Bethany-Kris & 'Dante' @BethanyKris @LoveBitesSilk #erotic #RomanticSuspense

Dante by Bethany-Kris Filthy Marcellos, Book 3 Add to Goodreads A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Dante Marcello’s life has been a carefully planned event as an heir to a Cosa Nostra throne. For as long as he can remember, he’s had one goal in mind, and that’s becoming the Don. With his father ready to step down, it’s Dante’s turn to step up. But without a wife at his side, his seat as the boss is on shaky ground. Until she shows up with an offer he wants to refuse, but can’t.
* With her, he’s got everything to gain.
* Catrina Danzi is known for her angel face and a predator’s grace. For over a decade, she’s worked as a successful Queen Pin dealing with a repertoire of clientele who can’t afford a scandal. That’s why they ask for her and why they call her Queen. Marrying Dante Marcello means giving up the business and status she loves in order to gain protection she can’t provide on her own, but she no longer has a choice.
* Without him, she’s got everything to lose.
* The rules for their arrangement are simple: no intimacy, no emotions. Dante isn’t looking for love and Catrina doesn’t need attachments. In the end, life has a way of breaking down walls when you least expect it to, and once love gets in, there’s no bleeding it out. Together, they make a formidable team the Commission won’t be able to ignore. Catrina’s secret of what she’s kept safe will put the entire Marcello family in danger when it finally catches up with her. The Marcellos have yet to be beaten, and they’re not about to start bowing down now.
* Even the most beautiful things are a little filthy.

REVIEWS FOR DANTE SAY: * "5 BELLO STARS. Well, I must say that I think Ms. Kris saved the best for last. Dante Marcello, the heir apparent/up and coming Don of the Marcello Cosa Nostra – his story was fantastic!" 5 out of 5 Stars - Suzanne, Guest Reviewer for the Slut Sistas Blog
* "I was not disappointed his book was fantastic, best in the series!!!" 5 out of 5 Stars - Shanny, Goodreads Reviewer
* "This is my absolute favorite book in the series. Dante and Catrina's chemistry together is hot hot hot!" 5 out of 5 stars - Ashley, Goodreads Reviewer

* Red manicured fingernails, the same shade as her hair and lips, dragged along her outer thigh to the hem of her dress, forcing Dante’s stare downward.
* Cristo, she had gorgeous legs.
* He bet they would look even better wrapped around his waist.
* “Are you drinking?” Dante asked, his tone rough.
* “Not tonight.”
* Dante blinked, stunned. The thick Italian accent coating her words set him back a step. He hadn’t expected that and for some reason, it put him on edge.
* “It’s a club, dolcezza. There’s isn’t much else to do on a Thursday night when you’re sitting at the bar.”
* She smiled sweetly—too sweetly. “Oh, I’m doing more than sitting, bello. And I don’t need to drink to do it.”
* Her voice was demure, her words rolling off her tongue quietly, but surely. The straightness of her back in the stool spoke of class while her blatant regard of him gave an air of confidence.
* She dazed him.
* Dante’s wasn’t accustomed to that.
* A soft pat-pat-pat sound gained his attention to where her finger hit down on the bar. On the inside of her left index finger, one word was tattooed in fancy black script: Queen.
* The edginess burrowed in deep again. When things felt off for Dante, they usually were. This woman made his insides scream it. Both in a good and bad way.
* Dante chanced a glance back at the table where his brothers were standing, readying to leave as they pulled on their jackets. They were still talking, though. But the man who had annoyed Dante the most—Gaetano—wasn’t paying Lucian or Gio any mind. No, he was watching the woman at Dante’s side.
* Not with interest, as if she may have caught his eye by chance, but instead, he looked at her with the familiarity of a friend.
* Dante’s thoughts raced when what he really needed was for his mind to be silent. During the entire meeting, none of the men had spoken of their boss in direct context or out of it. The Marcello brothers had continually referred to the unknown leader of the group as a he because that’s what they assumed they were dealing with in whatever game the men were playing.
* Dante was only now realizing they were wrong in doing so.
* “You know, you surprised me,” the woman said, drawling her words out with a sensuality that could make a man’s mouth water. Again, she dragged her gaze from Dante’s leather shoes to his green eyes. “You’re much more handsome in person than I thought you would be, Dante Marcello.”
* Three things in life made a man most vulnerable: sex, love, and children.
* Sex occasionally led to love, and for some, it also led to children. As Dante was incapable of having children, he had no interest in love. Sex, however … well, that was something he simply couldn’t do without.
* It was just too damn bad the need left him exposed and it had to be now he learned the lesson to never think with his cock when business was in play.
* The woman swiveled fast on her chair at the same time Dante lurched toward her. He found himself between her thighs, crowding her back forcefully to the edge of the bar, nearly pushing her off the stool. The magnum he always kept hidden at his back in a holster was seated in his palm before the woman could speak and the barrel pressed under her chin at her throat.
* Dante ticked the gun at her jawline, making her tilt her head back under the weight. She stared him head-on, unabashed and unafraid, smirking mischievously. Her hazel eyes danced with amusement and menace.
* He hated her unfazed attitude at his warning only made him hot.
* Something sharp nipped at Dante’s groin. Without needing to look down, he could feel the blade of a knife threatening to cut into his balls.
* Jesus fucking Christ.
* “Go on, cock your hammer back, bello,” she urged low. “You wouldn’t be the first to try and take a bite out of me, Dante. I’m not a little girl who frightens easily.”
* “Who the fuck are you?” Dante demanded.
* “Catrina Danzi.”
* His gun dug harder into her jaw. Her knife reacted accordingly at his sac.
* “What do you want from me?”
* Catrina flashed white teeth in a wicked smile. “I heard you need a wife.”

* Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three very young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, a snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a spouse calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something ... when she can find the time. Find Bethany-Kris here... Blog | Facebook | Newsletter | Twitter | Website

Buy Dante here... Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo Thank you for joining us here today, Bethany-Kris! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

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A Look At Bethany-Kris & 'Filthy Marcellos: Lucian' @BethanyKris @LoveBitesSilk #erotic #organizedcrime

Filthy Marcellos: Lucian Book One in the Filthy Marcellos Trilogy by +Bethany-Kris Bragdon Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Organized Crime, Suspense Length: 98k, full length Release Date: February 2nd, 2015 Add to Goodreads

Top Ten Characters in Filthy Marcellos: Lucian *** Thank you for having me on today. I would love to introduce you to the ten most important characters in Filthy Marcellos: Lucian and give you a little look inside their lives and heads. *** 1. Lucian Marcello (hero): Twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight-years-old, hazel eyes, dark hair. Originally named Luciano Grovatti. The oldest son (adopted) of Antony and Cecelia Marcello. The only adopted brother of the three. Lived on the streets for two years after his parents’ murders until Antony found him. A business man, and a Capo for his Cosa Nostra family. He’s particularly good getting deals done through city officials and working through the shipping district with his brother Gio. Fluent in Italian. Prefers jazz music. Loves his weed and whiskey.
2. Jordyn Reese (heroine): Twenty-one-years-old, blue eyes, black, curly hair with a streak of maroon behind her ear. Works at a strip-club, but she isn’t a dancer. Instead, she’s a server who also takes care of the club and the working girls. Her mother died when she was thirteen from a heroin overdose. She’s affiliated with The Sons of Hell, a dangerous MC gang. At twenty, her long-time boyfriend and member of TSoH was killed, leaving Jordyn without his protection. The leader of the gang cares very little for her and has made every effort to hurt her in whatever way he could.
3. Kate Catrolli Grovatti: The wife of Lucian’s biological father, Johnathan. She’s an angry, bitter woman who makes no qualms about trying to hurt her dead husband’s son that was born from his mistress. Younger sister of Cecelia Marcello. Daughter of a former Cosa Nostra Don. Late forties. In her early twenties, she was arranged to marry Johnathan for the sake of business, but the man never loved her, which she resented.
4. Dante Marcello: Twenty-six, going on twenty-seven. Dark hair, green eyes. The second oldest son (biological) of Antony and Cecelia Marcello. Works alongside his father at Marcello Industries, as well as in la famiglia as his father’s underboss. He sometimes has a cold disposition, but he’s fiercely protective of his family and loves his brothers.
5. Will Vetta: President of the Brooklyn chapter of The Sons of Hell. Involved in drug and weapons trafficking. Has a drug and drinking problem, along with some anger issues. In his early forties, cruel, and has a serious hate-on for Jordyn. He was, at one time, involved romantically with Jordyn’s mother, but the now deceased Sandra refused to give him what he wanted—a commitment. He is suspected of being somehow involved in Sandra’s death.
6. Giovanni Marcello: Twenty-five-years-old. Dark hair, green eyes. The youngest son (biological) of Antony and Cecelia Marcello. He owns a few businesses, mostly clubs, but the majority of his work is spent for Cosa Nostra on the streets as the Skip—a Capo. His family believes he has some substance abuse issues, and parties a lot. He, like his other two brothers, is proud of his Italian lineage and Cosa Nostra roots, and is extremely protective of his family.
7. Antony Marcello: Father to his three sons Lucian, Dante, and Giovanni. Husband to Cecelia Catrolli Marcello. The leader—Don—of his Cosa Nostra crime family. Italian-American. An extremely wealthy, successful business man on the legal side of his life, and an especially vicious and prosperous crime boss on the illegal side. He doesn’t trust outsiders easily. Killed his father-in-law for murdering his best friend. God, honor, Cosa Nostra, family, and his home are the most important things to him.
8. Johnathan Grovatti: Deceased biological father to his illegitimate son Lucian (whom he named Luciano). During his life, he was arranged to marry Kate Catrolli so he could receive his inheritance from his father’s side, and gain control over Kate’s father’s Cosa Nostra crime family. Had a mistress on the side, Lucian’s mother, and they had a child together which he kept a secret, one he took to his grave to protect his son from his father-in-law. After being accused of beating his wife, a statement that by all accounts was a lie, his father-in-law had him killed. (Note: While John is deceased during the time of the novel, his character is an important one, which is why he was included in this list.)
9. Cecelia Catrolli Marcello: Mother to her three sons Lucian, Dante, and Giovanni. Husband to Antony Marcello, and they married for love. She was the daughter of a former Cosa Nostra boss who was later killed by her husband. Older sister to Kate Catrolli Grovatti. She holds God and family above all else. She’s incredibly good in the kitchen, but is overly anal about the space, therefore insuring her sons’ and husband stay far away. Supportive of her husband and sons in every way. Regal, graceful, and as her son describes, “mafia royalty”.
10. Ron Daney: Vice President in the Brooklyn chapter of The Sons of Hell. By all outwardly accounts, he appears to be only the right-hand man to Will Vetta, but in reality, runs most of the club’s business himself. Respected by his men, but not feared as Will is. He was the father to a now deceased Gabe, the man Jordyn was previously involved with before his death. Owns and runs Legs and Leather, a popular strip-club for the MC club. Boss to Jordyn. He tried to protect Jordyn from Will’s cruelty after Gabe’s death, but eventually gave up. A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ Lucian Marcello is aware of the expectations following him as the oldest son of one of North America’s most infamous Cosa Nostra Dons. Family in his world is more than blood and sharing a last name. It’s the honor, respect, business, and the life. Being a Capo is just a stepping stone until it’s time for him to take on the role of underboss but a chance meeting with her could be the one thing he’d risk it all for.
She is exactly what he didn’t know he was looking for.
Jordyn Reese spends her time trying to stay under the radar of a man who wouldn’t think twice about killing her. Unwillingly affiliated with a dangerous MC gang, her life is dominated by the men surrounding her and her future rests solely in how useful she can be for them. The last thing she needs is some Mafioso gaining her more unwanted attention from the club.
He is everything she should stay away from but can’t.
Notoriously violent when it comes to getting what he wants, Lucian will stop at nothing to make the target on Jordyn’s back disappear. But sometimes the worst threats are the ones you can’t see until it’s too late. The truth behind Lucian’s history is about to take center stage in more ways than one, and it’ll either save him … or kill him.
This world leaves everyone a little filthy.

* Out of the corners of his eyes, Lucian did see part of her bare shoulder and the black curls hiding her face, though. It wasn’t so much the amount of flesh she was showing as it was the peeks of what looked like a cherry blossom tattoo crawling over her shoulder and dipping down her back where it disappeared from his sight.
* “Hello, guys. I’m Jordyn. I’ll be serving you tonight, or something close to it. What’ll it be?”
* The sultry tone of her voice was something Lucian and his body noticed the moment she spoke. It was almost like a mixture of innocence and experience, if that were possible. She didn’t sound entirely bored, but she didn’t sound like she was in it to win it with her job, either.
* Dante looked to his father, his earlier comment about not consuming the drinks being silently said again. Antony must have took note.
* “A bottle of Jack, unopened. Four—” Antony stopped up short, his lips tugging down into a frown as he passed a glance towards Gio. The youngest brother certainly didn’t need to be drinking tonight. “Make that three glasses. We’ll pour.”
* Leaning forward was the worst mistake Lucian made since waking up that day. He certainly hadn’t expected to see her again. At least not in a place like this. She was on his mind all damned week, those eyes of hers, cream-like flesh, and a mouth that just at the sight alone, make his own water.
* What’d she call herself? Jordyn, was it?
* Merda.
* Shit was right—he was in so much of it.
* Suddenly, Lucian was not in the zone like he needed to be.
* He was so incredibly fucked.
* Also, Lucian realized he was right about his first assumption when he thought she had ink under her dress that day at the confessional box. Cherry blossoms started somewhere beneath the lace and leather bottoms she wore and trailed up over her side, before crossing over her left breast which was also covered by nothing but a lace and leather brassiere, and then curved over her shoulder.
* There was another tattoo, too, but in the darkness, Lucian couldn’t read the scripted words.
* Strangely, the immediate rush of possessiveness that flooded his veins surprised him. She was still so beautiful, like crazy. The more skin his gaze crawled over, the tighter his pants became. Lucian caught himself wondering what those blossoms would taste like under his tongue.
* Yeah, he was not where he needed to be. This unknown woman knocked him off kilter and she probably didn’t even know it. What was wrong with him?
* Unfortunately, his father seemed to realize his son’s abrupt change in posture and mood. “Lucian?”
* At the sound of his name, the girl’s—Jordyn, he reminded himself—eyes flashed to meet his in the corner, those dark lashes of hers blinking rapidly like she also didn’t believe what she was seeing. Lucian swallowed the thickness building in his throat. Thankfully, Jordyn didn’t act like they had ever met or seen one another before. She simply went on doing her own business.
* “Unopened bottle of Jack and three glasses. Anything else?” she asked, avoiding Lucian’s piercing gaze.
* “Yes,” Antony said, still watching Lucian closely. “The owner is Ron Daney, correct?”
* Jordyn stood a little stiffer, her shoulders squaring. “I beg your pardon?”
* “The owner is Ron Daney, Vice President of the Brooklyn chapter of The Sons of Hell,” Lucian said gruffly, trying to swallow back the huskiness forming. “We’re not ATF or the feds, let’s just be clear on that, sweetheart. Ron, he’s in tonight, yes?”
* Jordyn nodded warily. “Always is.”
* “Good,” Antony replied with a grin. “Send him a drink, whatever he likes. Do be sure to tell him it’s from a guest. Antony Marcello and his crew. Do not mistake my name when you tell him. Be sure to point me out so he sees me. Understood?”
* “Got it.”
* With that, the woman Lucian simply needed to glance at to turn his skin ablaze and his heart stuttering, was walking away.
* She didn’t look back.

Filthy Marcellos La Cosa Nostra is not just a choice of regime and routine, it’s a culture. Born as mafia royalty, the Marcello brothers were raised ingrained with the beliefs and rules of what it meant to be a Mafioso prince. It is for life. Their status is considered a given right. They will always be these people. They will always be Marcellos. Coming Soon Giovanni, Book Two

Goodreads TBR Dante, Book Three

Goodreads TBR

* Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something ... when she can find the time.
Find Bethany-Kris here...
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

Amazon - US | Google Play | Scribd | Inktera | Barnes & Noble | KOBO | iTunes

Thank you for joining us here today, Bethany-Kris! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

A Look At Bethany-Kris & 'The Score' @BethanyKris @LoveBitesSilk #mystery #romance

The Score by +Bethany-Kris Bragdon

The Russian Guns, book 3

Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romantic Suspense, Mafia

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Blurb:
In the mess of love and life, nothing and no one is left untouched.
* After everything the Russian mob boss Anton Avdonin has done to keep his family safe from the dangers of the world surrounding them, he never thought it would come down to this. The officials are knocking, the charges are piling, his wife is hurting, and they’re facing a fate he never thought to consider. He didn’t just make one mistake … no, he made many. It’s time to answer for them all.
* Viviana “Vine” Avdonin is stuck watching the life she adores crumble around her. Bad decisions have led to terrible consequences in more ways than one. She doesn’t have time to recover from one devastating tragedy that leaves her shattered before the next one is crushing down, too. Saving her husband from a life sentence might be the easiest thing she has to do when her own misdeeds are staring her in the face.
* Together, Anton and Viviana have survived more than once, but this path will be by far, the hardest they’ve ever walked. Sometimes they have to walk it alone … because forgiveness isn’t always black and white and love can be blurred by pain. With the blissful ignorance gone and the blinders removed, how much of themselves will they have to sacrifice to come out on top one last time?
* When everyone has a score to settle, it’s hard to notice the person causing the most heartache is the one staring back in the mirror.
Final instalment to The Russian Guns ~ Sequel to The Life
*Please Note: The Score is not a standalone title. The first books in the Russian Guns series (The Arrangement, followed by The Life) should be read first*

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Amazon - US | Amazon - UK | Amazon - CA

* Anton flinched, disgust filling him to the brim. This whole situation was horrible, and he felt dirty with ten grimy fingers pointing straight at his guilty chest.
* “Well, aside from firing her, there’s not much I can—”
* Anton didn’t get to finish his sentence. A loud bang and shouted orders rang out in the downstairs of the club. The tinkling sounds of canisters popping along the empty floor echoed up to their spot. There was no denying what was happening downstairs.
* “Fuck,” Ivan muttered.
* Instantly, Anton was off his office chair, ignoring the gun he knew was in the desk, and the information of a shipment, never mind the laptop he should have tried to somehow destroy. No, instead, the only thing he could think of was the little boy on the floor with wide blue eyes and terrified, reaching for his father.
* “Papa?” Demyan cried.
* “Shhh, little man,” Anton whispered.
* In his arms, he held his son tighter and turned his back to the door of the office. It seemed like only milliseconds, but his mind was running a million miles a minute. Anton couldn’t begin to understand why the officials would be raiding his club. His guys certainly hadn’t been given any indication and they’d all been pretty quiet.
* Demyan’s shaking increased as the shouts down below became louder. “It’s okay, Demyan, it’s okay. Papa’s here.”
* The sounds of a dozen or more pairs of boots pounding up the metal staircase ratcheted up Anton’s nerves to a breaking point.
* “Anton …” Ivan started to say. “Anton, give me your son!”
* The hardest thing Anton ever had to do, next to walking out of his house that morning knowing his wife’s heart was breaking, was hand his trembling, scared, and crying son off to another man. It was safer for Demyan, though.
* No doubt, they weren’t there for Ivan.
* Anton watched Ivan curl a fighting Demyan into his chest as he got to his knees on the floor and automatically put his hands behind his head. The less threatening he seemed at their entrance, the less likely they were to cause him harm, never mind his son seeing it.
* “Demyan, it’s okay,” Anton repeated when the first kick to the door landed with a solid thump. The second and third only followed louder, harder. “Hide his face, Ivan!”
* When the door finally broke, it wasn’t a second before Anton found himself face down on the floor, his son’s cries overtaking all other sounds. Cuffs tightened around his wrists to an almost painful point, but Anton refused to show it. A boot landed hard between his shoulder blades, keeping him pinned to the floor even though he wasn’t fighting.
* “Papa!”
* “Anton Daniil Avdonin, you’re under arrest for the murder of Sonny Carducci, Tatiana Belov, Sergei Belov …”

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A Look At Bethany-Kris & 'The Life' ~ @BethanyKris #romance #crime

Today we have author Bethany-Kris visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* I’m a twenty-four-year-old Canadian with too many animals and two young sons aged four and a half and two and a half. I’m expecting my third son mid-November, which pretty much guarantees the piles of dirty laundry, fighting, and noise is sure to reach epic proportions in my home. Nothing I can’t handle, right?
* Right …
* I often write more than I clean or cook. Nobody told my spouse he was getting Suzy Homemaker here when he signed on with me. I don’t think my mind ever shuts down, even when I sleep, considering when I dream, it’s often where my next scene comes from. There’s always something better to be doing rather than sleep, anyway.

What story are you going to tell us about today?
* The Life is the second book in my Russian Guns series. For now, I’ve decided on three books, which technically makes it a trilogy, but since I’ve left it open for myself to bring back a past event, there very well could be a fourth, and possibly a spin-off with a secondary character who comes in at the end.
* The Russian Guns follows Anton and Viviana Avdonin through the turmoil of an arranged marriage and living life in the Russian Mafia as a high ranking member—Anton is the Boss of his Bratva—and the dangers that come along with that. Their life in the mafia is constantly bringing them face to face with danger and death, not to mention threats from other families, as well as Federal officials.
* Currently, two books in the series is out and ready to read. The Arrangement should be read first, followed by The Life. The Score, the third and final installment to Vine and Anton’s story, will be released late October 2014.
* As far as the other possibilities for the series … I’m leaving that up to the silent characters in my thoughts who have yet to speak out and tell me what they want told.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I have very few interests or hobbies in life, honestly. My kids, and writing ... when I have time, reading. That’s really all I’m interested in.
* Organized crime just happens to fall into my interests. It’s usually completely unhealthy and a little bit obsessive. The curiosity kicked in when I was in my late teens and I’ve studied just about everything I could get my hands on since then in relation to anything mafia or mob. I found it fascinating, especially the lifestyle and the values both for women and men involved. Frankly, I was more interested in who these people were rather than how bad they were. I can write the bad boy without needing to know why … it’s understanding people who were raised in a different kind of world than me I wanted to learn about.
* People often ask if I read organized crime romance because I write it and give such in-depth looks at the inside life … The answer to that is very little. I read one, a YA, and mostly because that author had a personal inside look at the Cosa Nostra and human trafficking, more so than I did, so it was kind of research mixed in with fiction. I don’t want to read about organized crime, I want to write about it.
* As of now, it’s just about all my muse wants to focus on. All that studying and research is really coming in handy, let’s just say that.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Anton is dangerous, magnetic, handsome, difficult, and possessive.

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Viviana is beautiful, stubborn, graceful, intelligent, and easily jealous.

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Anton … just because. It’s Anton. The man didn’t shut up in my head for one second from the day I started his story until the day I finished it. I have never had a story or characters easier to write than him. I didn’t have to flourish my paragraphs and chapters with pretty words and prose to show how much he loved his girl … everything he ever did or said screamed it without me adding to it.
* As an author, you can’t ask for a better character than that, never mind an anti-hero in a romance … Today, he’s quiet, now, but he made me a better author just by existing in my mind for a short while.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* “…Above all else, Viviana was still life to Anton. Golden, beautiful, and true. After all, every King needed his Queen …”

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * The mafia life is a dangerous one revolving around honor, duty, and greed—a troublesome thing like love isn’t meant to play a part, but no one follows the rules.
* Surrounded by men waiting for the Russian mob boss to show weakness, Anton Avdonin should have known showering affection so openly on his new bride wasn’t a good idea. Of course, that didn’t stop him. When Anton’s wife begins attracting unwanted attention from an unknown source, he’s determined to find out just who is playing the risky game and put a stop to it by whatever means necessary.
* From a Cosa Nostra princess to a Bratva queen, Viviana “Vine” Avdonin was made for the life. Pregnant, safe, and loved, she’s more than happy to move on from the history that haunts her to start out fresh. Then again, someone else has other plans. Old rivals from the past and bad blood from the present have mixed in the worst way, threatening to take away the things Viviana loves the very most. No matter what, she can’t let that happen.
* Both Viviana and Anton know there’s only one way this can all end and it’s up to them to do it. But, who is behind the veiled threats and personal attacks, and how far are they willing to go to get what they want? When the truth finally surfaces, the consequences will be devastating and no one could have seen it coming.
* In a life where everybody plays for keeps and no one fights fair, one mistake might cost them everything.
* *Please Note, The Life is not a standalone title. The first book in The Russian Guns series (The Arrangement) should be read before the second book* ~ Excerpt ~ * Anton rested back to the headboard to catch his breath and brought his wife closer to his side with one arm. Not bothering to make any attempt to leave his sweaty grasp, Viviana laid a soft kiss to his arm as his hand rubbed up her naked side.
* After falling into bed around three in the morning once Erik and Ivan were gone, Anton was woken up by his wife not a couple of hours later. It wasn’t like her to be up so early, never mind wanting to fuck like they had, given the new pressure and pain she’d been experiencing in the mornings. Anton had no idea what came over Viviana, but he sure as hell wasn’t about to complain.
* Their coupling had been rough—rougher than he liked given her stage of pregnancy. But even when he tried to slow them down, to take her softer, Viviana wouldn’t have it. Anton wasn’t one to deny his wife, especially not of that.
* “Jesus Christ,” he mumbled into the palm of his hand. Even though his body was still humming from her high, his mind was downright exhausted. Three hours of sleep wasn’t new to Anton, but he could use a bit more. “Thanks for the wake-up call, baby.”
* Viviana giggled, but even the sound felt off. “Yeah, I guess.”
* “Hey,” he said into her hair. The grip he had on her tightened momentarily. “What’s wrong?”
* “Hmm?” Viviana turned just enough to lean up and press her silken mouth to the underside of his jaw. “Nothing, just thinking about Sergei.”
* “Don’t fret over that idiot. He’s not even a blip on my radar. We’ll get that dinner done and move on.”
* Anton was lying through his teeth, but concerning his wife just wasn’t okay with him. What he wanted her doing was focusing on the end of her pregnancy, their son, and her health. He was the boss, so he’d handle the Bratva issues. There was no way she was going to be brought into the crossfire of Sergei’s nonsense, so he didn’t think she had any need to be properly informed.
* “Actually,” he said, thinking about his conversation the night before with his spies. “I think you might just show, and then go. You haven’t been feeling terribly great lately, so it’s not a stretch to think you might not feel well that day. Just stay long enough to say hello, forgive Tatiana if you want, and then Rory will escort you home and Joe will follow. Business as usual.”
* “Forgive her if I want,” she repeated dully.
* “It’d be better if you did, or at least say you do, but it’s not expected. You did ask for her, though, so you have to be respectful about whatever you choose to do.”
* Viviana snorted. “When am I ever not? Can I claw her eyes out after?”
* “No,” Anton said, laughing. That’d surely be a sight. He bet Viviana would give Tatiana one hell of a run for her money. “Not while you’re pregnant with my child, anyhow.”
* “Yeah, but making her swallow a few teeth would sure make me feel a heck of a lot better.”
* “My God. You know there’s nothing there, right? Her and me, I mean. That’s not … It’s just not there, baby. You don’t have to be jealous.”
* “I’m not jealous, Anton.” Strangely, he believed her. Viviana shrugged under the weight of his arm resting around her shoulders. “Why should I be … of Tatiana? I have exactly what she doesn’t. Everything she thought should have been hers is mine. I have your life, your son, and your love. Even if she was nothing more than your whore, which she isn’t, she still wouldn’t have any of those things. So no, I’m not jealous of that girl. On the other hand, I do wonder if she is envious of me.”
* “I have no doubt of that.”
* Viviana sighed. “Exactly. Tatiana has defied her father, you, and God knows how many others just to hurt me once. That was before we were married, before Demyan, and she only managed to sling words. This time might be different. At this dinner, she’s going to see me pregnant, happy, and protected, all because of you. Again, all that she doesn’t have and everything she wanted. So it brings me back to safety, I guess. You made it clear you don’t want her in any way so would she hurt me, or worse your baby, because of her resentment? Is she that crazy over you?”
* Anton stayed silent, letting his wife’s words sink in as he considered them. It wasn’t that what she said didn’t make sense, because it did, but he wondered why Viviana had asked for Tatiana’s presence at all.
* “You asked for her to be there, Vine. If you were worried about all of this, why ask at all?”
* “I also asked for no guns.”
* “And I’ll make sure that’s adhered to as best I can,” Anton said, still feeling confused. “You won’t take a step into any establishment unless it is weapon free.”
* Viviana felt tense in his arms. “You don’t need a gun to kill someone.”
* “She won’t have any chance to be alone with you.”
* “I know.”
* “Then what?” Anton asked.
* “I want this done,” she said so low he strained to hear. “Put an end to it, however you have to. I don’t want to worry about her or her goddamned family after it’s over. I don’t want to think if she can’t hurt me, she’ll go to the next best thing.”
* “You’re worried she’ll try to hurt Demyan.”
* “Or you. To me, that’s just as bad.”
* “You know that’d never—”
* “No, I don’t,” Viviana interrupted coolly. “But if I didn’t have them to worry about, it’d be one less thing for me to consider.”
* It was only then that her hidden meanings were starting to dawn on Anton. Viviana never asked him for anything in regards to business. She didn’t like to have her hands in his pots, so to speak. This was entirely different, especially if she was asking what he thought she was asking.
* “Come on, Vine …”
* “I want it done,” she repeated thickly. “Please.”
* “On your head, though? You want that on your mind, bloodying up your hands, too?”
* “Please?”
* “Stop it,” Anton said, practically spitting the words. “Fuck, just don’t say that shit. I’ll handle it.”
* “Before or after one of us is dead?”

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