Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 297

Chapter 297: Chapter 81 Burning All Bridges

Gemma’s POV

I couldn’t bring myself to join the girls at Ivy’s safe house tonight. My mood was so dark that I fabricated an excuse about a splitting headache. The last thing I wanted was to cast shadows over their gathering, especially with Ivy carrying the next generation of Thorne blood and needing all the positive energy she could get.

So here I was, barricaded alone in my fortified apartment with takeout and a book I couldn’t concentrate on. The weekend with my mother and Ryder at the secure compound had been perfect, and seeing Zander again felt like breathing fresh air in this suffocating underworld. Just as thoughts of the good doctor drifted through my mind, my encrypted phone rang, bringing the first genuine smile to my face in days.

"You just can’t stay away from me," I answered playfully, recognizing the scrambled number.

"Beautiful auntie! You’re absolutely right, I can’t. I adore you and I’ve been going crazy missing you," Vincenzo replied in that characteristic whining tone that never failed to make me laugh. As Dominic’s nephew and the family’s youngest soldier, he had a gift for lightening even the darkest moods. "Besides, you still owe me that trip to Speedway, remember? The one where we pretend to be normal people eating burgers."

"The vintage car diner? Don’t tell me the great Vincenzo hasn’t been there yet," I said, vaguely recalling our plans to visit the retro establishment that served as neutral territory for the city’s various factions.

"I was supposed to go with this gorgeous woman named Gemma, but she’s been avoiding all my calls," he said with exaggerated wounded pride that made me actually laugh out loud.

"Well, she’s an idiot to miss out on a date with the most charming soldier in Port Serenity," I teased back, and Vincenzo’s delighted laughter filled the secure line.

"How about midweek evening?" he suggested, and I could hear the hope in his voice.

"That sounds perfect," I agreed, realizing how desperately I missed his uncomplicated company in this world of blood and betrayal.

"Bring Zander along. He seems like solid people," Vincenzo added, and I detected the curiosity behind his casual suggestion. The family always vetted anyone who got close to their inner circle.

"I’ll definitely ask him. He loves these nostalgic places, assuming he’s not pulling another extended shift at the trauma center," I replied, knowing Zander’s dedication to his emergency room patients often kept him away for days.

"Christ, don’t tell me this guy isn’t just gorgeous and decent, but he actually saves lives too," Vincenzo groaned dramatically.

"Yes, sweetheart, he’s an emergency room physician."

"Madonna mia!" Vincenzo’s amazement was almost comical. "Does this saint have any flaws whatsoever? Please tell me he’s not completely perfect, because that would just be unfair to the rest of us mortals."

"Vincenzo, he’s not perfect, but he comes pretty damn close," I admitted with a small smile.

"I can’t repeat what I’m thinking right now because my mom would wash my mouth out with lye soap," Vincenzo said, making me laugh again. The kid had an incredible talent for pulling me back from the edge.

"I’ll extend the invitation. I’m certain you two will hit it off beautifully."

"Then I’ll collect you at seven sharp," he confirmed before we exchanged goodbyes.

After ending the call, I felt marginally human again. Vincenzo always managed that small miracle. I made a mental note to contact Zander tomorrow, knowing he was currently covering the night shift at Port General’s trauma unit.

I was still smiling softly when my burner phone chimed with a message from an untraceable number. The moment I opened it, my improved spirits crashed and burned. It was a photograph of Beatrix draped all over Dominic at what appeared to be a restaurant. Finn was visible beside them, his arm still casted from the vicious beating he’d received for crossing Thorne territory.

The brutal reality slammed into me like a physical blow: Dominic had returned from his business trip to Chicago, had time to wine and dine that venomous snake, but couldn’t be bothered to send me so much as a single message. The arrogance was staggering.

Tears blurred my vision as rage and heartbreak warred in my chest. Through the haze of betrayal, my phone rang again, and I answered without checking the encrypted display.