The Famiglia Series by Leah Merrill

He keeps everyone at a distance, but when it comes to her, he can't get close enough. Damiano. As enforcer for the Galliano crime family, my only job is to keep our boss safe. I obliterate his enemies, I annihilate all threats, and I avoid any distractions—especially the kind that wants to spend the night after. So I should have crawled away from the stunning blonde who found me bleeding out in the park. And when I realized how truly awful she was at stitching me up, I should have run... moreHe keeps everyone at a distance, but when it comes to her, he can't get close enough. Damiano. As enforcer for the Galliano crime family, my only job is to keep our boss safe. I obliterate his enemies, I annihilate all threats, and I avoid any distractions—especially the kind that wants to spend the night after. So I should have crawled away from the stunning blonde who found me bleeding out in the park. And when I realized how truly awful she was at stitching me up, I should have run. But once she stroked my head just right, I couldn't go anywhere. Then again, she thinks I'm in a coma. She has no clue that I hear every whispered secret and feel every warm caress. That sponge bath? I was wide awake and should thank her for how she handled the situation that. . . arose. This girl has no clue what she's doing half the time, but I'm all in. Paige. I have a dead-end job, my love life sucks, and Chicago's way too cold for a California girl. At least the mauled rabbit I rescued last month is doing great—I will pass the wildlife rehabilitator license exam this next time. I'm sure of it. So, when I stumble upon an injured man refusing to go to the hospital, of course I help him too. Not because he's perfectly sculpted from Italy's finest marble, but because he needs me. And since online videos taught me how to patch up my rabbit, I've totally got this. That is, until Damiano's enemies track him down at my place, and he drags me into his dark world of violence, death, and destruction. No thanks, I'm out. He's injured and she's in danger. Who's going to rescue who? less

He’ll do anything for the Famiglia. But will he risk it all to protect her? Rob. My father was hauled off to prison for a triple murder he didn’t commit. Now it’s on me to secure his freedom at any cost. Only one person could have tampered with the evidence to this degree and, lucky for me, he has a daughter in college who won’t see me coming. She’s the perfect leverage to force him to come clean... moreHe’ll do anything for the Famiglia. But will he risk it all to protect her? Rob. My father was hauled off to prison for a triple murder he didn’t commit. Now it’s on me to secure his freedom at any cost. Only one person could have tampered with the evidence to this degree and, lucky for me, he has a daughter in college who won’t see me coming. She’s the perfect leverage to force him to come clean. After all, what father wouldn’t move mountains to ensure his little girl is returned safe, sound, and untouched? Except that he doesn’t. Not at all. In fact, it’s beginning to seem like the only one trying to protect Tessa is me. Tessa. Until recently, the most stressful things in my life were my upcoming midterms and trying to convince my boyfriend that ‘good girls’ absolutely do not have to wait until they’re married. But now, I’m being held hostage by the son of a notorious crime boss who’s using me to blackmail my dad. It won’t work—his dad’s the criminal and mine is the chief of police! And if Rob thinks I’ll be a good little hostage and behave, he’s got another thing coming to him. Then again, if he keeps walking around without a shirt on, I might be willing to do whatever he says. Picking up where Damiano’s Rescue left off, Book Two in The Famiglia series follows the heir apparent to the Galliano syndicate as he grapples with an impossible choice: He can save his dad or he can protect the girl, but he can’t do both. 95K words, spicy romance. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers. Rob’s Struggle is the second installment in the Famiglia Series of interconnected standalone books. It is not necessary to read Book 1, but feel free to grab Damiano's Rescue on KU. less

The Famiglia series is "spicy in some places and so funny in others. " Buckle up for "a damn good time! !" Book 3 is an interconnected standalone. Forget the candles—he’s ready to blow out her innocence instead. Johnny. My uncle claims the gorgeous prostitute he dropped off as my month-long birthday present is being paid extra to act like a virgin, but it seems like the exact opposite to me. No way this girl’s as experienced as they’re both saying. Not that I mind. Nope. Not one bit... moreThe Famiglia series is "spicy in some places and so funny in others. " Buckle up for "a damn good time! !" Book 3 is an interconnected standalone. Forget the candles—he’s ready to blow out her innocence instead. Johnny. My uncle claims the gorgeous prostitute he dropped off as my month-long birthday present is being paid extra to act like a virgin, but it seems like the exact opposite to me. No way this girl’s as experienced as they’re both saying. Not that I mind. Nope. Not one bit. In fact, I’m going to let her keep up the pure and innocent act for another few weeks because, why the hell wouldn’t I? Plenty of other options for her to keep me… entertained. After spending my days trying to dismantle the Galliano Famiglia’s empire, then walking in the door to her homecooked Italian meals for dinner and her arms and legs wrapped around me for dessert, I’m left with only one question: when this month is up, how do I get her to stay? Lyndie. My family sent me to live with my aunt in Rome when I was nine to protect me from Chicago’s mafia violence. They visit all the time, but it’s never enough. So when my security liaison agreed to help me sneak back to Chicago to surprise my mom, of course I hopped on that plane! Only, it was a set up. And now Joey Bags, head of the rival Famiglia, is giving me an impossible choice: pretend to be his nephew’s plaything for a month or else my little brothers will pay the ultimate price. And just like that, my lifelong dream of having a perfect-mafia-wife-future vanishes. Except that nephew? He’s not the gross and pathetic loser I expected. No. It’s my brother’s ex-best friend, who also happens to be the only crush I’ve ever had. As obsessed with him as I was, he barely knew I existed ten years ago, and he clearly doesn't recognize me now, all grown up. Now I have to play along with Joey Bags’ awful plan so that he’ll send me back to Rome with no one else even knowing I was here. I will do whatever it takes to get on that plane. 85K words; dual POV, spicy mafia romance featuring a possessive, morally grey alpha male and a rival family’s treasured princess he was never supposed to touch. Forced proximity, secret identity, rival/ex-best friend’s little sister. Interconnected standalone with a HEA (but reads better as the third book in the series). less