Code of Silence

Dark Kingdom, Book #1

By Shantel Tessier

ISBN# 9781659848281

Author’s Website:  shanteltessier.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Review

Haven and Luca have known each other their whole lives. They finally got together when they were in college. Haven even gave him her virginity. All she ever wanted was to get married and be with him forever. She thought he felt the same. She asked him to run away with her and he agreed. However, he never showed up when he was supposed to come get her. In fact, he was already on a plane to Italy to do his family’s bidding. He was born into the Italian-American Mafia, his dad is the Don. And, once you’re in the mafia, there is only one way out: death.

It’s been two years since Luca broke Haven’s heart and abandoned her. Now he’s back and he just PURCHASED her from her dad. He bought her like she was a piece of furniture.

“I’m not for sale, Luca. I’m not going to give you my body because you wrote a check.”

“It was actually cash …”

She slaps me again.”

Now, she’s being forced to marry him and become a mafia wife. And, like Luca, the only way out for her will be death. He doesn’t understand why she’s so upset. He thought marrying him is what she always wanted. Haven knows he isn’t doing it for love, but for personal gain. Men in his world don’t love and she’s just another possession to him.

“I knew this day would come. Even if I had to rip up the floor underneath her feet and carry her out kicking and screaming, she would be mine.”

However, there is someone else that wants to stop this wedding too. And, it just may be the thing that gets Haven killed sooner than later.

I have read all of Tessier’s L.O.R.D.S. books that have been released, so far, at the time of writing this. In Carnage, some of the Dark Kingdom characters showed up. It’s looking like the two series are going to start crossing over, so I decided I needed to get to know the Kings better. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Tessier’s version of the mafia. Honestly, in comparison to the Lords, this felt like a fluff book. Which is saying a lot considering the mafia dealings. Luca watched his dad murder his uncle in front of him when he was only ten years old, and that was just the prologue.

I actually really liked Luca. He walked a fine line of doing what he had to do to stay in his family’s good graces and keep his family safe, but also to do what he wanted, as well. He has to torture and murder to keep the mafia machine rolling. If not, their enemies will dispose of them quite quickly. His father had a mafia princess in mind for Luca to marry to gain the family even more power. However, there is only one woman Luca wants as his wife and he will do anything to make her his, even if it pisses her off in the process.

“I have loved this woman for as long as I can remember. How can she think that would just go away? That I could ever walk away from her if it wasn’t for a good reason? Haven isn’t the kind of woman you forget. She’s the kind you never stop thinking about. She’s in your daily thoughts and even in your dreams.”

Announcing their engagement has put a target on Haven’s back and Luca will stop at nothing to keep her safe and by his side. So, it’s time to go hunting …

“I’ve always loved you, Haven. You are a Bianchi now. And I will protect you until I die.”

Luca definitely had his moments of being a complete dick, but he was also funny at the same time. It kept me on his side, I guess because I could never bring myself to dislike him.

“I bought you flowers.” I gather up her mess of hair into my fist. I run my lips across the top of her back to her other shoulder, softly kissing her damp skin.

“Flowers die,” she growls.

I smile against her skin. “Would you prefer diamonds?”

“Diamonds were just once coal,” she bites out.

“How about orgasms?” I ask, tightening my fist in her hair and pulling her head back.”

Overall, I liked Haven too. However, she frustrated me with how easily she put herself in Luca’s enemies’ hands. I could understand her doing it once, even though I thought she was being dumb, but then she did it again. Luca is not going to have a long life if she keeps this up. How many times can he put his own life on the line to save the woman he loves and still walk away? Good thing he has some powerful friends to help him out.

“Show me a man in love, and I’ll show you his greatest weakness.”

I loved how Luca frustrated Haven, even if I didn’t always agree with it. He made me laugh through it so I was able to forgive him. Above all, I loved his sweet moments and seeing how much he truly cares for her.

“I do love you,” I whisper. “And I’d love to have a family with you, but I won’t allow you to harm any child of mine.”

He shifts, and I close my eyes.

“Haven. Haven, look at me,” he orders, placing his hand on my face to tilt it toward him.

I open my eyes, and they sting from unshed tears. “I may be my father’s son, but I’m nothing like him. I don’t want my parents’ marriage. And I would never, ever hurt you or our children.” He presses his lips gently to my forehead, and the first tear rolls down the side of my face.”

The Kings were a lot of fun as well. I truly enjoyed Jasmine too and look forward to getting to know them all better.

“When was the last time you got laid?”

“Well, my hoodie got caught on the doorknob as I was leaving the house yesterday and the collar choked me… It was the most action I’ve had in three weeks.”

I feel I know enough now that I’ll be able to understand what’s going on as the Kings and Lords start to intermingle more, even if I don’t get this series completed before the next L.O.R.D.S. book comes out. These books are a lot shorter than the L.O.R.D.S. books though and I really wish this book had been longer. I wanted to see more happily ever after between Luca and Haven. Hopefully we’ll get some more of them in the future books. I absolutely flew through this story though so it definitely held my interest and kept me reading ‘just one more chapter’ until there were no more chapters left. This was a quick and enjoyable read with likable characters and some sweet moments and some decent world building.