Beneath These Shadows

He loves me, and he doesn't even know my real name. The limelight that follows him could expose everything I'm hiding. But even knowing the risks, I can't force myself to stay away. I'm going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. Will we lose it all when I reveal what's beneath this mask?

Jury and Imogen Kilgore didn’t expect to bury their sister, Keira, and her family in New Orleans after the explosion of the Seven Sinners Distillery. As sisters, they had never agreed on much, but they now agreed on one thing: something didn’t seem right about this whole business. To cement their remaining sisterly bond, Jury insisted they get memorial tattoos, but the last thing they expected was their visit to Voodoo Ink to send them on a scavenger hunt through the city, orchestrated by their sister and her husband from beyond the grave.

Every family has a black sheep. In the infamous Casso crime family, that black sheep is me - Cannon Freeman. Except I’m not a free man. I’ve never been free. Not since the day I was born. I owe my loyalty to my father, Dominic Casso, even if he won’t publicly acknowledge me as his blood. I’ve never had a reason to go against his wishes...until I met her. Drew Carson turned my world upside when she walked into my club looking for a job. Now, my honor and my life are on the line.

He’s a mystery. An enigma. His very identity is a secret buried beneath layers of deception. He’s also an addiction I can’t shake. An attraction I can’t fight. And then I found out exactly who he is - a man more dangerous than the devil himself. Now I need him in order to save everything that matters to me. I have to pull back. Protect myself from the danger that haunts his every step. Which would be easy...if I could stop myself from falling in love with him.

I do what I want and who I want. I don't follow anyone's rules-even my own. I knew I shouldn't touch her, but it didn't stop me. Didn't stop me the second time either. Only made me want a third. My lifestyle suits the savage I am, and she doesn't. But Temperance Ransom is my newest addiction, and I'm nowhere near ready to quit her yet. I'll have her my way, even if it means dragging her into the darkness. Hopefully it doesn't kill us both.

New Orleans belongs to me. You don't know my name, but I control everything you see - and all the things you don't. My reach knows no bounds, and my demands are always met. I didn't need to loan money to a failing family distillery, but it amuses me to have them in my debt. To have her in my debt. She doesn't know she caught my attention. She should've been more careful. I'm going to own her. Consume her. Maybe even keep her. It's time to collect what I'm owed.

The thing about ghosts is they’re supposed to stay dead. That’s exactly what I am, but I can’t stay away from Magnolia Marie Maison for one more day, let alone another year. We’ve already got 15 of those between us. As it stands, she’ll want to kill me as soon as she lays eyes on me. And knowing her, she’s completely up to the task. But I’m a man on a mission, and I’ve got everything riding on this. So, here I come, Magnolia. This ghost is ready for whatever you got. After all, there’s only one way I want this to end - ’til death do us part.

One look at Jericho Forge, and I knew the rumors were true. He was a predator, and he had set his sights on me. I knew better than to bet more than I could afford to lose that night. I knew better than to bet myself. But desperation leads to bad decisions, and I thought there was no way I could lose. I was wrong. Now I have no choice but to make a deal with the devil....

We come from two different worlds. I’m from the streets. She might as well live in an ivory tower. I made my living with my fists. I doubt she could even throw a punch. Our paths never should have crossed. We never should have met. That doesn’t change the facts. I would sell my soul to taste those red lips. Fight the devil himself to hear her laugh. Burn in hell to have a single night. Scarlett Priest shouldn’t even know men like me exist, but sometimes temptation is stronger than will. If this is how I go down, it’ll be worth every second of the fall.

A collection of five addicting standalone small town romances by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charity Ferrell.