Hexed (Never After Series)

Venesa Andersen has never met her family's expectations. After her parents died, her uncle took her in, but she remains inadequate in his eyes. She is cunning and beautiful, devoted to his demands, though she lacks moral restraint. When her runaway cousin returns to their coastal southern town with a man, Venesa recognizes him as someone who truly sees her—but he is forbidden to her. Enzo "Loverboy" Marino operates as a legitimate businessman while serving as underboss to a major mafia syndicate in the Northeast, answerable only to his father, the region's most powerful don. When tasked with marriage, he accepts without hesitation—until he meets his fiancée's cousin. Venesa captivates him with her voice and presence, yet Enzo has long believed that men in his position are better off without the things they desire. As circumstances shift and temptation intensifies, both must decide between loyalty to their families and a love that was never meant to exist. This is a dark retelling of The Little Mermaid set within the world of organized crime.