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Corrupted by the Shadow King
I am a ruthless man with a black heart. As a boy, I dreamed of the day I’d step into the role I was born for—leader of the Luna Cartel.
They call me El Lobo. “The wolf.”
Anyone who defies me pays the fatal price. Trust is earned and not many are deserving of it. Love…well, that’s an emotion that I rarely give to anyone.
I never expected her. When I was on the verge of walking straight into hell after being wounded, she pulled me back from the brink of destruction. Before her, I wasn’t vulnerable. Now, I am. It’s her. If my enemies find out, they will use her against me, turning her into a pawn in this sick game. She has to forget me. And she certainly can’t love me.
The problem is…I cannot stay away from her.
When an unseen force threatens her life, I will rip apart this city to find and protect her.
Some people think the King is the strongest chess piece on the board. But it’s the Queen.
**Hope Runs A Multi-Author Charity Collection Benefiting Kerr County, Texas
A collection of romance, romantasy, and mystery stories where every page gives back. For 90 days from the date of publication, participating authors are donating at least 50% of royalties to the Kerr County Flood Fund to help victims rebuild after the July 2025 floods. **
They call me El Lobo. “The wolf.”
Anyone who defies me pays the fatal price. Trust is earned and not many are deserving of it. Love…well, that’s an emotion that I rarely give to anyone.
I never expected her. When I was on the verge of walking straight into hell after being wounded, she pulled me back from the brink of destruction. Before her, I wasn’t vulnerable. Now, I am. It’s her. If my enemies find out, they will use her against me, turning her into a pawn in this sick game. She has to forget me. And she certainly can’t love me.
The problem is…I cannot stay away from her.
When an unseen force threatens her life, I will rip apart this city to find and protect her.
Some people think the King is the strongest chess piece on the board. But it’s the Queen.
**Hope Runs A Multi-Author Charity Collection Benefiting Kerr County, Texas
A collection of romance, romantasy, and mystery stories where every page gives back. For 90 days from the date of publication, participating authors are donating at least 50% of royalties to the Kerr County Flood Fund to help victims rebuild after the July 2025 floods. **
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2025
5 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Maria Vickers
46 books395 followersMaria Vickers is a bestselling and award-winning author who currently resides in St. Louis, MO with her pug, Spencer Tracy. She has always had a passion for writing and after she became disabled in 2010, she decided to use writing as her escape. Life is about what you make of it, you have to live it to the fullest no matter the circumstances.
From a young age, she has always loved books and even dreamed of being an author when she was younger. Growing up in the Navy, she used to weave tales for her siblings and her friends about anything and everything. And when she wasn't creating her own stories, she had a book in her hand. They transported her to another world. She hopes that her readers will have the same experience when reading her stories, and that, in some way, they can relate to her characters.
Getting sick changed her life forever, but it also opened doors for her that she thought would always be out of reach.
From a young age, she has always loved books and even dreamed of being an author when she was younger. Growing up in the Navy, she used to weave tales for her siblings and her friends about anything and everything. And when she wasn't creating her own stories, she had a book in her hand. They transported her to another world. She hopes that her readers will have the same experience when reading her stories, and that, in some way, they can relate to her characters.
Getting sick changed her life forever, but it also opened doors for her that she thought would always be out of reach.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 27, 2025
I love a dark Mafia read and Maria Vickers delivers. Although not as dark as some stories goes it is all about forbidden love, lies and hidden secrets.
Known as the Ghost, the leader of the Luna Cartel, Alex is injured in a gun fight. Fighting infection and delirium, he runs from his brother, Angel and Ricky, his right hand man. Not knowing where he is going, he runs straight into Nikki...a nurse, who also is eager to get away from her mother and is not concentrating on where she is going!
Enter, the nurse, who knows something is wrong and her need to help Alex is overwhelming. So she helps him recover from his infected wound and winds up in the middle of Cartel country, but does not realise the danger she may be in.
Alex recovers and falls for his angel...the one who helped heal him, but he had let her walk away.
So starts their love story. Trouble with all love stories there is a twist. A stalker who is obsessed with Nikki and refuses to take no as an answer.
Ignoring all the red flags Nikki allows Alex to take her on dates and yes! There is enough heat between them that the chemistry sparks and they allow their feelings to take over.
A little bit spicy, a kidnapping, secrets revealed and with enough mystery to keep you vested in their story as they reach their HEA
Known as the Ghost, the leader of the Luna Cartel, Alex is injured in a gun fight. Fighting infection and delirium, he runs from his brother, Angel and Ricky, his right hand man. Not knowing where he is going, he runs straight into Nikki...a nurse, who also is eager to get away from her mother and is not concentrating on where she is going!
Enter, the nurse, who knows something is wrong and her need to help Alex is overwhelming. So she helps him recover from his infected wound and winds up in the middle of Cartel country, but does not realise the danger she may be in.
Alex recovers and falls for his angel...the one who helped heal him, but he had let her walk away.
So starts their love story. Trouble with all love stories there is a twist. A stalker who is obsessed with Nikki and refuses to take no as an answer.
Ignoring all the red flags Nikki allows Alex to take her on dates and yes! There is enough heat between them that the chemistry sparks and they allow their feelings to take over.
A little bit spicy, a kidnapping, secrets revealed and with enough mystery to keep you vested in their story as they reach their HEA
August 19, 2025
Nikki takes a risk to aid a sick and injured man who bumps into her on the street. Little does she know the full extent of the risk until it's too late. Alex won't let anything happen to her, though. But what about The Watcher's partner? Their story is a page-turner and had me fully engrossed.
September 7, 2025
Alex known as the El Lobo “The Wolf,” and when he is injured in a gun fight, he turns to Nikki, a nurse for help. Nikki bandages his wounds, but she ends up in the middle of a Cartel war. Nikki is no pushover, and she is very capable to standing up for herself. When Nikki becomes the target of a stalker, Alex will do whatever he must to keep her safe and protected.
This is a well written story is action packed, and easy to read, with family, friendships, emotions, danger, suspense, intrigue, mystery, drama, secrets, lies, humor, witty banter, obsession, trust, challenges, touch her and die vibes, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, and unpredictable, dark mafia romance.
I look forward to reading more from these talented authors’ whose work I highly recommend.
This is a well written story is action packed, and easy to read, with family, friendships, emotions, danger, suspense, intrigue, mystery, drama, secrets, lies, humor, witty banter, obsession, trust, challenges, touch her and die vibes, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, twisted, and unpredictable, dark mafia romance.
I look forward to reading more from these talented authors’ whose work I highly recommend.
September 1, 2025
- M@fi@ romance
- Romantic suspense
- Morally grey MMC
- Close proximity
This is a quick read, but will keep you glued to the pages! It's about a c@rtel leader, Alex, also known as El Lobo, who has been injured in a family altercation. He and his trusted circle leave Mexico to safety in Texas.
Nikki is an overworked nurse whose family continually "encourage" her to date a co-worker who will not take no for an answer. Nikki would much rather have a man who is a bit more dangerous and doesn't realize that he is about to cross her path...literally.
When Nikki realizes that Alex is seriously ill, she convinces his brother to let her treat him. But she has no idea what situation she just put herself in...
Although Alex views her as an angel, Nikki is not a pushover. Slowly as Alex recovers, he and Nikki start having feelings for one another. But Nikki is unaware she has another suitor watching her....
Lots of action, lots of tension. Such a good book!
- Romantic suspense
- Morally grey MMC
- Close proximity
This is a quick read, but will keep you glued to the pages! It's about a c@rtel leader, Alex, also known as El Lobo, who has been injured in a family altercation. He and his trusted circle leave Mexico to safety in Texas.
Nikki is an overworked nurse whose family continually "encourage" her to date a co-worker who will not take no for an answer. Nikki would much rather have a man who is a bit more dangerous and doesn't realize that he is about to cross her path...literally.
When Nikki realizes that Alex is seriously ill, she convinces his brother to let her treat him. But she has no idea what situation she just put herself in...
Although Alex views her as an angel, Nikki is not a pushover. Slowly as Alex recovers, he and Nikki start having feelings for one another. But Nikki is unaware she has another suitor watching her....
Lots of action, lots of tension. Such a good book!
November 30, 2025
Could not put down!!!
I read this in 1 day!!!! I read a lot of different books not just the romance stuff... This book has it all thrills,mystery, adventure, romance, and even some smutt!!! It is so well written that even though I've never been big on books with multiple perspectives this book flowed and was easy to follow... Though I did guess who the watcher was well before it was given though... I can't wait to see more of this series....
I read this in 1 day!!!! I read a lot of different books not just the romance stuff... This book has it all thrills,mystery, adventure, romance, and even some smutt!!! It is so well written that even though I've never been big on books with multiple perspectives this book flowed and was easy to follow... Though I did guess who the watcher was well before it was given though... I can't wait to see more of this series....
September 1, 2025
Alex and Nikki's story is definitely gripping and intense. A dark Mafia tale beautifully written to keep me totally immersed in the characters lifes. Includes action, drama, suspense, intrigue, romance, forbidden love, emotions, chemistry, interactions, risks, danger, cartel, a stalker, lies, secrets, situations, and twists.
August 18, 2025
Wonderful read, it has suspense, romance and some twists. Strong characters I enjoyed getting to know. It gripped and it made me smile at times, a petite woman standing up to men who were big and threatening. Loved it
September 6, 2025
This book left me with so many questions that I can't wait to dive into the series! I love how I was able to connect with our little bird and how Alex was strong and demanding, yet gentle with her.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews