Gemma’s POV
Finn’s situation had beco the final crushing blow to my already shattered emotional state. Over the past few days, I’d received elaborate flower arrangents from Dominic’s father, each accompanied by ominous invitation cards that made my skin crawl. I had desperately hoped the exiled family patriarch would eventually abandon his twisted pursuit, but he persisted with his nacing attention. With Finn now caught in the crossfire of family business, I was determined to keep absolutely silent about his advances.
Dominic and I had spent hours in the sa safe house without exchanging a single word. My countless encrypted ssages remained unanswered. We were all supposed to remain under Xavier’s protection at his fortified compound - how would that tense arrangent possibly work with the current hostilities?
To my shock, Dominic never appeared at Xavier’s stronghold. I waited endlessly, but there was no sign of him. Weren’t we all ant to be together for security? Where had he vanished to in these dangerous tis?
"Gemma?" Jude’s gentle touch on my shoulder pulled from my anxious thoughts. I realized I’d been staring out the bulletproof windows for hours, planted in the armored living room chair. "Oh, hi, Jude. Just lost in thought."
"I noticed. Waiting for Dominic?" The simple question made my eyes instantly well up with tears. "Want to talk about it? I’ve been told I’m pretty good at listening, even to family drama."
"Did I cross the line, Jude?" I asked, knowing he understood exactly what I ant about the pharmaceutical incident.
"Can I be honest?" I nodded, bracing myself for his judgnt. "You didn’t just cross the line. What you did was brutal, Gemma. You offered hope and then ripped it away in the next breath."
"So what do I do now? He can’t even stand being in the sa room as ," I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of our fractured bond.
"Now you reflect, decide what you truly want from this life, and wait."
"Wait, Jude? For how long?"
"A while. Dominic left yesterday for family business - he’ll be gone for so ti handling territory disputes. When he returns, he should be calr, and you two can finally hash this out. That’s why he’s not here - he’s managing operations in the eastern districts."
I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I retreated to my secured room and wept uncontrollably like a child. In the days that followed, I was rely a hollow shell going through the motions. I counted each agonizing day until his return from the dangerous family missions.
The days crawled by with torturous slowness. Weeks had passed since Dominic’s departure for family operations, and I couldn’t help wondering if he’d encountered soone intriguing during his ti in the field.
Throughout this ti, my life consisted solely of traveling between the safe house and my new position at a legitimate front company. I even avoided eting up with the other won in our circle. I convinced Xavier it was secure for to return to my mother’s house for a brief visit since I had access to family security protocols, which gave so peace of mind in this violent world.
That weekend, I decided to visit my mother and stepfather for several days, dismissing my assigned bodyguard. There was no need for ard protection at my mother’s residence, and I didn’t want to alarm her with unnecessary security asures.
"Sweetie, you finally ca to spend ti with us!" My mother embraced warmly. "Where’s Dominic?"
"Oh, Mom, it’s complicated."
"Had a disagreent?" A mother’s intuition truly is remarkable, even when it cos to mafia relationships.
"It’s more complicated than that."
"Then sit down and tell everything."
"Where’s Ryder?"
"He went out with Zander. I’m not sure what those two are planning, but they’ll be back soon."
"Wow, I haven’t seen Zander in ages."
"Such a dedicated young man. But co on, tell about Dominic."
"Mom..." I smiled through tears as she pulled into her protective embrace.
I unloaded everything, sparing no detail about the pharmaceutical disaster. By the end of my confession, my mother’s jaw had dropped in horror.
"Gemma, I work in pharmaceuticals. You should never have given him sexual stimulants, especially without his knowledge! He could have had a cardiac episode! That’s incredibly dangerous!" she scolded with professional authority.
"Oh, Mom, I acted on pure impulse," I admitted shafully.
"Yes, and your impulsiveness essentially offered him a cup of poison." My mother rarely reprimanded so harshly, which made this rebuke all the more significant.
"Co on, Mom, that’s an exaggeration!"
"No, Gemma. I completely understand Dominic’s fury. Your actions were both cruel and reckless! This isn’t how I raised you." My mother’s disappointnt was exactly what I didn’t need right now.
"Okay, Mom, but I’ve tried apologizing, and he won’t even acknowledge ."
"Follow your friend’s advice - wait for him to return with a clearer perspective on everything."
I agreed, not having any other viable options anyway. Shortly after, Ryder and Zander arrived, laughing heartily about so shared joke. They made quite a commotion upon seeing after so long.
"So, beautiful, I hear you’re involved with so powerful family operator." I laughed at Zander’s careful phrasing as he settled beside on the secured porch.
"We’re sort of in crisis mode, Zander." He offered a sympathetic smile.
"My ex claid she left because we never had any real conflicts." His eyes reflected deep sadness from old wounds.
"What bizarre logic," I teased, making him laugh despite his pain.
Zander and I had always connected well through our shared experiences. We beca friends and often joked about being siblings who t as adults, born to different families. We spent ti sharing our respective heartaches and complicated relationships.
Zander was still nursing wounds from his devastating breakup. He believed he’d found his lifelong partner, but shortly before their planned future together, his fiancée decided she no longer wanted him in her life.
anwhile, I was torn between being right and being happy. While I stubbornly believed I was justified regarding the Dominic situation, I was far from happy - quite the opposite, actually.
"Think carefully, beautiful," Zander said, his arm draped protectively around my shoulders.
"The worst part is that you’re absolutely right," I conceded.
"I know. Life teaches us, Gemma, that it’s better to be happy than to be right," Zander spoke with gravity earned from experience. "And life, my sister, is fleeting. I witness that daily."
"I don’t know how you manage working in ergency dicine." Zander worked as an ER doctor, and it was remarkable that despite everything he encountered, he maintained his faith in humanity.
"It’s because I believe I can make a difference in people’s lives," he smiled with genuine warmth. "How about catching a movie later?" Zander suggested, and I liked the idea - I love films but hadn’t been to many lately.
"Sounds perfect. Let’s pick sothing." I grabbed my phone and we started browsing options for entertainnt.
We decided on a cody and arrived at the mall shortly before showti. We were purchasing popcorn when I heard that familiar voice calling my na.
"Aunt Gemma! We seem destined to et at the movies," Vincenzo laughed with his characteristic cheerfulness, though I noticed his eyes scanning the area - family habit.
"Well, you practically live in this mall, Vincenzo!" I teased him, grateful for his presence.
"That’s true. What are we watching today?"
"A cody." Zander turned around, and I took the opportunity to introduce them properly. "Oh, Vincenzo, this is Zander. Zander, this is Vincenzo."
"I’ve heard so much about you!" Zander greeted him warmly, and Vincenzo was as polite and charming as always, though I caught the subtle way he assessed Zander.
"Yeah, I have quite the reputation," Vincenzo joked with family pride. "Nice to et you, Zander."
"Where’s Brenda, Vincenzo?" I asked, noticing he was alone without his usual companion.
"She’s at ho. I ca to et so associates, but I’m heading back to my girl now. Aunt, are you okay? I wanted to call you, but mom told Carn and to give you and uncle so space. You know he’s handling business, right?"
"Yes, I do. Hasn’t he returned yet?" I asked the question burning inside .
"I think he’s coming back soon," Vincenzo scratched his neck thoughtfully. "Look, aunt, sorry, but I think you two really need to hash this out. The family’s concerned."
I just stared at him, understanding the weight behind his words. "Well, I should get going. Can I call you soon?"
"Of course, sweetheart, whenever you want." Vincenzo gave quick kisses, said goodbye to Zander with a respectful nod, and left.
"I like that kid!" Zander comnted. "And I think he’s right about you needing to talk."
"Yeah, he is. But right now, let’s enjoy so laughter." I pulled Zander toward the movie theater, hoping to escape my worries for a few hours.
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