Novels by Ava Whyte

The study’s heavy doors shut with a muted finality as Nico entered, the silence thickened by the room’s golden-tinged light. His mouth twisted into a smirk, the venom in his gaze sharpening as he took in Lorenzo’s calm demeanor and Elena’s steady presence nearby.“Should I leave you two to it?” His words were laced with contempt. “Wouldn’t want to interrupt your ‘heartfelt reunion.’”Lorenzo barely acknowledged Nico’s barb, his attention narrowing instead on the bruising across Nico’s jaw, the tense set of his shoulders, and the charred edges of his jacket, now a singed reminder of the recent blast. A flicker of concern passed over Lorenzo’s expression, one only a brother might catch.“Nico,” he said, his voice calm but direct, “are you intact?”Nico nodded sharply, the anger in his eyes smoldering, though he shifted uncomfortably under Lorenzo’s gaze. “I’m fine,” he replied, his tone tight, as if unwilling to accept any sympathy. Lorenzo took him in for another second before nodding

The drive to the Salvatore Estate was torturous. Elena’s knuckles tightened around the steering wheel, her jaw clenched as she navigated the mountain pass. She was squashed in the center of the convoy, boxed in, as though the guards—so eager to carry out Nico’s every word—had positioned her as an afterthought. Her car dipped into a rut, jostling her shoulder, and she rubbed at the ache that was forming in her temple. Beside her, a guard sat rigid, his hands folded and gaze fixed ahead. He was older, maybe mid-fifties, with graying hair and a scar slicing down his left cheek. His presence was silent and detached, a man carrying out orders with the efficiency of a well-trained shadow. She caught his reflection in the rearview mirror, and something in his gaze suggested he’d been in too many fights, seen too much blood. Her annoyance simmered beneath her scrutiny of him, but he gave no reaction, his focus on the dark road ahead.As the wind streamed through the

The road to the safe house twisted through the hills, narrow and shadowed. Elena’s car coasted quietly up the final stretch, the solitude around her broken only by the hum of her engine. Each turn brought her closer to the answers she’d been chasing—buried pieces of her father’s past she could no longer ignore.The safe house was hidden beneath dense layers of ivy and towering cypress trees, an old stone structure with worn shutters and a half-collapsed awning. She shut off the car and stepped out, shrugging deeper into her hoodie, her gaze flicking to the surrounding trees, already instinctively mapping her exits.She had just started toward the door when she heard a second car approaching. She turned, tension coiling in her stomach, as she watched the black SUV come to a slow stop behind her own vehicle. The door opened, and Nico stepped out, his gray eyes fixed on her with an expression that bordered on exasperation.“What are you doing here?” she deman

The morning sun cast a pale light over the sprawling terrace of Aurelia Hotel, a luxury hidden in the city’s quieter quarters. Elena leaned against a stone railing overlooking the cobblestone street below, her gaze distant. This place held a mix of opulence and old-world charm, a far cry from the shadowed corners she frequented. But today, she was here on a purpose.The terrace was a blend of quiet elegance, low chairs and tables set beneath white awnings flapping gently in the breeze. Waiters moved soundlessly, dressed in crisp black uniforms. Elena had chosen her spot purposefully—a table near the edge, partially shrouded in ivy, where she could observe without being noticed.The fitted black dress hugged her frame, accentuating her curves and complementing her olive skin. Her fingers brushed the edge of a coffee cup, the rich scent mingling with the faint trace of floral perfume lingering in the air. She hadn’t been here long, but the weight of anticipation made each passing second

Elena had barely closed the door of her house when she sensed she wasn’t alone. The room was dim, but a faint glow spilled through the curtains, illuminating the figure leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed. Ethan’s presence filled the space, and her pulse quickened involuntarily.“Ethan,” she said, her voice steady, though her insides tightened. "How are you here so soon?"Her thoughts went to the bursted tire she'd experienced on the highway, she faintly wondered if he had anything to do with it and what he hoped to achieve by slashing her tire.He stepped forward, his expression shadowed but intense, a controlled calm in his posture. He was dressed in the same slate-gray shirt from earlier.The rolled up sleeves, accentuated his lean, muscular build, especially paired with the dark jeans that gave him an edge of ruggedness.“You sure seem to be making yourself comfortable with Lorenzo.” The words held a trace of disdain, and he crossed his arms tighter as he studied h

Elena took a steadying breath as she stepped into the lounge, her eyes adjusting to the warm, amber glow that softened each line and deepened every shadow. Chandeliers cast a dim, conspiratorial light over velvet seats and polished tables, the faint but familiar scent of bourbon and leather grounded her as she prepared for this meeting—a meeting she wasn’t sure she could trust.Her gaze settled on Lorenzo in a secluded corner, one arm draped casually over his seat, his posture composed, almost commanding, even as his eyes tracked her movement, eliciting an awareness that felt too keen, too intimate. His suit, a deep, muted blue, set off the striking intensity of his gaze, and as she approached, she couldn’t ignore the way his lips curved ever so slightly, as though he could read her every thought before she’d spoken a word.“Elena,” he greeted, his voice a low murmur that seemed to vibrate through the air between them. He gestured to the seat across from him, his eyes r