Tainted Hearts Series by Lylah James

Alessio…. Cold. Ruthless. Killer. I am respected and feared by all. I wasn’t put on this earth to love or be loved. I was put here to wipe out every last member of the damn Abandonato mafia, to pay them back for my mother’s death. When I find a strange girl hiding, beaten, under my bed, I don’t let her live out of compassion. She’s a trinket, my plaything. Ayla…. I thought Alessio was only one more man who wanted to use me, hurt me, and throw me away... moreAlessio…. Cold. Ruthless. Killer. I am respected and feared by all. I wasn’t put on this earth to love or be loved. I was put here to wipe out every last member of the damn Abandonato mafia, to pay them back for my mother’s death. When I find a strange girl hiding, beaten, under my bed, I don’t let her live out of compassion. She’s a trinket, my plaything. Ayla…. I thought Alessio was only one more man who wanted to use me, hurt me, and throw me away. I don’t know what it is to trust anymore. I can’t find my heart under the pain. Alessio found it. He touched it, and brought it alive again. But if he discovers just how dangerous I am to him…I’ll lose my life. less

Ayla. The darkness never truly left me. It’s always there, waiting for the right moment to strike. It’s been months since I ran away from the nightmare that was slowly killing me. I ran for my life, straight into the arms of a man who I thought would be worse than the nightmare I’d left behind. Little did I know he’d become my savior. But my happy ending was ripped away from me in a blink of an eye. I had everything…and I lost everything. Alessio. I didn’t believe in angels... moreAyla. The darkness never truly left me. It’s always there, waiting for the right moment to strike. It’s been months since I ran away from the nightmare that was slowly killing me. I ran for my life, straight into the arms of a man who I thought would be worse than the nightmare I’d left behind. Little did I know he’d become my savior. But my happy ending was ripped away from me in a blink of an eye. I had everything…and I lost everything. Alessio. I didn’t believe in angels. But then I saw her. I touched her. I kissed her. I made love to her. In return, she saved my soul. I was no longer unlovable, because my Angel found it in her heart to love me. I had her…and then I lost her. But I will not stop until I find her. Even if it means starting a war and spilling the blood of everyone who gets in my way. I will find my Angel. less

Ayla. My wings were ready to fly, but he clipped them. Feather by feather, until I had nothing left. Then my savior came. He waged a bloodbath to find me. He loves me. He wants his Angel to be free. But how can I fly again when my wings are broken? Alessio. This war isn’t over. If he thought he could break her and just disappear, he was wrong. I am going to find him and break him like he broke her. I made a vow to my Angel. I promised to let her fly…I promised to save her soul... moreAyla. My wings were ready to fly, but he clipped them. Feather by feather, until I had nothing left. Then my savior came. He waged a bloodbath to find me. He loves me. He wants his Angel to be free. But how can I fly again when my wings are broken? Alessio. This war isn’t over. If he thought he could break her and just disappear, he was wrong. I am going to find him and break him like he broke her. I made a vow to my Angel. I promised to let her fly…I promised to save her soul. And I never break my vows. less

Maria. I was trapped. There was nothing left of me. Then he came and wanted to make me his. He saved me. He gave me a home, a family. He made sweet love to me. I was his Angel. He was my everything. I thought we would live happily ever after, but there are no happy endings in the mafia life. I found this out the hard way, as the blood flowed, red as roses…. Lyov. Angel. The word meant nothing until I saw her. I found her in a place worse than hell. She calls me her savior... moreMaria. I was trapped. There was nothing left of me. Then he came and wanted to make me his. He saved me. He gave me a home, a family. He made sweet love to me. I was his Angel. He was my everything. I thought we would live happily ever after, but there are no happy endings in the mafia life. I found this out the hard way, as the blood flowed, red as roses…. Lyov. Angel. The word meant nothing until I saw her. I found her in a place worse than hell. She calls me her savior. But I didn’t save her. I captured the pretty angel and made her mine. Life was perfect. I had everything I wanted. I was her salvation. She was my redemption. Until I lost her. Angels deserve happy endings, but monsters like me don’t. My darkness became hers, and our happily-ever-after became tainted. less

My life only has one purpose, and it's to protect them—my family. Whether I fight, maim, or kill the enemy, it makes no difference to me. If have to take a bullet for my family, I would embrace death with a goddamn smile on my face. When their safety is compromised, I put my life on the line and made a deal with the devil. I never questioned it, not even once. .. . .. Until her. All it takes is one glance... moreMy life only has one purpose, and it's to protect them—my family. Whether I fight, maim, or kill the enemy, it makes no difference to me. If have to take a bullet for my family, I would embrace death with a goddamn smile on my face. When their safety is compromised, I put my life on the line and made a deal with the devil. I never questioned it, not even once. .. . .. Until her. All it takes is one glance. With her pretty eyes now imprinted on my soul, the foundation my life has been built on is shifting. My loyalty has become hazy, and my life has a new meaning. There's a pull between us that's undeniable, and a carnal desire that threatens to ruin us both. It has turned me into a man obsessed. My perfect, well-planned life is now in chaos, and a choice needs to be made. My family…or my obsession? less

I lived in the darkness for so long. No life. No choice. The devil owned me, body and soul—but not my heart. It was the only part of me which could never be claimed…. …or so I thought. Viktor weaved his way into my heart and imprinted on my soul. He made it clear he was there to stay. Even when the darkness blinded us, he never left my side. What we shared was sweet, untamed, and wild. But it was forbidden, dangerous, and the outcome would only be painful. A game is being played... moreI lived in the darkness for so long. No life. No choice. The devil owned me, body and soul—but not my heart. It was the only part of me which could never be claimed…. …or so I thought. Viktor weaved his way into my heart and imprinted on my soul. He made it clear he was there to stay. Even when the darkness blinded us, he never left my side. What we shared was sweet, untamed, and wild. But it was forbidden, dangerous, and the outcome would only be painful. A game is being played. The arena is a bloodbath, and the Game Masters are brutal. In the end, only one will survive. Only one King will be left standing. less