The Shadow Lords & Their fake princess

This is a dark mafia academy romance intended for mature readers. The Shadow Lords are not heroes. They are ruthless, morally black men who manipulate, stalk, bully, and use violence to get what they want. They don’t apologize for their actions, and this story does not romanticize or endorse abusive behavior in real life. This book contains themes that may be disturbing to some readers, including: * Stalking * Bullying * Murder and graphic violence * Kidnapping * Criminal organizations * Psychological manipulation * Morally black love interests * An orphaned heroine * Explicit s****l content * Strong language If you’re looking for green flags, this isn’t the book for you. If you love dangerous antiheroes, high-stakes tension, obsessive romance, and morally gray characters in a fictional world, welcome to Ridgeview College. Read responsibly. ********** Three Months Ago Adessa POV “Go f**k yourself!” “Don’t f*****g test me, you little brat!” the man roared through the phone. “I don’t care about your excuses. All I want is the damn twenty thousand dollars your mother owes me. You have twenty-four hours to get my money.” His voice turned frighteningly calm. “Fail… your sister would have to pay for it.” The line went dead. Silence swallowed the room. My trembling fingers loosened around the phone, and it slipped from my grasp, hitting the cracked wooden floor with a dull thud. I sank down beside it, my knees giving out beneath me. Twenty thousand dollars…. In twenty-four hours. A bitter laugh escaped my lips before dissolving into a sob. How the hell was I supposed to come up with that kind of money? I already worked two jobs just to keep the lights on and food in the fridge. Every paycheck disappeared before it even reached my account, swallowed whole by my mother’s endless gambling debts. No matter how much I paid… There was always more. Another loan. Another threat. Another man calling to remind me that my mother’s mistakes had become my burden. I dragged a shaky hand down my face, fighting the tears burning behind my eyes. I could handle the threats. I could handle the sleepless nights. I could even handle going hungry if it meant keeping a roof over our heads. But now… They're after Selene. A sharp pain ripped through my chest as panic clawed its way up my throat. “No…” I whispered, shaking my head. Not her. Anyone but her. She was innocent. She had nothing to do with this mess. “f**k…” My voice cracked as tears blurred my vision. “What am I going to do?” My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. I grabbed my phone from the floor and dialed Selene’s number again. Not once but… Five times. Straight to voicemail. “Come on…” I whispered, pressing the phone tighter against my ear. “Please answer.” Nothing. I shot to my feet, nearly knocking over the tiny coffee table in my rush. My keys. I needed my keys. Maybe she’d left her phone somewhere. Maybe she was with a friend. Selene wouldn't let herself get caught by those animals. I refused to believe she was caught. Maybe… My thoughts came to a screeching halt when my phone vibrated. And My phone buzzed. A message pooped in. I opened it. My face turned cold. It was Selene. Her wrists were tied behind a wooden chair with thick rope. A black cloth covered her eyes. Dried tears stained her cheeks, and a strip of silver duct tape sealed her mouth. My knees buckled. “No…” Then my phone rang. Unknown Number. I answered before it could ring a second time. “If you hurt my sister, I swear to God—” A man’s low chuckle cut me off. “So the little brat finally understands the situation.” My stomach twisted. “Where’s Selene?” “Safe. For now.” My knees nearly gave out. “What do you want?” “You already know.” “I don’t have twenty thousand dollars.” My voice cracked despite my best effort to keep it steady. “Not my problem.” His voice was flat. Cold. As if my sister's life was another pawn to him. “You have until tomorrow night.” “Please…” My pride shattered. “She’s just a kid. She has nothing to do with this.” “Not my business..” he said coldly “If you fail…” he said calmly, “we’ll start with one finger.” “Please don't... Don't hurt her .” “And if that still doesn't have my money…” He laughed softly. “We’ll send you what’s left of her after we are done with her.” The call ended. I stood frozen, my phone slipping from my numb fingers. No… No… No. This couldn’t be happening. I slid down the wall, wrapping my arms around myself as my body shook uncontrollably. I had less than twenty-four hours. No money. No one to ask. And no way to save my sister. A knock echoed through my apartment. Three slow, knocks. Nobody ever visited since Mother abandoned us except for thugs and loan collectors Another three knocks followed. Wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I forced myself to my feet and walked toward the door. The moment I opened it… Two men in tailored black suits stood outside. One of them smiled. “We’ve been looking for you, Miss Scott.” A chill crawled down my spine. “Who are you?” The taller man adjusted his gloves. “We have a proposition.” “A proposition,” he repeated, “that could save your sister’s life.”