Gemma’s POV
Calming Dominic down after recounting the restaurant incident proved nearly impossible. The mont I finished explaining what happened, my Capo husband imdiately demanded I quit working at the family’s legitimate front company. I spent considerable ti convincing him that the Thorne family’s corporate headquarters remained completely secure.
I knew he would abandon his own territory managent duties to rush to my office—sothing that had been occurring with disturbing frequency lately. Fortunately, the evening shift was nearly over, so his absence from overseeing the money laundering operations wouldn’t create additional problems.
Dominic arrived in record ti, shortly after my call. He leaned nacingly across my desk, his erald eyes blazing with the kind of fury I’d seen him reserve for family traitors.
"Gemma, I was already uncomfortable having my wife exposed to street-level dangers while working. Now that you’re carrying the next generation of our bloodline, I despise this arrangent even more. We need to reconsider your position here," he declared, planting both palms firmly on my desk like he was claiming territory.
"And what’s your alternative? Lock away in our penthouse like so mafia princess?" I asked, maintaining my composure despite his intimidating presence. "Because that’s absolutely not happening."
"Gemma!" Dominic collapsed into the chair opposite , running his hands through his golden hair in complete exasperation. "I cannot tolerate the thought of anything happening to you or our heir."
"Neither can I, Dominic. But you must understand—I’m completely protected here. I’ve already decided I won’t leave the building during business hours. I’ll remain inside and have als delivered through our security network, but I refuse to quit." I made it crystal clear this wasn’t open for negotiation.
"You swear on your life you’ll stick to that protocol?" His tone shifted to sothing approaching desperation.
"I swear it," I assured him, hoping to ease the anxiety that ca with loving soone in our violent world.
My phone interrupted our tense conversation. I imdiately recognized the number and felt my blood run cold. Nancy had obviously wasted no ti spreading the news through the underground networks. I placed the phone on my desk and answered on speaker, knowing Dominic needed to hear this threat firsthand.
"Little Gemma, you never learn your place, do you?" Nick’s nacing voice filled the room with its familiar venom.
"What will it take for you to disappear from my life permanently, Nick?" I asked, letting my exhaustion show through my voice.
"I want you, little Gemma. Port’t you figured that out by now?" he responded with condescending arrogance. "But word on the street is you’ve been very busy. Pregnant, little Gemma? Seriously, carrying that rich mafia boy’s bastard spawn?"
"Don’t you dare call my child a bastard," I snapped back with ice in my voice.
"But that’s exactly what the kid is, little Gemma. A worthless little bastard—because your marriage to that spoiled mob prince ans nothing!" Nick declared with absolute authority. I watched dangerous anger flash across Dominic’s handso features as his jaw clenched.
"That’s what you think. Just forget I exist, Nick," I said firmly, which only made him release his signature cold laugh.
"Little Gemma, get this through your pretty little skull. You belong to , only to , and you will be with eventually," Nick spoke with the chilling calmness of soone who’d killed before. "If you refuse to be with , little Gemma, you won’t be with anyone—because I’ll put a bullet in your head myself!"
"You’re completely insane!" My throat tightened as the words ca out. "Forget I exist, Nick. I don’t belong to you. You have zero claim over . Just disappear."
"You want to test my resolve? Fine, I’ll give you a little surprise to rember," he threatened with deadly promise. "But to show you how generous I can be, I won’t harm the little bastard. I’ll raise him right alongside the children you’ll give after your husband dies."
"You’re completely deranged! Don’t you dare co anywhere near , Nick." I ended the call before my rising panic could make say sothing that might provoke him further, or before Dominic could speak and potentially escalate Nick’s rage to murderous levels.
"Gemma, this situation is becoming genuinely dangerous. Let’s leave the territory for a while, please. I want you to have a peaceful pregnancy, and our child to enter this world without death threats hanging over us," Dominic pleaded, but he was asking to abandon everything.
"Dominic, I could do that, but what happens when he targets soone I love for revenge? My mother and Lila are already on his radar through street connections. I cannot leave them vulnerable to that psychopath," I reasoned logically. I could see Dominic processing my argunt through his strategic mind.
"Damn it! You’re absolutely right. But the situation is escalating toward bloodshed. I’m terrified of what that maniac might attempt, Gemma."
"I know, my love. I’m scared too. But we need to think like family soldiers now. For the imdiate future, I’ll stay inside headquarters during all work hours. Our security detail shadows my every move. And our private residence has military-grade protection."
"Fine, we’ll try your approach. But if this gets any worse, I’m taking you to our overseas safe houses, even if I have to carry you there against your will."
"Agreed. If violence escalates, I’ll go wherever our family’s protection extends," I conceded, hoping to calm his nerves, though Dominic remained visibly on edge like a predator sensing danger.
"Alright. I’ll update Daniel about this phone call and confirm whether they’ve successfully activated the wire surveillance," Dominic sighed heavily.
"Honey, is our detective having problems at the precinct?" I asked as casually as possible, hoping to help Lila uncover the truth.
"Just the usual corruption politics, I assu. Why do you ask?" Dominic was distracted, scrolling through his encrypted contacts for Daniel’s number.
"Nothing specific. He just seed more stressed than usual that day at the hospital. Do you know if sothing particular is bothering him?" I continued my innocent act, but Dominic looked up with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
"What exactly are you fishing for information about, Gemma?" he asked, studying with the calculating gaze of a seasoned Capo.
"Oh, honey, didn’t that phone call he received seem strange to you? He beca really upset and tense," I maintained my act, but Dominic wasn’t buying my performance.
"My goddess, he was anxious, nervous, and stressed about what happened to Lila. She was injured, and Daniel was furious—you know how our people protect their own," he offered this weak explanation, confirming my suspicion that he knew much more than he was revealing.
"Yeah, you’re probably right." I decided against sharing Lila’s growing suspicions about Daniel’s true loyalties. Dominic would imdiately alert the detective while distancing himself from any potential complications. So I pretended to accept his story completely.
"Are you almost finished with work here?" Dominic smiled, considering the matter successfully closed.
"Yes, just need to review this financial report and we can leave together."
"Perfect. I’ll head to the executive break room for coffee and call Daniel." Damn, I was certain he would warn Daniel about my probing questions. I needed to make Dominic forget about the entire conversation.
"Oh no, you won’t. Stay right here with ," I employed my sweetest, most irresistible tone—the one that could make my dangerous husband do anything I wanted. At least I could buy Lila so precious ti. "Call him from right here. I’ll have soone bring you coffee."
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