Dominic’s POV
The chaos Marcus had unleashed on the family needed ti to settle. After his venomous visit to my territory, I imdiately contacted my mother to warn her that the exile had returned to Port Serenity. Her response was swift and decisive, exactly what I expected from a woman who had survived decades in the Thorne organization.
"I’m leaving for a wellness retreat with the other wives," she announced without hesitation. "I refuse to let that toxic bastard destroy my peace again."
Smart woman. She had endured enough of his manipulation and psychological warfare over the years before the family finally cast him out.
Around mid-afternoon, Vincenzo burst through my office door like a ray of sunshine cutting through the storm clouds of family politics. Zoe glanced up from her intelligence reports as he approached with that trademark grin that could disarm any tension.
"Hey gorgeous, if your beauty kills , will you give CPR?" he delivered with theatrical flair that would make any wise guy proud.
Both Zoe and I erupted in laughter despite the day’s stress. "Kid, you’re absolutely shaless," I said, shaking my head at my nephew’s audacity.
"Sweetheart, when you’re legal, I might just take you up on that offer," Zoe played along, batting her eyelashes while never missing a beat in her work.
Vincenzo clutched his chest dramatically like he’d been shot. "A few years, beautiful. Mark your calendar because I’m holding you to that blood oath."
He dropped into the chair beside Zoe’s desk, his playful deanor shifting as the reality of our family situation crept back in. "So I heard you had the pleasure of eting our beloved patriarch?"
The sarcasm in his voice was thick as molten lead. My nephew had witnessed firsthand how Marcus had psychologically tornted his mother during his reign of terror, watching her breakdown countless tis before his exile.
"Let’s not even discuss that snake," Zoe replied with pure disgust. "Thank God you and your uncle turned out nothing like him."
"Trust , he represents everything I despise about the old ways," Vincenzo said, his usual humor fading into cold hatred that reminded he was Thorne blood through and through. "And I’m just a teenager saying that."
"How did you even know he was back in territory?" I asked, though I suspected the answer would ignite my rage all over again.
"Because he’s camping out at our house, poisoning Mom’s mind against you," Vincenzo rolled his eyes with teenage exasperation mixed with genuine concern. "I had to leave before I did sothing that would require Zoe to clean up bodies. He kept ranting about how ungrateful you and Grandma are for not welcoming him back into the organization."
"And your mother is buying into his psychological warfare again?" I sighed heavily, feeling the familiar weight of family obligations crushing down.
Vincenzo nodded grimly, looking older than his years. "All those therapy sessions with the family counselor down the drain. He shows up and destroys all her progress every single ti with his manipulative bullshit."
"Dominic, won in our world process these toxic family relationships differently than soldiers do," Zoe interjected thoughtfully, her fingers never stopping their work on the encrypted communications.
"Zoe, you saw him yourself. The man is pure poison, manipulative and dangerous," I explained, rembering how she’d witnessed Marcus’s verbal assault firsthand. "Nadia doesn’t know how to protect herself from his psychological gas."
"What about Grandma?" Vincenzo asked with genuine concern threading through his voice. He adored my mother with the fierce loyalty that ran through our bloodline.
"She’s already gone. Probably boarding her private jet as we speak," I smiled with genuine pride at her quick tactical retreat.
"Thank God," Vincenzo exhaled in relief that seed to co from his soul. "Uncle, can I crash at your safe house until he leaves territory? I swear I won’t interfere with you and Aunt Gemma."
I could tell he’d been building up courage for this request since he walked through my door.
"If your mother clears it through family channels, absolutely. I’ll make the call."
"My bag’s already with Mia," he grinned sheepishly, revealing he’d already planned his escape route.
"Well then, since you’re here seeking sanctuary, you’re working," Zoe declared with the authority of soone who commanded respect throughout the organization. My nephew jumped to follow her orders without complaint. The woman had natural leadership that would terrify most capos.
The afternoon flew by in a blur of family business and damage control. When closing ti arrived, I left with Vincenzo to collect Gemma from Caleb’s legitimate front office. We had dinner plans, and she’d agreed to join our impromptu family gathering.
"Auntie, my angel!" Vincenzo barely waited for to park before launching himself at Gemma like she was his salvation.
"Vincenzo, you charr!" She embraced him warmly, and the genuine affection between them always made sothing fierce and protective unfurl in my chest. "So tonight I get dinner with the two most dangerous guys in the city?"
"Well, one dangerous guy and one decent-looking old soldier," Vincenzo gestured toward with a smirk that earned him a warning glare.
"Watch it, smart mouth," I warned before pulling Gemma close for a kiss that tasted like ho and safety.
"Auntie, please don’t let him take us sowhere boring and fancy," Vincenzo pleaded with exaggerated desperation.
"Yeah Dominic, no stuffy mob hangouts tonight," Gemma winked at him conspiratorially. "We want pizza!"
"Alright, pizza it is," I conceded, kissing her cheek and tasting the sweetness that could wash away any family poison.
"And bowling afterwards," she added with a mischievous grin that spelled trouble for my dignity.
"You’re really going to torture with bowling?" I groaned, knowing my reputation would never survive another public humiliation.
"If you co without complaining, I’ll spend the night at your place," Gemma whispered seductively against my ear.
"I absolutely love bowling!" I declared imdiately, making them both burst into laughter that echoed through the parking structure.
Dinner was filled with Vincenzo’s hilarious adventures and embarrassing stories that had nothing to do with blood or territory wars. At the bowling alley, I suffered a humiliating defeat while they rcilessly mocked my terrible technique. Despite my wounded pride, the evening was exactly what my soul needed after dealing with Marcus’s toxicity.
Later, I sat on my bed watching Gemma erge from the bathroom wearing the white silk nightgown I’d bought her along with expensive costics that probably cost more than most people’s cars. She looked absolutely breathtaking, like sothing worth killing for.
She approached slowly, climbing onto the bed and straddling my hips while placing her hands on my shoulders with practiced confidence.
"Want to talk about what happened with your father today?" she asked gently, her voice carrying the kind of understanding that could heal bullet wounds.
"I’m sure Zoe filled you in on all the bloody details."
"Of course she did. She’s my sister-in-arms, and she knows I want to support you and clear the poison from your mind," Gemma traced patterns on my chest that made my blood sing.
"Is that the only reason you’re staying over?"
"Hell no, Dominic. I’m here because you’ve got an incredible body and I’ve been thinking about you all day," she said with such matter-of-fact honesty that I laughed out loud.
"I thought maybe you ca to comfort with so herbal tea or sothing therapeutic."
"Tea?" she raised an eyebrow with amusent dancing in her dark eyes.
"Yeah, Zoe ntioned sothing about you giving special tea, but she was confused. What you really gave was sothing much better that I can’t stop craving."
Gemma looked at with pure amusent, shaking her head at my ridiculous attempt at innuendo.
"You always say such provocative things to ."
"I love getting you worked up. It drives you wild," I murmured, pulling her closer and kissing her neck where her pulse thundered against my lips.
"It absolutely does. I love when you talk dirty while you’re inside ," she breathed against my ear before kissing with enough fire to burn down rival territories. "Maybe we should explore more of that tonight."
I laughed at her boldness, amazed by this incredible woman who could make forget every drop of blood on my hands. I was completely addicted to her presence, her strength, her fearless love. Our laughter eventually gave way to passion that consud us both, and we spent the night lost in each other with very little sleep and zero regrets.
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