Novels by Phanie O'Neri

The streets of the city seemed quieter than usual as Carrick stood on the balcony of the Gale estate, but he knew better. It wasn’t peace...it was fear. Fear gripped every corner, every alleyway, every rival family. Carrick Gale wasn’t a rumor anymore. He was reality. But power like this came with a cost. He could feel it pressing against his back like the cold barrel of a loaded gun.Inside the estate, the council room was already filling up.Marco was the first to speak as Carrick entered, his voice laced with concern. “Enzo and the others are downstairs. They want to pledge formally.”Darius yawned and leaned against the wall. “Good. Let’s not keep them waiting.”Carrick adjusted his cufflinks calmly. “Bring them in.”Moments later, Enzo entered, followed by a dozen men. They were all hardened men, bloodied from years under Moreno’s shadow, but tonight, they looked like schoolboys waiting for a principal’s verdict.Enzo cleared his throat nervously. “Boss... I mean, Carrick, sir...

The night was far from over. Even as the flames from the Moreno estate flickered in the distance, Carrick knew this was only the beginning. Killing Moreno was a statement, a warning to any who still doubted his claim to power. But power wasn’t just about eliminating enemies...it was about control. Total control.As they drove back to the Gale estate, the tension inside the car was thick. Marco sat in silence, staring out the window, while Elias tapped his fingers against his knee impatiently.Darius finally spoke up, his usual smirk in place. “Well, that was fun. Can’t say I’ll miss Moreno. Guy was a snake.”Victor nodded in agreement. “Still, his connections ran deep. His men won’t just disappear. Some will scatter, but others will look for new leadership.”Carrick, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at Victor. “Then we absorb them before someone else does.”Marco scoffed. “And you think they’ll just join you willingly?”Carrick smirked. “Everyone has a price.”Elias leaned forwa

The night air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood. The docks, once a battleground of betrayal, had fallen into silence. The echoes of gunfire had faded, replaced by the occasional groan of the wounded and the distant wail of police sirens.Carrick stood over his father’s lifeless body, his gun still warm in his grip. For a moment, he felt nothing. No satisfaction, no sorrow...just a hollow stillness.Marco stared at Zachary’s corpse, his expression unreadable. He had always been his father’s favored son, yet he didn’t speak. Perhaps he finally realized that Zachary had never truly loved either of them...only power.Darius stepped forward, nudging Zachary’s body with his boot. “Well, that’s that. Should we celebrate? Or are we mourning?”Carrick exhaled slowly, holstering his gun. “Neither. We’re not done.”Victor wiped blood from his sleeve. “You mean taking over the Gale Empire?”Carrick turned to him, his gaze sharp. “That’s exactly what I mean.”Elias chuckled, crossing

Carrick sat motionless, his fingers drumming lightly on the wooden surface of his desk. His piercing gaze remained fixed on Marco, who stood before him with an uncharacteristic tension in his shoulders.“So, let me get this straight,” Carrick said, his voice slow, deliberate. “You came all the way here… to warn me about our father?”Marco exhaled, his lips pressing into a thin line. “Yes.”Carrick leaned back in his chair, studying his brother with cold amusement. “That’s interesting. Because the last time we spoke, you were quite happy to watch me die.”A flicker of guilt crossed Marco’s face. “I didn’t come here to argue, Carrick.”Victor, standing near the door with his arms crossed, scoffed. “Then what exactly do you want? Forgiveness? A fresh start?”Marco’s gaze darted to Victor before settling back on Carrick. “I don’t expect either of those things.”Carrick exhaled, shaking his head. “Then why the hell should I believe a word you say?”Marco took a step forward, his fists clen

The weight of the city pressed down on Carrick’s shoulders. The war had been won, but there was no peace...not yet.From his penthouse office, he watched the skyline, the lights of New Manhattan twinkling like stars. This was his city now. His empire. And yet, his enemy still lived.Zachary Gale had not disappeared. He had not begged for mercy.And that made him a problem.The soft hum of the city below was a deceptive lullaby, masking the storm brewing in the underworld. Carrick exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk. He had stripped Zachary of his wealth, his power, and his men. But the man was still standing, still plotting. That was a mistake Carrick intended to correct.The door to his office creaked open.Elias stepped inside, his usual cocky smirk absent. “We have a situation.”Carrick turned, his sharp gaze locking onto him. “Go on.”Elias placed a file on the desk and flipped it open. “Zachary’s been making moves. He’s been seen meeting with former

The night was long, but the war was over.Carrick Gale stood at the window of his penthouse, staring at the city that now belonged to him. The Gale Family was finished. His father, Zachary, had been exposed, abandoned, and stripped of power.But victory didn’t feel the way he expected.The weight of his actions settled in his chest. He had fought, plotted, and won, but there was no celebration, no moment of relief. Because now, the real work began.Behind him, Victor Alistair poured himself a drink. “You’re too quiet,” he said. “I figured you’d be enjoying this.”Carrick turned slightly, his face unreadable. “What’s there to enjoy?”Victor raised an eyebrow. “You crushed Zachary. His allies turned against him. His own men left him to rot. His empire is in flames. That’s exactly what you wanted.”Carrick exhaled. “And yet, he’s still breathing.”Victor chuckled. “Barely. Word is, he’s been trying to cut deals with anyone who’ll listen, but no one trusts him anymore. He’s got nothing le