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The Cost of Her

M. L. Hancock

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Released: August 02, 2025

Length: 270 pages

Genre: Dark Romance

Advised age: 18+

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Book Overview

She survived kidnapping once. This time, she's ready to kill.

Elena Martinez thought she'd found safety in the shadows—until Dante Romano walked into her life with gentle hands and dangerous secrets. What starts as healing becomes obsession. What begins as protection becomes possession.

But love with a former mafia lieutenant comes with a price.

When the Benedetti crime family discovers Dante's weakness, they take Elena. Again. Locked in a basement, used as leverage, she faces the same nightmare that broke her years ago.

Only this time, she's not the same woman.
This time, she's pregnant. This time, she's his.

This dark mafia romance delivers:
Enemies to lovers tension that burns off the page
Kidnapping romance with a heroine who fights back
Pregnancy romance with life-or-death stakes
Mafia romance featuring a lieutenant who'd kill for love
Power exchange romance built on absolute trust
Alpha male who's lethal but gentle with his woman
Strong heroine who transforms from victim to warrior
Suspense romance with heart-stopping action
Dark romance that ends in light
Found family forged through blood and choice

From coffee shop meetings to warehouse shootouts, from gentle dominance to deadly protection—Elena and Dante's love story redefines what it means to fight for your family.

Content Warning: This dark mafia romance contains mature themes including kidnapping, violence, pregnancy, and explicit intimate scenes with power exchange dynamics. Intended for readers 18+.

Full-length standalone novel with guaranteed happily ever after
One-click now and discover the mafia romance that changes everything.
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About the Author

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M. L. Hancock

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M.L. Hancock writes stories that linger long after the last page is turned—whether it’s a haunting dark romance where love collides with danger, or a chilling supernatural thriller that creeps into your dreams. Raised in sunny Brea, California, by two everyday heroes—a nurse and a police officer—she grew up surrounded by stories of courage, compassion, and resilience.

Her debut novel, The Cost of Her, drew readers into a world of passion, betrayal, and sacrifice, cementing her place as a bold new voice in dark romance. She then ventured into the realm of gothic horror with The Haunting of the Khalil Property: A Terrifying Supernatural Thriller of Haunted Families, Dark Obsession, and the Dead Who Refuse to Rest, a gripping tale that blends family drama with bone-chilling suspense.

Now living in Illinois with her spirited eight-year-old son, M.L. draws inspiration from both the shadows and the light of life. Her dark romances pull readers into worlds of secrets and survival, while her supernatural tales send chills down the spine—and her children’s books capture the innocence of childhood and the unbreakable bond of family.

When she isn’t writing, you’ll likely find her behind a camera, tending to her flowers, or curled up with a book and a cup of tea. Through every page, she invites readers into experiences that are raw, real, and unforgettable.

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