Ivy’s POV
We stepped out of the exclusive boutique that catered to the wives and daughters of the city’s most powerful cri families, and the n escorted us toward the private dining room on the third floor of the Thorne family’s legitimate restaurant front. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting, exactly what we needed after our afternoon of acquiring appropriate attire for upcoming family functions.
"Ladies, I cannot express how grateful I am! What you purchased today has already secured my entire monthly sales quota. You are absolute angels!" Gemma bead at us, her relief evident as she spoke about the commission from outfitting the wives of such high-ranking famiglia mbers.
"Gemma, please, the pleasure was all ours. Those dresses are absolutely gorgeous, and we adore every single piece," Zoe responded warmly, adjusting the silk scarf that would help her blend into the sophisticated world of organized cri social gatherings.
"Honestly, Gemma, we should be the ones thanking you for making our ladies look absolutely breathtaking," Xavier said, his eyes never leaving Ruby’s face as he spoke with the protective intensity typical of a high-ranking enforcer.
Caleb turned his attention to Gemma with genuine curiosity, though I could see the calculating look of a Don always seeking to expand his network of loyal associates. "Gemma, do you enjoy working at the boutique?"
"I do appreciate it, but this isn’t my forever career. The work is draining, not every custor is as wonderful as these ladies, and having to work weekends and holidays makes maintaining any kind of personal life nearly impossible," Gemma explained honestly, unaware she was speaking to one of the most powerful cri bosses on the East Coast.
"How would you feel about joining my organization?" Caleb asked, catching all of us completely off guard. Working within the Thorne Syndicate’s legitimate businesses would be an incredible opportunity for Gemma, not to ntion much safer than her current exposed position.
"Caleb, I appreciate the gesture, truly, but I know you’re only offering because Dominic asked you to. I cannot accept charity, even from soone as kind as you," Gemma replied with the utmost sincerity and grace, clearly not understanding the weight of receiving a direct offer from the head of the family.
"You misunderstand completely. Dominic has nothing to do with this decision. This is purely business, benefiting both of us. My current secretary will be eliminated from her position soon, and I need soone trustworthy in that role. Since Ivy hasn’t returned to her duties yet, your business degree would be invaluable to . For you, it ans regular weekday hours, exceptional compensation, and the protection that cos with being part of our organization," Caleb explained earnestly, his words carrying the subtle weight of mafia recruitnt.
Gemma’s eyes found mine, silently seeking my opinion on what she didn’t realize was essentially an invitation to join one of the most feared cri families in North Arica.
"Gemma, this is an extraordinary opportunity. Working within the organization opens countless doors and provides security most people in this city can only dream of. You should definitely explore this further with Caleb," I encouraged her, knowing how life-changing and life-protecting this position could be in our dangerous world.
"Caleb, first you steal my best contact, now you want my goddess too?!" Dominic protested dramatically, sending us all into laughter as he played up his mock outrage with typical soldier theatrics.
The evening flowed beautifully, filled with animated conversation and laughter as Dominic regaled us with tales of their recent escapades during territory negotiations with rival families. The mood was perfect until several won appeared from nowhere, practically launching themselves onto Dominic’s, Caleb’s, and Xavier’s laps like predatory cats marking their territory. My blood ran cold when I recognized one of them as Yara, the daughter of Underboss Rossi.
"Hey gorgeous! I have missed you desperately!" she purred, planting a possessive kiss directly on Caleb’s lips while her companions did the sa with Dominic and Xavier, displaying the kind of brazen behavior typical of spoiled mafia princesses.
"I was just telling the girls about our incredible night of passion in your office during Heidi’s party. That leather couch has beco my absolute favorite place in the world."
Her words hit like a physical blow, each syllable designed to wound. A night of passion? On his office couch? The pain in my chest was suffocating. This was his behavior at a family gathering? He had insisted I attend that celebration. For what purpose? To witness him with another woman while I was there? To humiliate in front of the entire organization?
"Angel and I were devastated you didn’t invite us to Heidi’s party," the woman draped across Xavier’s lap whined in her grating voice, clearly referring to Yara. "We could have had such fun together, Opal, like we always do at family functions."
I caught the eyes of my friends, and I could see they felt the sa rage and heartbreak coursing through them. The disrespect shown not just to us but to the family gathering was unforgivable. Zoe shot to her feet, grabbing Finn by his jacket with the fierce determination of a woman who’d grown up understanding the brutal realities of our world.
"Co on, Wyatt, it’s getting late and we’re taking the girls ho. Let’s go, ladies. These idiots can handle their own bill!"
"We’re leaving too, Jude. Now!" Nora stood up, her anger blazing openly with the kind of fury that could start wars between families. "What a complete disappointnt you are, but Caleb, you’re absolutely the worst of them all."
We rushed toward the exit, ignoring their desperate calls for us to wait, their claims that they could explain everything, their protests echoing through the restaurant like the pleas of condemned n.
"How could they possibly do this to us?" Ruby’s voice shook with outrage, her loyalty to our tight-knit group overriding any fear of challenging powerful n.
"Caleb has so serious nerve," Zoe’s fury was palpable, her street-smart instincts telling her this betrayal went deeper than simple infidelity.
"Ladies, perhaps things aren’t exactly as they appear. Maybe you should hear them out first," Finn attempted to defend them, but our collective glare made him imdiately retreat. "Sorry, forget I said anything."
"Go ho right now, Wyatt. I’m taking the girls ho myself, and we’ll discuss this later," Zoe commanded with authority, her voice carrying the steel that had helped her survive in our unforgiving world. "But you better not be taking those clowns’ side in this."
"The sa warning applies to you, Jude," Nora said, her voice dripping with the kind of cold anger that runs in the blood of won who’ve learned to navigate the treacherous waters of organized cri.
"Actually, I’m driving Nora ho," Jude declared, moving toward his wife with the determined stride of a man trying to regain control of a rapidly deteriorating situation.
"No, you’re not. I’ll take her ho myself," Zoe shot back, her protective instincts flaring as she stepped between them, unwilling to let any of the n near us in our current state of betrayal and hurt.
"Jude, don’t you dare try to cover for Caleb or make excuses for what we just witnessed!" The words exploded from my lips with a fury that surprised even , my voice carrying the rage of a woman who’d been publicly humiliated by the man she’d trusted with her heart. "What we saw in there was inexcusable, and if you think you can smooth this over with your diplomatic speeches, you’re dead wrong!"
Jude stepped back, clearly taken aback by the intensity of my outburst, his usual calm deanor cracking under the weight of our collective anger.
The ride ho was silent except for the sound of my heart breaking into smaller and smaller pieces. Every word Yara had spoken echoed in my mind, each one a fresh wound. The image of Caleb with her, on that couch, during what should have been a respectful family gathering, was seared into my mory. How could I have been so naive? How could I have believed that soone like Caleb Thorne could ever truly care for soone like ? The pain was suffocating, and I knew that no matter what explanations he might offer, so betrayals cut too deep to ever heal completely.
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