Novels by Ann Noan

“Vince.” Lysa looked surprised at seeing his fiance. Lorenzo’s eyes widened. Clearly, they didn’t expect he’d be there. She immediately left Lorenzo’s side and rushed to him, giving him a firm kiss on the lips. Vincentio’s mouth thinned.“You told me you’d be busy.”“I am busy.” His eyes flickered coldly to his brother. “But I see my brother is keeping you company. He’s always been a family man.”I stared back and forth at the drama unfolding before me. The tension in the air was palpable. I knew I shouldn’t be there but I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. Lysa’s parents were oblivious to this as they smiled when Vincentio put a hand on Lysa’s waist. What they didn’t notice was the warning grip he had on it as his veins popped.“Why don’t you join us, Vince? It’s your wedding too, you know. I’m sure your assistan

—and toppled to the bed with him. He pulled me to his chest. He definitely works out. I shook my head, trying to get out of his embrace and his intoxicating smell. “Vince-” “Shhh, just for tonight.” He rested his chin on my head as he got comfortable while my heart pounded against my ribcage. “We’re okay. We’re going to be okay,” he murmured. Oh my freaking God. I attempted to move his arm again but he let out a weak groan and tightened his hold around my waist even more. His rock-hard pecs weren’t doing anything to calm the images in my mind. It was a struggle shutting them out especially being this close to his face. When

“Man, this sure brought back some memories.” Fabian chuckled as he sauntered to the pitiful figure. “Vince.” He nudged him with his foot. “Dude, are you still alive?”I couldn’t stand to watch Vincentio’s body on the floor while Fabian just nudged him around so I moved towards them. I threw my bag on the couch and removed my blazer, rolling up my sleeves as I prepare to lift my boss.“Let’s get him into bed.”Fabian hauled him to his feet and almost toppled over from the effort. They were almost the same height but Vincentio clearly had a bigger build compared to his friend’s slim figure. I put his other arm around my shoulders and helped him move to his room. I was just glad his room wasn’t upstairs as his unconscious body was too heavy f

“Vincentio’s missing?” “Shh!” Fabian glanced around the lobby and pulled me along down the stairs leading to the parking lot. “What do you mean he’s missing?” “Gone. Lost. Presence unknown. Cannot be reached.” A chime echoed around the hollow lot as he pushed the button on his car key, unlocking it. He opened the passenger door of his sleek sports car before I could and I meekly got inside, still processing his words. Was he kidnapped? Fabian seemed awfully calm to consider the possibility. Maybe this has happened before? I have a hunch that this is related to Lysa and Lorenzo's affair. A small twinge of guilt suddenly went through me. When Fabian pulled out of the parking s

Vincentio had been avoiding me after our conversation in the cafe which was very inconvenient for me as my work revolved around him. I’ve been demoted to my desk all day, receiving people for him like a doormat. When I told him the news, I didn’t expect to get a silent treatment. I expected he’d get angry but that it wouldn't affect him that much as he seemed to detest Lysa during the charity gala. I had a feeling then that their engagement was just out of a business deal. It’s common in wealthy families, right? But he wouldn’t have reacted the way he did if that were the case. And yet, he was aware of it before I even told him. Is it also normal for marriages like that? To have their significant other cheat on them? Can it even be considered cheating when there’s no love in the first place? Vincentio didn’t seem like a man who would let himself get cheated o

It felt nice having someone to confide in other than my sister and Andrew. I clicked with Oz faster than I mostly do with people. He could be flirty at times but I chalked it up to be part of who he was. Plus, he's hot so it helped boost my self-esteem. I never knew having an attractive heterosexual male friend could be this beneficial. Days passed by fast and before I knew it, it's already Monday and I was at the office. I came bearing coffee and a bagel for Vincentio only to find out he wasn't there. I debated texting where the hell he was but I just ended up eating the bagel and washing it down with his no-sugar black coffee as I waited patiently for him. It tasted like sh*t. The door suddenly opened. "Is it true?" A furious voice bellowed and I quickly threw the cup of coffee in the bin. The man's brown eyes landed on me when he realized Vincentio wasn't in the room. I gulped. His angry expres

MIA’S POV “Is this your brother?” Mia asks, holding the photograph up to Roman. He looks disgruntled at being woken up just as he is about to fall asleep. The drowsiness on his face disappears as his eyes land on the picture. “With Killian?” Mia prods on as he doesn’t say a word. “You went through my stuff?” “I bumped into your books and it fell.” She shifts on her feet. “Why do you have a picture of them together?” He tries to sit up but the small effort brings discomfort to his fresh wound. His nose scrunches up in a grimace. “Remembrance. My brother’s dead, you see.” “I know. Killian told me.”

AVA’S POV“It would have been bright red,” Mia says, her lips curl up in amusement.When Ava opened the bathroom door, Mia's lower body was drenched in blood. So, it is just natural that she has acted in fright and thought of the worst-case scenario.Turns out it is just paint. The paper bag she brings with her contains art stuff and it just so happens that the little container of mahogany watercolor has leaked. And now Ava, a psychology student, feels dumb right in front of Mia.“Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, I’m being stupid.”“No, you’re not. You’ve just been through a lot.” Mia washes her hands, her long-sleeves drenching in the process. “I’m sorry

MIA'S POV Mia has not asked how he is going to help her. Killian is a university student and the president of their central organization. He has better things to do than to snoop around some unidentified crazy motorcycle rider. By the end of the week, she hopes it will be out of his mind. As long as that criminal stays out of her business, her past will be safely tucked to where it belongs: in the past. But not only is the criminal up in her business; Roman as well. She has not seen him since their awkward conversation but she can feel that he’s bursting at the seams with questions. What she is doing right now is only delaying the inevitable. This morning, Mia works alone. Ava studies at the same university as Killian, only she is a freshman and he is a graduating student. Still, she finds herself envious of Ava that it makes her consider seriously en

MIA'S POVIt is almost midnight when Mia arrives in the apartment. She expects that Roman is already asleep but as she turns the light on, she sees him sitting by the windowsill, idly playing with the leaves of the fake plant. His eyebrows quirk up at the sight of her. “You alright? You seem shaken.” “I’m fine.” Mia manages a weak smile, her eyes darting back to the fake plant. “I saw what happened back in the coffee shop.” The air between them suddenly crackled with tension. Mia subconsciously reaches for her left arm. The dark expression on his face disappears as he lets out a sigh. “Come here.” Roman already has a first aid kit ready by his side. He rolls her long-sleeves upward revealing violet lines of healed scars all over. Bright red lines stand out among them and Roman puts a band-aid over it. “Not something I can’t handle,” she says as his eyebrow furrows at her scars. He doesn’t let go of her arm and traces

MIA'S POV"I might be a little late later," Roman says, reading messages on his phone. It pings again for the 10th time over breakfast. Mia eyes his vibrating phone. "You don't have to pick me up every day." He looks up at her. "Of course," he says stiffly, putting his phone down. "Plus, I picked up an extra shift. So, I'll be done by 9," she says, avoiding his eyes. Mia feels the need to lie about her date with Killian. It's not like they're in a relationship but for now, her guts tell her to leave it out of the conversation. "I should be able to pay you enough by the end of the month." It is good news but Roman doesn't think so as his lips form into a thin line. "I wished you'd stop seeing me as your landlord." "How should I see you, then?" His mouth works but no words come out, caught off-guard by her straightforwardness. Roman clears his throat. "A friend." He seems embarrassed saying it.

MIA'S POVMia is seven years old when she learns that her parents are drug dealers. She has no idea at that age what that meant. It was when she turned thirteen that she finally realized it wasn't normal to hide small packets of drugs on her body whenever she and her parents went to somebody's house. Mia wanted to run away from that life and that is when she met Lucas. He saved her, only to bring her to another kind of hell. At least her parents never hit her. "Why are you helping me?" Mia blurts out. Roman is taken aback by the random question. "Because you look like you badly need it." When Mia doesn't seem satisfied, he asks, "Should I have another reason?" "Well, for all you know I could be a serial killer." "You?" Roman gives her a once-over, his lips twitching in the corners. "What? I could be." "Yeah, sure," he chortles. "For a guy who—" Mia stops herself. "For a guy that what?" Roman r

"When did it start?” I moved my gaze away from the window. Rain splattered against the thick surface which blocked its ceaseless sound from entering the room. A dull ache pulsed inside me to hear the noise. Anything to drown out this mind-numbing stillness. I stared emotionlessly at Dr. Abagnale. “What did?” In the corner of my eyes, an imposing frame shuffled from the wall. I could feel Dante’s disapproving stare. The corner of Dr. Abagnale’s lips quirked up impatiently. He would have released that sigh he had been holding for a while if it weren’t for Dante’s hovering figure behind him. “Your nightmares, dear.” I pursed my lips. I didn’t want to give more information that Dante could hold over me. This was supposed to be between me and the doctor but even if I requested it, I knew he’d tell him anyway. I didn’t see the point of making a big deal out of it. He’d know one way or another. “I don’t remember but I was told it was right after my mother’s accident.” “Do you rememb

“Open the fucking door or I’m kicking it down.” Yellow light flooded through the windows. There was a scuffle inside before I could hear Lorenzo breathing behind the door. I stepped back, expecting to be let in but the door stayed shut. Still as welcoming as ever. “Didn’t you give me your word never to come into my house?” The words came out muffled but I could hear the sound of his gritting teeth. “Yeah well, you’re old enough to know words meant shit. You’re a lawyer, shouldn’t you know that by now?” There was a momentary pause before he spoke again. “She’s not here.” I was glad he was aware of the spectacle his wife had caused but I could feel my patience losing by the second as I continued to face the mahogany door. “I know. I have her location. I came to talk to you so fucking open the door, Enzo.” Lorenzo finally opened the door. A scowl was already on his face, partly because I called him by his childhood nickname, but he knew better than to ignore my warnings. He stoo

Dante’s POV She slipped past me before I could close the door. I cursed as she ran to the trees like someone’s after her. Caleb and the other guards moved to intercept her but I signaled to them to back off. This is between me and my wife. “Caterina!” She was fast but I was much faster and in seconds I closed the distance between us. The scent of her coconut shampoo entered my nostrils and the familiar stirring I get whenever I was near her awoken. She sensed this and made a wild turn. She almost tripped over a large root but she was able to brace herself against a tree trunk. Her eyes were wild. Unfocused. “You killed her!” A muscle in my jaw twitched but I maintained a blank expression. I didn’t want to spook her more than she was now. I was used to having those words thrown at my face but I never killed a woman in my life. Unless that woman got in my way, it didn’t matter if they had a pussy or a dick between their legs. I would put a bullet through their heads. “Who?” I aske

It had been days since the incident. It had also been days since I was like this. Cold and unattached. Like an empty vessel forced to live out the days of a normal person except I no longer saw the purpose in it.In the first few days, Dante tried to engage me in a conversation but I kept my mouth shut. Sometimes I just leave the room without a word. There was just too much energy needed in talking plus, I couldn’t really understand what he was saying anyway. Not when a lot was going on inside me.Still, I felt him everywhere. Even though I didn’t talk to him, he lingered in the same room with me. His weight echoed the tiles under my feet. He didn’t let a day pass without letting me feel his presence. He loomed over me like a shadow. So close yet so out of reach. I could see the turmoil boiling behind his eyes but under all that, there was anger. It emanated from him; the need to punish me for leaving Lorenzo’s house and going to the club with Sharon. I knew my silence was wearing thi

At first, I thought he was talking to me as his eyes didn't leave my face when another man appeared and answered him. This one seemed Russian judging from his accent. "You're right." The newcomer circled me and went up behind me so close I could smell the strong tobacco from him. I couldn't help but cower. Amusement sparked up in his cruel eyes. "Now, what brought the little princess over the wrong side of the city?" “I don’t know what you’re talking about but you got the wrong girl. If you could just— ” He blocked me easily. “Don’t even try lying, sweetheart. I know those blowjob lips anywhere. ” "Dibs on her tits." Their disgusting stares sent shivers down my spine and rooted me to my spot. The feeling reminded me of the day I woke up in Dante's bed but this one shook me to the core. Malice oozed from them. The Italian-looking one glanced behind him, suddenly looking concerned. When it looked like no one was going to intervene he smirked at his friend. "I think she's all alo

Buildings passed by us in a blur as Sharon weaved through the traffic like a madman. I was hanging onto my seat for dear life, still digesting what’s happening.“Where are we going?” She gave no answer as if I didn’t just say anything. On second thought, it actually seemed like she didn’t hear me. Her eyes were glassed over, its blue color almost lifeless which raised warning bells in my head. “Sharon!”“Relax,” she said and yet her voice was shaky. She was sniveling despite the fact that she had many layers compared to me who’s only in a sleeveless dress, courtesy to her rushing me. A sliver of dark satisfaction took over me which disappeared quickly as she carelessly took one hand off the wheel to wipe her streaming nose. “What did you do to Caleb?”She waved over my concern. “Just gave him something to get him off our backs for a while.” The busy scenery outside changed to sketchy sidewalks and rundown properties. The surrounding was a whole lot darker now than it was minutes a