Novels by Triple G

Valentina couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Marcus's car disappeared around the corner, but his presence lingered like smoke.She forced herself inside, locked the door, leaned against it. Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone.Duke answered on the first ring. "Hey, I was just about to call—""He's here." Her voice cracked.Silence. Then, sharp and dangerous: "Who's here?""Marcus. Marcus Reeves. He was waiting at my apartment.""I'm coming over.""No, I'm—" But Duke had already hung up.Valentina slid down the door, hugging her knees. Marcus Reeves. She hadn't heard that name, hadn't thought about him in years. Had buried him deep where painful memories belonged.The roar of Duke's motorcycle announced his arrival ten minutes later. Valentina opened the door before he could knock.Duke pulled her into his arms immediately. "You okay? Did he touch you?""I'm fine. He just... talked." She pressed her face to his chest, breathing him in. Safety. Home."Who is he?" Duke's voice vibr

The candles flickered in the wind, two dozen of them forming a path up the hill. Valentina followed the light, her heart already racing before she saw him.Duke stood at the overlook, silhouetted against the sunset. His leather jacket was gone—replaced by a black button-down that hugged his shoulders. His dark hair caught the dying light as he turned to face her."You came," he said, voice rough."You said it was important." Valentina stopped a few feet away, suddenly nervous. They'd been together for months now, stable and strong, but something about tonight felt different. Significant.Duke closed the distance between them. His hand cupped her face, thumb tracing her cheekbone. "This is where we first kissed. Remember?""I remember everything about that night." She'd been eighteen, reckless, running from her parents' expectations. Duke had been twenty, already dangerous, already hers."I was terrified," Duke admitted. "Thought you'd disappear if I touched you. Thought you were too g

Six months later.Valentina stood in front of her new bookstore, watching the sign go up. "Ross & Duke's Books & Coffee." Not the most creative name, but it was theirs."Looks good," Duke said, coming up behind her with two coffee cups from the café they'd built into the corner. "Grand opening next week. You nervous?""Terrified." She took the coffee. "What if nobody comes?""They'll come." Duke kissed her temple. "Half of Riverdale's already asking when you open."The bookstore had been Valentina's idea—a way to give back to the town that had given them both so much. Duke had insisted on being a partner, putting club money behind it. Their first legitimate joint venture."How's the garage doing?" Valentina asked."Booked solid through next month." Duke sipped his coffee. "Axel's talking about hiring two more mechanics. The security contracts are doing well too. Sierra's been invaluable."Valentina smiled. Sierra Santos had proven herself over and over in the past months. Professional

Three weeks later, Duke stood in a federal courthouse watching Marcus Keane—the man who'd called himself Connor Reynolds—accept a plea deal.Life without parole. Three consecutive sentences. Murder, fraud, conspiracy, assault on a federal officer.He'd never see the outside of a prison again."The defendant will be remanded to federal custody immediately," the judge said. "Sentencing hearing in thirty days, but given the plea agreement, the sentence is predetermined."Duke watched as marshals led Marcus away. The man looked smaller now, broken. His eyes found Duke in the gallery one last time.No words. No threats. Just hollow acceptance.Then he was gone."It's really over," Valentina whispered beside Duke, her hand in his."Yeah." Duke stood. "Let's go home."Outside the courthouse, reporters swarmed. Duke ignored them, pushing through to where Axel waited with the truck."How'd it go?" Axel asked."Life. No parole. Three sentences." Duke climbed in. "He's done.""Good." Axel pulled

The call came at 2 AM.Duke's phone buzzed, jerking him awake. Valentina stirred beside him in his bed at the clubhouse, where they'd finally collapsed after the night's chaos."Yeah," he answered groggily.Sierra's voice, sharp with panic. "Connor escaped. During transport to federal holding. He killed a deputy."Duke was instantly alert. "Where?""We don't know. But Duke..." She paused. "He took Sierra's service weapon. And he left a message. Said to meet him at the barn. The one where it all started.""It's a trap.""Obviously. But he said if you don't come alone, he'll disappear and spend the rest of his life hunting Valentina. He's got nothing left to lose."Duke looked at Valentina, still sleeping, trusting him to keep her safe."I'm on my way.""Duke, wait for backup—"He ended the call.Valentina's eyes opened. "What's wrong?""Connor escaped." Duke was already pulling on clothes, reaching for his keys. "Stay here. Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone but me or Axel.""No."

The clubhouse hummed with tension as members filed in for the eight PM meeting. Connor stood at the head of the table where Duke should have been, looking every inch the president he'd never earned the right to be.Duke waited outside with Valentina, watching through the window. His hands flexed at his sides, itching for violence, for justice."Wait for the signal," Axel murmured through their earpieces. "Let him talk. Let him bury himself."Inside, Connor called the meeting to order. All eleven members present—the six who'd turned back to Duke's side playing their parts perfectly, acting like they still believed in Connor's lies."Brothers," Connor began, his voice smooth and confident. "Tonight marks a new chapter for the Riot Kings. No more federal scrutiny. No more living in the shadows. I've secured the contracts to legitimize our operations. By tomorrow, we'll be a registered security and logistics company. Fully legal. Fully protected."Denny played his part. "What about Duke?"

*I want you to know—I'm still here. Still waiting. Still believing that someday you'll understand what I was trying to do. Not the manipulation. Not the obsession. But the genuine desire to nurture real talent.* *Your parents will tell you this letter proves I haven't changed. They'll say it shows

POV: Nova Two years after Darren's sentencing, I watched my daughter perform at Carnegie Hall. Sixteen years old. Standing on one of the most prestigious stages in the world. Playing an original composition she'd written about survival, transformation, and refusing to be broken. The audience—two

"Don't read it," Nova said. "Burn it. Don't give him the satisfaction." But Elena insisted. "I need to know what he's saying. What he's planning." We opened it together. Three pages, handwritten, his careful script. *Dear Elena,* *I know you won't want to hear from me. I understand. I've thought

POV: Kai Six months after Darren's sentencing, life almost felt normal again. Almost. I stood in the doorway of the studio's main space, watching Elena lead a workshop for younger students. She was fourteen now, more confident, teaching them about music theory and performance anxiety. Twenty kids

"I'm thirteen, not stupid. And now I know what manipulation looks like. What reformed abusers claim versus what they actually do. That's valuable. Painful, but valuable." She pulled me close. "When did you get so wise?" "I have good teachers." Dad appeared in the doorway. "Family meeting in the l

POV: Elena My documentary had thirty million views by the time Darren's parole hearing happened three days later. I sat in the courtroom between Mom and Dad, watching him in his orange jumpsuit. He'd been arrested for parole violation—contacting me despite the restraining order, making threats, de

Two Years LaterThe Las Vegas sun beat down on the hotel pool deck as Sarah adjusted her sunglasses, watching Diego teach their son to float in the shallow end. Laughter echoed across the water as little Vincent—named in a gesture of reconciliation that had surprised everyone—splashed with toddler enthusiasm."He's a natural," Robert commented, settling into the lounger beside Sarah. "Just like his father.""And stubborn like both his parents," Sarah agreed with a smile. At eighteen months, Vincent was already displaying the infamous Castillo determination, along with his mother's analytical gaze.The Bellagio suite reserved under "Mr. and Mrs. Castillo" held none of the shocking surprise of their first Vegas visit. This time, they had come deliberately—a family vacation combined with the opening of the newest Castillo Hotels property just off the Strip."Hard to believe it's been two years," Robert mused, following her gaze to Diego and the child. "Sometimes I still expect to wake up

Rain pounded against the study windows as Sarah waited, tension coiling tighter with each passing hour. Diego had been gone for eighteen hours now, his last message cryptically brief: "Contingency implemented. Stay secure."Robert Walsh paced the room, his former FBI training evident in how he periodically checked windows and monitored security feeds."They should have made contact by now," he muttered, checking his watch again."Diego knows what he's doing," Sarah replied with more confidence than she felt. Her back ached from sitting too long, the baby restless within her.The secure phone on Diego's desk chimed—a sound so unexpected that both Sarah and Robert froze momentarily before lunging for it.Sarah reached it first. "Yes?""Package secured," came Antonio's voice, deliberately vague. "En route to secondary location. One hour."Relief washed through her. "Condition?""Stable," Antonio replied. "Minor complications, nothing critical. Primary returning separately."Diego was comi

Six months passed with surprising speed. Sarah's pregnancy progressed smoothly, her body changing as winter turned to spring. The Castillo Foundation launched to positive press coverage, its first initiatives focusing on legal support for low-income families and scholarship programs.Diego's transformation of the family business continued methodically—divesting from questionable enterprises, strengthening legitimate ones, rebuilding the Castillo name as a symbol of business acumen rather than criminal power."The Miami hotel acquisition closed this morning," Diego announced as he joined Sarah on their bedroom terrace, where she was enjoying the early summer sunshine."That's the fifth property this quarter," Sarah noted, marking the location on her tablet map. "The hospitality division is becoming our largest legitimate asset.""Clean, profitable, and excellent for networking," Diego agreed, settling beside her. "How are you feeling today?"Sarah rested a hand on her now-prominent bell

One month after Vincent's surrender, the headlines had faded, replaced by political scandals and celebrity gossip. Within the Castillo organization, however, his absence remained a palpable void.Sarah found Diego in Vincent's former office, surrounded by files and digital records, methodically reorganizing the family's enterprises."You missed lunch," she said, setting a sandwich beside him.Diego looked up, fatigue evident in the shadows beneath his eyes. "I lost track of time.""You've been losing track a lot lately," Sarah observed, perching on the edge of the desk. "Nonna is worried.""There's so much to untangle," Diego gestured at the paperwork. "Vincent's operations were more complex than I realized. Some of these connections go back decades."Sarah picked up a folder, scanning its contents with her prosecutor's eye. "This shipping company in Naples... it's a money laundering front, isn't it?""Was," Diego corrected. "I've already sold our interest. The legitimate businesses ar

Sarah kept Vincent's confidence for three days, wrestling with conflicting loyalties. Her marriage demanded honesty with Diego, but Vincent's plan, though extreme, would secure the family's future. The prosecutor in her recognized its legal elegance, even as the wife in her dreaded the impact on her husband.She found Diego in his study late at night, reviewing contracts by lamplight. His face, serious in concentration, softened at her approach."Working late?" she asked, closing the door behind her."Restructuring the shipping division," Diego explained, setting the papers aside. "Vincent's always handled that sector, but with his legal situation uncertain...""That's what I need to talk to you about," Sarah said, taking the chair opposite his desk. "Vincent's meeting with the Justice Department."Diego raised an eyebrow. "Did he share details with you?""Yes," Sarah admitted. "He's negotiating a plea deal.""We assumed as much," Diego nodded. "His lawyers will ensure minimal—""No la

New York looked different to Sarah as their private jet began its descent—familiar yet foreign, like returning to a childhood home as an adult. Four months had passed since Vegas, since the night that had changed everything.Diego squeezed her hand as the wheels touched down. "Ready?""As I'll ever be," Sarah replied with a small smile.The media frenzy surrounding Kingmaker had mostly subsided, replaced by the methodical grind of prosecutions and congressional hearings. Sarah's role in exposing the conspiracy had made her something of a reluctant hero in legal circles, though her marriage to Diego Castillo remained controversial.Antonio waited beside a bulletproof SUV as they deplaned. "Welcome home," he greeted. "Nonna is eager to see you both."The Castillo estate had transformed during their absence. Additional security measures were visible everywhere—more guards, enhanced technology, even the landscaping redesigned for better sight lines."Vincent's upgrades," Diego explained, n

"Forty-seven buildings in one hour," Elena said, her voice tight with stress. "It's impossible.""Nothing is impossible," Serena replied, studying the city map spread across the conference table. "But we're not thinking like Marcus.""What do you mean?" Dante asked, coordinating with the bomb squads via radio."Marcus is petty, vindictive, and above all, personal." Serena traced patterns on the map with her finger. "He doesn't want to just hurt us—he wants to break us. Systematically.""So?""So he's not going to bomb random buildings. He's going to target the ones that matter most to each of us." She looked up at the family heads. "Vincent, what's your most prized legitimate holding?""The Grand Milano hotel. It's been in my family for three generations.""Dmitri?""My restaurant chain. Specifically the flagship location on Fifth Avenue.""Maria?""The Santos Construction headquarters. We just finished renovating it last month."Serena nodded, marking each location on the map. "Elena

The emergency meeting was called for midnight.All five family heads gathered in the war room, their faces grim as they surveyed the blood-stained evidence of the evening's battle. Serena sat beside Dante at the head of the table, her mother-in-law's ring catching the light, dried blood still under her fingernails.She'd cleaned her face and changed clothes, but she'd deliberately left the blood on her hands.Let them see what she was capable of."Thirty-seven dead Kozlov soldiers," Vincent reported. "Complete tactical victory.""And our losses?" asked the Russian, Dmitri."Three men wounded. None dead."The silence that followed was heavy with implication. A victory this complete wasn't just luck—it was planning, skill, and ruthless execution."How?" asked Maria Santos, the only other woman at the table. "Thirty-seven professional soldiers don't just walk into a slaughter.""They underestimated us," Dante said simply. "They thought they were attacking a crime lord and his pregnant wi

The safe room was a prison.Serena paced the reinforced steel walls, listening to gunfire echo through the building above her. Every shot made her flinch, made her imagine Dante bleeding, dying, leaving her alone again."Fuck this," she said finally.The safe room had its own weapons cache—Dante believed in being prepared for everything. She strapped on a bulletproof vest, checked the pistol he'd taught her to use, and overrode the lock system with the emergency code he'd made her memorize.The elevator was locked down, but the stairs were still accessible.She made it to the main floor before she heard voices in the stairwell above her."—told you, he's got to be in the penthouse.""Boss says bring back his head. The woman too, if we can find her.""What about the baby?""What baby?"Serena pressed herself against the wall, heart hammering. These weren't just random attackers. They knew about her pregnancy."—heard she's knocked up. Worth more alive if we can use her as leverage.""N

"You arrogant bastard!"Serena's hand connected with his cheek in a slap that echoed through the office. Dante's head snapped to the side, but when he looked back at her, his eyes were blazing with something that wasn't entirely anger."Feel better?" he asked calmly."No!" She shoved against his chest, but he barely moved. "You manipulated everything! The gala, the pregnancy, this whole situation!""I orchestrated an opportunity. Everything else was choice.""My choice?" She laughed bitterly. "What choice did I have when you manipulated me into bed?""You could have said no.""To a stranger I was attracted to? At the lowest point of my marriage?" She shoved him again, harder this time. "You knew exactly what state of mind I was in!""I knew you were unhappy. I knew you were lonely. I knew you deserved better than what he was giving you.""So you decided to give me better by lying to me?""I decided to give you one night of feeling alive!" His control was starting to crack. "One night

The next morning, Serena found Dante in his office speaking Italian in low, urgent tones. When he saw her, he ended the call abruptly."Good morning, cara mia.""Who was that?""Business." He stood and moved around the desk toward her. "How are you feeling?""Like I need the whole truth." She sat in the chair across from his desk, unconsciously regal in her bearing. "All of it, Dante. No more secrets.""What do you want to know?""Start with the gala. How did you know I'd be there?""I told you—""You told me you'd been watching me. But there's more, isn't there?" Her eyes were sharp, intelligent. "You didn't just happen to be at that specific charity event."Dante was quiet for a moment, then moved to the windows. "I bought a table.""You bought a table at a five-thousand-dollar-a-plate charity dinner to watch me from across the room?""I bought the entire event."Serena's breath caught. "What?""The charity, the venue, the catering—I funded all of it. Through shell companies, of cou

Serena spent the night staring at the ultrasound photo.Their baby. Hers and Dante's.She'd known, somewhere deep down, that something was wrong with the timeline. Marcus had been distant, cold, barely touching her for months before she got pregnant. But she'd convinced herself it was just stress from his political campaigns."Can't sleep?" Dante's voice was soft in the darkness."Too much to process." She turned to face him in the massive bed. "Tell me about that night. The gala.""What do you want to know?""Everything." She pulled the covers up to her chin. "Why were you there? How did you even get close to me?""I'd been watching you for months, learning your schedule, your habits. I knew Marcus would be at that gala, and I knew he'd bring you as his political trophy wife.""So you planned to seduce me?""I planned to see you. To be near you for the first time in seven years." His voice grew rough. "I wasn't planning what happened between us.""But you were wearing a mask.""Every