Captured by shadows

In the dazzling world of haute couture, Alessandra Ricci reigns supreme. A supermodel adored by millions, she commands runways and magazine covers with effortless grace. But behind the glamor lies a woman trapped in gilded chains, bound by duty to marry Luca Corsini, her family’s golden son and a billionaire untouched by their mafia ties. Matteo Corsini, the dark horse of the Corsini family, thrives in the shadows of the underworld. Ruthless and unapologetically dangerous, he’s carved his own empire within the mafia, far removed from Luca’s pristine world. Yet when Alessandra enters his life, she disrupts the order Matteo clings to. Her fiery independence and unapologetic spirit ignite a forbidden passion he cannot deny. For Alessandra, Matteo is everything she shouldn’t want—a man steeped in darkness and danger, the opposite of her safe, predictable fiancé. But the intensity of his gaze and the unspoken understanding between them pull her into a world she’s tried to avoid. As tensions rise, Viktor Castellano, Matteo’s closest ally and confidant, becomes both a voice of reason and a mirror to Matteo’s struggles. Their bond, forged in the fires of loyalty and shared battles, is tested as Matteo’s obsession with Alessandra threatens to blur the lines between family loyalty and personal desire. In a world where alliances are fragile and betrayal is deadly, Matteo must choose between his devotion to Alessandra and his loyalty to the Corsini name. Will their love be worth the price of war, or will it destroy them all? Captured by Shadows is a seductive tale of ambition, betrayal, and a love too fierce to resist, set against the backdrop of high fashion and mafia intrigue. --- Excerpt “You smell like him.” Alessandra froze, her heart thundering as Matteo’s eyes darkened. “Did he force you?” he asked, voice like a blade wrapped in silk. She shook her head. “No.” “But you didn’t want it,” he said quietly—like a truth he already knew. He stepped closer, his presence devouring the room. “You left your penthouse in the middle of the night,” he murmured. “Why?” Alessandra didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Because she had already run—straight to him. Matteo’s gaze pinned her in place. “You came here to forget,” he said. “To let me erase him.” And maybe she had. Because with him, nothing else mattered. Not the past. Not the pain. Only the storm he brought with every step.