Freak
Popov Bratva Series Book 1
by Leslie Georgeson
Genre: Contemporary Mafia Romantic Suspense
They say blood is thicker than water, but that's a lie.
----
Trust
no one. Especially family. Some are toxic.
Sad,
but true.
My family committed the ultimate betrayal. So, I
fled and never looked back.
I started my career behind a mask
of darkness. In seclusion.
No one knows who I am.
Or my
biggest secret.
When sexy and tempting Mia Bennett shows up at
my gate, all my instincts start screaming. Is she working for my
family?
Keep your enemies closer is the old adage.
I
invite her into my lair to expose her secrets.
Yet, it is I
who wants to share mine.
With little effort, she breaks down
my walls. And makes me feel alive again. She gives me the courage to
just be me. My heart’s new melody.
But something
dark and twisted lurks close to home.
With Mia’s life now at
stake, I have to uncover the truth.
Fast.
When an offer
of support comes from an unlikely place, who do I believe?
Trusting
the wrong one could be deadly.
And time is running out for us
both.
--------
Meet the Popovs. They're loyal. They're family. They're real. Oh, and they're also Mafia.
Books
in this series:
FREAK (Ezekiel's story)
SNITCH (Sacha's
story)
THUG (Lev's story)
THIEF (Dominik's story)
BEAST
(Adrik's story) - coming October 25, 2022
PUNK (Efrem's story) -
coming soon
***This
book contains a striking and unique hero, a sassy heroine, horrid
family members, a kind teacher, and a hint of the mafia. Due to
strong language, adult situations, and a few steamy scenes, it is
recommended for readers age 18 and up.***
AUTHOR’S NOTE: I
originally wrote this book as a complete standalone and never planned
for it to be a part of a series. However, after numerous requests
from readers to tell the rest of the Popov boys’ stories, I decided
to make it a part of a series. That is why it is slightly different
than the rest of the books in this series. While this is not a mafia
romance, it does introduce the Popov family, who are mafia, and their
stories are told in the subsequent books in this series. All books in
this series are interconnected standalones. However, to avoid
spoilers, it is recommended that they be read in order.
How was I supposed to get close enough to the Reclusive Songwriter to snap his picture?
Gathering up my bag, I followed the fence line back through the trees toward the front of the property. Finding a spot that gave me a good view of the front of the house, I settled down to wait, hoping he came out the front this time.
An hour passed.
Two.
I tried to get comfortable on the hard ground, reading on my Kindle and glancing up at the house every once in a while. But the man was indeed a recluse.
I didn’t know what to do. Desperation clawed at me. Should I go back to the front gate and ring the buzzer again, and keep ringing it until the man agreed to speak to me?
Right. That was only going to get me arrested.
I eyed the nearest “no trespassing” sign mounted on the fence about ten feet away. With all the surveillance cameras, he had to know I was out here. I was probably lucky the guy hadn’t had me arrested yet.
Another hour passed.
The sun was disappearing over the horizon now, darkness settling in. It didn’t look like I was going to be successful today.
With a heavy sigh, I gathered up my bag and rose to my feet, deciding to call it a day.
My skin prickled as something moved on the other side the fence.
I spun around, my heart smacking into my ribs.
The heavily-treed yard now deep in shadows, it took a moment for my eyes to take in what had appeared before me. Even then, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at in the low light. He stood as still as the tree trunks surrounding him.
My hand flew to my throat, my eyes widening.
Gasping, I stumbled back, tripping over my own feet and falling into the underbrush, my bag landing beside me.
I tilted my head back, unable to tear my gaze away.
Ohmigod. Ohmigod.
Oh. My. God.
Sasquatch was real.
And I was looking at him right now.
Snitch
Popov Bratva Series Book 2
She thinks I am just her rich neighbor. She has no idea I am heir to the Russian Bratva.
------
Pakhan. Head
of the Bratva. That is my destiny. Nothing can stand in my way. I
won’t allow it.
Until she shakes
things up. Willow Anthony. I didn’t even know she existed until her
voice floated through the trees, singing a melody that captivated me.
I had to
meet her.
Willow’s not what I expected. She’s shy. Sweet.
Innocent. A challenge.
I crave her as much as I long to be the king of the entire Russian
Bratva. I want her to sing for me, and me alone. I want to make music
with her in a very carnal way.
She has no place in my world.
But now it’s too late.
I have to choose: Willow or the
Brotherhood.
To save her, I must become what I swore never to
be.
How can I protect her and not betray my family?
I
can’t.
The music will stop.
And I will lose it
all.
***This novel contains a determined Mafia man, the
shy, feisty musician who lives next door, family bonds, betrayal, a
cute dog, and an evil villain. It has strong language, adult
situations, and plenty of steam. Recommended for readers ages 18 and
up.***
A boat had slipped silently up to the bank behind Willow’s house, docking in the wild willows that grew along the shoreline.
Intruders.
I crept across the grass, my gun ready, my senses alert, listening for the faintest sound, scanning for the slightest movement, feeling for the barest of breaths…
I reached the willow bushes, my skin prickling as I sensed their eyes on me. They had snuck in while Willow was sprawled across me in the swing, and I’d been distracted by her.
I ground my jaw, disgusted at myself.
Distractions got people killed.
I tensed as a group of men stepped out from behind the willows, their weapons pointed at me.
Five total.
I immediately recognized the sheriff who’d harassed us on the lake earlier. His four goons were all beefy, rough-looking, and looked more like hired thugs than deputy sheriffs. Who the hell was this guy and why was he here?
My inability to resist Willow had now brought her right into danger. If anything happened to her, it would be all on me. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she ended up getting hurt.
“Sacha Plotnikov.” The sheriff smirked at me. “I don’t think we were properly introduced earlier. My name is Malachi Russell, Sheriff Russell to you. I knew your father. I must say I’m quite disappointed to see you following in his footsteps. I had hoped you’d see the light and chose a brighter path to follow.” He sighed dramatically. “But, alas, I was wrong. Like father, like son.”
My spine stiffened. “Do I know you?”
“Well, we did meet once, long ago. You were just a boy. So, I will say, yes, you should know me.”
My gaze sharpened on Russell. A chill crept down my spine.
Russell glanced toward Willow’s house. “Looks like you’ve been getting cozy with your pretty neighbor. If you don’t want anything to happen to her, I would suggest you listen to me, and listen very carefully. Because I have a special job for you. If you don’t obey me like the good little doggy I know you are, then I’ll take out my frustration on your neighbor. And I know you don’t want anything to happen to her, now, do you?”
I kept my face expressionless, but my heart hammered with dread. My grandfather’s words about allowing Willow to become a weakness hit me hard in that moment. The thought of these men touching Willow, hurting her, made my pulse skyrocket. I couldn’t show a weakness, or they would pounce. In order to protect her, I had to act like I didn’t care.
I shrugged. “She’s just a quick hook-up like all the others. She means nothing to me.”
He narrowed his gaze at me. “Is that so?” He turned to the thug on his right. “Go get her, Diego. Bring her here. We’ll just see how little she means to him.”
A tall, beefy Hispanic dude, Diego sent me a sneer, then strode across the yard toward Willow’s house.
I did my best to tamp back my fear.
Run, Willow. Hide.
“Now,” Russell pulled my attention back to him. “While we are waiting, let’s discuss our potential new partnership.”
His remaining thugs moved closer, their guns trained on me.
“There is no partnership,” I ground out, keeping my ears tuned to any sound from Willow’s house. I needed to be ready to act quickly so I could help her, if necessary.
Russell’s gaze filled with contempt. “You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”
My left hand clenched into a fist while I fought to keep my right hand from pulling the trigger like I desperately wanted to do. I wasn’t ready to die yet. If I shot Russell, his thugs would kill me. And if I died, no one would be able to protect Willow.
Just then, a loud boom exploded across the yard.
And everyone scattered.
Thug
Popov Bratva Series Book 3
She's the wife of my archenemy. My chance for revenge. Could she also be my heart's salvation?
---
I
have three simple rules. Put family and the Bratva first. Show no
weakness. Never bend.
Then Siena Russo explodes into my life,
knocking me off my feet. And I forget all my rules. Siena is witty
and kind with an inner strength befitting a Mafia queen. My dream
girl in the flesh.
It is all smooth going but for one giant
hurdle. She is the wife of my archenemy, Salvatore Romano. Prince of
the Italian Mafia.
Siena is in a fix, but if I help her, I
will violate the Mafia truce. Crossing the ruthless Romanos means
certain death.
Sal wronged me once, and I was forced to let it
go. To protect my family and keep the peace.
Now is my chance
to get even. Save Siena and steal Sal’s wife. Revenge is sweet but
complicated. How do I choose between love and family?
***This is an action-packed, Mafia romantic suspense with a strong heroine, an alpha hero who will do anything for his lady love, betrayal, forgiveness, deep family bonds, and nasty bad guys who will make you cringe. Contains strong language, adult situations, and a steamy scene (or two). Recommended for readers 18 and up.***
**Only .99cents July 8-22!**
“There’s movement at the gate,” Adrik announced, drawing all our gazes.
We were parked across the street from the address Siena had texted me, having only just arrived moments ago.
We’d shown up just in time.
Sal’s property was fenced like most of the fancy homes in the area, and while we watched, the gate opened, and two vehicles emerged: a Tahoe and a sedan.
My gut said Siena was in that Tahoe, probably with Sal.
“Follow them,” I ordered. “But stay back. Don’t let them see you.”
Once the vehicles rounded the corner, Adrik pulled away from the curb and followed.
It was nearly five a.m. now, and the streets were empty, which made it easy to follow them. We stayed back so they wouldn’t get suspicious, and about fifteen minutes later, they turned into the Romano estate in Beverly Hills.
Dom’s gaze darted to mine. “If she’s in one of those cars and they take her inside, our chances of getting her out are slim.”
Enzo Romano’s property was like a fortress, much like the Popov mansion. He had thugs guarding it from all sides, not to mention the security fence that we would have to get past without alerting the guards. Odds of us getting inside undetected were slim to none.
Adrik pulled the car over several houses away and waited for my instructions.
I ground my jaw. We didn’t have enough manpower with us tonight to take on the Romanos. We shouldn’t even be here. I had put everyone in this car in danger just by being this close to the Romano estate. To venture any closer would be suicide. His men shot first and asked questions later.
I dragged a hand down my face. We had no choice but to back off for now. We would have to wait for another opportunity to free Siena.
“Fuck!” I slammed my fist into the back of Timofey’s seat, startling him. “Fuuuuck!”
Tension filled the car. We all watched in silence as the gate opened and the two vehicles drove inside the property.
I bowed my head, not wanting to admit defeat. Hundreds of scenarios flashed through my mind of ways Sal might torture Siena. In that moment, I was reminded of what the son-of-a-bitch had done to Cara, and my stomach heaved.
Be strong, Siena. Don’t let him break you. I’ll get you out of there as soon as I can.
“Now what, boss?” Adrik asked, eyeing me in the rearview mirror.
Heaving out a long sigh, I lifted my head.
“Now, we wait.”
Thief
Popov Bratva Series Book 4
She thrives in the limelight. He lives in the shadows. When the darkness finds her, he is her only hope.
----
I
live by one simple rule.
Do
not get attached.
Feelings
are a weakness that I can’t allow.
It’s an easy rule to
abide by. Keep everyone at a distance.
Then a sassy,
smart-mouthed redhead interferes in my heist. For the first time in
my life, I botch the job.
If I let her go, she’ll turn me
in. I have no choice other than to take her hostage.
Too late,
I learn she’s a celebrity. Her disappearance will make the
headlines and lead back to me. She’s nothing but trouble in a
tight, sexy body.
Can I strike a deal with a woman who
challenges me at every turn?
Then I discover she has secrets
that could ruin her. Now I have the upper hand. I plan to use it to
my advantage.
She has more to lose than I do. Or so I
think.
I am about to learn that some rules are meant to be
broken.
***This is an opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers
Mafia romantic suspense. It contains a stubborn car thief, a feisty
heroine, strong language, adult situations, and plenty of steam.
Recommended for readers age 18 and up***
**Only .99cents July 8-22!**
My stomach dropped. How could I have lost my wallet? This was not good. I needed to go back to the store before they closed and see if I could find it.
It was ten-thirty at night. The store closed at eleven. I needed to hurry. There might be a slim chance someone had found my wallet and turned it in to someone at the store. It was also possible I’d dropped it somewhere and it still lay where it had fallen. If I hurried back to Albertsons, I might actually get lucky and find it before someone picked it up.
The paparazzi should be long gone by now.
Snatching up my purse, I tossed my phone inside and headed for the garage. I’d never lost my wallet before. I wouldn’t feel better until I had it back in my possession.
Snagging a hoodie from the coat rack by the back door, I slipped it over my head. Moments later, I was in my Audi R8 and pulling out of the garage. I’d fallen in car lust the moment I’d seen the sleek and sexy convertible at the car dealership last year. Melanie called it a “dickmobile” and I loved the description with its intended pun. The sports car had cost me over a hundred and fifty grand. It was one of my few splurges. Mostly, I was careful with my money, investing over half of it for the future. I was smart enough to know I wouldn’t be on top forever. Everyone’s career had its ups and downs. Considering where I’d come from, I wasn’t about to be too confident. Today I might have it all, but tomorrow I might have squat.
I took nothing for granted.
Ten minutes later, I reached the store. 10:45 p.m. I still had fifteen minutes until closing.
The parking lot was nearly empty now. Only a few cars remaining. A sleek black Escalade. A beat-up blue Honda. A nondescript gray sedan.
Assuming the owner of the Escalade was wealthy, probably a celebrity and unlikely to care if he or she spotted another celebrity, I parked next to it. Plus, I felt safer parking near another expensive car. People with nice cars were less likely to ding your vehicle with their doors.
Pulling the hoodie up over my head to hide my face and stuffing a pepper spray in the pocket for my safety—one could never be too cautious—I exited the car and hurried toward the south entrance where Gus had picked us up earlier. If I couldn’t find my wallet on the ground, then I would go inside and ask the store clerk if someone had turned it in.
I’d only taken about eight or nine steps across the parking lot when I sensed a movement behind me.
My skin prickling, I whirled around.
A man dressed all in black slipped out of the back of the Escalade and rushed around to the driver’s side of my Audi, his face hidden beneath a black balaclava.
My mouth dropped open.
Are you kidding me?
Frozen with shock and cursing my dumb luck and the decision to park near the SUV, I could only stare as my car bleeped, the lights flashing as it unlocked, and the man slipped behind the wheel. Of my car. How the hell did he unlock it?
What I did next was probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But I wasn’t about to lose my precious Audi in addition to my wallet.
Pulling the pepper spray from the pocket of my hoodie, I raced back to my car just as the engine fired up.
Oh, no, you don’t, asshole!
Yanking the passenger’s side door open, I leaped into the vehicle just as it started to move forward.
The man jerked toward me in surprise.
I aimed the pepper spray at his face.
And pressed the trigger.
***Coming Soon! ***
Beast
Popov Bratva Series Book 5
Punk
Popov Bratva Series Book 6
From bad boys to rock stars, super soldiers to mafia bosses, Leslie Georgeson blends romance and suspense to create stories that are laced with danger, action, and plenty of steam.
An avid reader of all things romance, Leslie unabashedly carries her kindle with her everywhere. She lives with her husband and daughter (and an impressive collection of rare and exotic tropical plants) on a quiet country acreage in Idaho.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
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