Collateral Bride (Claimed by Alessio DeLuca) By VIKKIEREAL Sofia Marchetti was never meant to be part of the mafia world. She had dreams, a future, and a life untouched by blood debts—until her father’s past came calling. On the night she was supposed to celebrate love, Sofia is handed over as collateral to the most feared man in the city. Alessio DeLuca. Cold. Ruthless. Untouchable. A mafia don who believes love is a weakness and marriage is nothing more than a weapon. Forced into a marriage she never agreed to, Sofia vows to hate the man who claimed her body and her name. Alessio expects obedience—but what he gets is defiance, fire, and a woman who refuses to bend. What begins as a marriage of vengeance turns into a dangerous game of power, desire, and secrets neither of them are prepared for. Because Sofia isn’t just his prisoner… She’s becoming his weakness. And in a world where betrayal is punished with blood, loving the wrong woman could cost Alessio DeLuca everything. She was meant to be collateral. He never planned to fall for her. But when obsession replaces revenge, will love survive the lies that brought them together?

British-born Folashade “Shade” Coker has always felt like a stranger to the Nigeria of her parents’ stories—until Detty December brings her to Lagos. The city is alive: bustling markets, sizzling street food, pulsating music, and nights that never sleep. For five glorious days, Shade tastes freedom, laughter, and life… but her adventure is far from over.Determined to see the countryside, she ignores her childhood friend Chike’s warnings about road travel. The journey is breathtaking—the rivers, hills, and forests painting a picture of beauty and adventure—but it ends in terror. Armed Fulani herdsmen block the road, and Shade is kidnapped, taken deep into the forest where survival becomes a daily struggle.Among her captors is Khalifa, young, restrained, and morally conflicted. He does not harm her unnecessarily. He offers subtle acts of mercy. He makes her question fear and morality. A slow, dangerous connection begins to form—but trust is a risk she cannot afford.As Shade learns to navigate captivity, summon courage, and fight for survival, she discovers inner strength she never imagined. But danger looms, choices must be made, and Khalifa’s conscience may be the only thing keeping her alive.Shadows on the Road is a gripping romantic suspense novel of danger, resilience, and forbidden attraction—a slow-burn romance that blooms in the heart of peril.