Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 296

Chapter 296: Chapter 80 Blood and Blackmail

Dominic’s POV

The workday at Zenith Systems had finally ended, but Zoe maintained her usual professional distance as I prepared to leave the money laundering operation headquarters. At least Vincenzo had promised to help by taking Gemma out from Caleb’s legitimate business front this week. I headed to Gregory’s, our preferred upscale establishment where made men could conduct business without prying eyes, hoping my brothers would have intelligence about her.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with his presence!" Xavier stood as I approached their table in the private dining room.

"Gentlemen, it’s been too long," I said, greeting everyone around the table with the traditional embrace. I was pleasantly surprised to see Finn there, still recovering from the recent territorial skirmish. "Finn, good to see you back on your feet."

"Wouldn’t miss your welcome back celebration," he replied with a grin, raising his glass of aged whiskey in a toast.

"I’m glad you’re healing well after that ambush," I said genuinely, knowing how close we’d come to losing him to rival family bullets.

"Going stir-crazy with Zoe running surveillance on me around the clock. Did you convince her not to transfer to another operation?" Finn asked.

"Of course. I can’t run the family’s financial network without that woman anymore," I admitted, which made him smile knowingly.

"That’s good because she’s equally lost without you handling the books," Finn quipped.

Caleb, our Don, fixed me with that penetrating stare that had made lesser men confess their sins. "Just ask what you’re dying to know, Dominic. Don’t dance around it like some amateur." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"You guys know me too well—" I began, but was interrupted by the last person on earth I wanted to see in our territory.

"My prodigal son! Back from your extended exile, I see!" My father Marcus approached with that smug expression I’d learned to despise during my years in the family. The other patrons quickly averted their eyes, recognizing the tension.

"Pretend I’m invisible, Marcus," I said, my mood instantly darkening like storm clouds over the harbor.

"Such an ungrateful child! Is this how you address the man who gave you life?" His tone dripped with the same sarcasm and mockery that had gotten him banished from Thorne territory.

"Father? Blood doesn’t make you famiglia. You’re just a traitor who got lucky with genetics," I replied coldly, my hand instinctively moving toward the concealed weapon at my side.

"You think you’re so much better than everyone, don’t you, Dominic?" I saw that familiar rage flash in his eyes, the same fury that had led him to betray family secrets years ago. "Whatever. Listen, son," he emphasized the word with pure venom, "I have a business proposition. Meet me at your operation tomorrow."

"I don’t negotiate with rats. And you’re permanently barred from Thorne territory," I responded, barely maintaining the composure expected of a Capo.

"Let me be direct then. You’re going to sign over twenty percent of the family’s laundering operation to me. You’ll triple my monthly payments. And you’ll make the private jet available for my personal use. You’ll do all this and have the family lawyer draw up proper contracts for us both to sign," Marcus stated with the confidence of a man who believed he held all the cards.

"You’ve completely lost your mind," I scoffed. "I would never agree to any of that. In fact, I’m cutting off all payments to you entirely."

"Oh, you’ll do exactly as I say," he moved closer, lowering his voice to the whisper used for the most dangerous threats. "And do you know why? Because if you don’t, I’m going after that gorgeous Gemma. I’ll claim her as my own, then send you beautiful footage of her servicing me, so you can see who’s really the superior man in this family."

Something primal snapped inside me. My fist connected with his face before rational thought could intervene, and I grabbed him by the collar as blood trickled from his split lip onto his expensive suit.

"Don’t you dare touch Gemma. Don’t even breathe the same air as her. I can have you disappeared," I threatened, but he only smiled that devil’s smile I remembered from childhood. I knew my threats wouldn’t deter a man with nothing left to lose.

Gregory’s security pulled us apart, their movements swift and practiced. Caleb managed to convince the manager to have Marcus escorted from the premises, but before leaving, he shouted across the dining room, "One week to get your affairs in order, son!" His maniacal laughter echoed through the restaurant as the security team dragged him toward the exit.

I sat back down heavily, and Jude placed a double whiskey in front of me without being asked.

"Take it easy, Dominic. He won’t get near Gemma," Jude assured me, though his voice carried less conviction than his words.

"I’m not convinced, Jude. I know Gemma wouldn’t willingly associate with him, but he’s cunning like a snake. He could manipulate her or use leverage against her family. The man’s capable of anything after what he did to our famiglia," I said anxiously, running my hands through my hair. "Now tell me how she’s doing in the legitimate operations."

"That’s the problem. We’ve barely seen her," Caleb admitted, causing my eyes to widen in alarm.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify