The Chicago Syndicate Series by S.F. Herbsthofer

LuluI am private property. Scratch that. I am no-man’s land. I am free.It took everything for me to get out. To escape this world. With a too fast car, screeching tires and all the pep talks I could listen to, I tried to rip myself away from the dark corners of this life.What I learned though was that nothing comes without a cost. And the price that it cost me is eating at me day by day. I should have known he would not just let me walk away... moreLuluI am private property. Scratch that. I am no-man’s land. I am free.It took everything for me to get out. To escape this world. With a too fast car, screeching tires and all the pep talks I could listen to, I tried to rip myself away from the dark corners of this life.What I learned though was that nothing comes without a cost. And the price that it cost me is eating at me day by day. I should have known he would not just let me walk away. I had to leave the most important thing behind and I need to take it back.I have a talent with words, you see. I keep them locked away to use when I see fit. I thought I could use it to establish a new life, but fate flashed me its bittersweet smile.I didn’t choose to get caught up in a Bratva case – didn’t choose to cross paths with him. A dangerous man from the other side, a side I should stay away from at all costs.JoeThere was always this drive within me. To crush, to overpower, to exceed. I was content with it being used for the greater good. The outfit. Brotherhood above all, loyalty beyond measure.I was fine with this life, and I especially liked when things went exactly according to plan. But then she came along. Butting in all over my business, making this job a mess to put it mildly.If your enemy is a woman, would you dare touch her? In a world where territory is everything, would you cross the line if it is so tempting? less

BirdieIn this world, it is a sin to have a good heart.In a world where power is inherited, promises are broken, and kindness is eradicated, I tried to be good. But no matter how far I ran, the past yanked me back by the collar.The worst thing that can happen to a good heart?It is catching the devil's attention.And liking it.He made the likes of me learn how to beg—begging for it to stop. That pull of brusque hands, the pitch black and Russian laced words... moreBirdieIn this world, it is a sin to have a good heart.In a world where power is inherited, promises are broken, and kindness is eradicated, I tried to be good. But no matter how far I ran, the past yanked me back by the collar.The worst thing that can happen to a good heart?It is catching the devil's attention.And liking it.He made the likes of me learn how to beg—begging for it to stop. That pull of brusque hands, the pitch black and Russian laced words.The second worst thing to happen?It is to want to understand it.SashaI hate many things, but nothing tops the specific kind of hate I have for pampered people.They call me ruthless, brutal, out of control.All of these things may be true, but there’s much more to those traits than meets the eye. I saw her from across the room and knew my next steps. I needed to take her, kidnap her, and bargain something out of it that would help me win the city.But I didn’t consider how it would mess with my head to talk to her. And I didn’t take into account who she was because, at the time, I had no idea.She picks me apart and wants to look deeper, but I don’t know what scares me more. That there is a whole past in this murky soul or that there will be nothing. less