Fallen God Duet #2 | Dark Mafia Romance | 2024
By Gabrielle Sands
About This Book
I’ve fallen for a monster. A man who doesn’t ask for what he wants — he takes. And now, he’s taken me.
Rowan Miller isn’t who I thought he was. He’s Nero De Luca, the ex-consigliere of a notorious New York mob family, and he’s been lying to me from the moment we met.
If I return home to Darkwater Hollow, it will be a death sentence.
But staying with Nero means diving headfirst into the perilous underworld of New York — a place I’m ill-equipped to navigate.
I should despise Nero for his betrayal, and a part of me does. But as I’m drawn deeper into his world, I begin to see that not all darkness is the same.
Now, I’m caught between two worlds and two versions of a man I thought I knew. Can I trust Nero to protect me from even greater dangers?
Or is my only chance at safety escaping his iron grasp and running away?
When He Takes is book 2 of the Fallen God duet. Nero and Blake’s story begins in book 1, When He Desires.
Content Warnings
Kidnapping, captivity, violence, gore, torture (not to main characters), mentions of past trauma (emotional abuse, death of a parent).
Reader Reviews
Amazon Reviews · Goodreads Reviews
Quick Facts
| Author | Gabrielle Sands |
| Series | Fallen God Duet #2 |
| Genre | Dark Romance, Mafia Romance |
| Tropes | Mafia romance, Forced marriage, Obsessed/possessive hero, Grovel, Touch her and die |
| Spice | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 out of 5 |
| Format | Ebook, Paperback, KU |
| Published | 2024 |
Series Reading Order
| # | Book | Couple | Key Tropes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | When She Unravels | Valentina & Damiano | Enemies to lovers, forced marriage, revenge |
| 2 | When She Tempts | Martina & Giorgio | Bodyguard, age gap, slow burn |
| 3 | When She Falls | Gemma & Ras | Forbidden love, enemies to lovers, abused heroine |
| 4 | When She Loves | Cleo & Rafaele | Arranged marriage, virgin heroine, slow burn |
| 5 | When He Desires | Nero & Blake | Fake dating, hidden identity, slow burn (Part 1 of duet) |
| 6 | When He Takes (this book) | Nero & Blake | Forced marriage, possessive hero (Part 2 of duet, cliffhanger resolved) |
| 7 | Be With Me | Romolo & Mia | Forbidden romance, he falls first, good girl/bad boy |
Meet the Characters
Nero De Luca
In the second half of the duet, Nero is no longer the charming rogue hiding behind a fake identity. He’s guilt-ridden and self-aware, knowing he has destroyed Blake’s life with his lies. His possessiveness has transformed into desperate devotion — he replaces every book destroyed in the fire he started, submits to the Ferraro family as penance, and ultimately offers Blake complete freedom even though losing her would break him.
Blake Wolfe
Blake enters Book 2 having discovered that the man she fell for was a lie. “Rowan Miller” was Nero De Luca — a mafia underboss, not the reformed small-town charmer she trusted. Betrayed and grieving the death of their friend Sandro, Blake must decide whether the love she felt was real or just another manipulation. Her journey is one of reclaiming her agency and choosing what she wants on her own terms.
Readers Who Loved This Also Loved
- Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton — A dark romance with a possessive, morally grey hero who will stop at nothing to protect the woman he loves, delivering the same high-stakes intensity and devotion that defines Nero in Book 2.
- God of Malice by Rina Kent — A dark romance with a dangerously obsessive hero and the tension of a relationship built on chaos, echoing the all-consuming dynamic between Nero and Blake.
- Corrupt by Penelope Douglas — A dark romance where secrets, power, and a forced proximity create a combustible dynamic, perfect for readers who love the “villain earns her trust back” arc at the heart of When He Takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is When He Takes a standalone?
No. When He Takes is Part 2 of the Fallen God Duet and must be read after When He Desires. Together, the two books tell Nero and Blake’s complete love story. When He Takes resolves the cliffhanger from Part 1 and delivers a happily ever after.
Does When He Takes have a happy ending?
Yes. The Fallen God Duet ends with a happily ever after for Nero and Blake. The cliffhanger from When He Desires is fully resolved, and their story reaches a satisfying, emotionally complete conclusion.
What tropes are in When He Takes?
The main tropes are forced marriage, possessive hero, and redemption arc. You’ll also find a hero earning back the heroine’s trust, second chance elements, and high-stakes danger that forces both characters to confront what they truly want.
What is the spice level of When He Takes?
When He Takes is rated 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 out of 5on the spice scale. The emotional stakes are even higher in Book 2 — Nero’s guilt and Blake’s conflicted feelings create intimate scenes that are as much about forgiveness and reclaiming trust as they are about physical desire.
Do I need to read The Fallen series before the Fallen God Duet?
It’s strongly recommended. Nero is Rafaele’s best friend from The Fallen series, and major events from those books — particularly When She Loves — directly set up his story. Characters from The Fallen also play significant roles in the duet, especially in When He Takes.
About the Author: Gabrielle Sands is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling dark romance author with 148,000+ Goodreads ratings across 8 published books.
More from Gabrielle Sands
- Complete Reading Order — All 8 books across 3 series
- All Books — Browse the full catalog
- About Gabrielle Sands — The story behind the stories
- FAQ — Spice levels, content warnings, reading order questions, and more
- Special Editions — Sprayed edge editions and exclusive collectibles