Dangerous Benevolence by Zrinka Jelic - Free Online

My Passion

Discover

Top Picks

Library

Discover

Steamy

Dangerous Benevolence

Steamy

7.0K

Description

Dario Vitez crawled from the brink of poverty and made a name for himself as a wealthy, successful restaurateur. Love is the only thing missing from his life. He’s never found a woman who could compare to his childhood sweetheart, Irena Novak - who was forced into a marriage of convenience and lives half a world away. Irena has secrets - dangerous secrets. She reappears in Dario’s life, on the run from her murderous husband, who will do anything to silence his wife. When Dario discovers the danger she’s in, he vows to protect her. But her psychotic husband is drawing closer by the day. If Dario loses Irena again, this time it might be forever.

Bachelor

Thrill

Ambitious

Speculative

Sexy

Editor's Top Picks

Chapter 1

Feb 9, 2022

The lovers at the secluded table of Mezzaluna, holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes re-opened Dario’s barely healed wounds and forced him to seek solace in his office. The full-length mirror he passed in the foyer reflected a well-dressed, successful restaurateur, but he knew better than to believe the illusion. The clanging of dishes and murmurs of the restaurant staff muffled through the wall.

He dropped into the leather chair. The unopened bottle of the Frangelico on his desk taunted him. Combing his hand through his hair a few times, he tried to remember the sweet, nutty taste of the liquor on his tongue. His mouth salivated at the thought. If he popped the corked and took a sip, he wouldn’t be able to stop until he consumed the last drop. He shifted his focus on the gypsy stone on the table. Fourteen years later and he still couldn’t part with the damn thing. Now it was nothing but a paperweight for the restaurant’s stack of bills, and a constant reminder of his pain. The only keepsake him and Irena had shared…or half of it. Did she still have the other half? So much for the gypsy’s prediction.

If there was a rewind button on the life he would’ve pressed it long ago. He straightened, leaning against the backrest, the coldness of the leather seeping through his thin cotton shirt. Better get his thoughts back on the job. Damn bills won’t pay themselves.

He grabbed the yellow purchase order from the top of the stack and scanned over the page. Why did he bother? His accountant had warned him of the declining sales over the years due to the bad economy. Many businesses around his restaurant folded, he struggled to keep the prices low to attract patrons, but people’s disposable income shrunk and they rarely dined out.

The door to his office flew open and Ante stepped in, two uncapped beer bottles in his hand. He kicked the door shut behind him. “I knew you’d be hiding in your cave.”

Annoyance replaced Dario’s brooding “Your only saving grace is that we’re family or I’d fire you for bursting into my office without knocking. You think I put that sticker on the door saying keep nuts out because I’m allergic?”

“Ha-ha.” Ante approached the desk. He plopped one beer in front of him and lowered to the chair facing Dario. “Never drink alone.” After taking a long swig from his bottle, Ante pointed at the tall bottle on the table. “Going back to hard liquor? You know what that shit does to you.”

Dario tilted the brown glass. Last time he had fooled his younger brother was in grade school, not likely he’d buy the lie now, but it was worth a try. “Wasn’t gonna drink it.”

Ante arched an eyebrow, looking at him with that who-are-you-kidding-bro look. “You enjoy torturing yourself by staring at it?” He gulped a few more long pulls from his bottle and swiped the back of his hand over his mouth. “We did great tonight. Wait staff is happy with tips they got and we’re ready to close. Mom must be proud.”

Ante raised his bottle and Dario clicked his beer with his brother’s in a toast to their parents, their nightly ritual at closing.

Ante nodded fast a few times, drained his beer, licked his lips, and then deposited the empty bottle on the table. “So, coming to the party?”

Dario thumped his beer on the desk and pressed his finger at the stack of bills. “I suppose you’ll take care of these?”

“Oh come on. Leave the work for one night. It’ll still be here in the morning.” His brother tapped his foot against the desk, annoyance filled his tone.

“Exactly.” Dario leaned over, his finger still on the top bill. “And doubled if this stack doesn’t get taken care of tonight. We receive deliveries every day.” He flashed one bill in his outstretched hand. “This one’s for bread.” Picked up another and waved it in the air. “Beer.” Then another. “I don’t know what this one’s for, but it’s for something. Some days it feels like everyone wants our money and all I do is write checks.” “Okay, you proved your point.” Ante pointed at the stacks of papers on Dario’s desk. “This is just an excuse. You think I don’t know you. Ana’s been asking about you.”

Dario turned to the computer screen, guilt brewing in the pit of his gut. Whenever he thought of Ana that night came to mind…the night he preferred to forget. “I can’t imagine why.”

“The two of you made a good couple, everyone thought—”

“Well, try paying your bills with everyone’s opinions.” Dario dismissed him with a wave of his

hand. People and their ideas. Who asked them for the advice? The assumption that they knew what was best for him irked him no matter how hard he tried to ignore the rumors.

Ante loosened up his tie. “You dated Ana because she kind of resembles Irena, but what happened? One minute you two were kissing and the next, zilch. The break up was so sudden.”

Dario scrubbed his hand over his face. So the bitch had not told, yet. Surprising. He pushed the beer bottle across the desk. “Too much booze and with her fake blonde hair close to Irena’s, I cried the wrong girl’s name in bed.”

Dumb mistake. Anna’s bleached hair could not compare to Irena’s tresses—rays of sunshine reflecting off the surface of the water. Neither could be captured in a bottle of hair dye. God, learning to live without her had been harder than saying goodbye. He’d tried to stop comparing every girl to Irena to no avail, for fourteen years he was left to grapple with their split-up.

“Aw man, that stings.” Ante got on his feet and took the empty bottle. “Still, you should get out instead of living in this office, like some hermit. I hear Irena’s parents aren’t doing well. Maybe she’ll come home to see them one last time.”

Dario shook his head. “Knowing her parents, the world wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t.”

Despite his words, a hint of hope kindled inside him, but he extinguished it fast. No, if she returned, she’d find a way to contact him. Unless… She’d fallen out of love with him. After all, it’d been fourteen years. Unimaginable, they had promised their love would live forever, but they were young and green. He could still

recall the sweet scent of her hair, the feel of the soft skin pressed against his body.

“People said teenagers are not mature for marriage.” Ante’s voice pulled him out of his reverie. Again, goddamn people and their thinking.

“No, I was too poor, not book smart and no promise of a great future. Her parents never liked me, thought their daughter could do a heck of a lot better. Back then, her parents were right and made damn sure to put as much distance between us as possible by sending her off to Canada. The night we split up, my toes pushed through the holes in my socks. Yet I wanted to give her the world, hell, I couldn’t afford a new pair of socks.” Dario powered down his computer, hiding his face from Ante. Their parents had provided food on the table, a one bedroom shack that he and his brother slept on the floor, and plenty love, but there was not much else. “Ironic, now I have everything money can buy, but I don’t have her.” He raked his shaky hand through his hair. “Don’t know why I still hold on.”

“No need to explain it to me, bro, I understand you, and those who don’t…” Ante clicked his tongue. “Well, no explanation is possible. Back then everyone took us for two good-for-nothing SOB’s, but we proved them wrong, didn’t we?” He pointed at the picture of their parents’ house hanging on the wall behind Dario, which he’d painted from an old photo and his memory on the long and slow tanker voyages. “Now others beg us for a job. Speaking of which, you won’t believe who came asking for work earlier today.”

Dario leaned back in his leather chair and pressed his chin on his laced fingers. “Humor me.”

“Who was the one guy the most likely to succeed since grade school?”

“No, oh-ho, no,” Dario chuckled. “What’s that saying about the wheel of fortune? You’re right, I don’t believe you. He had a name for us, Lepers brothers? Yes, that’s it. Didn’t the snob get a scholarship of some kind?”

“Yeah, that blew up his already overblown ego. In the end, what good did that do him?” Ante shrugged. “He’s unemployed and from scanning over his resume also unemployable.”

So expensive education and no common sense or job. “What did you tell him?” Laughter still rumbled Dario’s chest. Since they’d opened the restaurant, people gossiped the two brothers wouldn’t make it. Now five years later, those who pointed fingers and ridiculed them knocked on their door looking for work.

“That we’re fully staffed.” The corners of Ante’s mouth curved in a mocking grin. “Anyway, why would we give him a job when he wouldn’t let anyone use his pencil eraser? Plus, I’m not joking, we are fully staffed.” Ante unbuttoned the collar of his shirt. “I’m gonna change into something more casual. I do like these new suits you’ve got for the staff, by the way. The vests are accentuating the waitresses’ bosoms.”

“Good grief, I can’t believe you’re still holding that high school grudge over a pencil eraser.” Dario snorted. Yes, his brother could hold a grudge for life. “Anyhow, that is why you’re in charge of hiring. I would’ve given the poor sucker a job.” Dario leaned on his elbow, staring at the white chef’s jacket draped over the hanger on the dark door of his office.

“Didn’t you want me as a manager because I can come up with the biggest BS?” Ante scratched his head

and grabbed the back of the chair with the other hand. “That too.”

His brother gave a quiet chuckle. “If only you’d snap out of your mood and come to the party. Man, think about it, the girls are waiting for us. The whole town is out tonight.”

“Don’t have time.” Dario released a huff of air. “Plus, I’d give anything to have what you have. Reconcile with Martina and get your daughter back. Stop throwing it away by hitting a skirt every night.”

Ante’s shoulders slumped. “She wanted freedom, so I gave it to her. If she wants me, I’m here and all hers. So until she does, I’ll take my pleasure where I can find it.” He puffed his chest and tilted his head. “Come to the party. The masquerade is perfect. For one night you can be whoever you want to be.”

Dario hid his face behind the stack of bills.

Ante marched out of the office, leaving Dario to his thoughts. Younger, that was what he wanted to be. No mask could take him back in time.

Could Irena have returned? He’d never find out if he stayed hidden in his office. She wouldn’t know he owned the most successful restaurant in Zadar, but she could find out. Anger burned through him. He would show her parents they’d been wrong to break him up with their daughter, he would get her back. No other girl imprinted herself into his heart like her. Since her, he’d dated casually, but that gig ran old some two years ago.

Dario cast another glance at the talisman he’d split with Irena at the fair. The clinking of the gypsy woman’s large hoops hanging from her ears and her raspy voice with a funny accent surfaced. Oh yes, her

scary face with deep lines was etched in his memory. It replaced Irena’s face in every dream. The woman tried to tell him something, but no words came from her moving mouth.

The smell of burning incense had barely masked the stench of horses’ shit inside her colorful tent. The amulets in her collection rattled as she pushed the box and made them pick one, then broke it in two. Her large and strange rings only made her fingers appear more gnarled. She had him convinced the lines in the talisman predicted their love was written in the stars and nothing would keep them apart. But the good luck piece proved to be more of a misfortune… he was foolish to have believed the fortune teller. It had been fourteen years. He was making his own path in life and kept busy. Hell, he’d said this for so long he even convinced himself.

He pushed away from his desk, allowing the chair to roll on its coasters across the tiled floor, put his foot down before he hit the wall, then got up and turned off the lights. A faint yellow glow emanated from the talisman. He approached his desk and picked up the trinket. The surface radiated a soft heat. The mass could’ve absorbed the warmth and the light from the lamp on his desk.

Irena’s parents aren’t doing well, maybe she returned to see them one last time, Ante’s words stirred a hunch in him. His walls softened. Could she have come back home? What would it be like to see her again? He squeezed the amulet, then placed it back at the top of the bills.

If he was to find out answers to his questions, he should not spend this night alone in his penthouse. Perhaps the Fates would finally smile upon him.

Dangerous Benevolence

41 Chapters

Contents

Passion Exclusive

Carmen Venetti thought she had everything: a powerful husband, a thriving empire, and the strength to hold it all together. But when Arianna De Luca, Marco's cunning and beautiful ex-lover, reappears, their once-unshakable marriage begins to fracture. Arianna claims she's here to help the Venetti family crush their enemies, but her true motives are as dangerous as they are secretive.As Marco grows increasingly entangled in Arianna's web of manipulations, Carmen is forced to make an impossible choice. Pregnant and heartbroken, she leaves the life she's fought so hard to protect, vowing to shield her unborn child from the venomous chaos threatening to consume them.But Carmen's absence only deepens Marco's descent into Arianna's trap. Blinded by ambition and haunted by whispers of betrayal, Marco dismisses the warning signs and lets Arianna tighten her grip on his empire. All the while, Arianna plays a dangerous double game, secretly aligning herself with the De Luca family and plotting to take the Venetti throne for herself. As trust crumbles and alliances shift, Carmen and Marco are thrust into a high-stakes battle of loyalty, love, and survival. Will Marco uncover Arianna's true intentions before it's too late, or will her schemes destroy everything the Venettis have built-including their chance at a family? In a world where power is deadly and betrayal is the ultimate weapon, the question isn't just who will survive-but who will come out on top.

Romance

The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife

Vincent Austin's perfect life crumbles after a drunken mistake leaves his fiancee, Abigail Jones, betrayed and heartbroken. When another woman one day confronts him claiming to be carrying his child, Vincent is forced into a marriage of obligation, sacrificing the love of his life. Abigail finds solace in the arms of Nate, a kind and supportive doctor offering her the happiness she deserves. But Vincent, consumed by guilt and longing, refuses to let go, determined to win her back. As lies are exposed and shocking truths come to light, Abigail must navigate a whirlwind of emotions and choices. Will she trust the man who shattered her heart or embrace a future with someone new?

Romance

Love, Lies and Redemption

I've always been "the quiet, nerdy girl." The girl with her nose buried in a book, the girl people barely notice. But my world is a lot more complicated than it seems. You see, I'm absolutely, hopelessly in love with my best friend, Logan Reyes-the bad boy everyone wants but nobody can quite hold onto. And he has no idea. Logan and I have been friends forever. We banter, we laugh, and we're close. But to him, I'm just Emma, the girl he'll confide in about everything-except his new flings, like Vanessa, the school's reigning queen bee. She's got her sights on Logan and everyone knows it. Meanwhile, Logan and I share this strange, unspoken chemistry that I can't ignore, even if we act like it's no big deal. But everything changes the night I get roped into a game of spin the bottle at Vanessa's party. When the bottle lands on Logan, he kisses me in front of everyone-and suddenly, it's like I'm seeing Logan in a whole new light, and he's seeing me differently, too. Now he's paying me attention in a way that's unsettling, thrilling, and absolutely forbidden. And just when I think I can ignore it, Logan begins pursuing me-unabashedly, against all the rules he's lived by and despite his so-called girlfriend's wishes. Now, I'm caught in a whirlwind of gossip, jealousy, and emotions I can barely handle. Logan's breaking his own rules for me, and the harder I try to resist him, the more I find myself pulled back. But when we're toeing the line between friendship and something much more dangerous, my heart-and his-are on the line.

New Adult

I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship

The Chosen Luna: Alpha’s Unwanted Daughter

Isla Thorne has always been the outcast of her pack, a disappointment to her Alpha parents and a mystery to everyone else. As the daughter of powerful leaders in the Midnight Crest pack, she should have had a promising life-but her twin sister, Seraphine, made sure that never happened. By spreading rumors that Isla lacks a wolf, Seraphine has kept her confined to the shadows, practically a prisoner in her own home. Despite her family's scorn and her sister's cruelty, Isla hides one precious secret: a fierce wolf named Lira, who came to her in a moment of desperation on her eighteenth birthday. Every day, Isla waits for her mate-the one person she believes could love her unconditionally and maybe even break her free from this life of shame. But as the months pass, hope fades, and Seraphine's torment escalates. When a dangerous betrayal by her sister forces Isla into exile, she discovers just how far her family is willing to go to keep her hidden, a truth that shakes her to her core. Driven to survive, Isla escapes, finding herself alone and uncertain in the rogue lands beyond her pack's territory. But as her bond with Lira strengthens, she realizes that survival may be her only choice. Facing dangers from both rogues and hunters, Isla sets out on a journey that will test her in ways she never expected. With every step, she uncovers secrets about her family, her powers, and her destiny. But will she find the life she always dreamed of, or will her past catch up with her in the harshest of ways? As Isla ventures into the unknown, fate will reveal that perhaps she was meant for more than even she ever imagined.

Paranormal urban

The Chosen Luna: Alpha’s Unwanted Daughter

Sophie's suspicions about her husband Adam's infidelity grow when she learns he's been taking his secretary to the family doctor. After hearing the doctor confirm that his secretary lost the baby, Sophie confronts him and demands a divorce. Adam desperately tries to convince her to stay, but Sophie's mind is made up, and she packs her bags to leave. In a heated argument, passion takes over, leading to a night of unexpected intimacy. The next day, Adam leaves work early to make things right, only to return home to find Sophie gone without a trace.

Romance

Her Husband's Secret Affair

Neferet is the daughter of the High Priest of Amun, dreaming to become a priestess herself in temple of Isis. Her marriage to beloved Sahety, a rising military commander, would unite two powerful families beneath the Pharaoh. However, her world shatters when she discovers Sahety cheated with her younger sister near the sacred waters of the Nile.

Romance

The Pharaoh's Favorite

Hiding My Twin Pups From their Alpha Dad

Felicia finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage to the cold and domineering Alpha Damien. Despite her hopes that a child might soften his heart, her world shatters when she discovers his passionate affection for another woman. Heartbroken yet determined, Felicia demands a divorce. Five years after leaving her powerful Alpha husband, Felicia is living a quiet life with her twin sons, hiding from the past. But when the Full Moon Festival brings her face-to-face with Damien, the father of her children, everything changes.

Romance

Hiding My Twin Pups From their Alpha Dad

When Amelia discovered she was pregnant with her billionaire husband Ryan's child, after three long years of longing and heartbreak, she was happy. She couldn't wait to share the joyous news with him and finally bring a piece of their love into the world. When she got home, her excitement turned to icy dread when she saw the divorce papers Ryan had prepared for her to sign, unaware of the miracle blossoming inside her. Five years later, the past haunted both of them. Ryan's world shatters when he learned the son he had dutifully raised with Brenda, for the last five years, wasn't his flesh and blood and that Amelia was with twins five years ago. Ryan unexpectedly shows up at Amelia's door, driven by desperation and a tormented desire to reclaim his lost family. Will Amelia allow the man who shattered her world back into their lives? And how will their children react to the father they barely know?

Romance

The Barren Ex-Wife Gave Birth to Twins

Zorina thought marrying Kael Veridan, heir to the powerful Veridan family, would bring her love and respect. Instead, it turned her into an invisible servant in her own home. When Kael announces his engagement to the glamorous governor's daughter, Liora, Zorina's world crumbles. Betrayed and humiliated, she demands a divorce, ready to reveal her true identity-the secret daughter of the president and the hidden force behind the Veridan family's success. But as Kael realizes the powerful, independent woman he's underestimated, will his love for Liora hold, or will he come running back to the wife who was always his greatest ally?

New Adult

The President's Secret Daughter

"I, Tyler Xander, the future leader of the silver moon pack, hereby reject you, Aurora Watson, as my mate and Luna of the Silver moon pack," The guy whom I've loved since the first year in school, said with a smirk as his beta pinned me against the wall. My already weak heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and I felt a physical ache in my body as pain penetrated through me. My legs wobbled under me, as I held on to them to keep my body in place. "There is no competition here, girl. You should leave, Tyler is mine!" Debbie piped up as she wrapped herself around my fated mate. That's me - Aurora. And welcome to my life...

Romance

Luna Vengeance

Seventeen-year-old Hanna is navigating her first year of high school while still grieving the loss of her parents. With her brother Jacob and best friends Emily and Elordi by her side, she's determined to survive the pressures of fitting in and finding her place. But things get complicated when Ciara, the queen bee of the school, targets Hanna out of jealousy-especially over Finn, Jacob's best friend, who's caught Hanna's eye. As high school drama unfolds, Hanna must learn to stand up for herself while holding onto the people who matter most.

New Adult

Never Just Friends

When Tori Kane awakens in the hospital after a suspicious accident, she discovers she's been given a second chance at life - with all her memories intact. A several weeks ago, she was betrayed and almost killed by her husband, billionaire CEO Damian Blackwood and his mistress - her adopted sister Selena, who orchestrated her downfall and seized control of her family's company. Now, with new allies and shocking information left by her late grandmother, Tori crafts an intricate plan for revenge. But as she infiltrates her old life under a new identity, she uncovers darker secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about her family's legacy and her own past.

Romance

The Rebirth of My Dead Billionaire Wife

A pragmatic executive assistant agrees to a temporary marriage with her billionaire boss to help him secure his inheritance. Two years into their convenient arrangement, she discovers she's pregnant - just as his former flame returns to reclaim him. Now she must navigate office politics, pregnancy, and her own heart while dealing with a husband who's ready to end their marriage for his first love.

Romance

Love by the Contract

The Blackthorn Academy is a private boarding college for the children of high society-heirs of corporate giants, European aristocratic families, politicians, and celebrities. Despite growing up in a single-parent household, Andrea Riley worked tirelessly to secure a coveted scholarship, earning her place at the academy with hopes of a brighter future. The academy's mission is to prepare its students for admission to the world's most prestigious universities, but the social environment among its students trains them for the harsh realities of life-realities the academy's leadership remains blissfully unaware of. At Blackthorn, a student's social rank isn't determined by their family's influence or the number of zeroes in their bank account but by a high-stakes card game held at the start of every semester. Andrea has no choice but to participate, as refusal means being automatically assigned the role of the class scapegoat. When she receives her role, however, she unintentionally captures the attention of the Sinclair brothers - heirs to a powerful arms manufacturing empire with operations frequently linked to the mafia. Andrea didn't plan to let romance distract her from her studies and dreams of success, but everyone at The Blackthorn Academy knows damn good at least this one thing: when one of the "kings" wants something, he always gets it.

New Adult

The Queen of Hearts

"Dear Diary...The Cross Brothers Are After Me" is about Lila, a girl who moves to a new town and becomes the focus of the Cross brothers-Aiden, Asher, and Grayson. They start by bullying her, but their behavior turns obsessive and manipulative, dragging her into their twisted games. Through her diary, Lila reveals her struggle to endure their torment, navigate their dangerous intentions, and figure out how to take control of her own life.

New Adult

Dear Diary, The Cross Brothers are After Me

Aurora, the devoted Luna of the Shadow Pack, has spent years by Alpha Fenrir's side, supporting him and nurturing their pack as his fated mate. But when his first love, Arianna, returns, Fenrir's heart falters. In a moment of weakness, he dismisses Aurora and demands a divorce, shattering her world. Unknown to him, Aurora carries his child-a secret she vows to protect as she retreats to her family, heartbroken but resilient. As Fenrir embraces his rekindled relationship with Arianna, he soon realizes that she's not the woman he once loved. Her cruelty toward the pack and unfaithful ways become impossible to ignore, while memories of Aurora's warmth haunt him. When Fenrir discovers the truth about Aurora's pregnancy, it's almost too late. Determined to reunite his family, Fenrir sets out on a journey to find Aurora, hoping she will forgive him and let him back into her life. But can he mend the wounds he caused? Or will he lose his fated mate and child forever?

Paranormal urban

Luna Aurora

XOLY LIMITED with the registered office at Las Vegas, NV, USA, 89101