long shadows david baldacci

"Hey! I know you! You spilled my coffee on me the other day... What.. Where am I? What have you done?"Elizabeth was confused and disoriented."O my Gooood you talk too much!" a guy that looked like he was a part of the mountain said and sta**** her in the neck with a syringe.She felt panic starting to rise within her but soon enough darkness pulled her and she lost her conscience.Elizabeth, a 23year old New York resident finally had her life under control, just the way she wanted it. Never had she imagined that stopping for coffee on her way to work one day could change her life the way it did.Henry Johnson just celebrated his 162 birthday. Long ago he gave up hope on finding his soul mate, a person perfect for him, created just for him, promised to him by Gods that his ancestors believed in, that he believed in.And now there she was sleeping unconscious in his bed. He had taken her without giving it any thought but he had no choice, he had to have her next to him. He just had to. But she didn't seem to feel the same towards him and that confused him. She was supposed to feel their bond the way that he did. But he will there, he will make her fall for him. She will love him one way or the other.

“All my life I’ve waited for a love like this, Misha. And there you are… I look at you and I can’t believe you’re mine….” Maxim placed his hand over her belly. His expression was so intense. “And this baby that you carry, ‘amor mio’. This is my baby… OUR baby. I couldn’t feel it more if you had conceived in my bed.” His voice had a husky rasp that made Michela’s pulse pound. “My sweet prince… I didn’t plan on falling in love with you. In fact, everything about you entering my life when you did, wasn’t how I wanted it to be. But now… I can hardly breathe when you’re not around. There’s no one else for me, Maxim. Only you. Forever you.” An honest mistake brought together two lonely people, who knew nothing about each other’s existence, who weren’t meant to be together. Michela ‘Misha’ Roberts, an accomplished lawyer, an eternal single lady, in love with her romantic independence, wanted a baby, but not a man in her life. An IVF procedure granted her wish... Sort of… Misha was now carrying a child, but a mix-up happened in the clinic, and the baby she was expecting was the Royal heir of Massimiliano ‘Maxim’ Federico Arturo di Montbéliard, Prince of Carpathia! Maxim gave up on the hope of fatherhood long ago, but now the fascinating, lonely Prince of Carpathia, will seize this surprise second chance. However, tradition is high on the prince’s agenda, and he'll never stand for an illegitimate child... He must marry the mother of his heir. The fiery Michela is about to discover that royal marriage is a command, not a choice!

Selina Miller, married for three years, discovers she's pregnant but is forced to have an abortion. Meanwhile, her husband David Wilson accompanies his ex-girlfriend to prenatal checkups. Devastated, Selina immediately divorces David and demands a $100 million dollars settlement before leaving the Wilson family behind. At a charity event, Selina shocks everyone by donating the entire $100 million dollars. It's then revealed that she's the long-lost daughter of the Robinson family, one of the wealthiest families in the country. Selina is given a $1 billion company to manage as practice. Her brothers, who are leaders in investment, technology, and entertainment, are protective and loving towards their newly-found sister. David, realizing he has genuine feelings for Selina, attempts to win her back but faces numerous obstacles from her brothers. One day, David follows Selina to a small, unmarked grave. He learns from the cemetery caretaker that it belongs to a miscarried child whose father is supposedly dead. Realizing the shocking truth about what he's lost, David, a refined and dignified man, kneels outside Selina's home on a rainy night, overwhelmed with guilt and despair, unable to even ask for her forgiveness.

"If you can't satisfy me with your mouth, then you'll have to satisfy me some other way." In one swift motion, he tore off her flimsy top and skirt, tossing the shredded fabric aside. The implications of his actions became quite clear to Visenya. "Please, let me try again... with my mouth. I believe I can..." "Quiet!" Lucian's voice reverberated off the walls of his bedchamber, instantly silencing her. This was not the way she had envisioned her first time. She had imagined passionate kisses and tender caresses from a man who loved and cherished her. But Lucian was not capable of love, and he certainly didn't cherish her. Instead, she was cursed with a mate consumed by vengeance, and wanted nothing more than to watch her suffer. ——— Ten years had passed since dragons ruled over the world, and Visenya had taken her rightful place as the Lycan Queen. Vampires were forced into the shadows, as hunting and enslaving humans became punishable by death. Finally, the world found peace. However, everything changed when Dragon Lord Lucian emerged from his induced slumber, only to discover the annihilation of his entire race at the hands of Visenya's father. Stripped of her kingdom, Visenya was condemned to a life of servitude as Lucian's slave. The cruelest twist of fate awaited her when she learned that her long-awaited mate was none other than the vengeful Dragon Lord himself. Consumed by their mutual hatred, will they be able to resist the powerful bond between mates? Or will Lucian push Visenya to her limits, only to regret it in the end? WARNING: This story may contain content that some may find disturbing.

She was rescued by our pack, the Asara. We knew nothing about who she was before that. But with her delicious female scent, my brothers and I soon caught a whiff of her. We were quick to investigate. It didn't take us long to figure out what she was hiding under that oversized cloak. And we each wanted a part of it. She thought she could run from us? The best in enemy combat, the tracker and best sniffer in the pack, and the fastest one of us. Second only to our Alpha. The Mating Moon is on the rise and my brothers and I don't mind sharing. As long as we each get a taste of that sweet scent. And to partake of that delicious body. She might resist but we're strong, and she is one of only seven breedable females...she won't be going anywhere until we've had our fill of her. And under a Mating Moon, us males get insatiable. Go ahead. Run little Vanna Rae, it's more fun that way...

Once a king, and once a slave, can his secrets save his mates? Talen has waited over a century for a mate, and the goddess is generous when she finally grants his wish – she gives him four. It does not take long for Talen to realize that his very long, long life has been spent in training for the arrival of these mates, as he will need every skill at his disposal to not only heal the rift between the Triquetra and Aislen, but to protect them through the coming trouble. The flood waters have brought to Havermouth many threats, and not just in the form of the face-eating former inhabitants of the original abandoned colony of the Havers family. When Rhett is infected by the zombie-making virus, Talen, Aislen, and the Triquetra seek the help of the mysterious warlock Leighton and his family, just as the town fills with black-clad, armed men who call themselves the National Emergency Service... But they aren’t there to help Havermouth recover from the storm. Will Talen’s wisdom and wealth of experience, help save his mates from the dangers of Havermouth? Trigger warnings for this book: this is a dark romance werewolf story containing dubious consent, violence, and assault.

"Jennifer, let's get divorced. The Lance family won't have a soiled woman as its matriarch."Two years after their marriage, Maxwell Lance throws a divorce agreement in Jennifer Yale's face. She understands that it's because he wants to give his first love her rightful title. In his eyes, Jennifer's nothing but a flawed product who's already been soiled by another man."You can dream on, Maxwell. For as long as I'm alive, that woman won't step foot in here!"Jennifer's refusal to get a divorce leads to her family's bankruptcy and her father's horrible end. Finally, her heart dies. Maxwell's life becomes void of her presence.On the day of Maxwell's wedding to his first love, his subordinate suddenly tells him, "You've got the wrong woman, Mr. Lance. Your ex-wife's the woman from that night!"

This is the standalone book for the first story in the book "The Wild Adventures". After spending a wild night, Ethan woke up alone in bed. He searched for his “Baby Girl” every day in between work and everything he did but he failed. His sense of smell, even with his Supernatural identity, could not find her. Until a few months later. Lexy was on her way home from school when she was blocked by gangsters in a neighborhood alley where she had to pass through to get to her best friend Marlyn’s new place. He had to rent somewhere nearby the school and Lexy was going to attend his housewarming party. Ethan followed a scent so familiar and found out it was indeed his long-lost and untiredly searched-for “Baby Girl”. Ethan rescued Lexy and ever since then, he became a self-claimed personal bodyguard. Let's explore and enjoy the adventurous love story between the cursed Lycan Prince and his fated-mate-Princess!

In the wake of heartbreak, Aria's life takes an unexpected turn when her marriage to Adam Miller ends in divorce. Left to pick up the shattered pieces of her dreams, Aria embarks on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. As fate would have it, Aria's path to healing intertwines with a stroke of fortune. Through perseverance and determination, she transforms her setbacks into stepping stones, rising from the ashes of her past. Empowered by her newfound independence, Aria harnesses her strengths to build a successful career, amassing wealth beyond her wildest dreams. Yet, amidst her triumph, the shadows of the past linger. When Adam reappears, seeking reconciliation and perhaps redemption, Aria is faced with a tumult of emotions. Can she forgive the man who once broke her heart? Will she risk the security she's built for the chance of love renewed? In My Secret Billionaire Ex-wife, Aria navigates the complexities of love, loss, and second chances, discovering that true wealth lies not only in material riches but in the resilience of the human spirit.

Astrid knew that her mate doesn’t want her, but it did not stop her to hopelessly believe that Killian, her Alpha mate, would learn to love her back in the long run. Until reality slaps her with the truth when Killian’s ex-girlfriend Giselle, the love of his life came back to ruin their married life. Astrid realized she had no place in his life anymore. From being a Pack Luna and a powerful warrior, she became the poor unwanted mate who is forced to leave their Pack. After her rejection and divorce, things got more twisted when Giselle’s lies and her true identity are uncovered. Killian realized that letting Astrid go was the worst mistake of his life. Will Killian be able to reclaim his Luna even after he broke her?