The Arrangement
by: Bethany Kris
Genre: Erotic, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense
When a Cosa Nostra girl and a Bratva boy meet...
Blurb ~ Nothing will stop the Bratva mob boss from taking back what’s his, and once he
has her, he’ll do anything to keep her…
Viviana “Vine” Carducci’s and Anton Avdonin’s marriage was decided more than
two decades ago. The deal between leading mafia families has more on the line
than anyone knew, even if the Bratva and Cosa Nostra shouldn’t mix. When Vine’s
family is murdered and she’s left with nothing more than her grief to survive
the mob world alone, she believes the arrangement won’t see the light
of day.
Anton can’t allow the one woman he was supposed to love get away. At the
possibility of her death, he steps in to save her with guns blazing, knowing
exactly what it might cost him: everything. But it’s been nearly a decade since
their last meeting, and he can’t help but wonder if the woman he took back is
the same girl he fell for all those years before.
Protected and loved, Vine is unable to forget their shared moments a lifetime
ago, or the future she knows they’re owed. When an old flame of Anton’s shows
up to rip the veil off the carefully constructed secrets he’d been hiding, she
learns that nothing about her life is as it seems. But, that’s nothing compared
to the bomb about to blow. Can Vine see beyond the pain and blood to take what
she always wanted? And just how far will the mob prince go to keep her safe?
In a world where violence, deceit, and greed reign, your life is not your own,
and sometimes, love has to be arranged.
Excerpt
“Why all the safety precautions if you’re expecting me to
live openly here?” she asked. “Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?”
Anton cocked a brow. “I’m hoping your uncle will be a lot
less brazen if I’m not keeping you hidden.” He still hadn’t let go of her
sides, those teasing thumbs of his rolling gently against the undersides of her
breasts in tender motions. “Deny that you want this, too, Vine. You’ve always
wanted me. You want this life because you were meant for it, and I have waited
more than long enough to get you here living it with me.”
“You’re not giving me a choice. I’ve spent the last three
years thinking that this arrangement was over, and then you come in with guns
blazing and a house on lockdown, Anton. That’s … It’s not fair. You signed my
death warrant doing this.”
Immediately, his hands left her skin. She wanted them back,
but her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit that fact. “It was already signed.”
“What?”
Placing his hands to his knees, Anton shook his head and muttered,
“He was already getting ready to put out a hit on you. That guard of yours was
probably going to be the one to do it to get his in with the family. I was
hoping to see you back in the states before I approached you myself, but Sonny
didn’t give me the chance.”
No one likes to off a woman, Vine.
She couldn’t help but remember Sam saying that. Would he
have done it?
“You can’t possibly know that for sure.”
The look he gave turned her stomach with fear. “I can and I
do, Vine. There are men in that organization who are less trustworthy than a
snake. Even their eyes and ears can be bought. I stepped in now
because I needed to, not because I thought you were ready, or that you wanted
me to.”
An ache settled in her chest. How was she supposed to trust
him?
“Sonny wouldn’t kill me simply because I wanted to marry
you, Anton. I’m not worth a damn thing to him alive, nothing more than a
nuisance he has to look after.” Frustrated by his lack of expression, her
bitterness rose. “Dead I’m worth even less though, right?”
“Dead you’re worth nothing,” Anton admitted, hurting Viviana
a little more. “That is exactly what your uncle wants to achieve. For secrets
to remain hidden from his family and for his power to remain intact.”
That only left her more disturbed, emotions rolling from one
thing to the next without ever landing on just one feeling. “Our families won’t
merge now, regardless if we’re married or not. So you lied to me earlier when
you said that’s what this was about. A marriage is only going to cause more
issues. I’m worthless to the Bratva; you practically said so yourself.”
“No, you’re worth a great deal, especially if you’re married
to me.”
But, why?
“You’re hiding something from me,” she realized, hurt that
he was lying again, even if it was by omission. Viviana couldn’t decide which
stung worse—that he didn’t trust her, or that he thought she didn’t deserve to
know whatever it was. “What aren’t you saying?”
Anton looked stricken, fingers drumming a quick beat on his
thighs. “I gave them my word. It was supposed to be them explaining this to you
if they desired to—all the reasons and things that happened years ago. It’s not
my story to tell, and I promised. My word is all I’m worth if you consider the
way I live; without it, I have nothing.”
Reaching out, he cupped a hand over her knee and ran it
along the inside of her jittery leg. With his fingers moving so softly against
her inner thigh, he pressed his fingertips close enough to her center to make
Viviana throb with need. Murmuring, he said, “Can’t you try to trust me?
Viviana, you know me … you do.”
She ignored his plea. “Who, Anton?” His fingers pressed
harder at her words, grip tightening when Viviana refused to react to his
motions. What she really wanted was more. So much more of his hands on her
body, but she didn’t dare speak that out loud. “Was it my father, or
Nicoli? Who?”
“I can’t answer that right now.” With that, he stood and
held out a hand for her to take. “Come, I’ll get you back in bed for the
evening. Let you rest and get the last of that sedative out of your system. I
promise you’ll feel better in the morning.”
Too exhausted to argue, her palm met his. Anton’s lips
touched down to Viviana’s fingers in a flutter of movement. She wouldn’t have
noticed the quick kiss had she not felt the heat of his mouth brushing along
her sensitive skin. She might as well have been sixteen and falling for him all
over again.
Viviana couldn’t figure out if she was willing enough to let
him do it. It didn’t help that she wasn’t all too sure if she knew this man
anymore. Was he the same one she wanted all those years ago? Had his feelings
remained the same nearly a decade later … was that even possible? Could someone
want another that much?
What was even more frightening was that with his blue eyes
watching, and his hand connected with hers, waiting, Anton still felt like
hers.
Just like he always had.
My Review
March 26. 2014
★★★✩3.5 Mobster Lovin’ Stars
Copy Provided by Author for Honest Review
I have mixed feelings about this book. I think I was
expecting something different or at least different in the main characters.
Where I assumed this was a mob-romance (and it is) the more hardcore elements
and stereotypical elements were missing. Sure there are scenes of violence and
murder but to me it fell a bit flat. Not to say the story was bad, just not
what I was expecting.
The main characters were a bit of an annoyance for me. I
hoped that Viviana AKA Vine would have more of a backbone or at least develop
one in order to live in the mob life but the passion that drives her seems to
weaken early on. She went from a defiant and badass chick to someone who
basically did everything she was told. I understand she felt it was necessary
to mind herself in this new life but she lost part of herself at the same time.
Having grown up and witnessed this life only from a Italian family rather than
Russian one would assume Vine would know to be strong and worthy of her man,
but I didn’t feel it. Personally she grew into a tamable puppy and where it
helped ease the story along it just wilted a bit for me.
Aside from my dislike of Viviana the story itself was
interesting and the pace was steady. Vine is stolen from her home and brought
back to New York where she is supposed to marry an old flame and someone who
she was promised to as a young girl. Mob-life runs differently than ours and Vine
knows the best thing she could do is follow her family’s wishes. Not to mention
she has to fear an uncle with a grudge.
That’s where Anton comes in the most. Not only can he offer Viviana protection
but he can have what’s his: her. After a
steamy hookup when they were still teenagers, Anton knew there was something
special about Vine and she would be his when the time is right… Now is that
time.
The greatest issue Anton and Vine face is having and keeping
a relationship with all the threats that being together and Anton being the Don
hold. He may be in charge but together they have to be strong and not show
fear. Money is power but so is being the most fearsome and steadfast Don, and
that’s just who Anton sets out to be. Anton is a man who won’t let anyone stand
between him and Vine even if that man is her relative. Should that enemy try and hurt her, well the
gloves come off and things get messy.
Overall this was an interesting mob-style read. I wasn’t overall
thrilled with the mob lifestyle, I expected more fights, explosions, something.
And I also felt slighted by the romance that happens too quick and felt weak.
All that aside I was still kept engaged and entertained till the very end. If
you like your men on the wrong side of the law, wielding a power that will probably
get them killed then I highly recommend The Arrangement. Immerse into a world
where Brooklyn becomes the home of the mob and no one is safe, not even your
heart.
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☮PEACE LOVE & HAPPY READING!!!
Title: The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window
My name is Kirsty. I was born in Hertfordshire, England. In 2000 I moved to Norfolk, it was there that I met my husband, Lee. Now, what can I say about Lee, apart from everyone should have one? He's my biggest supporter, and I wouldn't be where I am today without his encouragement and endless support. He is my inspiration behind most of my male leads, I always try to bring a little of him in somewhere, be it his kindness, selflessness, or just his ability to make me feel treasured.
In 2005, I was gifted with the birth of my son. He is, and always will be, the best thing I have ever done in my life. As you can probably tell, I'm a very proud mummy. I have always been interested in writing, but after the birth of my son I accidentally came across an amateur writing site. After a couple of months of just reading on there, I finally plucked up the courage and posted one of my stories. I was shocked and overwhelmed by the support of readers on there and they gave me the confidence to get where I am today. In April 2012, I self-published my first novel ‘The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window’. And in October 2012 I took the plunge again, publishing my second novel, 'Always You.' Lastly, if I had to sum myself up in one word, it would probably be ‘daydreamer’ – but unlike most of my school teachers, I don’t necessarily view that as a bad thing. After all, I read somewhere once that books are like waking dreams….
