I'm sitting here writing this while watching a YouTube channel called Jr Mojo about how cows are milked (3 year olds have strange interests) and Mojo couldn't be a better way to describe what I've found in the last week.

Little Man started 4 days a week daycare and it's been a game changer. Little Lady and I settled into a great routine, I have a desk set up in the playroom so she can play while I work and I've been more productive in the last week than any other week I've tried to work with kids at home. Shocking, I know.

But this has been a long process for me and I'm so happy we've finally gotten there.

Next week is the start of the third quarter which means I have a new set of goals for myself for now through until October. My big focuses are obviously continuing to produce stories and I have about 2 a month planned sometimes 3 (but those months I'm definitely hoping for the best haha). And my second goal is to grow my marketing strategy. One of the things I'll be focusing on is growing this newsletter.

I've been doing well remembering to email you once weekly, but I'll also be trying to grow the amount of subscribers and I'll be doing that using a service called Bookfunnel which basically allows me to enter promotions with other authors to get my books and newsletter in front of new eyes. The bonus for you is when I send my newsletter I'll be linking you to these promos that offer you lots of new authors and books to check out.

So, starting next week, look forward to seeing a new section in my newsletter with those promos for you!

Speaking of promo, I have a new release today!

Eden

When I fought back against a shakedown, I expected to be roughed up a bit. I never imagined losing my heart and ending up trapped in a tower like some princess.

But then I met Matteo.

He was handsome—and dangerous. And he's the one who put me here. After sending some thugs to demand payment from me for "protection," I find myself mixed up with the mafia.

But it isn't long until I realize that the mafia is one thing, but getting mixed up with Matteo—or is it Mammon?—is something else entirely.

And I won't just lose my heart in the process. My soul is on the line.

Matteo

With our plan well on the way, we need a way to collect the souls. So, when a renovated butcher shop falls into my lap, a plan forms.

What I never exptected was being caught off guard by its curvy, spitfire of an owner. One look at her, and I have to have her.

She's not part of the plan, but she's about to be.

Letting her go isn't an option, and seeing her with someone else can never happen, so I'll keep her locked away until she comes around to the inevitable.

Because she is mine.

This is a 18k word dark, mafia romance with many trigger warnings. Please use the look inside before reading to ensure that there is nothing within that you can't handle.

Here's a Sneak Peek!

The chimes over the door tingled as it opened. Not sparing a glance from the row of items I was in the middle of counting, I called out: “we’re not open for another half hour.” But when an echoing chime didn’t reply, my attention was drawn away to see who was there. Except, the threshold was empty. I was about to return to my counting when the broom behind me dropped to the floor suddenly, making me jump and spin around. Three men stood in the back doorway of my shop, looking disgusted by the femininity of the place.

“Can I help you?” I tried again to elicit some response as I placed the necklace and clipboard I was holding on the counter and approached them. They were dressed like they were bound for a funeral, though maybe not of a relative since their black slacks were dark, tightly fitted jeans. But they had on button-ups that gave the impression they were the nicest thing they owned, as though someone had forced them into such formal attire.

However, their formal appearance didn’t distract me from the tattoos on their necks, peeking out from under collars. Nor the various notations on their knuckles in permanent ink as well.

Instinct told me to be worried, be nervous, or, at the very least, be intimidated, but I wasn’t the kind of woman who took one look at three men and ran with her tail between her legs. Even if I was sure they were there to intimidate.

“I’m speaking to you. Social courtesy dictates you reply—especially when you’re the ones who let yourselves in.”

“Don’t leave the fucking door open then.” The one furthest on the left spoke, the harshness of his accent giving away my earlier suspicions. If this man had his way, he would not be dressed like he was wearing his Sunday best. But the one in the middle shot him a glare, effectively shutting him up before turning to me again.

“Ignore my colleague, more teeth than brains.” He smiled, showing off one dead tooth and the rest catastrophically clustered. I forced myself to smile back even if it was the last thing I wanted to do. “I’m Johnny. This here’s Nicky and Steve.” He jutted his thumb in various directions to tell me which man was which, but their names were immediately filed away under ‘things I don’t care to remember.’

When he finished introducing the small group, he held out his hand and waited. Social courtesy, I heard my thoughts echo as I reluctantly took his hand and meekly shook it. My father was likely rolling over in his grave at the placidity of the gesture. He’d always preached the importance of a firm handshake for a good impression.

“Chandelle.” My eyes found the closes thing I saw—a candle—and two years of woeful French came back to me as the silly name sprang from my lips. These were not the kind of men I planned to supply with the power of my real name.

“Chandelle, like Chantel, but more … hoity-toity.” He flashed another grin that made me grimace in condolence for his teeth.

“Sure,” I said, shifting my stance, hoping it would back them toward the door as I stepped closer. They remained affixed where they were, unfortunately.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Chandelle. We’re your friendly neighborhood welcoming committee.” Nicky and Steve chuckled under their breath. “Here to introduce ourselves in case you need anything and let you know how things work around here.” He said anything, and his eyes slid down the length of my body, making a pair of jeans and a t-shirt feel slutty. I tried to smile, but it was lost as my nose turned up in disgust at his suggestion.

“Well, that’s nice of you. But today is opening day, and I have a few more last-minute things I need to get ready, so if you don’t mind …” I moved to the door, stretching out my arm to grab it and see them out when Nicky—or was it Steve?—reached out and grabbed my arm. I shrunk back immediately, pulling away as I looked between the three men whose demeanors suddenly changed. They crowded around me, stepping closer and closing ranks.

“We’re not going to take up much of your time, but there are a few things we have to go over before you open today.” One of the lackeys broke off and made their way toward the cash register. It suddenly dawned on me what they were doing here—this was a shake-up, like right out of a movie.

“You see, your little establishment here by-passed a few dotted I’s that we normally cross.” My brow crooked up at his jumbled idiom. “So, we had to come down here and clear up any confusion. This here building is situated on the edge of our territory, and as such, it is subject to some, well, let’s say land taxes.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Listen, whatever you little hoodlums think you’re up to, you’re not going to get anything out of me. I’m not into financially supporting criminal enterprises, so you’ll have to fuck off and find someone else’s hard-earned money to steal because you won’t be taking mine.” The second lackey standing next to me raised his hand like he would back-hand me. Without even a flinch, I watched the motion and stared hard and unwaveringly at him. But Johnny grabbed his hand and stopped him before he did anything, shaking his head.

“I understand your reluctance. You’re new. You don’t know how these things work. So, we’ll forgive this little transgression, and we can only hope in the future that you’ll be a little more forthcoming with your payment. My boss doesn’t like late payments, and usually, he charges an interest of fifty percent, but since you’re new and all, we’ll forgive it this time and your cheek. But—” He moved closer, the sour smell on his breath making me step back and into the counter behind me, “—next time, I won’t be so nice.”

The guy jangled the cash register behind me, trying to get it open, but the only way to do it was with my code, which they wouldn’t get.

“Boss, it’s locked.” Johnny’s eyes flashed with brief anger before he smiled again.

“Not a problem. You probably need the cash for now to make change. What with it being opening day and all. We wouldn’t want to make things hard on you, so we’ll leave it for now and be back later. Sign says six, so we’ll come for—say—five-thirty?” He smiled again, and my nose curled instinctively as my eyes locked on the disarray of teeth.

“You can come back, but you’ll find it’s still locked.” I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping my defiant stance would be enough to tell him I wouldn’t give in to his bullying. “Listen, you bitch,” his tone changed immediately, and he leaned in, attempting to be intimidating once more before he caught himself. He seemed barely in control as he inhaled so deeply that his nostrils flared, and his teeth ground together. “We’ll be back at five-thirty, and you’ll give us the money. Because if you do, we won’t break anything.”

“Break anything, and I’ll call the cops.” Unmoving, my voice was stern as I locked gazes with Johnny. We stood there, staring at each other for what seemed like forever, when he finally laughed.

“Sure, Sugar. We’ll see ‘bout that.” He nodded his head, and the other two men moved out, leaving the register, although I watched as Nicky or Steve pocketed one of the necklaces on his way out. Opening my mouth to say something, the door clanged ominously shut, and I was left standing there feeling like a fool.

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That's it from me, I hope you have a great week!

Kylie xo