Deal with the Devil Series by Carin Hart

AvaI’m in trouble. Deep, deep trouble. I never meant for it to happen, but my ex is dead—and I’m the one who pulled the trigger. Whether he deserved it or not… whether anyone will even miss that jerk… it doesn’t matter. Joey is dead, and I have to figure out what to do before I get caught with a corpse on my hand. Enter Lincoln Crewes. After the way we ended, I swore I would never turn to him again... moreAvaI’m in trouble. Deep, deep trouble. I never meant for it to happen, but my ex is dead—and I’m the one who pulled the trigger. Whether he deserved it or not… whether anyone will even miss that jerk… it doesn’t matter. Joey is dead, and I have to figure out what to do before I get caught with a corpse on my hand. Enter Lincoln Crewes. After the way we ended, I swore I would never turn to him again. But we were kids then, and in the fifteen years since I’ve seen him, he’s gone from a scrappy fighter to one of the most powerful men in Springfield’s seedy underbelly. If there’s anyone who can help me right now, it’s Link. With his power, his money, and his connections, I could put this all behind me. And all he wants in exchange is my soul… and my hand.LinkAva, Ava, Ava… She’s the one who got away. The reason I’ve built my entire empire, and the only person I’d burn the whole entire world down for. I’ve done things I’m not proud of. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and that’s my life story right there. I wanted to show her that I could be the man she wants—the man she deserves—and, by doing so, I became the worst thing for her. I became the Devil . So I kept my distance, though I always kept my eye on her. If I can’t have her, I could at least keep her safe, right? Wrong. She nearly got hurt, and it’s all my fault. When she comes to me, she has no idea that I’m responsible. I’m not about to tell her, either. This is my second chance. My do-over. Ava is mine again, and no matter what I have to do to keep her, I will. Even if I have to force her to marry me in exchange for my protection.But who will protect her from me ?*The Devil’s Bargain is the first book in the Deal with the Devil series, an interconnected collection of standalone dark romances set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield, where the gangsters rule, the cops are crooked, and a woman does what she has to to survive... less

In the Devil’s Playground, a Sinner always plays to win. NicoletteI needed money, and I needed it fast.When my job as a hostess at the local Italian place wasn’t going to earn me enough to cut it, I did the one thing I promised I would never I got involved with one of the syndicates that rule Springfield.Considering I’m trying to avoid anyone with ties to the Libellula Family, I head to the West Side, and hope like hell the Sinners Syndicate will give me a chance... moreIn the Devil’s Playground, a Sinner always plays to win. NicoletteI needed money, and I needed it fast.When my job as a hostess at the local Italian place wasn’t going to earn me enough to cut it, I did the one thing I promised I would never I got involved with one of the syndicates that rule Springfield.Considering I’m trying to avoid anyone with ties to the Libellula Family, I head to the West Side, and hope like hell the Sinners Syndicate will give me a chance.The Devil’s Playground isn’t my first choice, but what else can I do? I make it clear that I’m only interested in serving drinks… until some big shot gambler offers me ten grand for one night.I take him up on it—only to have wager his night with me to another guy… and lose.Now I’m expected to honor my deal with the Syndicate’s underboss, and the charming bastard who hired me for this job in the first place.RoyceFrom the moment Nicolette walked into the Playground, I wanted her—but then I brought her on as one of our girls, and she was suddenly off-limits.I learned the hard work and pleasure don’t mix. If I’d met her anywhere else, I might’ve taken a shot at the waitress, but she needed the job more than she needed a boyfriend, so I backed off.And, okay, that’s a damn lie. I didn’t pursue her, but hell if I didn’t take a page out of Devil’s book and start watching over Nic from the shadows…I would have left it at that, though, until one of the Playground’s more well-known wallets set his eyes on my girl.They don’t call me “Rolls” for nothing. I played him for the night she agreed to, telling myself that I was just saving her from what the sick and twisted customer wanted to do to her.Then I get my first taste of Nicolette, and I realize that one night will never be enough… and I’ll stop anyone who tries to take her from me.*The Devil’s Playground is the second book in the Deal with the Devil series, a collection of interconnected standalones set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield. It tells the story of “Rolls” Royce and the one woman he’ll do anything to save, Nicolette Williams. less

What happens when the head of the Libellula crime family becomes obsessed with a woman who has spent the last year plotting to bring him down?Why, he blackmails her into becoming his bride, of course…SavannahFive years ago, the Libellula Family ruined my life.It doesn’t matter who was responsible. I blamed the man who created his gang of Damien Libellula himself... moreWhat happens when the head of the Libellula crime family becomes obsessed with a woman who has spent the last year plotting to bring him down?Why, he blackmails her into becoming his bride, of course…SavannahFive years ago, the Libellula Family ruined my life.It doesn’t matter who was responsible. I blamed the man who created his gang of Damien Libellula himself. If it wasn’t for him giving free rein to his soldiers to pass their funny money through my store, I wouldn’t have been accused of money laundering—and counterfeiting.I was a naive twenty-five-year-old then. Four years in a minimum-security prison later, and I’m out for revenge.I changed my name. My hair. My accent.My life.And I did that all because my plan to get revenge on Damien? I’m going to stalk him. Infiltrate my way into his life in any way I can. I’m going to make him trust me.Maybe even love me.I’m going to seduce him—and then I’m going to kill him.At least, that was the plan. But Damien, he has a different one.Before I can do any of that, he makes me his wife.DamienI thought it was amusing at first. The gorgeous brunette who followed me everywhere, too stunning to hide in any crowd.Then, when I grew impatient to see what it was she wanted with me, I approached her—and she stabbed me in my side.Another man might be put off by something like that. Not me. I’ve always liked my women feisty, and Savannah’s murderous side was so refreshing in a world where everyone bows down to me.At that moment, I decided I would do everything to bring her to her knees.Following a page out of my old rival’s book, I made her a she goes back to prison—and that’s assuming she survives my Family long enough to be charged for attempted murder—or she gives up her freedom and becomes my bride.I know she only chooses the second option because she thinks she can get close enough to kill me again.I must say, I’m looking forward to her trying… especially when I’ll certainly enjoy showing her just why she shouldn’t.*Dragonfly is the third book in the Deal with the Devil series, a collection of interconnected standalones set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield. It tells the story of mafia leader Damien Libellula and the one woman who will trade revenge for something more, Savannah Montgomery. less

A caged butterfly longing to be free. A lonely artist searching for inspiration. A love that started by chance—and will need a miracle to survive… Genevieve As the younger sister to Damien Libellula, I’ve been shielded from the criminal side of my brother’s life for as long as I can remember—or, at least, that’s what Dame thinks. The truth is that I’ve been curious about the dark side of the Family for even longer… curious and fascinated... moreA caged butterfly longing to be free. A lonely artist searching for inspiration. A love that started by chance—and will need a miracle to survive… Genevieve As the younger sister to Damien Libellula, I’ve been shielded from the criminal side of my brother’s life for as long as I can remember—or, at least, that’s what Dame thinks. The truth is that I’ve been curious about the dark side of the Family for even longer… curious and fascinated. When I meet Cross, my fascination almost becomes an obsession. As a professional ballerina, it makes sense that I would consider our first few dates a sort of forbidden dance. On the outside, he’s everything I’m not: dark, brooding, and—most importantly—a Sinner. That’s right. Damien’s little girl fell for a man who wears the mark of his former enemy. But Cross is no sinner. A sensitive yet guarded artist who unwittingly sweeps me off my feet, I want to believe we have a shot to be together. There’s a truce now between the Dragonflies and the Sinners Syndicate, and with Damien settling into wedded bliss with his new bride, I think… maybe. Maybe it’s time I show him I’m not that same little girl I used to be. And that’s when I discover just how dark and twisted the life can be… Cross I’ve never wanted anything more than I do my butterfly. I don’t care what her last name is. I don’t care that, every time I imagine marking up her unblemished, beautiful skin, I’m risking a bullet between my eyes from the head Dragonfly. When I see her, I feel for the first time since I was kid who lost everything. More than that, I’m inspired. Until, one night, everything changes. I do everything I can to protect her while we're trapped, but when she’s eventually forced to be as brutal as any gangster, my pretty ballerina with the wicked mouth and innocent smile breaks—and, once again, I’m left alone and empty-handed. But that’s the difference between Carlos and Cross. Carlos accepted that fate was cruel and there wasn’t anything he could do to change that. Cross? He’ll burn down all of Springfield to get his Genevieve back—so long as the flames don't get their vengeance on him first. *This is the fourth book in the Deal with the Devil series. It tells the story of Genevieve Libellula, the coddled mafia princess, and Carlos “Cross” da Silva, the Sinner artist who has spent his whole life searching for his muse… less

A woman with a secret. A man trying to avoid his past. A case of mistaken identity that changes everything. In this explosive finale, the city of Springfield will never be the same… Kylie It was supposed to be a quick job. I had a name, an address, and a means—and right as I walked on the scene, I watched as the Devil of Springfield himself blew away the vice mayor. My first instinct is to wash my hands of the whole thing, but before I can get out of there, I’m caught and, well, caught... moreA woman with a secret. A man trying to avoid his past. A case of mistaken identity that changes everything. In this explosive finale, the city of Springfield will never be the same… Kylie It was supposed to be a quick job. I had a name, an address, and a means—and right as I walked on the scene, I watched as the Devil of Springfield himself blew away the vice mayor. My first instinct is to wash my hands of the whole thing, but before I can get out of there, I’m caught and, well, caught. I’ve had some wild experiences in my line of work, but being grabbed and tossed in the back of a trunk? That takes the cake, and by the time I’m brought to a small hideaway, I’m kind of just wondering what’s going to happen next. To be honest, I’m expecting a bullet in my skull, and I’m kind of welcoming it—and that’s when I meet Luca, a member of the Sinners Syndicate… and my new babysitter. He tells me this is just to keep me safe. That his boss wants me dead, and even if he didn’t, there’s a new threat in the city: a faceless assassin who goes by the Hummingbird. So long as I do what I’m told and stay where he put me, I might actually make it out of this alive. And for the first time in years, I’m digging that idea. Only Luca… he doesn’t know what to make of me. He expected tears; I give him a flirty smile. He expected me to beg; I ask him if he wants to play checkers. I’m having the time of my life, and the sparks flying between us have me close to igniting. And then he discovers that I am the Hummingbird—and, whoops, things aren’t as much fun anymore… Luca When the pretty brunette saw something she shouldn’t have, I had no choice. Devil gives the orders, and he told me to put the girl in the trunk. I put the girl in the trunk. Rumors run that becoming a dad changed Devil. Made him soft. Anyone in the life knows that’s BS, especially when he decides he’s going to eliminate the threat to the Sinners. Only I… I can’t let him. So I ask to keep her instead. If I make her mine, if I win her loyalty, then she won’t snitch. It’s easier than I thought it would be. Kylie is the strangest yet most intoxicating woman I’ve ever met, and the more time I spend with her, the more my obsession for her grows. I want to save her—but when I learn the secrets she’s been hiding, I have no choice. The Hummingbird is supposedly a threat to Springfield. But if anything happens to Kylie… I might just lose my cool. And ask anyone in Hamilton: bad things happen when Luca St. James loses his cool. I want Kylie. I’m going to keep her. And if anyone tries to take her from me, I’ll show them everything I’ve learned from the man I’ve spent the last three years driving around the city… *This is the fifth and final book in the Deal with the Devil series. It tells the story of a cheeky assassin and the man behind the wheels who will do anything for her—before realizing he enjoys letting her take care of him. less