Gemma’s POV
I was reviewing the latest shipnt manifests at my desk when Katelyn approached, her usual maternal confidence replaced by visible concern. She held an envelope in her manicured hands, the kind that had seen too many years navigating the dangerous waters of our organization’s legitimate front operations.
"Gemma, this ca through our secure mail system, but it doesn’t have the proper family seal," she said, lowering her voice to barely above a whisper.
My blood turned cold as I recognized the spidery handwriting. The sa feminine script that had been haunting my private mailbox for weeks before Nick was arrested. My fingers trembled as I tore open the envelope, already knowing what nightmare awaited inside.
"He’s out, little dove. Did you think about while I was locked away? Prison walls couldn’t keep from you forever. Ti to co ho where you belong with . I know exactly where you spend your days now. All my love, Nick."
The letter slipped from my nerveless fingers, drifting to the polished marble floor like a death sentence. Katelyn imdiately retrieved it, her face hardening as she read the contents. Years of working within the Thorne organization had taught her to recognize genuine threats.
"We need to contact security imdiately," she said with the authority of soone who had survived decades in this business.
"Wait, please," I managed, my voice barely audible. "Let process this for a mont."
But rational thought was impossible. My mind spiraled back to that terrifying night when Nick held a blade to my mother’s throat, his eyes wild with obsession. The restraining order had been aningless paper to him then, and apparently ti behind bars had only intensified his fixation.
"How did he discover my workplace?" I asked, though the answer was obvious. Prison connections ran deep in our world. Soone had fed him information, possibly for the right price or favor.
Katelyn settled into the chair beside my desk, her presence offering comfort despite the terror coursing through my veins. "Sweetheart, you cannot face this alone. We must inform Caleb, Jude, and the others imdiately."
"I refuse to burden them with my problems. They have enough enemies to deal with," I protested weakly.
"This isn’t about burden, it’s about family protection," Katelyn said firmly. "That man threatened you and your mother. He represents a direct challenge to our organization’s ability to protect its own."
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed with a ssage from an unknown number: "Counting down the hours until we’re together again, beautiful. Very soon now."
Katelyn witnessed my face drain of color and imdiately stood. "I’m calling Jude right now."
Soon, Jude appeared at my workstation, his usual jovial expression replaced by the cold professionalism that made him one of Caleb’s most feared enforcers. He read the letter and ssage, his jaw tightening with barely controlled fury.
"This changes everything," he said grimly. "We’re implenting full protection protocols and bringing in our security specialists."
"But what if this is just psychological warfare? What if he’s simply trying to terrorize ?" I asked desperately, grasping for any hope that this nightmare might not beco reality.
"Gemma, listen carefully," Jude said, his voice carrying the deadly seriousness that ca with years of eliminating threats. "n like Nick don’t make idle threats. He spent ti in a cell planning this obsession. We take no chances with family."
Ivy materialized at my desk, having been alerted by my ergency ssage. When Jude briefed her on the situation, her face went ashen with protective fury.
"You’re staying at our compound tonight," she declared imdiately. "Caleb’s estate has the most advanced security systems on the East Coast."
"I can’t run and hide forever," I said, tears beginning to fall. "And what about my mother? What if he targets her?"
"We’ll protect her as well," Jude assured . "But right now, we need to focus on securing your safety."
My phone rang, and seeing my mother’s number, I answered with shaking hands.
"Gemma, there’s a man here claiming to know you," my mother’s voice was tight with instinctive fear. "He says he’s an old friend, but sothing feels wrong about him."
"Mom, listen to very carefully," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite my terror. "Go to Ryder’s restaurant imdiately. Don’t pack anything, just leave through the back door right now. That man is extrely dangerous."
"Gemma, what’s happening?" my mother asked, and I could hear panic creeping into her voice.
"It’s Nick, Mom. He’s been released from prison. Please, just get to Ryder’s safe house and call when you arrive."
After ending the call, I looked around at the concerned faces surrounding . Jude was already coordinating with security personnel on his phone, Ivy was sending rapid-fire ssages to the other wives, and Katelyn was gathering my personal belongings from the office.
"I should have reported those earlier letters to the family," I said, guilt washing over like a tide.
"Stop that imdiately," Katelyn said with authority. "You were trying to handle a personal matter without involving the organization. But now we all work together to eliminate this threat."
Xavier appeared, summoned by Ivy’s ergency ssage. His usual easy deanor was replaced by the cold calculation that made him Caleb’s most trusted lieutenant as Ivy updated him on the situation.
"We’re moving you to a secure location soon," Xavier said. "My team is already downstairs."
"What about my responsibilities here? I can’t simply disappear," I protested.
"Caleb is already handling arrangents with managent," Ivy assured . "They’re implenting enhanced security protocols and you’ll work remotely until this situation is permanently resolved."
As we prepared to leave, my phone buzzed again. This ti it was a photograph showing the front entrance of our building, taken from across the street. The accompanying ssage read: "I can see your workplace, dove. No hiding from destiny."
Xavier saw the ssage and his expression turned lethal. "Security teams are already sweeping the area, but we need to evacuate you through our private exit imdiately."
The following monts beca a blur of controlled urgency. Katelyn maintained her protective grip on my hand as Jude and Xavier escorted us through corridors I hadn’t known existed within the building. Ivy stayed close, her own protective instincts in full force.
"Where are we going?" I asked as we entered a private elevator I had never seen before.
"Sowhere completely secure," Jude said simply. "Caleb maintains safe houses specifically for these situations."
As the elevator descended, I realized that my peaceful existence within the organization’s legitimate operations was ending. Nick had found , and he was making it clear that prison had only deepened his dangerous obsession.
"He won’t simply give up," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.
"Neither will we," Ivy said with iron determination, squeezing my hand. "You’re family, Gemma. We’ll ensure he never threatens you again."
Looking at these people who had beco my chosen family, I felt a flicker of hope pierce through the terror. Whatever happened next, I wouldn’t face it alone. But as we reached the secure garage level and I saw the additional ard protection waiting, the reality struck : my life had just changed forever.
Nick was free, and he was hunting .
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