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Madness & Mercy: An MM Dark Mafia Romance
Nico Vitale doesn’t tolerate loose ends.
Not in business. Not in blood. And never in betrayal.
As head of the Vitale crime family, he built his empire on brutal efficiency and a reputation soaked in fear. But when a high-profile hit leaves the city shaken and his name whispered in the wrong circles, Nico knows it’s not just a setup—it’s a declaration of war.
He wants answers.
He wants vengeance.
And he wants to know who’s stupid enough to come for the king.
Enter Julian ex-cop, washed-up PI, and the last man who should be anywhere near Nico Vitale. But Julian isn’t here by chance. He’s been hired by one of Nico’s oldest enemies to bring the kingpin down from the inside.
His orders are get close. Get dirt. Bury him. Burn the evidence.
But fate has other plans.
Julian didn’t expect Nico to be this ruthless.
This magnetic.
This impossible to resist.
And the deeper he goes, the more tangled the lies become...until hate starts to look a lot like hunger, and the line between duty and desire blurs into something deadly.
Their chemistry is volatile.
Their connection, inevitable.
But wrath isn’t passion…it’s poison.
And when the truth comes out, someone’s going to bleed for it.
Tropes you'll find
MM enemies to lovers
Mafia boss x hitman
Dark romance with explosive chemistry
Bisexual awakening
Loyalty vs betrayal
Found the enemy...and couldn’t let go
One bed, one lie, one wrong move
Love as a weapon / love as a weakness
Enemies turned lovers. Lovers turned weapons.
In the underworld, love is a liability.
And wrath leaves no survivors.
Not in business. Not in blood. And never in betrayal.
As head of the Vitale crime family, he built his empire on brutal efficiency and a reputation soaked in fear. But when a high-profile hit leaves the city shaken and his name whispered in the wrong circles, Nico knows it’s not just a setup—it’s a declaration of war.
He wants answers.
He wants vengeance.
And he wants to know who’s stupid enough to come for the king.
Enter Julian ex-cop, washed-up PI, and the last man who should be anywhere near Nico Vitale. But Julian isn’t here by chance. He’s been hired by one of Nico’s oldest enemies to bring the kingpin down from the inside.
His orders are get close. Get dirt. Bury him. Burn the evidence.
But fate has other plans.
Julian didn’t expect Nico to be this ruthless.
This magnetic.
This impossible to resist.
And the deeper he goes, the more tangled the lies become...until hate starts to look a lot like hunger, and the line between duty and desire blurs into something deadly.
Their chemistry is volatile.
Their connection, inevitable.
But wrath isn’t passion…it’s poison.
And when the truth comes out, someone’s going to bleed for it.
Tropes you'll find
MM enemies to lovers
Mafia boss x hitman
Dark romance with explosive chemistry
Bisexual awakening
Loyalty vs betrayal
Found the enemy...and couldn’t let go
One bed, one lie, one wrong move
Love as a weapon / love as a weakness
Enemies turned lovers. Lovers turned weapons.
In the underworld, love is a liability.
And wrath leaves no survivors.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2025
42 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Cheyanne Brubaker
9 books30 followersCheyanne (she/they) is a chaos-filled, trope-twisting, smut-loving author of dark romance, monster heat, and emotionally feral fantasy. They write stories where desire gets dangerous, love bites back, and no one escapes untouched (or unmarked).
As an autistic writer of color, storytelling has always been their way of reclaiming space, pleasure, and power—one filthy, soul-crushing, or otherworldly scene at a time.
Their current and forthcoming obsessions include:
The Stormfire Series – Heroes and villains, enemies-to-lovers, and the kind of tension that burns slow, then explodes.
Beasts of Desire – Monsters who shouldn’t love and humans who can’t resist. A series of power, hunger, and ruin.
Deadly Sins – Seven dark romance standalones inspired by the sins you definitely want to commit. Sinful, seductive, and just a little bit unholy.
my voice was always mine – A poetry novel that bleeds truth, tenderness, and rage in every line. Where soft meets sharp.
Cheyanne’s writing is unapologetically bold, pushing the boundaries of genre and delivering stories that are as intense as they are unforgettable.
You can connect with Cheyanne on:
Instagram: @cheyannessmut
Threads: @authorcheyanne
TikTok: @medusairl
TikTok: @medusairl
As an autistic writer of color, storytelling has always been their way of reclaiming space, pleasure, and power—one filthy, soul-crushing, or otherworldly scene at a time.
Their current and forthcoming obsessions include:
The Stormfire Series – Heroes and villains, enemies-to-lovers, and the kind of tension that burns slow, then explodes.
Beasts of Desire – Monsters who shouldn’t love and humans who can’t resist. A series of power, hunger, and ruin.
Deadly Sins – Seven dark romance standalones inspired by the sins you definitely want to commit. Sinful, seductive, and just a little bit unholy.
my voice was always mine – A poetry novel that bleeds truth, tenderness, and rage in every line. Where soft meets sharp.
Cheyanne’s writing is unapologetically bold, pushing the boundaries of genre and delivering stories that are as intense as they are unforgettable.
You can connect with Cheyanne on:
Instagram: @cheyannessmut
Threads: @authorcheyanne
TikTok: @medusairl
TikTok: @medusairl
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 18, 2025
This book was so hot! Nico is a filthy rich mafia boss and Julian a haunted hitman hired to kill him. Their insane chemistry comes in the way...
Nico is obsessive, protective and dominant and Julian hates that - because it’s exactly what he craves. They hurt, taunt and love each other so fiercely I fell in love with both of them.
Can’t wait for the next book from the author.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Nico is obsessive, protective and dominant and Julian hates that - because it’s exactly what he craves. They hurt, taunt and love each other so fiercely I fell in love with both of them.
Can’t wait for the next book from the author.
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
November 3, 2025
This book was just *chef's kiss*, it definitely left me looking forward to more works by this author. the smut was great, the chemistry was there, their dynamic was delicious. i've been waiting to find a book like this and stumbling upon this one was such a blessing. i absolutely love this type of dynamic and it was very well-executed. normally, i just leave ratings but i just couldn't not leave a review for this. i want the author to know i thoroughly enjoyed this and that it got me to start reading their other mm work.
i do think it could have benefitted with a bit more editing due to some typos i found but i enjoyed it so much i was and willing to look past them in my review, especially since this is an author with only a few works.
i do think it could have benefitted with a bit more editing due to some typos i found but i enjoyed it so much i was and willing to look past them in my review, especially since this is an author with only a few works.
October 3, 2025
Madness & Mercy
First book from Deadly Sin series
Available in KU and Paperback
⭐️ - 5
🌶️ - 4
Nico Vitale head of the Vitale crime family who doesn’t tolerate loose ends in business, blood and never in betrayal. He built his empire brutally that leaves people fear him even hearing his name. He’s ruthless, brutal, powerful, strong, and dangerously handsome.
Julian Cross ex- cop, washed up PI. Strong, good looking, doesn’t take people’s shit.
What’ll happen when their path cross ? Will Julian betray Nico and hand him to his enemies ? Or he’ll just side with Nico and together they will show no mercy to Nico’s enemies ?
From first chapter I was hooked to this book. Gosh Vitale and Julian they are really a powerhouse. Both are strong and perfect fit for each other. The way they navigate and built their relationship. I just loved this book. It’s packed with action, drama, twist, fun, love, spice and what not. When the spice start you’ll be like "hot" 🔥. I’m glad I’ve read this book. This one became yet another favourite MM book 😍😍. Let’s see what’s this series stored for us more 😉
First book from Deadly Sin series
Available in KU and Paperback
⭐️ - 5
🌶️ - 4
Nico Vitale head of the Vitale crime family who doesn’t tolerate loose ends in business, blood and never in betrayal. He built his empire brutally that leaves people fear him even hearing his name. He’s ruthless, brutal, powerful, strong, and dangerously handsome.
Julian Cross ex- cop, washed up PI. Strong, good looking, doesn’t take people’s shit.
What’ll happen when their path cross ? Will Julian betray Nico and hand him to his enemies ? Or he’ll just side with Nico and together they will show no mercy to Nico’s enemies ?
From first chapter I was hooked to this book. Gosh Vitale and Julian they are really a powerhouse. Both are strong and perfect fit for each other. The way they navigate and built their relationship. I just loved this book. It’s packed with action, drama, twist, fun, love, spice and what not. When the spice start you’ll be like "hot" 🔥. I’m glad I’ve read this book. This one became yet another favourite MM book 😍😍. Let’s see what’s this series stored for us more 😉
October 10, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
It has been a few days, and let me just say I devoured this book. Madness & Mercy is a fast paced and very bingable book. I was hooked from the start with the questions I needed answered and the heat that grew between our characters, Nico and Julian. I did not want to put it down, and the only time I did was when I needed to sleep. I don’t think I have read a mafia romance book before, but this was an amazing start. If you like dark MM romances, 🔪 to throat scenes, touch him (or look at him wrong) 💀, and so much more. I am so happy to have got to read through and watch the story grow and see the dynamics between characters shift with twists and secrets being uncovered.
I would highly recommend giving this book a read if you have not already! I am on the street team for this series, and I can not wait to let y’all know what I think with each book that comes out. This is the first of seven spicy stand alone in the Deadly Sins series!
Again, I loved this book and can not wait to devour the next one!
It has been a few days, and let me just say I devoured this book. Madness & Mercy is a fast paced and very bingable book. I was hooked from the start with the questions I needed answered and the heat that grew between our characters, Nico and Julian. I did not want to put it down, and the only time I did was when I needed to sleep. I don’t think I have read a mafia romance book before, but this was an amazing start. If you like dark MM romances, 🔪 to throat scenes, touch him (or look at him wrong) 💀, and so much more. I am so happy to have got to read through and watch the story grow and see the dynamics between characters shift with twists and secrets being uncovered.
I would highly recommend giving this book a read if you have not already! I am on the street team for this series, and I can not wait to let y’all know what I think with each book that comes out. This is the first of seven spicy stand alone in the Deadly Sins series!
Again, I loved this book and can not wait to devour the next one!
September 15, 2025
⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 4/5
🖤 bi-awakening
🖤 MM
🖤 Touch him and die
🖤 possessive MMC
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 mafia x hitman
This was my first MM mafia, and it was fantastic. There was so much anger, hatred, passion, blood and rage.
Julian is sent on one mission: take down Nico.
Nico isn’t going down without a fight.
Nico is possessive and protective, brutal and unforgiving. Julian is straight-talking and sassy, full of attitude and frondeur.
The tension between Julian and Nico is hotter than a sauna and the teasing and angst had me shouting at the book.
“Don’t forget, amore mio—you’re mine.”
I really enjoyed this book and it embodied wrath throughout. I reccomend this to anyone who loves mafia, MM romances and dark romance.
🌶️ 4/5
🖤 bi-awakening
🖤 MM
🖤 Touch him and die
🖤 possessive MMC
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 mafia x hitman
This was my first MM mafia, and it was fantastic. There was so much anger, hatred, passion, blood and rage.
Julian is sent on one mission: take down Nico.
Nico isn’t going down without a fight.
Nico is possessive and protective, brutal and unforgiving. Julian is straight-talking and sassy, full of attitude and frondeur.
The tension between Julian and Nico is hotter than a sauna and the teasing and angst had me shouting at the book.
“Don’t forget, amore mio—you’re mine.”
I really enjoyed this book and it embodied wrath throughout. I reccomend this to anyone who loves mafia, MM romances and dark romance.
February 1, 2026
Madness & Mercy by Cheyanne Brubaker is a book that I chose to quickly dive into before reading T&T. It's book one in her Deadly Sins series (wrath), and the book is a hot, sexy, spicy MM mafia romance story. I mean, a mafia boss falling for his hitman... What could be better than that? I don't know about yall, but I LOVE a good MM story, as well as a mafia story, so it was honestly the best of both worlds colliding. With the touch him and die vibes between them? *chefs kiss* 🤌 I heavily enjoyed this one, and it's definitely a 5-star read!
September 15, 2025
This was a really good mafia romance. It's full of action and twists that leave you engaged throughout the story. Couldn't put it down.
November 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶🌶
Madness&Mercy by Cheyanne Brubaker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶🌶
This book is so good, i was hooked from the very first page. Mafia boss x Hitman?!?! Yes please! If your looking for a good dark MM romance with enemies to lovers, and hate to love then Madness&Mercy is perfect for you! The tension between Nico&Julian is crazy, and the banter between these two is off the charts, and downright hilarious, like it's honestly their whole dynamic. The switching from Dom/Sub on both sides was chef's kiss! There is a lot of begging and praise in this book. I absolutely loved how quickly Nico fell for Julian and how he's lowkey a softie but only for the people he loves. I'm big on nicknames so i was in love with all the Italian nicknames Nico had for Julian. The plot in this book was really good, it kept me guessing and asking questions the whole time. There are some tough moments but don't worry it's all worth it in the end trust me. Definitely a hard earned HEA! As always please check your triggers!!! 🖤😈😍
Madness&Mercy by Cheyanne Brubaker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶🌶
This book is so good, i was hooked from the very first page. Mafia boss x Hitman?!?! Yes please! If your looking for a good dark MM romance with enemies to lovers, and hate to love then Madness&Mercy is perfect for you! The tension between Nico&Julian is crazy, and the banter between these two is off the charts, and downright hilarious, like it's honestly their whole dynamic. The switching from Dom/Sub on both sides was chef's kiss! There is a lot of begging and praise in this book. I absolutely loved how quickly Nico fell for Julian and how he's lowkey a softie but only for the people he loves. I'm big on nicknames so i was in love with all the Italian nicknames Nico had for Julian. The plot in this book was really good, it kept me guessing and asking questions the whole time. There are some tough moments but don't worry it's all worth it in the end trust me. Definitely a hard earned HEA! As always please check your triggers!!! 🖤😈😍
January 7, 2026
I’m a little bit disappointed, or maybe not a little bit. This book felt like a 6 ⭐️ read for me.
Loved the story, the characters, the spice, it was perfect. But then the plot died at 70%…. The last 30% felt very repetitive and inconsistent, and that inconsistency irked me…
Not using protection, the next time using protection.
One minute there is a blindfold, the next the eyes are glossy… Okay, maybe I missed the removing of it…
Then, someone gets hurt, but at the next moment his wound is almost healed and there is just a little scar. Didn’t the injury happened last night? Did we get a time jump, I couldn’t tell.
I wish the personal story around Nico and his mom was more expanded, or Julian and his brother’s (I hope Cassian gets its own book, I would definitely give it a chance).
After the 70% it felt very rushed and filled with unnecessary amount of spicy scenes, and don’t get me wrong…. I love my books extra spicy, but this was just a filler of space.
I am sad, because I was very invested in the whole mafia/hitman plot story.
Loved the story, the characters, the spice, it was perfect. But then the plot died at 70%…. The last 30% felt very repetitive and inconsistent, and that inconsistency irked me…
Not using protection, the next time using protection.
One minute there is a blindfold, the next the eyes are glossy… Okay, maybe I missed the removing of it…
Then, someone gets hurt, but at the next moment his wound is almost healed and there is just a little scar. Didn’t the injury happened last night? Did we get a time jump, I couldn’t tell.
I wish the personal story around Nico and his mom was more expanded, or Julian and his brother’s (I hope Cassian gets its own book, I would definitely give it a chance).
After the 70% it felt very rushed and filled with unnecessary amount of spicy scenes, and don’t get me wrong…. I love my books extra spicy, but this was just a filler of space.
I am sad, because I was very invested in the whole mafia/hitman plot story.
November 23, 2025
adorable
It started off mysterious then you kind figure out the basic general idea of the story. They definitely belong with each other. I think it’s supposed to be dark but this is kinda lite for me considering it’s a mafia story. I absolutely love the interaction between the main characters! It’s probably the best out of everything .
It started off mysterious then you kind figure out the basic general idea of the story. They definitely belong with each other. I think it’s supposed to be dark but this is kinda lite for me considering it’s a mafia story. I absolutely love the interaction between the main characters! It’s probably the best out of everything .
September 27, 2025
fantastic read
First time reading a Madness& Mercy: MM Dark Mafia Romance (Deadly Sins Book), such an inspiring read to while away the time. Provides a great insight such a topic. Maybe I will read the second book.
First time reading a Madness& Mercy: MM Dark Mafia Romance (Deadly Sins Book), such an inspiring read to while away the time. Provides a great insight such a topic. Maybe I will read the second book.
October 18, 2025
Fuhhh that was a hot read ✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
I really liked this. Almost 300 pages yet it wasn’t too fast or too slow. The chemistry between them was also pretty interesting.
4/5 ⭐️
4/5 ⭐️
did-not-finish
January 11, 2026DNF @ 67%.
did-not-finish
February 12, 2026DNF’d at 43%. Wanted to DNF earlier but was hoping it would get better. It didn’t. Not a single lick of this book made any logical sense, and the writing was awful
February 28, 2026
I loved this book!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews