Dirty Hearts by Khardine Gray Book Tour and Giveaway :)
Dirty
Hearts
Gangsters
and Dolls Book 1
by
Khardine Gray
Genre:
Mafia Romance
From
USA Today Bestselling author Khardine Gray comes a sexy, delightfully
devilish, seductive second chance Mafia Romance. Be prepared to take
a walk on the dark side.
Claudius
Rule
#1 of being mafia boss- Trust
no one.
Rule
# 2-
Keep your friends and enemies damn close. In the underground world,
friends and enemies could be the same thing.
My
story started out with a guy who liked a girl.
She
looked like an angel to him.
I
was the guy, Ava the angel.
But
I got caught in a game I didn’t want to play.
A
game with the devil that destroyed me.
My
life turned into this world where I got married to her twin sister
and Ava hated me.
The
situation became my weakness when my enemies used it against me, and
killed my wife.
Ava
could have died too so I stayed away from her.
It
was safer that way.
Year
in, year out I tell myself the same thing, and I stay away.
But,
the universe had other ideas, and threw her right back in my path.
I
can’t have her.
An
angel like her doesn’t belong in the darkness of my world.
I
know this, except, I’m selfish.
I
should leave her alone, but I can’t.
The
problem is …history is repeating itself, and there’s an enemy in
my circle.
It’s
the same game as before and this time losing could get her killed.
Ava
Avoid him…
That
was the most sensible thing to do.
Besides,
Claudius wasn’t any old guy.
He
was the don of the Chicago mafia.
Ten
years ago, when I’d first met him, I knew the man was trouble, but
I didn’t listen.
He’d
made me love’s fool and broke my heart in so many ways when he
married my sister.
That
was a lesson to learn.
So,
what was I doing running back into the arms of a man I shouldn’t be
with?
We
were like darkness and light.
Different. Too different.
Coincidence
reunited us, but my heart did the rest.
My
heart blinded me to sense and logic, and stifled the voice inside
that told me to run away.
My
heart made me selfish...
I
wanted him for myself.
I
knew I shouldn’t be with him, but I couldn’t leave him alone.
That
very thing could be my downfall.
This
isn’t like any other second chance romance you’ve read before…
If
you loved Lucian Morientz from Mafia Boss, you’re gonna love his
brother, Claudius.
Dirty
Hearts is a complete standalone, full length novel, with no cliff
hanger and part of the Gangsters and Dolls series.
The
Gangsters and Dolls series is a spin off from The Accidental Mafia
Queen series. Continue the adventure with these sizzling
hot, drool-worthy Alpha males.
**Only
99 cents!!**
P
R O L O G U E
Claudius
&
Ava
Claudius
I
usually did what I wanted. As I damn well pleased, never caring what
people thought.
After
all, I was Claudius Morientz, now the new leader of the Chicago
Mafia.
Proud
owner of everything. A billion-dollar fortune inherited from the
great Raphael Rossi. I got the business and everything that came with
it.
Money
and power.
Yes,
I had it all.
I
had everything… Except the girl.
This
day was always bad. It always felt the same no matter how much time
passed.
This
day always got to me. It got to me because it was a yearly reminder
of what I’d lost, and what I couldn’t have.
I
stood in the bell tower of the church overlooking the grave site. My
wife’s grave site. My wife, Marissa. Kneeling next to the grave was
Ava. Her twin sister. And like every other year, I did the same
thing. Cemetery first thing in the morning. Then stay in the shadows
of the bell tower watching Ava and her family mourn. Stay in the
shadows watching Ava spend those last few moments with her sister
after her parents left. Allowing and respecting her time to be alone
with the one person who’d
shared
everything with her.
I
must have been a hundred feet away, but I could see the sadness in
her. I could feel it. I could almost touch it. Sadness and confusion.
Sadness for her loss and confusion over what had really happened.
What
had happened to us.
Mine
was a story that I was certain would confuse the shit out of a lot of
people.
It
confused me sometimes. One thing was certain though.
My
feelings for her had never changed.
The
sun was low, and the place had that feel about it. That feeling of
anticipation.
Ava
stood up and looked around. I knew she could sense me. It was almost
like magic. There was a time when I’d look at her and I didn’t
have to say anything. She’d know what I was thinking. She was the
only woman to truly tame the beast in me.
The
only woman to reach that place in my soul and make me want to try to
be anything other than I was. The standard mobster who was ruthless
to the bone.
It
was happening now. The lure of her. It grew stronger the more she
looked around.
Ava
I
was sure he was here. I could feel him.
Claudius.
He’d
always leave a single white rose on Marissa’s grave.
Always
before anybody else came. Ma and Pa would bring dahlias. I’d bring
lilies. The pink Calla lilies Marissa had loved so much.
The
minute I saw the rose, I knew he’d been here, and I knew he still
was. My parents and I got here an hour ago. Like always, I’d asked
for time alone. Time to grieve and talk to my sister. But admittedly,
I wanted this time to feel him too. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t
want that. I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t accept the truth of
the matter.
His
presence was so strong, he could have been standing before me.
And
there was the confliction that would always fill my soul.
What
was I supposed to think after the last time?
What
was I supposed to feel?
Nothing?
It
was simple. I knew the answer was simple. I needed to forget. That
was it. Forget.
A
person couldn’t keep living in the past. Worse when all the
memories were just figments of what my heart wanted.
Forget
everything and move on. Not just from four years ago when Claudius
and I had last seen each other. It needed to be the whole thing. The
whole damn thing from start to finish.
Us,
before him and Marissa.
Forget
it like it never happened.
I
needed to forget him. It was making me feel like a hypocrite.
How
was I supposed to grieve for my sister and at the same time fight the
inner turmoil that roiled within me for her husband?
It
sounded like a colossal mess.
One
damn mess that no one could really fix. I looked around for him, and
my stupid heart betrayed me as I thought of last time.
Last
time was a mistake. I shouldn’t have…
I
just shouldn’t have gone there again with her, but I did. I didn’t
regret it. I just hated that I fell prey to my selfishness. It made
the situation so much worse and confusing.
More
confusing for her.
More
painful for me.
I
didn’t know how I stayed away for so long, but it was for the best.
It was torture to see her, torture to be with her, torture to think
that we could be more than we were right now.
She
should hate me.
She
should at the very least hate me because it was my fault her sister
died. Everyone could tell me I shouldn’t blame myself, but it was
my fault.
Four
years ago, I was selfish. I changed things up and made the situation
messier than it already was. I needed to stay away from her.
I
hated what happened, and I should hate him for crushing my heart. But
mostly, I wished he wouldn’t stay away.
“Claudius…
why do you still do this to me?” I whispered against the cool
breeze that rustled through the willow trees. It lifted the ends of
my hair, pushing the white blonde strands to the black velvet sleeves
of my dress.
I
looked ahead to the old bell tower on the top of the church and
brought my hands up to my heart.
My
heart was breaking again, and I really needed to move on.
Some
things were best left alone. Forever.
She
was one of them.
As
she looked ahead to where I was, we could have been staring right at
each other.
I
hoped she hated me. It would be easier. I’d put her in danger once
before, and it nearly cost her, her
life.
It
was better this way.
She’d
be safer.
Better
to hate me and live than for her to love me and die. I was a selfish
man, but I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
Not
with her.
Once
was enough.
Khardine Gray is a contemporary romance author who lives in England with her husband, two kids, and three crazy ferrets.
She
is well traveled, cultured, and a woman with a passion for dancing
and ice skating.
When
not writing you can catch her shopping, indulging on pizza and hot
chocolate, or hanging out with her family and friends.
No
need to spend money on an airline ticket. Simply pick up one of
Khardine's books to become immersed in the fascinating stories and
characters she creates.
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