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Mafia Vows #4

The Betrayal

If you find out your whole existence, everything you ever knew is a lie, where does that leave you?

I am Star and I'm a sacrificial offering for my people.
A thing to be sold to the highest bidder.
Then I'm bought and nothing is as it seems.
Up is down, and good is bad.

My new master is a hardened mafia soldier named Markos.
He wants to save me.
I don't want to be saved.
The only way out of this for me is betrayal of the highest order.

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2019

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About the author

S.R. Jones

78 books772 followers
Redeeming dark and dangerous heroes one book at a time.
Skye Jones is an award winning and USA Today Bestselling Author.
She writes dark mafia and contemporary romance as SR Jones, and angsty paranormal romance as Skye.

When not writing Skye can be found reading, dog herding, or watching gritty dramas on Netflix with her husband. She lives in the grey, windswept north of England, which fuels her taste for the dramatic and the gothic.

For a free read sign up for her reader club here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ca20ewxx71

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5 stars
399 (62%)
4 stars
166 (25%)
3 stars
62 (9%)
2 stars
10 (1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for Maria11.
2,017 reviews49 followers
April 28, 2020
Interesting

Never read a rescue from a cult plot. It was interesting and realistic I think. It took time and it was needed to make the story real life.
Profile Image for Yoneidis.
2,171 reviews11 followers
May 20, 2020
In the previous book, Alessio, Damen and Markos rescue Star from the sect in which she is involved, buying her in an auction. They take her to their home but Star has trouble understanding why these men prevent her from fulfilling her mission. Since she was little she has been taught it is an honor to be an Offering, to serve her master, who in this case is Markos, since it was he who bought her.

“You’re the one who lied. You bought me and you had no intentions of being my master. I don’t believe anymore that you did, despite what you say. You bought me for what reason? To get me to turn on my people? Why? What did they ever do to you?”

Markos and the others want to end the sect and the human trafficking they carry there, where the girls who Rebel end up dead. But Star will fight them at every step, so they ask for the help of a specialist to help reverse the brainwashing that they have done to Star.
Little by little Star is making its way into the heart of Markos, always closed to others, except from his brothers in arms and their women.

And then she does it. She changes everything. Star leans in and softly presses her lips to mine. She’s tentative and gentle, but the feel of her does something to me. It lights a part of me I thought long dead, and I don’t mean my cock. Star’s kiss touches my soul. This feeling in my chest, though, it’s one I’ve never experienced before, and it’s not plain old lust; it’s more. Deeper. Painful almost. If it’s not love, then I don’t know what it is.

“What are you doing?” he asks. “Waiting for you.” My voice wavers when I speak. “Why are you … why are you wearing that?” I’m on top of the covers so he can see clearly the pale gray slip. “For you.” “Star.” He shakes his head and takes a step forward before stopping again. “We can’t do this.” “Because you don’t like to be touched?” “God, no. I think I’d very much like to be touched by you.” He smiles at me. “But it would be wrong.” “No, it isn’t. Markos, I want it, and you want it, so how is it wrong?” “Because you’re not in the place to make these decisions,” he says. “Don’t treat me like I’m insane. I’ll have you know that I have legal capacity. I’ve been reading, and I’m not insane. Pamela says I’m not too. It’s my choice to go to America with her because she says I have legal capacity, and therefore it has to be my choice. Some people, they are so poorly in their mind, they don’t have legal capacity, but I do. Do you know what that means? It means I am capable of making decisions. Of entering into contracts. Of being an adult. Pamela treats me like one; why won’t you?”“I do want to touch you,” he says, taking another couple of steps closer. “And I want you to touch me.” I glance down and see the bulge in his pants. He’s aroused. If I stroke him there, he’ll come for me, and I want to see that. But then I also want him inside me, and I don’t know if he’ll want to do it again once he’s come. “I have scars,” he says. “My body, it’s not … nice.”“I think you are beautiful,” I tell him truthfully. He smiles, and it’s kind of sad. “I’m not. You are, though, Star. Your name suits you because you shine. You’re beautiful, inside and out, and when you get through your therapy, you’ll realize you can do a lot better than me.”

But Star can’t let her family suffer, so she thinks about following the men when they go to the compound, so she can speak to their leader Zeus and alert them before it’s too late, but Markos finds out about her plans and locks her up in his room with him.

“Star, what the fuck is this?” Markos is holding the pills I had hidden, and his face is thunder. “Not to harm any of you. I only wanted to knock you out, well, not you, but whoever is here tomorrow guarding me. That way, I could go to my family and help them. I can’t sit here doing nothing when they might be killed. Don’t you understand, Markos? I knew you would never let me come, you’d all say no, so this way, no one gets hurt, and I get to be there. You understand, don’t you?”No, I don’t fucking understand. This is where she and I part ways. She was abused by her parents, and she still wants to save them. She carries totally misplaced loyalty to them, and it pisses me off. How can she care about them when they trafficked her? How can she care for them, more than she cares for me and my brothers? We risked our fucking lives to save her, and we will do it all over again tomorrow to save her useless family and her neighbors. “Didn’t abuse you? Girl, they put you up for auction. They let some creepy Brother, sexually assault you. They brought you up in a place so fucked up it makes my folks look normal.”I’m not letting her go. I can’t trust her. “I thought you cared about me, but you care about your friends here more.” “No,” I say to her, trying to keep calm. “I care about you, a whole fucking lot, and I know what sort of shit you’ll bring down on yourself if you’d done what you planned. Do you know what Alesso would do to you if you hurt Stella?” “I just wanted to help my family.”“Star, I’m sorry. You’re safe here. I won’t hurt you, but you have to stay in here tonight.” She wipes away her tears and sets her jaw. “Fine. I will, but I don’t want anything more to do with you. When my parents get here, we will be leaving with Pamela, and you and I won’t speak anymore.”“Star, I’m sorry. You’re safe here. I won’t hurt you, but you have to stay in here tonight.” She wipes away her tears and sets her jaw. “Fine. I will, but I don’t want anything more to do with you. When my parents get here, we will be leaving with Pamela, and you and I won’t speak anymore.”I lie next to her and swear my heart is breaking, which is pretty damn ironic because I didn’t think I had one left to break.

Finally Star’s family is rescued and she and her mother go to therapy in America, having to spend months there, but when he goes to visit her he doesn’t like what he sees.

I wasn’t looking for the companionship I found with Star. It simply happened, and now it’s all gone wrong. I don’t feel the need to look for it again. She and I? We were a beautiful moment of serendipity, and like all things full of possibility we hovered for a while, straddling the divide between something bright and wonderful, and crashing and burning on the other side. Unfortunately, we crashed and burned. Or rather I did. Star is finding her bright future, just with someone else.

The path to their HEA is not easy, but once they get it it is beautiful.

“What do you want me to be?” He’s so close but not quite touching. I need him to touch me. “I don’t know,” I admit. “Just … mine. I want you to be mine.” He smiles then, and it’s gorgeous. “Good because I want you to be mine too.I know you might not be ready to hear this, but I need to tell you. I love you, Star. I’m in love with you.” “I love you too, Markos. I’m just not ready to live in the house with all of you and lose myself again, when I’ve only just found myself. Do you understand?” “Yes, I do.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tammy.
9,119 reviews52 followers
December 23, 2019
I love this series! I recommend reading the entire series however it can be read as a stand-alone. Star was raised in a cult and new one day she would be sold and given to her master. She just never expected to receive a master like Markos. Markos and his friends want to discover who is responsible for the place where Star grew up so they can put an end to the slave auctions. Will Star betray her family? Fast-paced read with loads of drama, amazing characters with loads of layers and plenty of drama and suspense. The chemistry is steamy and the story will grab you from beginning to end. I loved it!
Profile Image for Carolyn Norman.
932 reviews12 followers
July 14, 2025
The Star & Markas story flows from the last book in the series. We know that Markas won Star in the auction because the team want to shut the auction down. The team’s challenge is that Star is so brainwashed by the cult she’s from that she refuses to help.

The story is in 2 parts - finding where the cult is and shutting it down. And how the relationship between Markas and Star progresses.

Stamatis, who is the cartel boss is more prominent in this book. His marriage is on the rocks and he spends time with Maya at the house.

Star’s journey is also a major point of the story. Coming from the commune and a strict environment to the freedom of an unrestricted society is challenging for her. Her journey from Greece to America for the deprogramming is very important to her story.

However Star & Markas do get a HEA. Stamatis story flows from this book to the next.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
9,750 reviews68 followers
January 19, 2024
Markos had always been a man of mystery even to the men he saw as brothers in Alessio and Damen. But when he had to buy Star from the auction to save her, she's anything but what she seems. Star had been trained from a birth to know she would be sold to have a master to please but when she ends up with Marko and discovers their plan to go after the cult she grew up in, she has a choice to make but where will her loyalties lie, but does she know any different? And where will her decision leave Marko and his growing feelings for her? Well written the story holds your attention with suspense, mystery, desires, emotions and more a great addition addition the series.
Profile Image for Megan.
487 reviews10 followers
May 8, 2020
No character development

This one just wasn’t really doing anything for me. It was lacking feeling/emotion. Too much thought process from the H and h POV and not much interaction. It went from them not talking to each other to the H making the h move into his room and barely talking to one kiss then sex. The worst part was the h was a pretty sheltered virgin but she made all the moves (despite the fact she read a few sex-themed books and 1 pamphlet)! No chemistry whatsoever even though the author tried to make it that way. Characters needed a lot work.
Profile Image for Mary.
503 reviews5 followers
July 17, 2020
Love

Mark is saved Star by buying her at an auction. He and the other men found out about it and decided to break this ring up after the other.men kidnapped Stella. Star was an offering from a cult which sold young woman and boys as sex toys. But things changed. Both Star and Mark is fell for each other. Mark is tried to give her space but found he couldn't. They were both broken and maybe together the could make each other whole.
Profile Image for Theresa McKone.
399 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2021
Awesome

Oh these books could go on forever . I am sad to see these end doesn't even feel like I read 9 .so happy for Marcus. I loved how he prayed for his friends that was teary eye for me . But so Awesome . Star what a beautiful story no loved that maya stella damian cole and stella husband crack me up like andrius he is for sure the ghost . I thought for sure her uncle would pop in miss all my family now one more happy ending
Profile Image for Tranese.
1,878 reviews8 followers
April 13, 2020
Best one out of the series.

Ok in the beginning Star was just making me angry. I understood she was brainwashed, but it was like come on now see the red flags already!! Now Markos I loved how different he is from the rest. He definitely deserves a HEA. I loved how they both challenged each other together and apart.
Profile Image for Nicole Mcclain.
796 reviews10 followers
April 19, 2020
Sweet Markos

I never thought that I would want to read Markos story but after that fact, I did! It was tame compared to his brothers but the subject matter was more delicate. I loved Star's growth and she became a bold little minx. You definitely have to read the other books in this series before turning to this one.
Now, I'm intrigued with the ending.
Profile Image for &#x1f989;Maggie Whitworth.
3,254 reviews114 followers
February 20, 2022
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Don’t know what to make of this pairing, Marlos and Star are a real conundrum .
They are both so damaged and difficult to get involved in as characters. To me they should have spent a year or more both in therapy before they got together. Lol
But in all it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
92 reviews
November 4, 2022
Best one in the series so far

Best one of this series. I have to say who is the editor because they need better spell/grammar check... But the story line and premise in this one was the most gripping so far. Felt for the characters more than Alesso/Stella and Maya/Damen though did route for the latter to work. Let's see what the next book offers.
Profile Image for Ivy Blacke.
Author 24 books27 followers
June 10, 2020
Amazing

Markos oh wow! Star, timid shy, from another world. Who would have thought these two would be able to heal one another. I love how Mark is tried to stay away but just felt responsible for her. I am truly in love with this series. Can't wait for more!
202 reviews
June 20, 2020
Thought provoking

This story intrigued me. Alpha male who is so screwed up and an equally mixed up, woman/child. Added to the mix the unfathomable issue of the cult mentality really did make me think.
423 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2020
Loved it

I loved the heartwarming story of Star and Markos he was very quiet and always in the background but I loved the way Star brought him out of his shell how she developed her own character loved it.
Profile Image for Angel Bare.
352 reviews
June 21, 2021
Five All The Way

I lv lv lv this series! These guys are awesome, alpha, hot messes, & soooooo delectable!! Their women are strong, dn’t take their crap, sweetness. The stories ebb & flow perfectly.
1,111 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2020
I really enjoyed this whole series. Once I read the first one I bought the rest and could not put them down. Loved it
22 reviews
June 3, 2020
Doesn’t disappoint

Another awesome read. I love this author. This series was amazing, can’t wait for the next one. I know I won’t be disappointed.
86 reviews
July 29, 2020
The Betrayal

Loved all of these books in this series. SR Jones is someone who I will be buying and reading more of her books. Now I will be reading thr Bratva series.
702 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2020
I was curious to know Markos story and it did live up to my expectations, however I did skim read some sections.
632 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2020
Review

I was just so happy to read a happily ever after story. Love is in the air even for the most wounded people.
1,957 reviews6 followers
February 7, 2021
This is Markos and Star’s story. I found this instalment intriguing, emotional and bittersweet. It is well written and believable. Love the characters.
Profile Image for crystal smith.
715 reviews1 follower
February 20, 2021
Awesome

Great 📚 I can not believe markos and star. I've just found this author and I love it. Can wait to read stamisis
1,504 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2021
Good read

Top notch action and suspense. These people have troubled lives and learn to love in spite of themselves. I read the entire series.
Profile Image for Lex Hobbs.
47 reviews
May 24, 2022
Again, this was such a well written book that covered a serious topic of people trafficking and cults, yet still had the saucy bits too. Very nicely done
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jinessa.
7 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2022
Awesome third book in the series, I never want them to end!
Profile Image for Braveheart.
864 reviews
December 12, 2022
SR Jones again with Betrayal…..The story of Star and Markos
Star was raised in a cult & the guys decide to buy her and put an end to the cult …..along the way Star & Markos fall in love
Profile Image for DKH.
104 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2023
Markos and Star

Two broken people who have endured so much, thrown together, they begin the long road to healing. They find love along the way, along with challenges.
Profile Image for Ana Rita.
1,775 reviews41 followers
January 11, 2020
Everyone knows that I'm a huge Mafia fan. I've read a few and I can say that I loved every single one and the ones that were written by this author were my undoing.
SR Jones knows how to write a good boom. She knows how to make you shake with fear or sweat with desire... You'll see...
The Betrayal is her latest release and explores the lives of Star and Markos.
This book can be read as a standalone but I advise you to read The Mafia Vows series first, The Debt, The  Contract, The Promise and The Pledge. By doing so you'll be able to understand this book better.
Star was picked as an Offering to be auctioned. For her community, that's an honor but for her, it's only a way to help her little brother. For her it's an honor but...
Markos is a very reserved guy. He's enigmatic, a mystery actually. He's hiding so much... When he volunteers to help his friends...
OMG... Sweet Jesus... What... Why... How...
This book... Oh lord, this book...
It was perfect. It was peculiar. It was intense...
Stellar plot very well written, super dark, intense and dangerous.
These two are imperfectly perfect for each other.
It's like two different sides of the same coin.
You see, each coin has two sides, and each side is different although you know that it's the same coin.
That's what happens with these two. They came from two different worlds, two very different mentalities and beliefs but at the de time they want you the same.
There were parts of the book that I wanted to slap someone but there were others that I saw myself crying and wanting to hold them.
In life, nothing is perfect so you must live one day at a time.
Drama madness betrayal, crime, punishment, and abuse are very present but we will find love loyalty, desire.
Overall it's the perfect boom for guess two lost souls.
Thank you, Skye, for another masterpiece.
This book stole my heart a shattered it at the same time. It was perfect to read and I want more...and...
Well played with Stamatis...I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews