criminal psychology

Hera Delacruz thought she had escaped the shadows of her past. Once a fearless soldier, she sacrificed her career, her family, and her freedom to marry Mateo, the man she thought was her salvation. But love turned dangerous when rumors surfaced that Mateo, the feared "savior of the mafia", orchestrated her father’s death. Pregnant and heartbroken, Hera fled. Five years later, Hera lives a quiet, nomadic life with her daughter Mila, a bright, spirited child battling diabetes. Constantly on the move to evade Mateo’s relentless pursuit, Hera works as a waitress in a sleepy town, keeping her past hidden and her daughter safe. She’s a survivor, hardened by military training and sharpened by heartbreak. Mateo Delacruz is as ruthless as he is determined. Known as a savior to the criminal underworld, he has spent years hunting the only woman who dared defy him. When he finds Hera, he is prepared to bring her back into his world, but nothing prepares him for the revelation that she has been hiding his daughter. Now, with two Delacruz women to protect, Mateo will stop at nothing to reclaim his family. But the mafia doesn’t forgive easily. Mateo’s family and men resent Hera for abandoning them and leaving them in the hands of their merciless boss. As Hera fights to shield her daughter from the danger that follows Mateo, she must also confront her unresolved feelings for the man she once loved, and the truth about what happened to her father. Can they find a way to trust each other again, or will their pasts destroy the fragile bond between them?

Abused by her criminal father, Gail developed a trauma that didn't want to be touched, especially by men. One day, her father's karma came in Michael's form, killing him and leaving Gail alone. Not knowing what to do with her, Michael decided to take her in, originally planning on using her. However, what will happen if Gail, who only wants to experience genuine love, and Michael, who stops entertaining the concept of love at all, live in one house? Or when the original plan of using her completely changed to taking care of her?

An aspiring artist used to a "normal" life, Sophia Bennett finds herself in grave danger when her latent magical abilities are reawakened by a pack of renegade werewolves. Jonathan Davenport, a strong billionaire who believes she is his destined mate, whisks her away before she has a chance to come to terms with her new life. She is thrown into a realm of supernatural struggle and intricate relationships by this unexpected turn of events. When Sophia's magical skills start to come into play, she becomes caught up in a violent fight between Jonathan Davenport and Damien Westin, who are both attracted to her because they can sense her developing bloodlust. Three vicious alpha werewolves demand that she form an eternal link with them alone, adding to the mayhem and asserting their exclusive rights over her. This enormous pressure pushes Sophia to confront her fate and the choice of joining with all three alphas to restore balance or giving up her shot at a regular existence. Sophia must swiftly master her Moon Maiden talents to survive, as the vengeful Russian criminal Mikhail pursues her to capture her promised power and control the wolves. Sophia is divided between the overwhelming demands of three alpha werewolves who insist she connect with them alone for eternity. She must decide whether to pursue the prohibited road of taking all three as mates to potentially bring the werewolf groups together or to forego that possibility in exchange for a regular life.

"You're going to get yourself killed, Sofia." Sofia Russo has heard those words her entire career, but they've never stopped her before. As New York's most relentless prosecutor, she's made it her mission to take down the Moretti crime family. But when she locks eyes with Luca Moretti across a crowded courtroom, she realizes this case is unlike any other. Luca Moretti isn't just the heir to a criminal empire—he's a man with secrets that could bring the entire city to its knees. Brilliant, dangerous, and impossibly alluring, he sees right through Sofia's tough exterior to the fire that drives her. As Sofia delves deeper into the Moretti family's web of corruption, she finds herself caught in a deadly dance with Luca. Each step brings them closer to the truth—and to each other. But in a world where loyalty is everything and betrayal means death, their growing attraction could be their downfall. With her career on the line and her heart at stake, Sofia must decide: Is bringing down the Moretti empire worth losing everything—including the one man who might be her salvation?

after Kimberly was dismissed from the army, she utilizes her military skills to work as a hit man for the Italian mafia in Atlanta city. She later began a romantic relationship with Bryan, a DEA agent for information and help to complete a job for the mafia, unbeknownst to him that he is actually in bed with the missing link to the drug ring he had been trying to bust. A heart broken Bryan later discovers the true identity of his girlfriend who confessed to him that even though she agreed to date him for her selfish interests at first, she later fell in love with him genuinely. They go through several hurdles trying to get a substantial evidence against Luis, but his connections in most of the city’s offices and criminal underworld makes Kimberly and Bryan hit several dead ends while racing down the clock to indict the mafia boss, after striking a deal with the district attorney for immunity and enrollment into the witness protection program where they’ll later start a new life. The couple’s love is put to the test when they must trust and support each other against a world of organized crime.

Victoria Bura is the deadliest kept secret in the criminal underbelly, her father's legacy is cleaning up after the wealthiest and deadliest families in the world under the guise of being a modest hog farmer. When her father dies, leaving Vic and her sheltered, inept, contradictious younger brother to pay his debts it places her right in the path of Alexander Volkov a man more infamous for his ruthlessness than his name, and he makes it perfectly clear he knows the ghost in Victoria Bura's closet. Now Vic's life is turned inside out as she finds herself not only employed to the head of the most dangerous family in history, but she is left at the mercy of his three most trusted mercenaries. She soon finds that the Volkov family may not be the villains in her story, that title may just be claimed by someone much closer to home.

My husband sponsored a poor female college student. While I was being dragged into an alley by a criminal, he was helping her pick out lingerie. While I was hospitalized with serious injuries, he used the money my mother left me to buy her a limited-edition handbag. I confronted him in a heated argument, but he accused me of being unreasonable. "I thought your injuries were so serious, but look—you didn’t even die! Besides, your money is my money. I’ll spend it however I want!"

“We’re sinners. If heaven exists, we’d never be allowed in. But you and I can rule hell together and I’d fuck you hard while we watch the world burn.” His cold lips left a hot trail of heat as it glided down her spine. “O- okay, Daddy.” She stuttered, gripping the sheets tightly and gasping for breath at the same time when fingers suddenly slid into her wet heat from behind. ~~~ She was betrothed to him since birth. Mya knew what was going to happen to her unfortunate life once she comes of age– she was going to be wedded to Angelo, a ruthless and dangerous Mafia Lord who makes the sky rain gore on a good day. And so on her wedding day, she eloped. That same day, she managed to turn into the most wanted criminal of the country. Mya went from running from Angelo, to being saved by him… but, not before paying a price. ———- Birthed by a monster and hardened by pain and violence, Angelo had turned into an emotionless psycho at the age of thirty-two. He had no intention of taking a bride from the onset, all he cared about was protecting his top spot in the country. In comes Mya– a supposed damsel in distress, only that this one has blood on her hands and scars maring her soul. Angelo was supposed to leave her to her wretched fate, but somehow, he found himself drawn to her. Perhaps, it was because there was something about her blue eyes that scratched at an instinct within him which he never knew existed. But she called him ‘Daddy’ once and nothing remained the same after that. Now he was going to protect her, fight her battles, and make her his queen.

A flicker of hope, a spark amidst the neon grime of New Shanghai. Anya, a slave to the Volkov Mafia, had long buried her emotions under layers of calloused defiance. Years of servitude had carved a burning desire for vengeance into her soul. Then, a whisper of rebellion arrived – a message smuggled in a package, hinting at a Volkov family secret. Anya's heart, long numbed, stuttered awake. This wasn't just a chance to escape; it was a weapon. A weapon to dismantle the empire that had stolen her life, her family, everything. But the path to freedom was a razor's edge. Fear gnawed at her, a constant companion in the Volkov's watchful gaze, their merciless enforcers lurking in every shadow. Yet, a flicker of something else bloomed – a strange, almost forgotten warmth, a sliver of the person she used to be. Could she trust it? As Anya navigated the labyrinth of lies and high-tech security, a deeper truth unfolded. This Volkov secret wasn't just about her escape; it was a key to exposing a far-reaching conspiracy, one that could reshape the city's criminal web. Suddenly, Anya's burning desire for revenge transformed. It wasn't just about herself anymore. It was about a sliver of justice, a chance to dismantle a system that preyed on the weak. But with this newfound purpose came a terrifying weight of responsibility. Was she strong enough to risk everything, to ignite a war she might not survive? The weight of human emotions – fear, anger, and a desperate yearning for freedom – threatened to suffocate her. The price of vengeance was steep, and Anya had to decide if she had the strength to pay it.

The day Seraphina Lovelace steps out of prison is also the day her boyfriend dumps her. For him, she has been imprisoned for three years, but he betrays her, getting engaged with another wealthy girl. What's worse? He even sends killers to kidnap Seraphina to prevent her from divulging secrets. To avoid the killers, Seraphina serves as a waitress in an underworld criminal bar. One night, she happens to save a seriously injured young man. His name is Alfred, and the surname he conceals from Seraphina is Vanderwood. Vanderwood, the Alpha King Family. When Seraphina is about to be killed by the bar's boss, Alfred saves her. Finally, she knows his identity. The new Alpha King, also the most powerful were-wolf in the world. Seraphina thinks he will kill her as well since she once tied his wrists, pressed him against the pillow, and almost had a forced kiss with him. But he doesn't. The only thing he asks Seraphina to do is pretend to be his cousin. Excuse me? What the hell is he saying? Seraphina finds it ridiculous, but Alfred is serious. It seems like Seraphina has no better choice but to agree with his requirement. However, she has no idea that when she says "yes" to Alfred, she also selects a path that she is unable to turn back. Become Alpha King's Faked Cousin is created by Cara TaleSmith, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.