The Debt

by Marian Black

He never expected to inherit his father's debt. He definitely didn't expect to become payment.

When Luca Costa's estranged father dies, he inherits more than just grief—he inherits a two-million-dollar debt to the Valentino crime family. With no way to pay and nowhere to run, Luca is given a work in one of their omega establishments for ten years, or provide "personal service" to Dante Valentino himself.

Dante has wanted Luca since he first saw him at a gallery opening two years ago. Brilliant, beautiful, and completely unaware of being watched, Luca was everything the ruthless alpha never knew he needed. When Luca's father's debt provided the perfect opportunity, Dante didn't hesitate to claim what he'd been craving.

But Dante doesn't want a terrified omega—he wants Luca's willing surrender. So he waits. Proves his patience. Shows restraint even when his alpha instincts scream to claim and possess. And slowly, impossibly, Luca begins to realize that his captor might be the only home he's ever wanted.

A debt brought them together. But it will be choice that binds them forever.

The Debt is a dark mafia omegaverse romance featuring a possessive alpha, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension, knotting, heats and ruts, and a bonding bite that makes everything permanent. HEA guaranteed.

Genres: Omegaverse, M M Romance, Dark Romance, Romance, Forced Proximity, Paranormal, Fantasy

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Marian Black creates M/M romance stories with an action-thriller flavor. She has a particular love of vampire and mafia stories.

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

**Edited to add that this book is AI so I've revised my rating down to one star. I'm a bit disappointed because I liked this book better than quite a few books by real authors that I've read recently, and I would've happily read more had I been unaware of how it was created**

Luca inherits his late father's debt of 2+ million to the Valentino crime family and is given the choice to pay it off servicing the head of the family or random men at a brothel. He chooses to become Dante's captive, safe and secure in his penthouse apartment- as long as he follows Dante's rules to pay off his debt.

So terrible yet so good - the Harlequin romance for MM readers! I loved how ridiculous and over the top this was. I'm going to ignore what it says about me that I loved reading this slop and instead focus on the author's craft. Luca is whisked away from his previous life of drudgery and given safety and luxury. His every need is seen to by Dante, as the reader is encouraged to commend Dante for not forcing himself on Luca sexually. A possessive man who wants me and chose me and isn't forcing me, clearly he's The One! Essentially, we are skillfully guided through most of Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs (achieved in order, no less!) before the comforts Luca has been accustomed to at Dante's hand are ripped away. As a result of his kidnapping by a rival crime family, Luca learns that he trusts Dante with his life. Once rescued, he returns to his life as a mostly willing captive and continues his climb towards the top of Maslow's pyramid (self actualization and love, of course!). It's romantic gaslighting with some inherently problematic flaws, but I don't care. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Judge me if you want, I'll be back to read more from this author.

Omegaverse with mpreg.

[Lindsey D.]

The author is AI, writing is repetitive trash.

When you start reading it, there's this brief moment where you get excited and think "wow it's decently written!"

Then you realize it's AI after the same repetitive garbage is said over and over again, the characters are one-dimensional, and then you find out the author has published like 40 books in the last 4 months.

Oh and all the art is AI too.

Clearly the whoever is posting this is doing so to farm engagement for free money. Amazon needs to remove this slop.

[Megan]

DNF 40% (11/19/25)

Repetitive. Weird formatting errors. Felt vaguely AI

And then I just looked at the catalogue for the author and dozens of books were published in just a few weeks. So, definitely comfortable DNFing

[Shannon]

AI covers, AI website and AI author photograph, all these books published in 2025, this is a joke, some readers clearly don't care.
Someone prove me wrong, the amount of the same names, same storyline, just different titles is astounding, hopefully someone will sort this AI mess out soon enough.

[Nina]

Dnf at 65% (123/194 pages)

Suspected AI

[Megan (feral hearts club)]

Author uses ai

[Kez Marie]

This was a forced proximity mm romance set in a mafia / omegaverse world. It all starts as a deal Luca is forced to take to work off his family's debt, but alpha Dante wants it to gain his omegas trust and show how much he adores him. Dante's obsession is caring and controlled, and Luca is smart and observant. Some areas felt repetitive but overall it was a sweet slow burn, with some drama and spice.

[HellHare]

This book is too short to be THAT repetitive. It's probably AI.

[rinia]

yeah they were cute or whatever but both times luca giving in after a traumatic experience BOOOOOO

the first time after being kidnapped like okay you really don’t need to give in bro take your time and why did he not have any friends???????????

second time after dante being shot…..in the hospital….have some decency people!!!!!!

they were fun to read about but he’s the type to give omegas a bad name! just because you can give in doesn’t mean you should, luca!

AND ANOTHER THING! Dante had no real reason on why he wanted luca….he kept bring up the gallery from when he saw him TWO YEARS AGO (the man is clinically insane) like that’s not enough for me. tell me you saw how hard i worked without my fathers help. tell me you saw me volunteering at the shelter, tell me my father used to actually say good things about me even though he didn’t. the gallery was a lame excuse and then to say the debt was just added fate…he needs to be in handcuffs.


TWO POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT….thats not worth my safety or my bond, I would harm myself and others if i was Luca. Dante is not a changed man just because he settled down.

[C.Gard]

3 Stars

This did have some very cute moments and some dramatic little scenes that were fun. I like the dynamic of these two a lot, which kept me reading....

But the sheer amount of repetition of specific dialogue was a bit ridiculous. I also wish there was a lot more relationship development in this book, but unfortunately it was a bit lacking in that department. Despite these things, this was still a fun and quick read.

[Alonna Irizarry]

MM/ omegaverse/ knotting/ forced proximity/ mafia/ touch him and die/ obsessed MMC/ morally gray MMC/ no third act breakup/ Mpreg/ HEA

Trigger warning: neglectful parenting/ death of a loved one/ dub on/ attempted SA/ abduction/ violence/ manipulation/ stalking

This was fine. It felt too Stockholm syndrome-y

[Jessica]

Beautiful Courtship

✨ No Spoilers! ✨
Luca & Dante’s story had me in a chokehold, I couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns truly had me not knowing what was going to come next.
Honestly, I’m thankful for Marco at the beginning… if it’s wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would have trusted the arrangement in the first place. I hope to find a story for him, he deserves it!

[Shelia]

Okay

It is hard to gauge this one due to how it started. Though they do fall in love. There is action, betrayal, and all manner of mafia happenings that ends with two people in love.

[becca]

This could have been fifty pages less and if I hear that gallery story one more time, I’m gonna scream. Also, do you think Dante paid off Luca’s student loans? It would have been funny if he didn’t.

[Maria]

All books by this author are made with AI.

[Neisha † The Poet †]

Ai slop

[Lae's Bkshelf]

2.5. ⭐️

[OneMoreChapterAfterDark]

alright but incredibly repetitive!

[Mong]

probably one of the best ABO worlds

I read MANY ABOs - even mangas and this was spot on! But the flow was too quick. I guess they really just got to the point lol

[Alyssa Diels]

this is an author that chooses AI to write her books.

[Aղցela W.]

Review Coming

[Chinelo]

No. Just simply No.

[Pragya _v_Th..]

FUCKING AI TRASH.... YEAH I JUST LOVE THE TASTE OF NOTHING..
I AM FKING TIRED OF AI AUTHORS

[Finch Graves]

think it's ai

[C]

the disappointing realization that this was AI slop…

[Bill Morby]

Needs a live editor. Repetitive, nearly identical answers to the same questions in multiple chapters. I finished it but I’m not sure why.

[Chrissy K]

I gobbled it upppp, legit stayed up until 2am to finish this, I’m gonna read EVERYTHING this author has written

[Leslie Sparks]

Meh, ok, omega got pregnant

[April Bartholomew]

Good Overall

A lot of repetitive speech but I love how strong Luca was. Side character Marco was a bit over the top in some ways. But overall a good story.

[meeeee]

AI