the relationship with Domenico, Seth still wants him as desperately as ever. Nothing is better than being intoxicated with lust for his deadly man and feeling his steady hands all over. No matter the misunderstandings, the fights... The crash. The burn. Crossing the Mexican border has been a goal for Seth and Domenico for a few months, but the trip couldn’t have ended in more of a disaster... more--- The ugliest truths blossom into the prettiest lies. --- A year into the relationship with Domenico, Seth still wants him as desperately as ever. Nothing is better than being intoxicated with lust for his deadly man and feeling his steady hands all over. No matter the misunderstandings, the fights... The crash. The burn. Crossing the Mexican border has been a goal for Seth and Domenico for a few months, but the trip couldn’t have ended in more of a disaster. While Domenico is stuck at home, for Seth each passing day becomes more difficult. Desperate to keep his family afloat, he accepts a job offer from Los Sepultureros . The Gravediggers. When Domenico’s need for control starts eroding their trust, Seth is sure their love can conquer all. But when Domenico rips open the wound left after the violence at the beginning of their relationship, it gushes blood all over their cozy lies and this time, there may be no way to seal it. POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: mafia, cartel, assassin, organized crime, trust issues, religion, love Genre: Dark, twisted romance / crime thriller Erotic content: Explicit scenes Length: ~110,000 wordsWARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. ‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

“I don’t even know who I am anymore.” “All you need to know is that you’re mine.” Seth would follow Domenico to the depths of hell . He promised to always be at Domenico’s side. But hell becomes all too real when they infiltrate the world of Toro - a notoriously security-obsessed arms dealer, who has eyes and ears everywhere . Seth becomes unable to steal even a moment of intimacy with Domenico, and the tension grinds them down each day... more“I don’t even know who I am anymore.” “All you need to know is that you’re mine.” Seth would follow Domenico to the depths of hell . He promised to always be at Domenico’s side. But hell becomes all too real when they infiltrate the world of Toro - a notoriously security-obsessed arms dealer, who has eyes and ears everywhere . Seth becomes unable to steal even a moment of intimacy with Domenico, and the tension grinds them down each day. Beyond the deceptive paradise of Toro’s villa, violence is an everyday occurrence , and the swimming pool could just as well be filled with blood. To survive, Seth has to become the man Domenico needs him to be, but in the process, he might lose who he truly is . With Seth trained up, and Mark as backup, victory is so close Domenico can taste it. They just need to prove themselves to Toro as valuable assets. With each day though, Seth seems to be drifting away from Domenico, hidden behind a mask of cruelty and indifference. It is exactly what Domenico asked of him, so why is it so difficult to see Seth become his mirror image? POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Themes: mafia, cartel, assassin, organized crime, homophobia, human trafficking, undercover, family ties Genre: Dark, twisted romance / crime thriller Erotic content: Explicit scenes Length: ~115,000 words WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. ‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

“We are two halves of the same rotten apple.” Deep in the Amazonian jungle, there is a mansion with a rose garden and a hen house where juicy tomatoes are the perfect shade of red, and marble countertops glisten. Inside, where even the shadows don’t reach, something is rotting, and the perfect facade can only hold the stench for so long. Domenico promised his husband that he would keep him safe, keep him away from the bloodshed and the brutal world of cartel violence... more“We are two halves of the same rotten apple.” Deep in the Amazonian jungle, there is a mansion with a rose garden and a hen house where juicy tomatoes are the perfect shade of red, and marble countertops glisten. Inside, where even the shadows don’t reach, something is rotting, and the perfect facade can only hold the stench for so long. Domenico promised his husband that he would keep him safe, keep him away from the bloodshed and the brutal world of cartel violence. But when a guest arrives to help retrieve a stolen transport of guns, something sinister sneaks into his home, something more dangerous than his enemies. Or has it been there all along, and he just hasn’t noticed? Seth’s life is what others dream of. Endless leisure time filled with cocktails, a kitchen stocked with anything he wishes for, and a private pool in the sunshine. What’s missing is the man he shares it with, the man he fell in love with. If being cut off from the mafia business was what he wanted, then why is it so painfully lonely in paradise? Desperate to be the supportive husband Domenico needs, Seth buries his rage, his violent urges, and the anger that simmers inside of him. But he can only hide in plain sight for so long, and when a guest invites him to play with fire, one misstep, one wrong move, could burn their safe haven to the ground. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Themes: mafia, cartel, assassin, organized crime, family ties, domestic violence, inequality, betrayal, revenge Genre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thriller Length: ~92,000 words (Book 7 in the series) WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists as well as scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

“I would wait a lifetime for this.”“You don’t have to wait anymore. I want you.” Mark is done with flings. He is looking for something real , and he knows just where to find it. Years ago, he fell in love with Charlotte Elswood, but after saving her life, he made the difficult choice to stay in a cartel for the sake of his family. Now, free of the bloodstained work, he’s ready to rekindle what he’s lost. But in England, he meets someone who is also blond, blue-eyed, and irresistible... more“I would wait a lifetime for this.”“You don’t have to wait anymore. I want you.” Mark is done with flings. He is looking for something real , and he knows just where to find it. Years ago, he fell in love with Charlotte Elswood, but after saving her life, he made the difficult choice to stay in a cartel for the sake of his family. Now, free of the bloodstained work, he’s ready to rekindle what he’s lost. But in England, he meets someone who is also blond, blue-eyed, and irresistible. Problem is, Griffith Elswood is Charlotte’s brother. Should Mark even consider putting his hands all over an innocent who would push him away if he knew what kind of monster Mark is? After years of homeschooling, Griffith wants nothing more than to finally spread his wings at university. Secretly, he dreams of meeting a man he can fall madly in love with. A man he would have all the firsts with. But it’s hard to trust anyone after witnessing his sister’s heartbreak. When Mark moves in next door, Griffith reaches out despite his sister’s warnings. Mark is mysterious, experienced, cocky, and just oh-so-dreamy. Alternating between hot and cold, Mark’s presence sends Griffith into a frenzy of passion like he’s never known before. So hot in fact, it might just burn him if he isn’t careful. POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: mafia, organized crime, family ties, secrets, innocence, British setting, dance, homophobia, in the closet, coming out, coming of ageGenre: M/M romance Length: ~125,000 words (Book 8 in the series) WARNING: Adult content. Scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Dark humor. less

“You can never understand what this man has done to me, for me, and with me.” Seven years. Domenico and Seth have been together for seven years. After trudging through blood, tears, fights, and painful compromises, they’ve finally arrived at a point where every day doesn’t feel like it could be their last. Settled in their comfortable life, they decide to go on vacation to Singapore... more“You can never understand what this man has done to me, for me, and with me.” Seven years. Domenico and Seth have been together for seven years. After trudging through blood, tears, fights, and painful compromises, they’ve finally arrived at a point where every day doesn’t feel like it could be their last. Settled in their comfortable life, they decide to go on vacation to Singapore. But their romantic break turns into a nightmare when an old adversary appears, tempting Seth and Domenico away from the peace and quiet of their home in Argentina, and toward a new kind of future. What begins as a wild goose chase could be their ticket back to Italy, but when Seth and Domenico step into the snares that have been set up for them, they can only count on each other to get through a reality so horrific that death might be mercy. What their enemies don’t know though is that their bond is stronger than ever before, and attempting to tear them apart will bring destruction on anyone who tries. For Domenico, Seth would walk through hell and back. For Seth, Domenico would tear down the heavens. Together, they are not to be f*cked with. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: Themes: mafia, cartel, assassin, organized crime, family ties, betrayal, revenge, Singapore, human trafficking, ghost from the past, unbreakable bonds, established couple Genre: Dark, twisted M/M romance / crime thriller Length: ~80,000 words (Book 9 in the series) WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. ‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists, as well as scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less

"That man is not your fairytale ending." Griffith has spent two of the most amazing years with his boyfriend Mark, who is undoubtedly The One. Mark is everything Griffith could want in a man. Sexy, kind, always there for him, showering him with gifts and anticipating his needs.Until one wrong turn sends them crashing into Mark’s past, and suddenly Griff doesn’t even know who his boyfriend is anymore... more"That man is not your fairytale ending." Griffith has spent two of the most amazing years with his boyfriend Mark, who is undoubtedly The One. Mark is everything Griffith could want in a man. Sexy, kind, always there for him, showering him with gifts and anticipating his needs.Until one wrong turn sends them crashing into Mark’s past, and suddenly Griff doesn’t even know who his boyfriend is anymore. A spy? A mafioso? Or a ruthless criminal who has lied to Griff about his identity all along, hiding his brutality under charming smiles. Is there room for love in a relationship based on lies? One thing is certain: Griff can’t know what the future holds for him and Mark until he discovers the truth. Too bad the truth is soaked in blood.POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: mafia, organized crime, family ties, secrets, European setting, dance, deception, violence, fish out of water, established couple, lies, trustGenre: M/M romance, suspense Length: ~70,000 words (Book 10 in the series)WARNING: Adult content. Scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Dark humor. less

— Not the same river, not the same man. —After seven years away, Seth and Domenico are back in Sicily with one goal in mind.Revenge.The man who’d hounded their family is still alive, and as untouchable as he’s always been. While they wait for the right moment to strike, reality clashes with fond memories of home.The world they used to know is no more than a memory, and former friends might have become foes. One thing hasn’t changed though: being gay will never be tolerated within the mafia... more— Not the same river, not the same man. —After seven years away, Seth and Domenico are back in Sicily with one goal in mind.Revenge.The man who’d hounded their family is still alive, and as untouchable as he’s always been. While they wait for the right moment to strike, reality clashes with fond memories of home.The world they used to know is no more than a memory, and former friends might have become foes. One thing hasn’t changed though: being gay will never be tolerated within the mafia. Where they’d expected a safe haven for their family, they instead find targets on their backs and the sound of sharpening knives.When Domenico faces his ugly past head-on, Seth is the only man who can deal with the fallout. Together, they are ready to crawl into Hell for their freedom, but what if the price they have to pay is too steep?POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: mafia, organized crime, family ties, secrets, European setting, deception, violence, fish out of water, established couple, trust, revengeGenre: M/M romance, suspense Length: ~85,000 words (Book 11 in the series)WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists, as well as scorching hot, explicit love scenes. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin. less