Killer of Kings, 8
Priest doesn't believe he deserves reward in this life or the next, and he's fine with that—he lost his faith decades ago. After committing a bloodbath in the name of revenge, he has no regrets. He lives his life of solitude, working for Killer of Kings to keep the demons at bay. When an innocent woman gets in his way during a hit, his once dormant conscience comes back to haunt him.
Cleo Bennet didn't realize her entire life was about to turn upside down after taking an extra shift at work. She witnesses a grisly murder only to be kidnapped by the deadliest man alive. But her captor is anything but evil. He cares for her, puts up with her quirks, and she soon can't imagine life without him. Her enemy becomes her lover, and he's determined to keep her safe when she gets caught up in his world of life and death.
Can they find love and acceptance in each other or is Priest already a lost cause?
Be Warned: anal sex
Excerpt:
As he turned the corner, the first person he focused on was Cleo sitting at the large island. He briefly froze. She was laughing and filling her plate with the take-out food Viper and Bain brought. It pissed him off, a surge of jealousy and possessiveness leaking from his veins. Why wasn’t she as happy when alone with him?
He walked into the room, all conversations silencing and eyes turning toward him. He was used to the stares because of the way he looked, but not from this crowd. His assumptions made him more volatile.
Priest glared at the men as he filled a plate with food with exaggerated force. He was going to just take his plate to go, when she said his name, stopping him in his tracks.
He turned his attention to her, waiting for her to continue.
“Can I talk to you?”
He ground his jaw together. “Bring your food.” He was too hungry to think straight right now and didn’t want any extra company.
Priest led the way to his room, Cleo following close behind him. When they were both inside, he closed and locked the door. No more sudden interruptions from Boss’s henchmen.
He set his plate on the dresser and crossed his arms. “What is it?”
She swallowed hard, sitting on the side of his bed. Those puppy dog eyes stared up at him, pure innocence and raw sex appeal mixed together. “I want to talk. I need to talk.”
“About what?”
Did she want to break up with him? Was he in fucking high school now?
“I don’t know. A lot of things. Everything. About what happens next. Why Boss sent more reinforcements. And about last night.”
Fuck.
“That’s a lot of topics. You ask your questions because I need to eat.” He grabbed his plate and ate standing up.
She picked at her food. “Were we supposed to share a room? I mean, are we together or was last night a one-time thing? I’m not good at this, and I’m not sure where we stand.”
“You’re acting like you’re insecure about our relationship,” he said.
“Yes, that’s exactly how I’m feeling. Do we even have a relationship?”
“I don’t know, Cleo. You tell me. You’ve been giving me the cold shoulder, but you looked happy a few minutes ago.”
“What? Are you talking about Boss’s men? I don’t care about them, Priest. You’re the man I slept with last night and the one I’ve been falling for the past few weeks.”
“Falling for?”
He shouldn’t be in this deep. Cleo was messing with his head and his heart. It was dangerous for a man like him. Why was his heart racing like he was a schoolboy?
“Just tell me the truth. Do you want to be with me or not?”
He put his food aside and walked over to the bed, taking her hands so she had to stand up. “Cleo, I told you I consider you mine. That’s not a line. Not a game. How do you feel?”
“We’ve barely talked since last night.”
“Well, this isn’t exactly how I wanted things to go down. I’ve been humiliated in front of you because of Boss, and now he’s sent backup because he thinks I’m incapable of taking care of you. Do you believe that’s true?”
She shook her head. “Everything you did was for me, I know that. You put me first, so why would I judge you? I’ve never felt safer than I do when I’m with you, Priest.”
“They said there’s more to you than I know.”
She ran her palm up his chest and his entire body reacted. “Honestly, I think your boss found my birth parents or something. He left a phone in my room to call him, but I’m not interested. People don’t understand that sometimes the past needs to stay where it is.”
Wrong place, wrong time, can get a girl kidnapped. When Cleo sees Priest commit a murder she doesn't get the chance to run. But being trapped with your kidnapper can turn into more, even if you try to fight it. Lots of action and spicy scenes. Well worth the read and a great edition to this series
Priest doesn't believe he deserves reward in this life or the next, and he's fine with that—he lost his faith decades ago. After committing a bloodbath in the name of revenge, he has no regrets. He lives his life of solitude, working for Killer of Kings to keep the demons at bay. When an innocent woman gets in his way during a hit, his once dormant conscience comes back to haunt him. I enjoyed Priest & Chloe’s story. It was an intensely, intriguing read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
This is the 8th book in this series, and this is Priest and Cleo’s story. Priest likes to life in solitude, and is a killer for the Killer of Kings, but he is not an evil man. Cleo works an extra shift and is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she witnesses a brutal murder, and she is kidnapped by the killer. Cleo soon realizes that her kidnapper is a caring man, and he will so whatever he must to protect and keep her safe, and she brings out the best of him. This is a well written quick read, which is an enemies / lover’s romance, with intrigue, regrets, revenge, emotions, and love, which leads to a compelling page turner. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was amazballs just like the rest of the books in the series I love them all I hate when the book ends I just want more
This was another great addition to the KoK series. The character work and story line were well written and kept me hooked from start to finish.
Lost Cause Book 8 of Killer of Kings Sam Crescent The story and characters, Priest and Cleo, are wonderfully written. Lonely and damaged they need each other. Will they make it or is it a lost cause? Great read.
Lost cause was an amazing sweet interesting wonderful dark romance story with entertaining characters
Cleo has found herself in a predicament she never thought would happen. A gorgeous man has committed a crime in front of her and now she thinks her life will be over as well. Priest doesn’t know what it is about this woman who has thrown a wrench in his well planned crime but she’s a risk to him and his boss. She needs to be taken care of. But why is it so hard for him to do that and why does he want to keep her? The saying “flipped like a light switch” is a good explanation of how Priest went from a cold calculated killer to a man in love with Cleo that will do what it takes to protect her. “I’ve never wanted anyone. Not since I closed off my heart. I want you, Cleo. I want to claim you, own you, make you mine. Even if Boss didn’t give the order, I’d have taken you with me.” This is a quickly steamy read when you need something less heavy to read that will make you feel good.
This is the 8th book in the Killer of King series by Crescent/Espino. And, I love everyone of them. They're all killers in Boss's operation. This is no different except that Cleo, who's a maid at the hotel where Priest is, happens to see what/who was killed by Priest. He has no recourse but to take her 'cause he doesn't know what else to do with her. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We're in for ride with these two. Some smoking' hot scenes between the both and plenty of action. I like it and would recommend it as a read.
This is the eighth book in the Killer of Kings series. It's a fast-paced and standalone book that will keep you engaged from start to finish. This is a story about a H who is a former priest and now an elite assassin with the Killer of Kings group. He is on a mission to assassination a human trafficker when he realizes that he has a witness (h) to the murder in the hotel room. Since he doesn't killed innocent people, he kidnaps her. They fall for each other but there's a problem: someone wants her dead. Why? Read to find out what happens.
Priest has everything it takes to do what needs to be done. And he doesn't deny who he is. He accepts the world in which he lives. Chloe is in the wrong place and very soon she has to understand that her life has changed forever. The chemistry that immediately surrounds them is what helps them get through everything that lies ahead and leads them to deeper feelings. Very well written, and varied, action, suspense, twists and steamy scenes.
Priest & Cleo Cleo meets Priest when she is in the wrong place at the wrong time. These two soon definitely heat things up with the chemistry that they can't deny. Interesting and great addition to the series!
Some people are just in the wrong place at the wrong, that happens to be Cleo. She never expected when she picked up at extra shift she would witness a murder. The man who committed it has kidnapped her. While Priest is a killer, he is not evil. Chloe seems to bring out the best in him. This may be dark for some, but I found this to be not as dark as some of the others, and enjoyable read.
This is the eighth story in the "Killer of Kings" series and the first one I have read. It is a fairly quick read with somewhat of a slow build. It does start off with an interesting hitman and an innocent caught in the whole mess. The story is about Priest and Cleo. Priest is a hitman/assassin with the Killer of Kings group. He is sent in to a hotel to end the life of a scumbag and send a message. He does not mistakes. Unfortunately, Cleo is an innocent hiding from the mess. He discovers her and takes her away. She doesn't know if he is going to kill her or let her go. She was an orphan who has no family or anyone who will miss her. Or does she? This is an intriguing read with some good twists and turns; especially Target. The story has suspense, action, passion, danger, grit and determination. I enjoyed every bit of the story. The build between Priest and Cleo is somewhat of a slow burn but it is sweet.
This was an entertaining read with good flow and 3D characters. I really liked Priest - he figured he was past redemption but Cleo sure talked her way into making him think otherwise ;P Danger, twists and fab chemistry made this a page turner. I can't wait for the next book :D
This is the 4th book I've read written by Sam Crescent; I can’t wait to read more of her books. This is part of the Killer of Kings Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Cleo & Priest. I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Priest and Cleo’s story starts as a kidnapping where she sees a murder but ends up with Priest caring for her as she returns the feeling but with their past frowning over them can they both overcome them to get the happiness these two need in each other.
This is par of the Killer of Kings series each can be read as a standalone with a sexy guy and the one who turns his world upside down. I haven’t read any of the others in this series in fact this is my first by this author, but I have gone back and bought the ones in this series so one you start it you put it down until the last page has been turned. Priest sexy as all get out tattooed assassin with morals of not killing or harming innocent but his presence alone is enough to scare any one because he is a very large man. Cleo so sweet she makes you want to just hug her works in a hotel as a maid, she is lonely wants to find someone who will love her just as she is so when she witness a murder in one of the hotel rooms the sexy man doing the killing takes her because she is a witness in the wrong place at the wrong time and harming her goes against everything he believes in so he takes her not realizing that one act changed their course or better interwind their course because since he didn’t know what to do with her yet they get to know each other talking, she made him laugh which is something he doesn’t do often and the more time they spend around each other the stronger the magnetic pull grows between them they both are broken due to their past , both looking for love she growing up in as an orphan he fills that void for her and she heals some of his past but is it enough, after figuring out what to do with her will he let her go walking out of her life, are they enough for each other, and can two broken people find love and healing in each other?
I have read this author before and enjoyed this loved how the characterisation progressed and loved the storytelling here.
This is book #8 of the Killer of Kings series and can be read as a standalone. This is the first book of the series that I have read but will be reading more of the series. Priest is a very large, sexy, tattooed assassin that doesn’t harm innocents. Cleo is a maid at a hotel who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. What happens when Priest realizes she is a witness to his ending of a human trafficker?
This was a fairly quick read. Cleo and Priest are two very damaged people that somehow manage to fall in love even with everything seeming to be against them. There are plenty of twists in their story but who better to protect someone against a hit than a hitman?
I’ve not read any other book in this series, but I enjoy this author and the premise intrigued me. I had no issues and it was a great stand-alone story. I like a romance with a dark side, and to me this was on the lighter side. I liked the characters and found Cleo was compelling. But Priest stole the show for me. He was complex and interesting. The kind of character you would run from in real life, but catnip in a book. And this was a lovely page turning book for me. Yeah, Sam Crescent is definitely a go to author for me. Very much enjoyed and was a great way to spend a couple hours on a nice mellow Sunday. I received a copy of this book and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
I love the mix of the chatterbox and lone hitman. I wouldn't say "hilarity" ensues, but there are humorous exchanges. Great entry and a pretty quick read. Take a chance and read it! The big Boss in the series is still around and I can't wait for his story!
Lost Cause is an action-packed story that had me on the edge of my chair reading it. Preist is an assassin for the Killer of Kings while out on a job he connects with Cleo who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is a witness to what went down therefore becomes Preist's captive. Will become a victim of the fallout and will Preist protect her?
If you love books about kidnapping and insta live with alpha males protecting the female then you will love this story about a girl who was at the wrong place at the wrong time but wow the secret about who she really was was the best and the ending was not disappointing, loved this book.
Holy Hannah was this hot!
Priest is a hitman, part of the Killer Kings he only kills bad people. Tainted and consumed by his past he doesn't feel he deserves love, happiness or redemption. Cleo is 24 in the wrong place at the wrong time and she witnesses Priest killing, Priest doesnt want to admit the error and put her in more danger and he keeps her hostage at his house. But all is not as it seems and both their pasts and presents collide it is a race against time. Will they survive? This is an enjoyable and easy read with romance, drama and intrigue.
Cleo is at the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses a murder. She hides hoping to escape, but is found by Mafia hitman, Preist. Preist knows he can't kill the innocent Cleo, so he takes her home to keep her safe. He may be a killer, but he stops at innocents. As they are forced in close proximity, they realize that they are both trying to heal from trauma and pain from the past and together they form a connection that will test boundaries as danger closes in around them. Overall, this book was enjoyable. Preist was a deep, dark character with a heart and Cleo was quirky. Nice trope, good story development and entertaining.
I love this series! This book started off a bit slow for me, but picked up pace quickly and kept with the amazing characters of the series. Will definitely keep in my favorites pile.
Priest was a very complex character. He was a priest turned hitman. This left him more machine than man. His heart was turned off until he met Cleo. She literally talked/annoyed her way into his heart. He had to work through his issues but he did and didn’t push her away too much. Good short read
A very typical Sam Crescent story: a bad man, who thinks he's past redemption, finds someone worth changing his life for. It's easier said than done however, as our hero's love interest, unbeknown to her, comes with considerable baggage of her own! This is an entertaining read with twists and turns to keep you guessing what is coming next: revenge? bloody? an HEA? a family reunion? Read on to find out!
I was sucked into this story from the very first chapter when Priest, an assassin, meets Cleo, who hid in a closet while Priest took out a trafficker in a very gruesome manner. He has to make a choice - either tie up loose ends (i.e. Cleo since she’s a witness) -or- let her live by kidnapping her so she can’t talk… ~H is probably in his 30s, a former Priest turned assassin -h is a 24 yo former foster kid who was in and out of the system (this is important to the story) -Organized crime and a whole lotta twisty bits as we figure out who Cleo is and how she’s connected to Priest’s Boss and associates -4
I enjoyed the book however I think I would have gotten more out of the story if I read the previous books. It can be read as a standalone. The story got a little over my head when talking about other enemy operations and all the different assassins gunning for Cleo. That got to be a bit much for me to follow at times. Maybe it could have been simplified a little? What I absolutely loved was the love story between Priest and Cleo.
I LOVED this book. It’s got action and drama. It’s got depth. It’s definitely going to stick with me. It’s going to hard to do it justice in a review, but here goes. The premise, characters, and world are unique and compelling. There are a couple of trigger warnings but nothing too graphic or extreme. The story is well-written and memorable. Read it!
The previous story was a bit different with Boss being more with a equal. This story takes it back to books 1-6 with the relationship starting unconventionally and moving forward with many twists and turns along the way as they find a way to have their own happy ending
We met Priest at the end of “Boss.” He not only performed the wedding for Boss but is a member of the Killer of Kings. He had a job to do. Unfortunately, the maid got in the way. Now he has to figure out what to do with her. She is an innocent. Cleo was only trying to make some extra money. She didn’t expect to be witness to a murder. When the big man takes her hostage, she doesn’t know what is going to happen. Will he kill her or let her go? When she starts to ramble about the hit and what she knows about the person, Priest wonders if she can be an asset. Priest didn’t want to do what Chain’s did but he sort of did. Now he just had to figure out what to do with Cleo. Boy was she a chatty one. And had a fire in her belly. She hid it well too. Cleo and Priest are well matched. But like all our men from Killer of Kings, never touch what isn’t yours. Priest has much of a hair trigger as them all. We also meet a couple of new members: Gabriel and Harb. And finding out why Cleo was a target was a real surprise. I knew that was going to come to play after Boss.
A good deed got her in a deadly situation. Chloe hid in the closet while the tall, dark and deadly silent man killed a man in the hotel room. He took her with him and now everybody is trying to kill her. And she doesn't understand why. All she know is that the safest place on earth is next to him. Priest can't see the reason why everybody is out to get her but he can not let them win. This book is amazing, the intrigue keep you on your toes. I had a hard time putting the book down, something might happen when I wasn't looking. I loved it and recommend it.
Priest is a hit man. After completing an assignment, he realizes he’s got a witness. Normally, he’d simply eliminate any witness, but this one is completely innocent. Cleo was just doing her job. She was never supposed to be there. He takes Cleo home and vows to keep her safe. What will happen when more threats come? Will Priest be able to keep his word? This a roller coaster ride that I didn’t want to end!
Book 8 of the Killer of Kings series. While always recommended to read the series in order, it is not necessary as the story plot doesn’t rely on the others and can be read alone. You may be intrigued by the other people and situations to go back and read any you have missed. Cleo is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lucky for her, Priest isn’t the type to kill an innocent person. Unfortunately, he can’t let her run around on her own especially since she now has people after her. Good story with some secrets to be shared.
Cleo and Priest will capture your head. Both are so simular with tragedy paving their path. No one wanted her but she's got some major secrets coming for her. He's a man of few words but knows how to say what he wants.What started as a mistake and wrong place turned out to be exactly what each needed. Full of secrets, action, intense chemistry that makes the shower and bedroom very hot. I received an ARC for an honest and voluntarily review.
Loved it!! You get a little bit of everything in this book. Priest and Cleo are pretty HOT together. Awesome book by Sam Crescent and Stacey Espino.
Priest is intense, cold & alone. Cleo is alone, sweet & naïve. Together their explosive chemistry blows you alway. Deep feelings for a man of little words or joy. So beautiful to see their love despite the circumstances. Absolute joy to read as the pages keeps you rooted.
Priest, an Assassin for Killer Of Kings, is sent to kill Marcus Olivieri, top soldier for Gustavo Bianchi. Cleo Bennet, a maid at the hotel, was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He doesn't know what to do with her after she's found in hotel room where the deed was done so he brings her to his home. That's the beginning of trouble for these two and believe me there's lots of trouble. This book is full of chaos, danger and excitement.
This was a good story, once it was started I had to keep reading to see what happens. Hitmen, mafia, romance and action, it kept your interest throughout the book.
In Priests line of work you don't leave witnesses. When Cleo takes an extra shift as a maid she doesnt expect to be kidnapped by the man who she just walked in on a hit!. But their steamy chemestry soon ignites but can Priest keep Cleo safe in his world? Well written captive romance steamy hot scenes and more!
When Cleo ends up being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she ends up getting taken by Priest. As she has no choice but to spend more time with Priest, things take a turn for the worst that puts her in even more danger. An excellent story as Cleo brings out a lighter side to the story while Priest is a bit more darker.
Loved Priest and Cleo's story. Cloe is a foster kid that has been alone all her life, but an unfortunate event has put her in the line of danger. Priest is trained to do a job and that what he is going to do except a glitch in his plan is thrown when the maid goes into the room of his next target. So now both are on the run when secrets come out and lives are changed. So through it all Cloe and Priest start to fall in love. Cloe finds the one person who will protect and fight for her or so she thought.
4.5 stars Yay, another book in the Killer of Kings series. I loved Priest, even though he was a dark guy. And Cleo, she was just the perfect woman for him. I enjoyed their story and was totally not expecting some of the twists and turns. Just made my reading much better. Still a little leery about Boss, Priest's boss, but he wasn't as bad to Cleo as I thought he'd be. This was a quick read and I'm wondering who will be next in the series!!
Great read! I Love these guys so much! This one kept attention the whole time couldn't put it down till the end!
Love reading this series. This Killers of Kings is a awesome series. Each story has been great and to be honest I don’t know who is my favorite of the bunch since all this guys included Priest have been amazing and so very protective of the women they fall in love with. I’m so looking forward for more of this characters.
Priest is carrying out a hit when he finds a maid hiding in the closet. The rules are no witnesses but he is not about to kill her. So he takes her home. He doesn't know what to do with her but he can't stop thinking about her. Steamy gangster story.
Priest is a hit man for the mafia group Killer of Kings. During one of Priest's hits he finds the cleaning lady, Cleo, hiding in the closet. Priest won't kill Cleo since he doesn't believe in killing innocent people. Instead Priest takes Cleo home with him and decides to hide her from his boss. Both Cleo and Priest have had traumatic pasts. Cleo was abandoned and lived her whole life in foster care. Priest, was a priest and had everyone he cared about killed by the mafia in his hometown. Priest was closed off to everyone until he met Cleo. It becomes obvious that someone is after Cleo and has put a hit out on her. Priest's boss and Cleo's father, who works for a rival mafia, come together to help Cleo and Priest find their HEA.
I'm not really a big "dark" romance reader. However, compared to the few that I have read I would honestly classify this as a lighter dark romance. With that said, this is the first book I've read in the Killer Kings series and I was a little worried that I would miss something given that this was the 8th book. But beyond the other characters and their stories, there was no continuing story line that would have a new reader missing out on anything. Poor Cleo Bennet was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Raised through the foster system Cleo has lived as if she were a nobody. Invisible, and just trying to survive Cleo takes a job that ends up turning her life upside down. After losing his loved ones and taking out his revenge on those who stole from him Priest has been living his life in solitude and working for Killer of Kings. He's precise and works like he lives...at least until and innocent gets in the way and his conscience seems to start to awaken. Cleo Bennet throws Priest's carefully constructed life into disarray. She's everything he doesn't think he deserves out of life, but he's a selfish man and will do anything to keep Cleo safe and by his side if that's what she wants.
Preist is one dark and dangerous guy. He's sent to take care of someone, and Cleo happens to be there to witness it. He decides to take her with him instead of taking care of her too. Despite Cleo being scared of Preist and what he will do to her they do have some chemistry and when they do end up being intimate it's pretty hot. The story has plenty of violence and some gore. There's action too. And the twists, oh my I didn't see the major twist coming at all, you'll understand when you read it. There's a little humor here and there sprinkled in. I really got into this book and felt like I was right there with the, so much so that I could not put the book down and read it all in one sitting. This book is part of a series, but I think you can still read this book and enjoy it if you have not read the others. Another great addition to the series.
We are back with the killers!!! I miss this batch of hitmen!! Priest is like the other men hads, coldish and does the job good. But he has a problem he doesn't kill innocent but this Maid aka Cleo is at the wrong place wrong time when he has to kill someone. He takes her but doesn't know what to do with her. Cleo does fight back at one point but sadly she loses in that and she's very talkative which gets Priest annoyed since he likes his quite time. But now that Chatty Cathy went to the police before she's on the bad guys radar. So he's keeping her and there is tension between them because he doesn't know how to feel about her. One thing you have to remember with the Kings Boss always knows so dony hide things or lie. And he isn't happy with Priest. But Cloe has other problems couple ppls want her dead and she's confused why she's a nobody. Secerts are uncovered, revenge is taken away. But that doesnt matter anymore for Priest all he cares about is Cleo.
“...Well, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I’m sorry to say your life will never be the same...” ~Priest Lost Cause is Book 8 in Killer of Kings Series from Sam Crescent & Stacey Espino and follows elite tattooed assassin Priest and lonely hotel maid Cleo who grew up in foster care. Priest & Cleo meet over murder in a hotel room, he kidnaps her and brings her back to his fortress. Priest should have killed Cleo, as she was a witness... but that would go against his code of harming innocents. He is not quite sure what to do with her yet... This was the first book I read from the Killer of Kings Series. You are introduced to a lot of different assassins, previous hits are explained briefly, ongoing troubles are expanded upon and the overall dynamic of the assasin group is summarized well by Sam & Stacey. "...Priest was so large and so scary. And ridiculously sexy. Over the past weeks, she’d learned to trust the big teddy bear. They talked, they laughed, and they grew closer to each other..."~Cleo Violence & possessiveness peppers throughout the story, surprise revelations, action, emotional growth and of course carnal spicy sexy times between Priest & Cleo are included in Lost Cause. Through both of their tortured pasts, Priest & Cleo find love and acceptance with each other. "...Priest wrapped his arms around her, and there, in front of their families, he kissed her. The kiss wasn’t polite, but it was full of passion, of love. It told her there would be no more revenge. This was the start of a new beginning for both of them..."
