Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 298

Chapter 298: Chapter 82 Taking a Stand

Lila’s POV

"Daniel, would someone like to explain what kind of bloodbath just happened in that conference room? Actually, all of you—care to explain?" My voice trembled with rage as I faced the men who controlled half the city’s underground, wanting nothing more than to strangle each one of them with my bare hands.

"Lila, I just lost my cool, okay?" Daniel ran his hand through his dark hair, frustration evident on his scarred face. "We’re already dealing with some street trash stalking Ivy’s friend, and then another psycho appears out of nowhere threatening our territory? I snapped!"

"And you think that’s Gemma’s fault? Really, Daniel? What kind of disgusting macho enforcer have you turned into?" My voice rose with each word, anger burning in my chest like acid. "And the rest of you? You ambushed her in a hostile environment and put pressure on a woman who’s already being terrorized by her deranged ex-boyfriend, and you still have the audacity to gang up on her like rabid dogs?"

"I didn’t say anything," Xavier raised his hands defensively, his expensive suit doing nothing to hide the blood under his fingernails from his morning collection rounds.

"Exactly! You didn’t say a damn thing. You just stood there with your arms crossed and were complicit in this whole mess." I glared at all of them as they avoided my gaze, suddenly finding the polished marble floor incredibly fascinating. These men who could order executions without blinking couldn’t meet the eyes of one furious woman.

The elevator doors slid open with a ding, and Heidi strode out, concern etched across her sharp features. As Caleb’s business manager for his legitimate operations, she had no patience for the family’s brutish behavior affecting their clean enterprises.

"Can someone please explain why Gemma just submitted her resignation from Thorne Enterprises? HR just sent me her settlement forecast scheduled for in a few days," Heidi demanded, her cold gaze sweeping over the silent men like a prosecuting attorney.

"Go ahead, tough guys," I challenged, grabbing my purse from the leather chair. "Tell Heidi about the mess you’ve made while pretending to protect the neighborhood. I’m going after Gemma, and if you want to blacklist me from every legitimate business in this city, Caleb, I honestly don’t care anymore. As for you, Daniel, we’ll discuss your Neanderthal behavior later."

"This turned into a nuclear bomb!" I heard Xavier mutter behind me, his usual composure cracking.

"I’m wondering why I let you guys handle delicate situations when you have all the subtlety of a drive-by shooting," Caleb added, his voice laced with the kind of regret that usually preceded someone getting their kneecaps broken.

I stepped into the elevator and headed straight to Ruby’s floor in the Thorne building. When I found her at her desk managing Scott’s books, her expression immediately shifted upon seeing my flushed face.

"What’s wrong, Lila? You look like you’ve seen a massacre," Ruby said, concern lacing her voice as she took in my agitated state.

"Do you think Scott would give you the rest of the day off? Gemma needs us, and I mean right now," I tried to keep my voice steady but failed miserably, my hands shaking with residual fury.

"Sounds serious enough to abandon money laundering paperwork. Give me a minute." Ruby disappeared into Scott’s office and emerged moments later with her purse and a grim expression. "Where’s Gemma?"

"Probably at her apartment, assuming she made it home without getting picked up by any of Nick’s street contacts," I replied, fighting back tears of frustration and genuine fear.

"What happened, Lila?" Ruby’s eyes narrowed as she noted my agitation, her voice taking on the protective edge that came from surviving in their world.

"Are you driving?" She nodded, patting her concealed carry permit. "Good. Let’s go. On the way, I’ll call Nora and Zoe and tell all of you at once what these idiots did."

That’s exactly what I did. We got into Ruby’s armored sedan, and I made a video call, explaining to the girls what those testosterone-poisoned enforcers had done. Their outrage matched my own, with Zoe’s creative threats making even Ruby wince.

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