Scandalous Heroes Box Set

by Latrivia Nelson

  Nervous, Kyra fidgeted with her purse and tried to steady her shaking hands. The door opened. The man reached in to help her step out. Kyra looked around. There were a few men standing near a car. One flicked his cigarette and stared directly into her eyes. The other looked familiar. She remembered him as one of the men who worked for Renaldo. He nodded his head at her respectfully. Kyra smiled.

  “Prego, this way,” the driver said.

  She nodded. She hitched her purse up higher on her shoulder. One of the signature dresses from Mirabella’s current collection was a wrap around style. She had chosen a white wrap around dress for the meeting. The hem rippled around her legs and her gold strappy ankle heels gleamed in the sun. Kyra had her hair in long straight micro-braids that swayed to her waist. She tossed them from her face, pursed her lips, and stepped through the doors of Melanzana.

  Inside her breath caught. The place felt regal, from the marble floors to the grand stairwell that curved up to the upper level. She glanced around taken in by everything.

  “Please, come with me,” the driver encouraged.

  Kyra nodded and walked with him through the home. She glanced at a few others she passed. They appeared to be staff. None of them made eye contact with her. They went about their tasks as if she hadn’t arrived. Kyra was more excited than afraid. It was the daredevil in her she supposed. She went towards the back of the estate and down a long hall. She was then delivered to a door. The man who had accompanied her nodded respectfully and opened it for her to pass through.

  Kyra walked inside.

  Women awaited her.

  “Kyra? Welcome!” Donna Mirabella Battaglia said. And she was more strikingly beautiful than her pictures. Her skin was just a shade lighter than Kyra’s, her hair was thick and wavy reaching to her shoulders. She wore a tailored red pantsuit with a short waist jacket and a crisp white shirt with a wide collar beneath. She approached Kyra and gave her a kiss to both cheeks. “How was your flight?”

  “Good. Ah, great. Thank you for having me.”

  “No. Thank you for coming.” Mirabella said. She glanced back. “You know Catalina and my sister Marietta.” Mirabella nodded to them both.

  “Yes! Hi!” Kyra waved at them.

  Catalina walked over first. She kissed Kyra on the cheek. She wore a pink summer dress, and looked as beautiful as Kyra remembered.

  “Ciao bella,” Catalina said.

  And then Marietta approached. She wore a white skirt that was long and low waist to reveal the piercing in her navel. She had a cut-off white shirt with web crocheted sleeves. Her hair was as curly and thick as a lion’s mane. She was by far the most stylishly beautiful of the three; much more exotic in her appearance than her conservatively dressed twin sister. She walked over and greeted her. To Kyra’s surprise Marietta hugged her. She smiled. Kyra thought Marietta hated her. Or at the very least had no respect for her after their last meeting. Marietta touched her cheek. “Glad to see you’re okay, kid.”

  “Thank you. Thank you so much.” Kyra said.

  “Alright, girls, give her some room,” Mirabella chuckled. “Have a seat, Kyra,” her boss said. Kyra did as she was asked. Dominic told her that Mirabella was called ‘Donna Mirabella’ as a show of respect. And Jamie told her all kinds of wild tales of the black fashion designer who married a Sicilian mob boss. She believed only half of it. Nothing prepared her for the truth. Though Mirabella hadn’t said much, she had an air of importance that commanded the room. The other two did as she told them. They sat and remained silent as Mirabella joined Kyra on the sofa in her office. Again Kyra was struck by her presence. How did she end up with the life she led? How could she love a man like her husband and still be so genuinely sweet and welcoming? Or was it a mask? Kyra couldn’t be sure.

  “I am thrilled with your work. I’ve seen some of the design sketches. Very vibrant and exciting,” Mirabella said.

  “Thanks, we have a few prototypes for shoes. I brought them with me, but forgot them in the car.”

  Mirabella smiled. “Plenty of time for that. I know you are curious as to why I asked you to come.”

  Kyra glanced to the other two women and then to Mirabella. “I am.”

  “Catalina and Marietta and I don’t think your talent is best served in Paris.” She began. “And we don’t think a shoe line is for House of Mirabella’s at this time.”

  “Oh?” Kyra’s heart began to race. “I don’t understand?”

  Mirabella chuckled. “We think we should move the line over to Fabiana’s. It’s a division of the company that will give you a little more freedom to create.”

  “Really? Oh my God!” Kyra exclaimed. “But I thought Fabiana’s was a scarlet design house. Only shades of red.”

  “True.” Catalina said. “We can add red to the shoes you design. Maybe the bottoms, as a signature look.”

  “I like it,” Kyra said.

  “That means you will relocate to Milan. Catalina and Marietta spend a lot of time there. You and Jamie, that’s her name right?” Mirabella asked.

  “Yes. That’s her name.” Kyra said.

  “Well that was easy. We thought we’d need to convince you. Paris is hard to pass up on,” Donna Mirabella chuckled.

  “I’m so grateful for the job opportunity. To your family for your generosity. I can live out of my car as long as I’m able to create.”

  Mirabella patted her knee. “Well that won’t be necessary.” She glanced over to Catalina and Marietta. They both stood and left the room without being told. Kyra frowned. She glanced back over at Mirabella.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Kyra chuckled.

  “No. I wanted to talk to you alone, about Renaldo,” Mirabella said bluntly.

  Kyra’s stomach clenched. She was still hurt and confused by the lack of contact she received from her lover over the past few months. Not even a letter. “Okay?”

  “I know what happened in America. I’m so glad you were able to recover.”

  “Thank you,” Kyra said.

  Mirabella sighed. “My husband is a complicated man. And the men that work with him are… complicated,” she said. Mirabella stood. “Renaldo is a very good man, Kyra. But he leads a very dangerous life. He wanted to reach out to you. To see if you were well, but my husband forbade it.”

  “He did?” Kyra asked. She felt a sense of relief that it wasn’t Renaldo who refused to call her. “Why?”

  Mirabella smiled. “Giovanni addresses things in his own way. So do I. It took some convincing but he and I finally were able to agree. This is why I made sure you were brought into the family and given the opportunity you deserved. And it’s why I sent for you.” Mirabella walked away. “Stay for dinner, or the night if you wish. Don’t worry about a change of clothes. I’m a fashion designer, I have plenty,” Mirabella winked. She walked out. Kyra sat there confused until the door opened again and Renaldo walked in.

  She stood.

  He closed the door. His gaze swung over to her. “Ciao, Kyra,” he said.

  Unable to speak she walked toward him, ran toward him, leapt into his arms. Renaldo held her to his tall frame. She hugged him tightly. She burst into tears. She was so relieved to see him again. To feel him. She pretended with Jamie that it didn’t matter to her, what became of them. But she missed Renaldo every day, every night. “I thought you didn’t want to see me. After…”

  “Shh, I’m sorry, Kyra.” He took her face in his hands. “I could not. I broke rules in the family. Took a man’s life without the blessing of my Don. It had to be dealt with. But I paid the price gladly, because you’re worth it.” He kissed her. She had never heard his English come across so flawless. Never felt so cherished by a kiss. She blinked away her tears when his mouth drew away.

  “Ti desidero. Io sono tua,” he said. “I want you. I am yours. If you will have me.”

  She nodded. “I want to be with you. Is this why she offered me a job in Milan? So we can be together?”

  “The Donna is a good woman. She
made sure we had the chance to decide,” he said.

  “Then I choose you, Renaldo. I choose Italy. I choose this life!” she grinned.

  Renaldo lifted her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She held tightly to him. She had no idea what the future with him meant. But as long as he was her future she was ready for everything…

  Battaglia Mafia Series

  Discover the passion, murder, mayhem, and intrigue of the Battaglia Mafia Series from the beginning. A dark romance set in southern Italy explores the taboo love between a Sicilian Don and his African American wife. The Battaglia Series is an epic tale of family ties, uncharted romance, and ruthless treachery. This saga continues after Rallenti with book five, Amore, which is scheduled to be released winter of 2014. If you want to know more about the Battaglia family meet the Don and Donna of Romance in Destino—book one.

  Book One

  Destino by Sienna Mynx

  Book Two

  Ti Amo by Sienna Mynx

  Book Three

  La Sposa by Sienna Mynx

  Book Four

  La Famiglia by Sienna Mynx

  Novella

  Rallenti by Sienna Mynx

  Book Five

  Amore by Sienna Mynx (Winter 2014)

  Sienna Mynx – The Author

  Do you like strong, sensual, alpha bad boys forced to humble themselves for the women they love? Me too. I am Sienna Mynx, the naughty writer of over thirty contemporary and historical romances. My stories have often been accused of sweeping readers away in heart racing decadence that can provoke laughter, soft sighs and even gratifying tears.

  In 2010 Romantic Times nominated me for Erotic Romance E-book Writer of the Year Award, for a fast-paced exciting read about a young black hooch dancer in a travelling carnival during the Great Depression who meets a Sicilian bootlegger and goes on a Bonnie and Clyde ride of passion and freedom in Mexico.

  After a two-week tour of Italy in 2012 I released the first three books in an epic series known as The Battaglia Mafia. All three Books (Destino, Ti Amo, La Sposa) have held the Amazon #1 Best Seller spot for Multicultural Romance, and African American romance.

  Currently you'll find me in the deep south under the shade of a magnolia tree with a ladies fan, sipping pink lemonade and dreaming up my next sensual romantic fantasy! To learn more about my work be sure to visit the website http://thedivaspen.com

  Raw Exposure

  Aliyah Burke

  Published by: Sensual Romance Publishing

  Copyright © 2014 by Aliyah Burke

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web-without permission in writing from the publisher or author. The unauthorized replication or allocation of any copyrighted work is illegal. File sharing is an international crime, prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice and the United States Border Patrol, Division of Cyber Crimes, in partnership with Interpol. Copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 per reported instance, and seizure of computers.

  This book is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only.

  Editor: Jessica Bimberg

  Cover Artist: MMJ Designs

  Dedication

  To all the readers who’ve waited patiently for Reeve and Affrica, this one is for you. I do hope you enjoy his journey in learning how to be who he is meant to be. Enjoy the revisits with the members of the Megalodon Team. To my husband, my own hero, thank you for your eternal belief in my ability to succeed. To the men and women who serve, thank you!

  A wealthy playboy and a down-to-earth freelance photographer, will they ever see eye to eye?

  Reeve Leighton has just met the one woman who isn't the least bit impressed by his money. Affrica O'Shea can't ignore how he turns her head but she has no use for a man who lives like he does. Reeve is used to getting what he wants. He wants her and not even her Navy SEAL brother—or his—will keep them apart.

  Chapter One

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing in here?”

  Affrica O’Shea almost dropped the antique dish in her hand when the loud, masculine voice reverberated through the room. As it was, she still saw it wobble a bit before she regained control of it as she lifted her gaze up to the man towering over her from her crouched position by the cabinet.

  She allowed her eyes to move over him while she thought up a proper response. He was tall, about as tall as her brother. Unlike her brother, however, this man was Caucasian, with chocolaty brown hair. Mirrored sunglasses covered his eyes. The Romanesque nose and firm lips were not unpleasant to look at despite the scowl they currently portrayed. An arrogant chin.

  He wore tailored clothes she had no doubt were more expensive than anything she had in her closet. His silver-blue shirt, unbuttoned at the top, allowed her to see that there was a slight natural tan on his skin. Dark gray pants clung to his hips, the black belt accentuating their leanness.

  “I asked you a question.” The scorn-laden voice filled the room.

  Her fingers tightened around the crystal platter in her hand. Eyes narrowing, she opened her mouth to respond when another voice broke in, “Did you find it? Oh, Reeve, hi. I didn’t know you were here.”

  “Hey, Lex. I just stopped by and am glad I did. I found—”

  Alexis Leighton moved around the corner of the island and smiled down at Affrica. “Oh, perfect, you did find it. Great. Come on.” Her gaze moved back and forth between the other two in the room. “You know each other?”

  Rising up from the floor, she smiled at Lex and shook her head. “No, I’ve nae had the pleasure o’ meeting him. I believe he was about to make an introduction.” An Irish lilt highlighted her voice.

  The man offered his hand, no hint of the earlier animosity visible. “Reeve Leighton.”

  Holding the serving platter with both hands, she ignored his outstretched one. “Affrica.” She knew her eyes shone with distaste as she looked at him but they softened as she looked over to Lex. “Sorry it took me so long.”

  “No problem,” Lex said, obviously recognizing but not understanding the hostility between the two. “We should go. Reeve, you are more than welcome to stay. We have plenty of food.”

  Reeve reached for a glass and filled it with ice and water from the fridge door. “I may, thanks, Lex.”

  The two women left him alone in the large open kitchen.

  Charleston Reeve Kirkland Leighton watched them leave. Well, one more than the other, but Lex was his sister-in-law, and his brother would kill him for ogling her. Taking a drink, he ran over what had just occurred.

  As usual, he had shown up uninvited at his eldest brother’s house. Part of him was a bit perturbed that neither he nor any of the rest of his family had been invited to the festivities that were obviously happening.

  So he had walked in unannounced and gone to the kitchen for a drink. Hearing a noise, he’d moved closer, thinking he could surprise someone. He hadn’t been prepared for the sight that met him.

  An unknown woman had been pulling out some crystal from a bottom cabinet. So he had yelled at her, assuming the worst. After, of course, his eyes had wandered over the picture she offered.

  Black slacks drew tightly over her rounded derriere as she bent over. A moss green shirt stood out against the smooth darkness of her skin. Her hair was full of ringlets that looked soft and inviting to the touch. There was fire raging in her ey
es as she opened her mouth to say something. Then, Lex had shown up.

  The amount of anger in her eyes shocked Reeve—at first—yet he understood. He had assumed the worst of her without allowing explanation. However, by ignoring his outstretched hand, she’d stepped on his ego.

  Tossing back the rest of the water, he left the glass on the counter and headed to the backyard. At the door, he paused and turned back, placing the glass into the dishwasher instead, knowing that Lex would be on him if he didn’t. Then, with an arrogant push to his sunglasses, Reeve went to find out who the hell Ms. Affrica thought she was.

  The backyard was loud. Music. Conversation. Children. It was just loud. And surrounding the whole thing was a familial aura that made him almost feel like an outsider.

  “Hey, Reeve!” Scott yelled over the commotion. “Didn’t know you were here. Grab some food.”

  Reeve waved back at his brother even while his obscured gaze searched the beautiful women for the one he had encountered earlier. She stood with another woman Reeve had met once before, Jayde Kincade, wife to the second-in-command of the SEAL Team. Jayde held his niece and on one hip, Affrica held a baby. He didn’t know who that was either, but he hadn’t gotten all these children down with their respective families yet.

  His gut churned with an unfamiliar feeling as she looked at him and laughed at something the woman beside her said. A smile that transformed her face into a stunning portrait. The contrast between her teeth and skin was astounding. Beautiful.