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Empire of Sin #3

Vicious Sinner

Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26
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The most dangerous man in Las Vegas just claimed me as his girlfriend.

In front of an entire biker bar.

In front of men who would happily sell my body for parts.

And judging by the arm wrapped around my waist and the look in his dark eyes, Alessio Ricci isn't pretending nearly as much as he should be.

Alessio is a mafia king.

Ruthless.

Untouchable.

The kind of man people fear enough to lower their voices when they say his name.

He's also the last man I should trust.

Four years ago, my sister vanished without a trace.

While everyone else moved on, I kept searching.

Every lead.

Every rumor.

Every dead end.

Until the trail led straight to the Black Canyon Reapers Motorcycle Club.

This time, I'm finally close to the truth.

Close enough to get myself killed.

I didn't expect Alessio to step in.

I definitely didn't expect him to be the same man I shared one reckless, unforgettable encounter with at a charity gala months ago.

A few stolen minutes.

A dark hallway.

A mistake I never completely forgot.

Now we're pretending to be together while I search for my sister and he hunts enemies in the shadows.

At least, that's the story we're selling.

Because the deeper we dig, the more dangerous the truth becomes.

Someone is hiding what happened to my sister.

Someone powerful.

Someone willing to kill to keep the past buried.

And Alessio is keeping secrets of his own.

The problem?

The closer I get to the truth, the more possessive he becomes.

The more protective.

The more impossible it is to remember this relationship is supposed to be fake.

Now a war is brewing.

Bodies are piling up.

And the merciless mafia king who's sworn to protect me has decided I belong to him.

Too bad nobody warned him I've spent the last four years fighting for the people I love.

I'm not about to stop now.

Vicious Sinner is a dark mafia romance featuring a morally gray antihero, fake relationship, possessive hero, forced proximity, touch-her-and-die vibes, one unforgettable one-night stand, a missing sister mystery, and a hard-won HEA.

For readers who love dangerous mafia kings, obsessed heroes, and heroines who refuse to surrender.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 22, 2026

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About the author

Bella Ray

10 books62 followers
Bella Ray writes dark, addictive mafia romance where power is everything, loyalty is lethal, and love always comes at a cost.

Her stories are filled with ruthless kings, dangerous obsession, and heroines who don’t just survive—they fight back, set boundaries, and draw blood when necessary. Expect morally gray men, high-stakes tension, and relationships that burn as much as they break.

If you love possessive antiheroes, twisted loyalty, and romance that walks the edge of danger, you’re in the right place.

When she’s not plotting betrayals or forbidden kisses, Bella is rewatching Dexter “for research” or walking her German shepherd—usually while thinking about her next morally questionable hero.

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Magic book club.
654 reviews71 followers
August 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bella, Bella, what are you doing to me?!
This is another fantastic book that I enjoyed and won me over from the very beginning. Beccs is an independent, smart and capable girl who has an unusual occupation and who at the same time is looking for her sister. When she receives a call that she needs to fix a car that has stopped in some hellhole, she never dreams that she will meet the arrogant and too handsome Alessio, Mob boss.

There was instant chemistry between them, but Beccs is determined to put Alessio in his place and never see him again. But the universe has other plans and their journey is filled with uncertainty, fear, violence, ...
Basically, if you like dark/mafia stories with tough but irresistible male characters, then this story is just for you and I believe you will enjoy it.
It has all the best recommendations from me and I can't wait for the next installments.
—-

,, God help me. I'm hopelessly in love with this woman.
The realization hits me with an almost physical force. Not because I suddenly discovered it. I think I've known for weeks. Maybe from the moment she called me a rich, spoiled asshole to my face in Idaho. Maybe when she held a gun and pulled the trigger. Maybe when she climbed into my Shelby and told me my driving was mediocre.”

—-

"My treasure."
Something warm settles low in my chest. Before it can get too comfortable, I point at him. "You're getting soft."
"Says the woman collecting Italian compliments."
"Continue."
His mouth twitches. "Amore.'
My heart does an annoying little flutter. I immediately
decide to ignore it. "What does that mean?"
"My love."
I place a finger over his lips. "Are you talking dirty to
me in Italian?"
Profile Image for lindsay.
42 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2026
I received a advance copy of this book…

I loved this book, it’s the 3rd in the series and I think it might be my favourite so far! Love love loved it!! 🥰

Can’t wait for book 4!!!
Profile Image for Lucia.
89 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 18, 2026
And we've reached the third book, this time with Alessio and Beccs as the protagonists, and these two were a constant eruption of passion, from the moment their paths first crossed it was clear there was something between them. Their glances spoke volumes, and although they each went their separate ways afterward, they both carried that memory with them until fate decided to bring them face to face once again.

Both carry wounds from the past and questions that still need answers, situations that, somehow, lead them to cross paths time and time again. Alessio was captivated from the first moment by the strong and independent woman that is Beccs, while Beccs well let's just say her body clearly craved Alessio's touch and we can't blame her.

But behind that attraction, there's much more both carry immense pain, Beccs carries the burden of losing her sister, whom she has never stopped searching for and for whom she still holds onto the hope that she is alive. Alessio, for his part has suffered abandonment in the past and as a consequence built enormous walls around his heart to avoid being hurt again, even so he was fortunate enough to find a family in his friends people who ended up becoming a fundamental part of his life.

When Alessio and Beccs realize that working together could be the best way to get the answers they so desperately need, they begin to devise a plan. However, the attraction that has existed between them since their first encounters is there waiting for the perfect moment to surface.

Alessio manages to see beyond the strong woman Beccs presents to the world, he sees the woman who is wounded inside, the one who also needs to feel loved and protected. And Beccs, for her part, manages to see the real Alessio the boy who suffered greatly from abandonment, the man who learned to protect his heart by building walls and preventing anyone from entering so as not to feel that pain again.

They both share a great deal of pain but they also begin to realize that their hearts seem to have made a decision before they did. Together, they can heal the wounds of the past, they can learn to trust each other and little by little discover that they don't have to face everything alone.
Alessio's need to keep Beccs protected mainly due to his constant fear of losing her, filled Beccs with warmth, although it also caused her more than a few headaches. Because yes, Alessio often wanted to keep her in a veritable glass box but, honestly how could she not understand after everything she's been through?

As they both get closer to the truth, dangers also begin to surround them, secrets from the past gradually come to light and they both have to face situations that definitely don't make things easy, however they also learn something very important: to trust each other.

Beccs proves that she can protect herself and that she can also protect Alessio when things get truly critical and Alessio for the first time manages to open up to someone like never before. He trusts Beccs, he trusts that she will be able to protect his heart and above all, he trusts that she won't abandon him.

Beccs's strong personality was precisely one of the things that made Alessio fall in love with her from the start, while his protective nature ended up filling Beccs with a sense of security and confidence that she needed. They both learned to feel protected by each other, but they also understood that protecting doesn't mean controlling and that trusting means letting the other person fight their own battles too.

And fight they did, as they moved toward the truth, dangers kept appearing, secrets from the past were revealed and they both had to face very painful situations. But in the end they managed to overcome every obstacle together, they healed wounds, learned to trust and above all found a safe haven in each other.

Beccs finally found what she'd been searching for, though not in the way she expected and that completely broke my heart I understood the reasons behind the situation with her sister but that didn't make it hurt any less. Fortunately, Alessio was by her side the whole time, proving once again that he wasn't going to let her face it alone, they both managed to survive everything they had to endure and overcome this battle, but we know this isn't the final battle.

I absolutely loved this book, the new secrets that were revealed, the answers that are slowly starting to emerge, the apparent betrayal of someone who seemed to be a friend and that final blow that left us completely shocked… EVERYTHING! The new clues that they're getting closer to taking down the Collector are there and I can't wait to find out what happens next but without a doubt, one of the things I loved most was Alessio and Beccs' development. My boys had to go through so much pain to finally achieve the happiness they fought so hard for and watching them learn to trust, open their hearts and heal together was beautiful.

They won this battle but the journey continues and after that little teaser they left us for the next book I can only say that the wait is going to be very difficult.
Damiano, who has already suffered enough, is now on thin ice and honestly I'm a little scared for him. And as for a certain person whose name starts with N I only have one thing to say to you right now I hate you I sincerely hope you have a good enough reason to earn my forgiveness because I'm quite resentful towards you. But come on, you've given us plenty of reasons to be, so we'll see how you fare in the next book.

For now, all I can do is wait because after everything that happened here I desperately need to know what comes next. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Booked & Broken.
31 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 18, 2026
This is the third book in the Empire of Sin Series.

Every time I get a favorite MMC, she writes another book and I start questioning who I really love the most. By the end of the book, I said “WHAAAATT!”

Beccs is looking for her sister but she keeps bumping into this man. Little does she know, he’s a big time mafia boss. He’s brutal, vicious and completely UNHINGED! But Beccs is no damsel in distress either. She decides to ask him for help. And he gets this bright idea to fake date. Beccs is stubborn and lord knows she doesn’t listen! Alessio is possessive and I loved it! The relationship between them two is complicated and has funny moments.

The spice is 🔥🔥🔥🔥. Alessio eats it up! 😉 I loved the intensity. These characters are far from perfect but I think that makes their relationship even more possible.

This is a mafia romance with fake dating, there’s funny banter between the MMC and FMC. It does have an HEA. Bella Ray can write the best mafia books! She makes me question my own sanity sometimes. There are some triggers so be sure to check your trigger warnings!

You could read this as standalone but I would advise reading it in order. Be sure to start with Merciless Sinner. If you want to go back to the very beginning, check out the Savage King of New York!

Bottom line…
If you like dark romance, morally grey psychotic men, obsession, possessive men, dangerous men and toxic energy… stop reading this review and get the book! If you’re reading this and it hasn’t released yet, add it to your TBR NOW!

Final rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Profile Image for Kim (kjw_reviews).
349 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 20, 2026
Title: Vicious Sinner (Empire of Sin: Book Three)
Author: Bella Ray


Review: This is the third book in the Empire or Sin series by Bella Ray, where we meet Alessio and Beccs.

Vicious Sinner is an absolute roller-coaster of a dark mafia romance, and I devoured it like no one’s business. The plot was plotting and don’t even get me started on the sexual tension/attraction right off the bat. The drama unfolded quickly, and the suspense kept you guessing throughout.

Beccs, a fiery car mechanic searching for her missing sister, enters a dangerous fake-relationship arrangement with a cold mafia king, Alessio. Alessio has the resources and is able to look in places a normal PI can’t. Alessio gets more standing in the mafia underworld by having a partner with the potential for heirs. This dark mafia romance features intense chemistry and hilarious banter as the couple navigates deadly rivalries and their own electric emotions towards each other.

Beccs is utterly, unapologetically chaotic and is probably one of my favourite heroines to date. The way she infuriated Alessio to no end made this entire book all that more enjoyable. Alessio is this terrifying, cold, calculated mafia boss who is used to everyone trembling in his presence and getting his own way. In walks Beccs, who has Alessio completely enamoured from the first time they lay eyes on each other. Beccs pushes every single one of his buttons, and his slow descent from absolute irritation to complete obsession was hilarious. Their chemistry was off the charts, fuelled entirely by that delicious push-and-pull dynamic and was hot and heavy right from the start. This is a change from the previous books in the series, which were more of a slow-burn.

Beyond the romance, what was also a massive part of the story was the relationship between Beccs and her sister. I thought this was going to be a beautiful reunion of sisters, but boy was I wrong! Beccs finding her missing sister consumed her life for years. All her money, spare time, resources… all for what? Without giving too much away, let’s just say I was VERY disappointed with the outcome of that relationship.

There were so many times throughout this book that I kept saying to myself…. Wow, I did not see that coming! Alessio and Beccs are by far my favourite couple in the Empire of Sin series, and I can't wait to read the final book in the Las Vegas chapter.

Tropes
💦 Dark Mafia Romance
💦 Fake Dating
💦 Fast Burn / Spicy
💦 Touch Her and 💀
💦 Morally Gray Hero
💦 He’d Burn The World For Her
💦 Instant Attraction / Chemistry
💦 Panty War
💦 Flirty Shenanigans
💦 Age Gap

I received an (ARC) Advanced Reader Copy for MY honest review for free.


Stars: 4.5/5 ★
Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️
Profile Image for Kasey.
310 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 26, 2026
Vicious Sinner, the third book in the Empire of Sin series, is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beccs, a fiery car mechanic on a quest to find her missing sister, enters a fake-relationship with Alessio, a cold mafia king. With his resources and connections, Alessio delves deeper into her sister’s disappearance. Simultaneously, Alessio and other mafia dons hunt for their enemies in the shadows, unknowingly becoming more connected than they realize. Beccs, an exceptional female protagonist, has endured immense loss in the past and is the sole one searching for her sister. Her fierce, strong, tough, and determined nature drives her to uncover the truth. Alessio, grappling with the complexities of his life, seeks answers that lead him to uncover his past. He is haunted by the pain and memories of his family. As Beccs and Alessio form a strong bond, their fake relationship blossoms into something beautiful. This emotionally charged, thrilling, and suspenseful story progressively intensifies, particularly in the second half. I was captivated by the intertwining storylines, the emotional and trusting connection between Beccs and Alessio, and the meticulously crafted plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I eagerly anticipate the unfolding events in the next installment.
Profile Image for Klaudia.
144 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 29, 2026
I did request this book on NetGalley and was approved to review it. Thank you for the advanced copy. The below review is of my own and honest opinion.

I didn’t realise this is a series and book 3 but I don’t feel that impacted my understanding of the story.

I loveeeee a mafia romance and I did enjoy this. I did like the plot and the mystery behind everything, I think that progressed well throughout the story. Please check trigger warnings before reading this.

I did think the romance between the FMC and MMC was quite instalove, he was a very golden retriever which I don’t think I’ve read in a mafia romance before. Yea the guy is usually die hard and possessive over his girl but this was loved being a softie and calling her babe. Also the emojis and the love hearts was not something I expected of a mafia boss lol

Overall, an enjoyable read. I might read the previous two books too as I did enjoy the writing style of this author
Profile Image for Cynkris.
642 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 13, 2026
Alessio and Beccs have just become my favorite couple EVER! Their back and forth repartee has me grinning so hard my face hurts! This isn't a slow burn at all but it is deep and hot. It is also heartbreaking due to some of the subject matter...I don't want to say too much because the story is so incredibly good and I don't want to spoil it for anyone! This is honestly one of the best books I've had the pleasure to read. The characters, the storyline, the world building are all excellent. Each couples story is stand alone ending in an HEA but there is an overall story that runs through them all so I would say reading them in order is best. I can't recommend this book highly enough!
Profile Image for Cindy Santiago.
Author 7 books34 followers
Review of advance copy
August 25, 2026
This book had me on the edge of my seat. The continued storyline of the collector continues and gets better and better. I loved the banter between Beccs and Alessio. It had me giggling most of the time, which one would think is difficult reading a dark Mafia book. Bella Ray makes it work. Their love story was full of ups and downs but I'm so happy they got their HEA.
Of course, that one scene towards the end(won't spoil it) left my mind blown. I can't wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1 review
Review of advance copy
August 29, 2026
I received an advance copy of this book.

This book has the perfect mix of spice and plot! I originally planned to read a little every day, but I couldn’t put it down. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, but I didn’t feel confused jumping into the third book.

I was immediately drawn into Beccs’ backstory and how it shaped her present life to fit perfectly with Alessio. I loved their connection and watching their relationship grow through the chapters.

I will be buying the first two books and I can’t wait for the fourth!
303 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
August 15, 2026
Book 3 of the Empire of Sin series, this is about Rebecca and Alessio. I like that Rebecca is stubborn enough to continually mess with Alessio’s plans for her safety, that Alessio would give everything to make Rebecca smile, and I found it so fun that they keep changing their names in each other’s phones, marking the progression of their relationship.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kelli.
1,521 reviews48 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 17, 2026
Sometimes you need a Saturday night and a mafia romance. This is one of those stay in and read for a day reads. A comfort story that is easy to digest.
Alessio and Becs are sweet together. I thought the texts they keep sending each other were the best.

My one thing I didn’t love is that the start is way to instalust literally pages into the story. There isn’t any build up or tension. But after a few chapters the story gets going and it’s a good fake dating turned real dating mafia romance. I can never say no to those mix of tropes in stories.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
9,636 reviews67 followers
Review of advance copy
August 20, 2026
Becca was on the hunt for her missing sister that led her to a biker bar, she didnt expect it to end with her being claimed by mafia boss Alessio, whose sjes already met! Now the two are working together but to what goal? Well written the story and characters hold your attention through out with steamy scenes, twists, desires, action and more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1 review1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 26, 2026
This is the first book of this series that I’ve read. I love the fact that I could read it and not be lost since it was in the middle of the series. I now find myself wanting to go back and read the previous 2 books. It has a great pace and sucked me from the first few pages. The dynamic between Alessio and Beccs was entertaining to read and watch unfold. You find yourself cheering for them.
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
August 22, 2026
When I first saw the trigger warnings I was a little nervous. I love a strong female character. The banter between the main characters was elite. I kind of jumped to the third book of this series. I will definitely go back to read the books before this and look forward to the 4th.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews