Run, Little Thief: An Enemies to Lovers Masked Man Dark Mafia Romance Novella

by Scarlett Croft

Getting railed on a church altar was not on my bingo card this year, but here we are, and I sure as hell can’t complain.I made a big mistake. I stole from the wrong people, and now I have the Mafia’s most ruthless enforcer on my trail.
The price for what I did? Nothing short but my life.
When he finds me hiding in an abandoned church in the middle of nowhere, I expect him to kill me.
What I don’t expect? It’s him pressing me against the altar, whispering sinful threats into my ear and using every weapon in his arsenal to get the truth out of me.
Little does he know, I have some tricks up my sleeve, too.
I’m not a woman who backs down from a challenge or gets down on her knees for any man. For him, though?
I just might.
Because with my life at stake, I’m ready to play his dangerous game. The only remaining question Can I outsmart the man who wants to break me?

A steamy short story set in the Deadly Universe with a HFN. This dark mafia romance can be read as a stand-alone or as part of the Deadly Shorts series.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Novella, Mafia Romance

52 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2026

About the author

Scarlett Croft writes spicy dark mafia romance packed with high-stakes action, twisted obsession, and unapologetically lethal love stories. Her books feature morally grey anti-heroes, women just as dangerous as the men who desire them, mafia empires, assassins, sizzling chemistry, and fierce enemies-to-lovers tension.

When she’s not writing and emotionally wrecking her readers (you’re welcome!), she's surviving on strong coffee and good books, rewatching her favorite comfort movies, planning her next trip, or plotting her next deadly romance.

Welcome to the Deadly Universe.

You might want to check your morals at the door. 🖤

Reviews

[Kursed Reads]

Tasked with tracking down the thief who hacked Los Castillos — the Argentinian mafia’s files — Reaper quickly realizes he’s underestimated Riven. And it costs him. But after losing control and fucking her in an abandoned church, regret is the one thing he can’t seem to muster.

At just over 50 pages, there’s minimal plot to be found here. So, if that’s what you’re after, look elsewhere. But if you’re in the mood for a smutty one-handed read, enjoy this fun, spicy novelette for exactly what it is. I’m definitely looking forward to watching Reaper and Riven’s game of cat and mouse continue Hide, Little Thief.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Action, Dark, New Adult

Ending: 💕 {HFN}
Length: 📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🤫😬🥵🫣😜
Darkness: 🖤
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Mafia/Bratva/Organized Crime, Rivalry
 
💫 Microtropes: Cat & Mouse, Masked MMC, Pet Name (Little Thief)

🔆 Character: Illegal Enterprises

💋 Kinks: Angel Wings, Degradation, Domination, Spanking

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Dominant MMC

⛔️ Safety Squad: Sacrilegious Acts, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

📣 Type: Run Little Thief is the first book in the Deadly Shorts series. The couple gets their HEA/HFN, but the overarching storyline will continue in future books.

⚠️ Warning: This one-handed read may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care. It may also leave you questioning your morals.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Isabella Grace]

“𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖖𝖚𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖎𝖘: 𝕮𝖆𝖓 𝕴 𝖔𝖚𝖙𝖘𝖒𝖆𝖗𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖆𝖓 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖜𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖇𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖐 𝖒𝖊?”

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5

52 pages | Novella

New-to-me author.

And apparently Scarlett Croft decided introductions were unnecessary because I saw:

Enemies to lovers.
Masked man.
Dark mafia romance.

ON THE COVER???

My panties dropped.

You guys KNOW. Individually, these tropes already make me weak. Put them together and apparently my dignity has left the building. 😮‍💨

Then I realized this was only 52 pages and thought, Okay, cute little dark romance snack.

NO.

This was 52 pages of pure FILTH and I devoured every damn crumb.

Riven made the teensiest, tiniest error in judgment.

She stole from the Argentinian mafia.

Whoopsies. 🎀

And unfortunately for her, the man sent to hunt her down is Reaper, the mafia’s ruthless masked enforcer.

You know what?

If the consequences of my actions show up wearing a mask, I suddenly believe very strongly in accountability.

Because REAPER???

Sir.

The mask alone would’ve been enough. You didn’t need to bring the whole murderous-mafia-enforcer situation into it.

Riven knows he’s coming for her, and eventually their little cat-and-mouse game leads them to an abandoned church.

And what happens next is 👀

Jesus has left the chat.

Because getting railed on a church altar wasn’t on Riven’s bingo card, but apparently Reaper came prepared to introduce her to a very different form of worship.

I……….

🧎🏻‍♀️

SCARLETT.

This is your FIRST impression???

There is something so fundamentally wrong with a masked man calling a woman “Little Thief” while hunting her down that apparently circles all the way back around to being incredibly hot.

I don’t make the rules.

Riven was also exactly the kind of FMC this needed.

She’s not some helpless little thing waiting for Reaper to catch her.

She’s clever.

Defiant.

A pain in his ass.

And fully prepared to play his game right back.

Which means Reaper goes into this thinking he’s hunting his prey and quickly discovers his Little Thief has teeth.

YESSSSS.

Give me enemies who actually feel like enemies.

Give me the chase.

Give me the threats.

Give me I should probably be afraid of you but unfortunately I’m attracted to red flags.

That’s why we’re here. 😌

Now, let’s manage expectations:

Is there an elaborate plot?

Bestie, there are 52 pages.

We do not have TIME.

Scarlett Croft had approximately five minutes to introduce these people, establish that Riven stole from some very dangerous men, put Reaper in a mask, throw them into an abandoned church and make everyone question their morals.

Mission accomplished.

😂

This is absolutely one of those books you pick up knowing exactly what you’re getting.

Plot? 🤏🏻

Character development? We’re doing what we can.

Sexual tension? YES.

Masked psychopath? YES.

Cat and mouse? YES.

Questionable decisions in a house of God?

REPENTANCE CAN WAIT.

And apparently this isn’t even the end of Reaper and Riven because their game continues in Hide, Little Thief???

Oh.

So you mean to tell me I get MORE?

Adds to TBR with absolutely no hesitation.

For a new-to-me author, Scarlett Croft certainly knew how to make herself memorable.

Will I be investigating the rest of the Deadly Universe?

Immediately.

Do I expect this investigation to improve my moral compass?

Absolutely fucking not.

🖤 Dark Mafia Romance
🎭 Masked MMC
🔪 Mafia Enforcer
🐈‍⬛ Cat & Mouse
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
💋 “Little Thief”
😈 Dominant MMC
🖤 Morally Questionable Everything
⛪ Sacrilegious Shenanigans
🔥 HIGH Spice
📖 Dual POV
💕 HFN
📚 52-Page Novella


Was this basically a filthy little mafia appetizer?

Yes.

Did I inhale it?

Also yes.

Apparently all it takes is a masked mafia man chasing a woman into an abandoned church for me to throw my standards, dignity, and possibly my relationship with God directly out the window.

See you in Hide, Little Thief, Reaper. 😈

[LollyDolly]

A short, spicy escapade with enough potential to carry me into the next instalment. Not bad.

[MissJLovesReading]

Okay, so that short story was 90% shut but holy **** was it hot! As a girl who grew up Catholic and went to a Catholic primary and high school, I must say I was blushing a little with what the poor abandoned church saw, but God did it have me flipping the page!

The writing was great, the editing great, the story super punchy and short, but let's be honest, we're all reading it for the masked man assassin smut and it was killer.

Check your triggers, as always, but honestly it was one of the less dark, dark romances I've read. Definitely wouldn't class it anywhere near pitch black, and the dub-con was pretty consensual, compared to other examples in other books.

But if a girl getting railed in a church is not something you're okay, stay well away from this one! Loved the teaser of the next book at the end too, I've already pre-ordered it.

Tropes:

plucky thief/deadly assassin hunting her
captor/ captive
run/chase
masked man
masked spicy time
lots of dirty talk
use of 🌶 (specifically withholding the fun stuff) as an interrogation technique
🍑✋️

Thank you to the author and team for providing me with an e-arc for an honest review. All opinions are totally my own. (Trust me, if I don't like it, I'll say that.)

[Izzy]

Thank you, Luna Literary, for the arc!

This was a short novella with plenty of heat. I really liked the setting and the dynamic, and am looking forward to the sequel.

[Yazzie]

Short and not so sweet. That’s one way to get information, even if he did fail o.o

[The Poisoned Pages]

Loved every dirty smutty second of this

[Faiza]

🖤🏃‍♀️ Run, Little Thief may be a novella, but don't let its length fool you—this story is absolutely addictive. I flew through it in one sitting because every chapter ended with me needing to know what happened next. And just when I was fully invested... it ended. 😭 Now I'm desperately counting down until Hide, Little Thief because I need more of Reaper and Riven immediately.

Riven is a fearless, highly skilled thief who makes a living stealing impossible targets before vanishing without a trace. She's clever, resourceful, and always one step ahead... until she crosses paths with Reaper. As a ruthless mafia enforcer known for eliminating anyone who stands in his way, he's used to being the hunter—not the hunted. The moment these two collide, their dangerous game begins, and neither of them is willing to surrender. 🗡️🔥

The cat-and-mouse dynamic completely stole the show for me. Watching Riven constantly stay on the move while Reaper somehow tracked her down every single time had me glued to the pages. No matter where she ran or how carefully she covered her tracks, there was always that chilling realization that he was never far behind. His signature scent of ice and burning wood became just as intimidating as his presence itself. ❄️🌲

Reaper is such an intriguing MMC. Hidden behind his skull mask, he remains a mystery for almost the entire novella, which honestly made him even more irresistible. Every time he appeared, I found myself dying to know what was hiding beneath the mask and what his real name might be. The secrecy surrounding him only made the tension between him and Riven even stronger. 😮‍💨💀

Their chemistry is immediate, intense, and impossible to ignore. Every encounter feels like a battle for control, filled with flirtation, danger, and enough tension to make you hold your breath. The spice definitely delivers, and one particular scene in an abandoned church was... let's just say, unforgettable. 😳❤️‍🔥

Despite being a shorter read, the story never felt rushed. It throws you straight into the action, keeps the adrenaline high, and leaves just enough unanswered questions to make you desperate for the next installment. Instead of wrapping everything up neatly, it feels like the opening act of a much bigger story—and I'm completely invested.

By the time I reached the final pages, I wasn't ready to leave these characters behind. Just when Riven starts believing she might finally have escaped, one familiar scent reminds both her and the reader that Reaper isn't finished with her yet. That final moment had me internally screaming because there is absolutely no way I can wait calmly for what's next. 🤯🖤

If you love mafia romance, masked antiheroes, thrilling chase scenes, morally gray characters, sizzling chemistry, and a heroine who refuses to back down, Run, Little Thief is an easy recommendation. It's fast, suspenseful, incredibly entertaining, and leaves you craving the next chapter of Reaper and Riven's story the second you finish. 📖✨

[The Soft Curse Eva]

I knew this was a novella going in, but I was NOT prepared for how quickly I would devour it.

Run, Little Thief is fast, addictive, spicy and completely unapologetic about what it wants to be. It gives us just enough of Riven and Reaper to get completely invested in their dangerous little game, and then has the audacity to end and leave us wanting more.

Riven was probably my favourite part of the story. She is clever, confident and very good at what she does. I loved that even when she realises exactly who is hunting her, she never suddenly becomes helpless. She knows Reaper is dangerous, she knows she should probably be terrified of him, but there is still this stubborn part of her that refuses to simply surrender. And considering who is chasing her, that makes their dynamic SO much more entertaining.

Then we have Reaper.

Masked. Ruthless. Mysterious. Completely obsessed with finding her.

Do I know enough about this man yet? Absolutely not.

Am I already ridiculously intrigued by him? Unfortunately, yes. 😂

The skull mask adds so much to his character because we are discovering him in exactly the same frustrating way Riven is. We get glimpses of the man underneath through his actions and their interactions, but there is still so much hidden. I NEED to know who he really is.

But what really made this novella work for me was the chase between them. Riven runs, Reaper finds her, she tries to outsmart him, and somehow every encounter becomes more intense than the last. Their chemistry is immediate, but it is the constant power struggle between them that makes it so addictive.

And yes… the church scene happened.🤭🫣

That definitely took things to another level. 😂🔥

I also liked that the author did not try to squeeze an entire romance into such a short page count. This genuinely feels like the opening chapter of something much bigger. We get the attraction, danger, obsession and first taste of their dynamic, while Reaper himself remains a mystery and their story is very clearly nowhere near finished.

And that ending made sure of it.

Fast paced, dark, spicy and ridiculously easy to read. Run, Little Thief gave me exactly what I wanted from an introductory novella while leaving me with approximately a thousand questions.

[Ashton]

Run, Little Thief may be a novella, but it packs an incredible amount of suspense, chemistry, and action into such a short page count. I devoured it in a single sitting, and by the time I reached the final page, I was already desperate for Hide, Little Thief. That ending was downright cruel in the best possible way.

Riven is exactly the kind of heroine I love; smart, fearless, and always thinking three steps ahead. She's built a reputation as a thief who can slip in, steal the impossible, and disappear without leaving a trace. Until Reaper enters the picture.

Reaper is a ruthless mafia enforcer who spends most of the novella hidden behind his signature skull mask, and honestly, the mystery only made him more captivating. Every encounter left me wanting to know who he really was beneath the mask, and that constant sense of anticipation made it impossible to stop reading.

The cat-and-mouse dynamic absolutely carried this story. No matter how far Riven ran or how carefully she planned her escape, Reaper always seemed to find her. That feeling of never quite being safe kept the tension high from beginning to end, and every meeting between them crackled with danger and undeniable attraction.

The chemistry between these two is instant and intense. Their interactions are filled with sharp banter, power struggles, and enough tension to keep the pages turning. For such a short story, their connection never felt rushed, and the spice definitely delivered while still leaving plenty of room for what's to come.

I also really appreciated how this novella feels like the first act of a much bigger story instead of trying to wrap everything up too quickly. It introduces the characters, builds the obsession, and leaves just enough unanswered questions to make the wait for the next installment almost unbearable.

If you enjoy mafia romance, masked antiheroes, cat-and-mouse chases, morally gray characters, and fast-paced stories with plenty of suspense, Run, Little Thief is absolutely worth picking up. I'm already counting down until Hide, Little Thief because I need to know what happens next for Reaper and Riven.

[Candy]

5⭐ ARC Review 'Run, Little Thief'

🌹 Mafia
🌹 Masked Man / MMC
🌹 Chase / Suspense
🌹 Thief / FMC
🌹 Spicy 🌶️
🌹 Dark Romance
🌹 Banter / Dirty Talk

For lovers of a masked man, that love a dark & spicy chase, this one is definitely for you!!
This was such a fantastic short novella that left me craving more!!! I absolutely loved this story, devoured in one sitting! The anticipation and suspense of the chase. The unknown of getting caught was a definite page turner.
Loved the writing style of this author, flows seamlessly with a great storyline. Absolutely loved our FMC, she's fierce and determined but also a lil cheeky. I can't wait for the next, book two in the Deadly Shorts Series 'Hide, Little Thief' after being left on a cliffhanger with the bonus sneak peek. I need to know more of our MMC, the man behind the mask 🥵 and see what will become of our little thief now.
Thank you so much to Luna Literary for providing this arc copy, absolutely loved it! 🖤

ℬ𝓁𝓊𝓇𝒷

Getting railed on a church altar was not on my bingo card this year, but here we are, and I sure as hell can’t complain.
I made a big mistake. I stole from the wrong people, and now I have the Mafia’s most ruthless enforcer on my trail. The price for what I did? Nothing short but my life.
When he finds me hiding in an abandoned church in the middle of nowhere, I expect him to kill me. What I don’t expect? It’s him pressing me against the altar, whispering sinful threats into my ear and using every weapon in his arsenal to get the truth out of me.
Little does he know, I have some tricks up my sleeve, too.
I’m not a woman who backs down from a challenge or gets down on her knees for any man. For him, though?
I just might. Because with my life at stake, I’m ready to play his dangerous game. The only remaining question is: Can I outsmart the man who wants to break me?

[Eleven Pages of Jo]

ARC

HOT, hot, hot!
This book is so good!
I usually don’t read novellas because I feel that the author try’s to put a lot of events in a few pages and ends up leaving a lot of loose ends and I always feel like the story is rushed and unfulfilling. This book may have change my mind and make me want to explore more novellas.
It’s fast paced, straight to the point and focus on it. You literally fall into to the story. I loved the writing, the steam that slides from every page and I’m VERY curious to know more about River and the Reaper and how will this story unfold!

Yeah there’s a second book coming I’m so excited!
Thanks Scarlett for making my dream come true.

“But what if it had ended that way?”

Well, I’d still love this story because it delivered exactly what it promised, and in the end it even left me with a present.

🇵🇹

QUENTE, quente, quente!
Este livro é tão bom!
Normalmente não leio novelas porque sinto que o autor tenta encaixar muitos acontecimentos em poucas páginas e acaba por deixar muitas pontas soltas, e fico sempre com a sensação de que a história é apressada e insatisfatória. Este livro pode ter-me feito mudar de ideias e dado vontade de explorar mais novelas.
Tem um ritmo acelerado, vai direto ao assunto e mantém o foco. Entramos literalmente na história. Adorei a escrita, a tensão sensual que emana de cada página e estou MUITO curiosa para saber mais sobre a River e o Reaper e como é que esta história se vai desenrolar!

Sim, vai sair um segundo livro, estou tão entusiasmada!
Obrigada Scarlett por tornares o meu sonho realidade.

«Mas e se tivesse acabado assim?»

Bem, continuaria a adorar esta história porque cumpriu exatamente o que prometeu e, no final, até me deixou com um presente.

[Katarinabluu]

4.5★

I already know I'm going to go even crazier over Hide Little Thief than I did over this one. This novella is only the beginning of Reaper and Riven's story, and Hide Little Thief is their continuation. I have a feeling it will be even more thrilling, with higher stakes, more intense chemistry, more heat, and an even better game of hide-and-seek between them.

Riven is a highly skilled thief who takes contracts to steal heavily secured documents and valuable items before disappearing like a ghost. Reaper is a ruthless mafia enforcer who executes traitors, always hiding behind his signature skull mask. Neither of them is willing to back down.

When Riven accepts a contract to steal important documents from a dangerous mafia clan, she comes face-to-face with the merciless killer himself. From that moment on, she runs and hides, but unfortunately for her, Reaper always manages to find her like a cat hunting its prey.

Their chemistry was on another level. And... did they really do that in an abandoned church on the altar? I'm not Catholic, so I don't know much about the significance of it, but it definitely felt controversial. If scenes like that make you uncomfortable, this novella may not be for you. As for the spice level, I'd give it a solid 4/5.

Now, let's talk about that mask. I desperately want to see the face of the man hiding behind it in the next book and finally learn his real name too!

And it's far from over. Just when Riven believes she's finally escaped Reaper, he returns with his signature scent of ice and burning wood, reminding her that she can never stay hidden for long.

If you're a fan of masked men, cat-and-mouse chases, dangerous mafia romances, and plenty of spice, then this novella is definitely worth picking up. I can't wait to see what Hide Little Thief has in store for Reaper and Riven.

[TheBookishGothGirl]

4.75 STARS

This is a dark romance - please read the content warnings.

This book is fast paced and full of twists and secrets. I loved every second of it.

The story centres on our FMC, Riven, a thief who has been hired to steal files from Los Castillos, the Argentinian Mafia and she is doing so well, right until the last second and then all hell breaks loose and she comes face to face with him, La Guadana, the Grim Reaper. On the run, she manages to evade him onto the underground and then onto a coach that drops her in the middle of nowhere, in the dark.
She finds shelter in an abandoned church and thinks she is safe for now. Then he's there, holding a knife to her throat and demanding she give back what she has taken.

Absolutely perfect masked man, mafia romance novella with a morally grey FMC. It's enemies to lovers at its finest and the spice is HOT! I enjoyed the way the story develops, this masked monster of man, known for brutally torturing and killing, clearly longs to be loved and wanted and when presented with the opportunity to actually connect with someone, he doesn't shy away from it. Clearly Riven is only compliant with this sexy scenario to save her own life, to begin with but there is definitely more to it by the end.

I already need book 2 because I have to know what happens next.

Highly recommend if you are into mafia romance, masked men and want a short read that packs a punch.

[crisscrossreads]

🅐🅡🅒 🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
𝗥𝗨𝗡, 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗙

“Let me hear your screams, little thief. That’s what you get for not cooperating.”

Listen y’all this is a novella that packs a punch and a load of spice that will have you craving so much more. As a disclaimer this lil beauty does end of a bit of a cliffhanger, so I hope you like to be edged babe. A love a badass and clever FMC and lemme just say our girl, Riven, is just that.

𝐓 𝐑 𝐎 𝐏 𝐄 𝐒
❥ Masked MMC
❥ Enemies to Lovers
❥ Mafia Romance
❥ Degradation + Praise Kink
❥ Dirty Talk + Banter
❥ Obsessed MMC
❥ Forced Proximity
❥ Morally Grey
❥ Primal Play

“Come getting fucked by a stranger on an altar. Come right . . . fucking . . . now.”

The Reaper can get it all day everyday. I mean yea sure he’s deadly, he’s a fixed, blah blah blah. But when a man who’s supposed to be there to kill you fucks you senseless instead I say you’ve won the lottery babe. And it only makes him more obsessed. Miss girl thinks she gets the drop on him several times but she’ll never escape him.

If you need a short, steamy and playful read. Snatch this baby up. It was easily a 5 star read for me hitting all my favorite tropes and capturing my attention as I was feral & sat devouring it.

RATINGS:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Danielle]

🖤 Dark mafia romance
🐈‍⬛ Cat-and-mouse chase
🚪 Forced proximity
🔥 Morally grey characters

Well, I think Scarlett Croft said it best: “Welcome to the Deadly Universe! You might want to check your morals at the door.” And honestly, she was not exaggerating 🥵

Reading Run Little Thief was like opening a fresh packet of cookies, eating one, and then somehow looking down five minutes later to discover the entire packet is gone. There is no one else to blame. I did this to myself. And yet, I still felt deeply betrayed when I reached the end of this delicious little novella far too quickly.

What I loved most was how much chemistry and personality Scarlett Croft packed into such a short read. Riven’s bold, mischievous energy played perfectly against Reaper’s obsessive masked-menace vibes, while their banter made the dangerous cat-and-mouse game ridiculously fun to follow.

Run Little Thief was the perfect bite-sized introduction to the Deadly Universe. My only complaint is that I needed a much bigger bag of cookies because I was nowhere near ready to be finished with Riven and Reaper 🖤

Thanks Luna Literary and Scarlett Croft for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Valeria Campos]

Check the trigger warnings before diving in.

Masked mafia man? ✔️
Cat-and-mouse chase? ✔️
Morally gray obsession? ✔️
A novella that had me wanting book two immediately? Absolutely.

I devoured this in one sitting. For a shorter read, it never felt rushed. It throws you right into the action and keeps the tension high from start to finish. Reaper is exactly the kind of MMC I love—dangerous, possessive, mysterious, and completely obsessed. The fact that he stays hidden behind the mask just made me want to know more.

Riven wasn’t a damsel waiting to be rescued either. She’s smart, bold, and gives Reaper a run for his money, which made their chemistry even better. Every encounter between them was packed with tension, banter, and enough spice to keep the pages turning.

The church scene? Yeah… you’ll either be clutching your pearls or kicking your feet. 😂

If you love dark mafia romance with a masked MMC, obsessive vibes, cat-and-mouse tension, and enough mystery to leave you desperate for the next book, add this one to your TBR.

That ending had me immediately needing Hide, Little Thief because I’m not done with Reaper and Riven yet. 🖤

[Karina Rodriguez]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

This was such a fun, fast read!

Run, Little Thief throws you right into a game of cat and mouse between a skilled thief and a dangerous mafia enforcer, and the chemistry between them is immediate. The tension, the banter, and the constant push and pull had me hooked from the very beginning.

For a short story, Scarlett Croft packs in plenty of heat. The spice definitely delivered, but what really kept me reading was the dynamic between the main characters. They’re both confident, neither is willing to back down, and watching them try to outsmart each other was just as entertaining as everything else.

The ending left me desperate for more, and I immediately wanted to know what happens next. My only reason for giving it 4.5 stars instead of 5 is that I simply wanted more time with these characters. The story flew by so quickly that I wasn’t ready for it to end.

If you’re looking for a quick, spicy mafia romance with great chemistry, playful banter, and enough tension to keep you flipping pages, definitely add this one to your TBR.

[PandaTh3bookworm]

A huge thank you to Luna Literary and author Scarlett Croft for this ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had so much fun reading Run Little Thief! Even though it's a quick novella, it packs in plenty of suspense, chemistry, and action from beginning to end.

Riven is a thief who finds herself in over her head after stealing something that puts a dangerous Argentinian mafia organization on her trail. The man sent to retrieve what's theirs, Reaper is intimidating, mysterious, and impossible to ignore. Watching these two go head-to-head was easily my favorite part of the story. Their constant push-and-pull, witty exchanges, and undeniable attraction made it impossible to put down.

The chemistry between them is intense, the tension builds with every encounter, and the story never slows down. I finished it wanting more and can't wait to see where the series goes next. If you enjoy dark romance with high stakes, a dangerous hero, and a heroine who refuses to back down, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a chance.

[Sarah]

Thank you Luna Literary for the advanced reader copy!

There are some things even confession cannot fix. This book contains several of them.

Short, filthy, dark, and exactly the kind of bite sized chaos I wanted. Our FMC steals from the wrong people, ends up being hunted by the Mafia’s most ruthless enforcer, and somehow an abandoned church becomes the setting for some very questionable decision making.

I especially loved that she wasn’t some helpless little thief waiting to be caught. She’s clever, stubborn, and more than willing to play dirty, which made the back and forth between these two so much fun. Their chemistry is immediate, dangerous, and completely lacking in good judgment, which is precisely what I came for.

For such a quick read, Scarlett Croft packs in plenty of tension, spice, banter, and morally questionable behavior without trying to make the story more complicated than it needs to be.

Fast, filthy, unhinged, and ridiculously fun. I will simply never look at a church altar the same way again.

[AlexsReadingCave]

Not your ordinary short story.
Slow Burn? Non-existence.
Fast Paced? ONE THOUSAND PERCENT

This is definitely one spicy short novella that I’ve read so far and I’m not mad about it. For its being a short novella, the writing style was perfect for the storyline.

If you’re a fan of all things spice and masked men this is definitely the book for you. Riven our Little Thief gets caught by the Reaper who hunts her down. The chase, the anticipation for all unknown had me on the edge of my seat that made me want more!!

Literally devoured this in one sitting because I just had to know what was going to happen. I also loved the little sneak peek that we got for book two, and I need that book to out already so I can continue the series.

Thank you to the author Scarlett Croft & Team Luna for allowing me to receive and ARC💖

[Felecia Rodney]

ARC Review:

Tropes:
Mafia Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Masked Man
Mafia Enforcer x Thief
Banter + Dirty Talk

Calling all my dark romance besties who love masked men and a good cat-and-mouse chase—Run Little Thief was made for us!

The story follows Riven, a thief who gets herself into deep trouble after stealing critical information from a ruthless Argentinian gang. The dangerous enforcer sent to track her down goes only by "Reaper," and the thrill of the chase between them had me completely hooked. The banter, the dark edge, and the absolute heat between Riven and Reaper made me question my morals in the best way.

This fast-paced ARC novella is short, intense, and leaves you immediately craving the next book in the series.

A huge thank you to Luna Literary and author Scarlett Croft for this ARC!

[Dominique]

Run Little Thief is the first book in the Deadly Short series, and even though it’s only about 50 pages, it packs in plenty of action, humor, and spice. The story follows a thief who steals important files from the mafia, only for the infamous “Grim Reaper” to be sent after her to retrieve them. What starts as a dangerous game quickly turns into a battle of wits, undeniable chemistry, and some very spicy moments.

For such a short story, I was surprised by how much happened. The banter and funny moments balanced out the darker mafia elements really well, and just when I thought everything was settled, she managed to get away with the files again. It was a quick, entertaining read that definitely left me wanting to see what happens next.

Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this before the release!

[Bri]

Arc Review received from Luna Literary and Author

4.5⭐️

This one was such a fun quick and smutty read!

Riven steals files from the mafia and now their enforcer, Reaper, is after her. In a game of cat and mouse she ends up in a church as a place to hide..... and well.... who doesn't love something unholy happening on an altar?

This is a HFN with it being the beginning of the Deadly Shorts series that follow Riven's and Reaper's story. It can be read as a stand-alone or as part of series. If you're looking for a quick short story with banter and a masked man, this is one you should check out!

What to expect:
🥀 mafia enforcer x thief
🖤 masked man
🥀 morally grey
🖤 banter + dirty talk
🥀 degradation + praise
🖤 unholy church scene
🥀 short but spicy novella
🖤 HFN

[Elizabeth Hobbs]

Advanced Reader Copy Review
This is my first novella by Scarlett Croft, and I very much enjoyed her writing. For a short story, it kept me fully invested in the story and the plot. I finished this novella in 45 minutes, and I couldn't put it down. I had to keep reading to see what happened between the little thief and the reaper! I have to read the rest of this series as soon as it comes out. I loved the writing, the tropes, and the entire book overall. I have a feeling that this entire series is going to be worth reading, and I am excited to see what the other novellas have in store for the characters! I loved that, despite being scared for her life, the FMC was still witty and sassy to the MMC, especially at the end. If you love
- Enemies to lovers
- Masked Man
- Banter
- Mafia Romance
Then this book is definitely for you, and you won't regret reading it!

[whataurasreading]

My favorite quote from this novella?

“You’re not gonna lie in a church, of all places, are you?”
Even though I’m quite literally dancing with death right now, I bark out a laugh. “I’d do worse things in a church than tell pretty lies.”

This is a quote 38% in and Riven and Reaper then proceed to do just that for the rest of the 62%! I love a short spicy novella. One of the things I loved about this one was the note in the beginning that basically says: this is spicy for spice sake, enjoy. And I did. Riven is a thief who steals files and Reaper is the man who wants them. He chases her trying to get them back. They end up in an abandoned church and it's all sorts of dirty from then on. This short is a standalone in the Deadly Universe series. I'll definitely be continuing the story.

[chaptersandcheckups]

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Review of ARC provided by Luna Literary

trigger warnings: degradation praise, unholy church scene

I knew I loved mafia romance for a reason!! This was HOTTT!!!!

Such a jam packed novella! It had smut, the chase, and suspense!!

I’m so excited for the second book!!

Riven is a top of her game thief but the alarms trigger at her last heist involving stealing files from the Argentinian mafia.. she comes face to face with La Guadaña, the Grim Reaper, the most lethal enforcer!

She took him by surprise and escaped to a few towns over and found shelter at an abandoned church only to be awoken to his mask and dark eyes in front of her!

Wow this novella! I’m speechless

Tropes:
☠️masked enforcer
🖤dark mafia romance
☠️cat x mouse chase
🖤forced proximity
☠️unholy church scene

[Tia]

No because tell me why I was not expecting this short fast paced novella to be 5 stars and having me kicking my feet and giggling like a mad woman. Sorry but this is one you should wait to read until your partner is available next to you ready for when you finish it (hehehe)

Our FMC Riven steals for a living, she steals things people usually can't and would pay a lot of money for so when she has to steal files from the Mafia it's just another day in her world but the infamous Reaper catches her and is surprised to find out she is a woman. Riven briefly gets away and hides in an abandoned church for cover...next thing you know she's getting railed into oblivion over a church alter.

This had me sweating it was so good. There is something about the forbidden-ness of the place they were doing it that made it oh so sweeter. I knew I had to immediately jump into book 2.

[Cazlovesbooks]

After stealing from the mafia , Riven is on the run and being chased by a lethal enforcer called Reaper.

When he finally catches up with her, in a church of all places, things don’t go exactly as planned. She still ends up on her knees though 🥵

This was a short and spicy read at only 52 pages. Hot as heck, and great for dark romance readers !!

Riven is a badass FMC. Reaper is scary as all hell but he’s also got a very dirty mouth on him.

If you want a quick (ok I would say pellets cleanser but this is not clean 😂😂). If you want some quick spice inbetween cute books, this is for you !!

🖤 Mafia themes

⚔️ Enemies to Lovers

🌶️ Spicy

🔥 Short but Hot

🔫 Mafia Enforcer × Thief

🎭 Masked Man

[DirtyLittle$mut✨]

Run Little Thief⛓️‍💥🫣- Scarlett Croft

If you like a short but deeply spicy dark romance, then this is the one for you🥴! This is a short, spicy, mafia novella. When a thief makes the move to steal from the from people, the mafia enforcer known as the Reaper💀, now has a target on her head. When he discovers her in an abandoned church she fears for her life and is itching to find a way to escape🫢. But when looking a little closer, the look in his eyes show other intentions and the tension in the room feels extremely dangerous😳🥵… but not just because of their predicament.🤭😈

Truly a great read although I really want the other book now cause I was just getting invested and this is exactly why I can’t survive short stories!😪😤😩

Star Review:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Review:🌶️🌶️🌶️