Novels by Author Gem

Saturday afternoon buzzed with a frenetic energy. The air thrummed with car horns and the chatter of bustling crowds.Vincent, a man built like a linebacker with a surprisingly gentle touch, wrestled with a tangled mess of shopping bags.Ramsey, ever the joyful friend since childhood, sported a wide grin and a mischievous glint in his eyes as he nudged a particularly stubborn bag Vincent's way.And Austin… they all piled up in Vincent's sleek black SUV."Man, slow down there, Santa Claus," Ramsey chuckled, dodging a rogue shopping bag with a practiced swoop. "We just need a few suits, not enough to redecorate Austin's entire apartment."Austin, the object of their playful jabs, followed behind, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Hey, I gotta step up my game, right? Can't walk into my first official day as a manager looking like a college freshman anymore. Not in a hoodie and jeans, please."Vincent snorted. "Don't worry, Aust. By the end of this shopping spree, you'll look sharper

A grin split Vincent's face as Austin finished explaining his plan. "That's a brilliant idea, man," he said, bumping fists with Austin in a friendly greeting. Ramsey, ever the strategist, chimed in with a thoughtful nod."And remember," Ramsey added, "we're always here to back you up if things get hairy.""Yeah, thanks a bunch, bro," Austin replied, his smile widening as he shook both their hands. It was a simple gesture, a silent language of trust and camaraderie that spoke volumes.Ramsey, however, wasn't quite finished. "Hold on, Austin," he interjected, turning towards Vincent. "Don't you think we should get some supplies? The manager needs to look the part, right?""Right on, man!" Vincent exclaimed, snapping his fingers in agreement. The rest of them echoed his sentiment, a wave of realization washing over the group.Laughter bubbled out of Austin. "See, Ramsey's got the brains of this operation," he teased, nudging his friend playfully.Ramsey snorted, a hint of amusement crink

Saint gnawed on his thumbnail, pacing like a caged wolf on the narrow balcony overlooking the bustling city below. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool night air.He replayed the events in his head, calculating the timeline with morbid satisfaction. By now, Rose had to be gone. He was sure she would be dead.He'd orchestrated a "tragic accident" – a forced jump off a moving boat, playing on her crippling fear of water. In his mind, it was a foolproof plan.Rose had aquaphobia and being on the sea would have raised her blood pressure. And for her to even jump into the sea would have been so bad on her.Rose wouldn't have lasted a second in the water. Her aquaphobia was legendary, guaranteed to send her blood pressure skyrocketing and her heart

A steaming mug of coffee cupped in her hands, Ariel scanned the bustling coffee shop.Her eyes snagged on a flash of familiar blonde hair – Crystal, pushing open the door with a flourish. Relief washed over Ariel, momentarily eclipsing the bitter aftertaste of her previous conversation with Andrew.Maybe Crystal's infectious energy would chase away the lingering tension. Crystal was so anxious to know about her plans and here they were, ready to spill out.Ariel slammed her mug down a little too hard, the clatter drawing Crystal's attention. A wide grin stretched across Crystal's face as she sashayed over, her hips swaying with practiced ease. Crystal saw her at one go and walked towards her with a big smile on her face."I beat you when it comes to time but it seems like you win the Speed Demon award again," Crystal announced as she slid into the seat opposite Ariel.Ariel laughed, the sound was genuine despite the knot of worry tightening in her stomach. "Always," she conceded. "Tho

"He's headed to South America. That's far away." Christian muttered more like he was talking to himself and still looking at the tab before him, "He's hopping continents, Christian. That's a long way from the mess he made here." Disbelief laced Christian's voice.Saint, that criminal was traveling very far away from his crimes. He was trying very hard to slip further and further away."He's got a mission, Psalms," Christian said, a steely glint entering his eyes. "And we're going to help him complete it."Psalms scoffed. "By letting him waltz off to South America and hoping he spills his guts on some exotic beach? Christian, that's a crazy plan.""Not crazy," Christian corrected, his voice firm. "Risky, yes. But it's the only way to get him. Think about it, Psalms. If we follow him and get close enough to gain his trust, we can get him to talk. He might slip up, and reveal details about other operations, bigger players. Evidence the cops can't ignore."A tense silence rose between the

The sterile white walls of the hospital seemed to press down on Vincent as he shuffled behind Ramsey and Austin, their laughter bouncing off the polished floor. Outside, the late afternoon sun casts long shadows, promising the freedom Vincent craved."That's crazy, you know," Austin cackled, nudging Ramsey with his elbow. "Just leave him there. He'd probably start talking to pigeons again."Ramsey slapped Austin on the back, a booming laugh erupting from his chest. "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. Vincent, the pigeon whisperer."Vincent rolled his eyes, a familiar warmth blooming in his chest despite their teasing. "So, you're saying I've always been a couple of fries short of a happy meal? That I've always been crazy, yeah?"Ramsey grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Everyone knows that. Vinnie and Trouble, 5&6. You're our resident nutter."The playful banter felt foreign after weeks of IV drips and endless beeping monitors. Vincent winced as he remembered the metallic tang of bloo