Traci L. Wentzel

It’s 1985 in Providence, Rhode Island, and the four partners of a prominent, mafia-affiliated law firm have been killed in a private jet that went down outside New York City. Four very different women have just lost the loves of their lives: Justine, a former fashion model adjusting to suburban life; Camille, a beautiful, young second wife some suspect is a gold digger; Krystle, committed to leaving the firm to her sons after her husband worked his whole life to support them all; and Meredith, a stripper at the local club who was in a secret relationship.

I have exactly 5 hours and 10 minutes to get from Boston to New York City or the professional opportunity of a lifetime disappears. My only travel option? The second to last seat on a discount bus. Across from the bathroom. Wearing last night’s clothes (don’t ask). All worth it if I can make it in time.

How rough can you take it? Lourdes. He was brazen as hell from the moment I laid eyes on him. He was aggressive, and dominant, with Mack truck arms, and a bar brawler voice. He was too good looking for his own good, with a hard jaw, and harder eyes. I’d always led a fairly peaceful life, but even I could tell at a glance that this man was dangerous. For so many reasons. Not the least of which being that rough, dirty, sheet-clawing sex fairly radiated off him. I’d thought I’d known how to handle every kind of man, but this one left me baffled.

Note to self - do not bang your best guy friend in the limo on the way to the swanky Vegas hotel. I give myself very good advice. Too bad I suck at taking it. If only Colin and I hadn't drunk so much whiskey, if only I'd kept that red bikini in my suitcase, if only his evil ex-girlfriend hadn't come sniffing around making me feel territorial and protective. Not that my bad boy rock star best friend is any help. Walking around looking ridiculously sexy, telling me I'm perfect in that panty-melting voice of his when we both swore we’d never do anything to put our friendship at risk.

Jules Montgomery is too busy and content with her life to worry about a man, especially one Nate McKenna. If growing up with four brothers has taught her anything, she knows to stay away from sexy men with tattoos and motorcycles. That goes double if he's your boss. During the one incredible night they shared, he violated the no fraternization policy...among other things, and it won't happen again. Jules won't risk her career for mind-blowing sex, no matter how much her body and her damn heart keep arguing with her.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with as well as way less experience in the dating department than the average 30-year-old. It doesn't help that she has Asperger's and that French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. She decides that she needs lots of practice - with a professional - which is why she hires escort Michael Phan.

Thanks to years of government training, Evie Bishop knows how to get into places she doesn’t belong - and she’s very good at it. But years of doing black ops work burned her out so she returns home - to unexpected chaos. One of her brothers is in a coma and the other is in hiding, wanted for murder. Then a fellow operative from her past shows up shot and bleeding with news that an assassin is gunning for everyone involved with a past op. She’s forced to turn to the one man she knows she can trust - the man whose heart she broke.

In sports, everybody loves redemption stories, the underdog who no one believes in but through sheer hard work wins it all. But no one tells the stories of the players who work hard and don’t make it. In pro football, 53 guys get on the roster. Ten make it to the practice squad. And then there’s the 64th Man - that’s Billy Logan (Cena), who seems to always be one spot from glory.

I never expected to be anyone’s white knight. That’s not a role I’ve ever played. But when the Casso crime family shifts into uncharted territory, they’re looking for a new hero, and they’re looking for me - Cannon Freeman, the black sheep. But my time in disgrace is at an end. It’s my turn to rise up and save the people who matter most to me. Even if my family has never given a damn about me, I will not let them fall. More than anything, I will not let her fall. One thing I know is true - in my life, nothing is ever what it seems.

Every family has a black sheep. In the infamous Casso crime family, that black sheep is me - Cannon Freeman. Except I’m not a free man. I’ve never been free. Not since the day I was born. I owe my loyalty to my father, Dominic Casso, even if he won’t publicly acknowledge me as his blood. I’ve never had a reason to go against his wishes...until I met her. Drew Carson turned my world upside when she walked into my club looking for a job. Now, my honor and my life are on the line.