Club Velvet Petal Series by Aleia Kane

I put a permanent end to my husband’s unrelenting abuse. It was him or me. I chose me. Now I’m choosing to go on the run—with his father. Micah Hunt is everything his son wasn't—protective without being controlling, powerful without being cruel. At fifty-four, he towers over me with quiet strength, his gray-streaked beard and dark eyes hiding secrets as dangerous as my own. I’d done the unthinkable. The unforgivable. But Micah didn't turn me in for snuffing out his only child’s life... moreI put a permanent end to my husband’s unrelenting abuse. It was him or me. I chose me. Now I’m choosing to go on the run—with his father. Micah Hunt is everything his son wasn't—protective without being controlling, powerful without being cruel. At fifty-four, he towers over me with quiet strength, his gray-streaked beard and dark eyes hiding secrets as dangerous as my own. I’d done the unthinkable. The unforgivable. But Micah didn't turn me in for snuffing out his only child’s life. Instead, he cleaned up the evidence and whisked me away to his remote cabin to protect me. Now we're forced together in close quarters, and the attraction between us is becoming impossible to ignore. Every touch, every glance, every praise from his lips sets my body on fire with forbidden desire. But loving Micah comes with a price. He's not just my deceased husband's father—he's also a dangerous man whose enemies lurk in the shadows. As threats close in and my past threatens to expose us both, our taboo romance could cost us everything. I know I should walk away. The age gap between us, our complicated history, the violence that surrounds him—it's all wrong. But in Micah's arms, I feel safe for the first time in years. He swears to protect me at any cost, and the possessive glint in his eyes tells me he means it. The morally gray enforcer might walk a dangerous line, but his love for me burns pure and true. Now we're both marked by his enemies, and time is running out. Can our forbidden love survive the dangerous consequences of our choices? Or will the dark world Micah inhabits eventually tear us apart? Author’s. This is Micah and Naomi’s story. An age gap, ex-husband's dad, tormented hero, touch her and perish, survivor of domestic violence, forced proximity, only one bed, forbidden, taboo, emotional, angst-filled, dark mafia romance between a morally gray, possessive, mafia enforcer whose enemies are out for blood, and the woman he’s sworn to protect. Trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book, before the start of chapter one. Please read before proceeding. While each book in the Club Velvet Petal series is written as a standalone love story with a HEA, the mafia plotline does not conclude and continues to build throughout the series. There are no cliffhangers but this series is best enjoyed if read starting from book one. Not doing so could confuse readers on the mafia plotline and characters. less

I escaped one monster only to find myself under the protection of another—a towering, brooding giant with eyes that have seen too much darkness and hands that kill without remorse. Since escaping my abusive ex-husband, I’ve carefully rebuilt my life, managing a high-end fashion store by day and raising my three daughters by night. I’ve perfected the art of finding light in darkness, of meeting each challenge with a smile, no matter how forced... moreI escaped one monster only to find myself under the protection of another—a towering, brooding giant with eyes that have seen too much darkness and hands that kill without remorse. Since escaping my abusive ex-husband, I’ve carefully rebuilt my life, managing a high-end fashion store by day and raising my three daughters by night. I’ve perfected the art of finding light in darkness, of meeting each challenge with a smile, no matter how forced. But when Sergio Bianchi sets his sights on me as his future wife, my hard-won independence shatters in an instant. Then he walks in. Eli Abbott. Forty-eight to my thirty-six, six-foot-five to my five-foot-two, scarred by demons I can only imagine, and possessing the social skills of a hibernating bear. My sunny disposition bounces off his granite exterior like light failing to penetrate darkness. Now he’s assigned as my protector. My personal bodyguard. A walking shadow with cold eyes and blood-stained hands who radiates danger with every silent step. The twelve-year age gap between us feels insignificant compared to the chasm in our personalities. His growled commands clash with my cheerful defiance. His minimalist responses battle my endless chatter. Yet behind his gruff exterior, I glimpse something hauntingly familiar—a survivor, like me. The forced proximity between us becomes unbearable. Not because I fear him, but because I want him with an intensity that terrifies me. His possessiveness should remind me of my ex, but instead it makes me feel cherished. Protected. Desired. With every touch Eli offers comes the promise of danger, obsession, and a protection that might just bind us together forever. As Sergio’s pursuit turns deadly and secrets between Eli and me threaten what we’re building, I realize I’ve fallen for a morally gray guardian who would kill without hesitation for those he considers his. The stakes couldn’t be higher—my freedom, my daughters’ safety, and a forbidden love that could either save us or destroy everything I’ve fought to build. But in a world where trust is scarce and life is fragile, are we willing to risk it all for a chance at love? Some men are worth the risk. Some monsters are worth embracing. And sometimes, the line between the two blurs beyond recognition. Author’s. This is Eli and Lydia’s story. A grumpy-sunshine, bodyguard, age gap, tormented hero, touch her and perish, the “F-it” moment, survivor of domestic violence, forced proximity, forbidden, taboo, emotional, angst-filled, dark mafia romance between a morally gray, overly protective, mafia bodyguard whose never allowed love into his heart, and the perpetually optimistic, independent woman who’s determined to do everything herself. Trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book, before the start of chapter one. Please read before proceeding. While each book in the Club Velvet Petal series is written as a standalone love story with a HEA, the mafia plotline does not conclude and continues to build throughout the series. There are no cliffhangers but this series is best enjoyed if read starting from book one. Not doing so could confuse readers on the mafia plotline and characters. less

Freedom from my abusive ex-husband and mafia family came at a devastating price. I owed a debt to the New York mafia, and now they’ve come to collect—with interest. I foolishly thought I could rebuild my life in Columbus away from the mafia world I was born into. Then Sebastian King crashed into my world—forty-five, devastatingly gorgeous, and more dangerous than any man I’ve ever known... moreFreedom from my abusive ex-husband and mafia family came at a devastating price. I owed a debt to the New York mafia, and now they’ve come to collect—with interest. I foolishly thought I could rebuild my life in Columbus away from the mafia world I was born into. Then Sebastian King crashed into my world—forty-five, devastatingly gorgeous, and more dangerous than any man I’ve ever known. He’s a billionaire nightclub owner with ties to the mafia underworld, a tormented soul who treats me like I’m both his deepest craving and his worst nightmare. We’re enemies who can’t keep our hands off each other. Sebastian publicly declares his hatred while he privately worships at my altar. Every encounter is a battle for dominance, a game of cat and mouse where I’m never sure if I’m predator or prey. He claims my body with possessive intensity while swearing I mean nothing. I match his cruelty word for word, hiding my heart behind sharp wit and designer scarves. Then my past catches up with us both. When my ex-husband reappears in Columbus, Sebastian’s possessive nature explodes. Suddenly I’m living in his penthouse, under his protection, while he glares at anyone who dares look my way. When mafia forces trap us both, our worst nightmare becomes reality—a forced marriage ceremony with loaded guns instead of witnesses. Now we’re bound on paper, trapped in forced proximity, and Sebastian’s cold indifference is crumbling. The morally gray man who swore he’d never care for anyone is on his knees, groveling for my forgiveness, vowing to earn my trust. And I’m caught between desire and self-preservation. His “touch-her-and-die” energy terrifies his enemies, but it’s his vulnerability that terrifies me. He calls me his dark angel and promises forever, but how can I trust a man who already shattered my heart? In this world of organized crime and deadly bargains, love might be the most dangerous game of all. I thought escaping my gilded cage meant freedom. Then Sebastian King claimed me, body and soul, trapping me all over again. Author’s Note: This is Sebastian and Olivia’s story. A forced marriage, age gap, enemies with benefits, cat and mouse, groveling, accidental pregnancy, tormented hero, touch her and die, survivor of domestic violence, forced proximity, emotional, angst-filled, dark mafia romance between a morally gray, possessive, mafia leader who uses charm and sharp words to protect his heart, and a strong, independent mafia princess who’s determined maintain her freedom. Trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book, before the start of chapter one. Please read before proceeding. less