Burning Bridges

Burning Bridges Enemies to Lovers, Mafia Romance A. K. Steel Copyright ©2023 by A. K. Steel All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in either electronic, paper hard copy, photocopying, recorded, or any other form of reproduction without the written permission of the author. No part of this book either in part or whole may be reproduced into or stored in a retrieval system or distributed without the written permission of the author. This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademark status and owners of products referred to in this fiction which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorised, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Published by A.K. Steel Edited by Contagious Edits Cover Design by Alicia Jones Contents About The Book Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Epilogue The Coach Preview About The Book Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Also By A. K. Steel Acknowledgements About the Author About The Book Revenge can be a dangerous game, especially when the stakes are high and passions run hot. My family has been at war with hers for years, ever since her father killed mine. So, when I'm tasked with keeping watch over Piper Acevedo, the enemy, I know what's at stake. But instead of hatred, I find myself becoming obsessed with her. I observe from afar, wondering what it would be like to feel her soft raven hair beneath my fingertips or taste her ruby-red lips. I know I shouldn’t get too close, but when she propositions me, I can’t resist the temptation in front of me. In our world, nothing is real. We play games to get what we want. And what we want is to be on top. Lust and betrayal go hand in hand, and as our passion intensifies, so does the threat from our warring families. But when I discover that Piper is in trouble, I’m torn between my duty to my family and my desire to protect her and her daughter. Can our forbidden love survive in the face of bitter hatred and deadly danger? Or will our passion consume us both and lead to our downfall? With the Acevedos, I know I need to be ready to play with fire, but for Piper, I’m willing to go to hell and back, even if it means risking everything. In a world where loyalty and love are never what they seem, can we find a way to be together, or are we doomed to burn in the flames of our families' feud? Chapter 1 LEO I light up a smoke, blowing a puff out the window of my Mercedes AMG G 63, as my eyes leisurely roam down her body. She’s scorching hot in a tight little black pencil skirt and button-down blouse that shows off all her assets. She has always been the most attractive girl around. Too bad for me, she was born into one of the deadliest mafia families this side of LA and has always been totally unattainable. Piper Acevedo isn’t a shy little wallflower like her daddy always hoped she would be. The perfect little housewife for the man of his choosing, like her mother. No. She’s a fierce powerhouse who holds herself with confidence and a sense of self-satisfaction as she works the floor of her hair and nail salon. Her staff admire her, while her clients feel reassured that they have secured an appointment at one of California’s most prestigious salons. Piper herself is known as one of the top color specialists in the country. I guess it’s her way of being creative. I always thought she would be an artist or pianist, but those professions probably didn’t align with her father’s vision for her life. Yes, Piper is a very successful businesswoman, as well as one of the most magnificent creatures on the planet. She is also an Acevedo. That name alone is enough to make my fingers twitch with the desire to spill blood. She might not notice me, but our two families have been mortal enemies since the day her father destroyed my life. Her salon sits alongside our town’s exclusive high-end boutiques and patisseries. With their sleek modern design in marble and gold trim, they give off that look-but-don’t-touch vibe, and so they should. This part of town isn’t for just your average Joe Blow looking to improve their appearance. You need a certain type of status to even set foot on this strip, one you can only get from being born into the right family. And luckily for her, she was. Growing up, she had it all. Daddy’s money and the popularity that came with it. She was one of the blessed few. She didn't have any idea about the reality of what life was really like for kids who grew up like me. Kids who lived on the other side of Main Street in the rundown houses, their parents slaving away just to make ends meet. Like my father did. He worked as a supervisor in the old factory run by her father and the Stones. We are polar opposites, me and this girl I can’t take my eyes off. She takes a call and grabs her jacket, then struts out the front of her salon, pocketing her cell before looking up the street then back down toward Antonio’s, the Italian restaurant her family used to own.