Orion SteeleHello everyone. Please tell me how well I've been holding up with this book. This is my first book. Thank you for reading!
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The Underdog Turned Kingpin Six Years of Lies
Mason Rivers wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, his heart pounding with anticipation. The sapphire bracelet nestled in its velvet box felt like it weighed a ton in his pocket. He'd scrimped and saved for months to afford it, working overtime and weekends until his hands were calloused and his back ached. But it was worth it. For Olivia, anything was worth it.He fumbled with his keys, juggling the bouquet of lilies—Olivia's favorite—and the bottle of wine he'd splurged on. The clock on his beat-up Honda read 6:47 PM. Perfect. He was early, and Olivia wouldn't be home from her yoga class for another hour. Just enough time to set up the surprise.As he climbed the stairs to their third-floor walk-up, Mason allowed himself a rare moment of pride. Sure, their apartment was small, and yeah, his contractor's salary wasn't exactly setting the world on fire. But he and Olivia had built a life together. Six years of marriage, of shared dreams and whispered promises. Tonight was going to be s
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Identity Theft
Mason blinked, sure he'd misheard. "Excuse me?"The woman's gaze never wavered. "Get in. Enemies mightn't wait to take a shot."Maybe it was the shock. Maybe it was the crushing weight of having nothing left to lose. Whatever the reason, Mason found himself sliding into the plush leather seat.The door clicked shut, sealing him into a world that smelled of expensive cologne and danger."Dammit!," the woman exclaimed, pulling smoothly into traffic. "We've been worried sick. Where have you been?"Mason opened his mouth, then closed it. What the hell was happening?The woman's eyes flicked to him in the rearview mirror. "You look like hell, Leo. Rough night?"Leo? Mason's mind raced. This woman thought he was someone else. Someone important, by the looks of things.He should speak up. Tell her there'd been a mistake.But then Olivia's words echoed in his head. Worthless.Mason straightened, squaring his shoulders. "You could say that," he replied, deepening his voice slightly. The woman
The Underdog Turned Kingpin A Million Dollar Birthday
Mason leaned back, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Because I realized something. We're not just a crime syndicate, Eve. We're an empire. And empires don't crumble because of one close call. They adapt. They grow stronger."He stood, pacing the room as the words flowed. "We've been playing it safe for too long. It's time to expand. To take what's ours."Eve's expression shifted from suspicion to intrigue. "What exactly are you proposing?"Mason's mind raced, piecing together fragments from the earlier meeting. "Ramirez thinks he can muscle in on our territory? Let's crush him. The Italians are worried about their shipments? We'll double them. And as for our friends in city hall..." He paused, a wicked glint in his eye. "Well, let's just say it's time for some new leadership in this town."Eve stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "Now that sounds like the Leo King I know." She grinned. "Welcome back, boss."As Eve left the office, Mason sank back into the chair,
The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Devil Wears Tom Ford
The next evening, Mason adjusted his Italian silk tie, catching his reflection before a full-length mirror. The man staring back bore little resemblance to the contractor who'd stumbled through the rain just days ago. Tonight, he wore power like a second skin, wrapped in a bespoke Tom Ford tuxedo that Eve had somehow procured within hours, its price tag more than he used to make in a year. "Looking sharp, boss," Eve said, leaning against the doorframe. "You sure you don't want backup tonight?"Mason shook his head. "This is something I need to do alone."Eve's eyes narrowed. "You know, a few days ago, I would've bet my life that I knew everything about you, Leo. Now? I'm not so sure."Mason met her gaze in the mirror. "People change, Eve. Sometimes overnight."A wry smile tugged at Eve's lips. "Yeah, well, just make sure you come back in one piece. I've gotten used to having you around."As Mason headed for the door, Eve called out, "Oh, and Leo? Happy birthday."He mumbled a thanks
The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Million-Dollar Revenge
Mason reached his car—a sleek Aston Martin that belonged to Leo—just as his phone buzzed. Unknown number."Mr. Rivers?" A crisp, professional voice. "This is James Wheeler from Hartman & Associates. We have your divorce papers ready for signing. Would tomorrow at 9 AM suit you?"Mason's grip tightened on the phone. For a moment, rage threatened to overwhelm him—at Olivia, at Ethan, at the whole damn world that had conspired to humiliate him.Then, slowly, his fingers relaxed."Actually," he said, his voice deadly calm, "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. You see, I've recently come into some... opportunities. I think we'll need to renegotiate the terms."He hung up before the lawyer could respond.Truly, he's realized for the second time that Olivia's mind was made up over the divorce and there was no turning back.Clenching his phone tightly, a deafening roar ensued ripping up from his gut, unleashing all the fury he'd bottled up through the endless night.A wounded man's cry.Just the
The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Three Million Dollar Smile
Their eyes widened at the sleek black card in Mason's hand. This wasn't just any old piece of plastic - it was the mythical Platinum Pinnacle Card. Whispers rippled through the crowd: only seven of Chicago's most powerful players possessed such a thing. Smart folks started inching towards the exits, suddenly very aware they might've just ticked off someone who could squash them like bugs. The bolder ones? They leaned in, hungry for drama.Olivia's snorted, firing a disdainful look towards Mason. "Oh, please," she hissed. "Drop the act, Mason. I know you're full of hot air. You might fool everyone here, but I see right through you. You're as hollow as your promises."Mason only smiled, and nodded to the auctioneer. 'Carry on,' his eyes seemed to say.Ethan, not one to be outdone, jumped in. "Babe, I told you don't waste your breath on this loser." He smirked, puffing up like a peacock. "That card? It's as fake as his self-respect. Hell, even my family doesn't have one of those. Only
The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Stolen Platinum Pinnacle
"Not so fast." Ethan's voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. His lips curled into a cunning smile as he raised his phone. "Don't you dare think this is over."Mason froze, his hand on the door. He turned slowly, eyebrow raised. "Something else on your mind, Ethan?"Ethan's face was already red, veins popping on his forehead. "You worthless fraud! That card - it's stolen! It has to be! There's no way in hell a nobody like you could have a Platinum Pinnacle!"The crowd, which had been buzzing with whispers, fell silent. All eyes darted between Mason and Ethan, like spectators at the world's most intense tennis match. Mason's grip tightened on the velvet box containing the Aurora Borealis Diamond, his knuckles turning white. The accusation was heavy. Seemed like they've finally found the right spot to crush him.Olivia, sensing her moment, stepped forward, her crimson dress catching the light. "Oh, this is rich. First, he shows up here uninvited, and now he's committing fraud?" Her
The Underdog Turned Kingpin Behind the Headlines
Mason's heart skipped several beats as the cold metal pressed against his skull. Eve's familiar voice sent a chill down his spine that had nothing to do with the night air."Don't move," she growled again, "or I'll paint this parking lot with your brains."His mouth went dry. This was it—she'd figured out his deception. "Eve, what's—""Care to explain," she cut him off, her tone deadly serious, "why our birthday boy who should be at his own party with the boys chose the police station as his preferred venue?"The gun lowered, and Mason released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. She was joking. Sort of.He forced a chuckle, though his heart still raced, studying Eve's expression for any sign she knew more than she let on. "What can I say? The birthday boy was just buying himself a present before those idiotic cops got entertained about this card." He pulled out the black Platinum Pinnacle, extending it toward Eve, while being perfect maintaining his composure. "Those idiot
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- The Underdog Turned Kingpin Unstoppable and Unapologetic
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin Behind the Headlines
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Stolen Platinum Pinnacle
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Three Million Dollar Smile
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Million-Dollar Revenge
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin The Devil Wears Tom Ford
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin A Million Dollar Birthday
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin Identity Theft
- The Underdog Turned Kingpin Six Years of Lies