Brio : vigor or vivacity of style or performance. No other word could better describe Brio "Lilo" Valentino. He came into my life uninvited when something in my voice spoke to him. A fragility that couldn’t mask the pain. From the beginning, he warned me that we were different. He was darkness. I was light. His Lucila. Despite our differences, we fit together perfectly, like a lock and key. I had no choice but to let him in. Once inside, he picked me up off the floor and gave me hope for a brighter future. The thing about darkness and light, though? They always create shadows. And the bloody secrets between us followed us around, keeping us separated, until we were forced to face them. Choices have consequences—and I wasn’t sure whether ours were ruthless enough to keep us apart forever. \*Previously released in the Not Over You anthology. Now with an exclusive epilogue!

I'm in love—well, some would call it obsessed—with a mythical family. Technically, they're not a myth, because they do exist. But seeing one is like seeing a wild lion out on the streets of New York. Rare. Except when they're making the papers. I know something about that. I work for Vice City Times, a newspaper that reports on, and caters to, the criminal organizations of the world. And in our world, the Fausti family is considered royalty among killers, thieves, and generally anyone who usually does business in the dark. Because they steal hearts—while they’re still beating. Being the investigative journalist that I am, I followed the crumbs until they led me to Nazzareno “Naz” Fausti. It was my dream to go undercover, meet them, and write an article detailing everything I discovered. I never planned to witness Naz stealing a heart right from its chest. Mine. My name is Ava Gerardi, aka Pepper Nash, and I’m writing my own story.