Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 345

Chapter 345: Chapter 129 Grandmas Dreams

Dominic’s POV

After the incident with Vincenzo at the shopping district - where one of Marcus’s remaining associates had been spotted tailing us through the family’s territory - I knew I needed to brief my mother and Nadia and our security detail about Shelton’ escalating surveillance attempts before our countryside trip. When I informed them about his latest breach of our perimeter, Nadia was absolutely livid. Since discovering his connection to the rival families trying to infiltrate our operations, she’d become fiercely protective, determined to keep that snake away from the children at all costs.

During our tactical meeting, I also shared details about the surprise I was orchestrating for Gemma. Despite my mother and Nadia’s assurances that Gemma would be thrilled, I couldn’t shake my nervousness. This meant everything to me, and in our world where a single mistake could be fatal, I wanted it to be flawless.

The week passed in careful preparation, and before I knew it, Saturday arrived. We departed early for the countryside in an armored convoy, heading to Gemma’s grandmother’s house outside our usual territory. Throughout the drive, Gemma was bubbling with excitement, chattering animatedly about her childhood visits to the only place that had ever felt like sanctuary. Her joy was infectious, making the tense journey through neutral ground feel lighter despite our armed escort trailing at a discrete distance.

By lunchtime, we pulled up to a beautiful colonial mansion that stood like a fortress of normalcy. Gemma practically leaped from the reinforced vehicle, dashing through the house until she found her grandmother in the kitchen. "Grandmaaa!" she exclaimed, wrapping the older woman in an enthusiastic embrace that reminded me how precious these moments of peace were in our violent world.

"Clair, my dear, I’ve missed you so much!" The petite woman with kind eyes returned Gemma’s hug with equal fervor, oblivious to the fact that her granddaughter now lived under the protection of one of the city’s most feared crime families.

When they finally separated, Gemma pulled her grandmother forward. "Grandma, I brought four very special people for you to meet. This is Dominic, my boyfriend. And these are Dominic’s nephews, Vincenzo and Carmen. Everyone, this is my grandmother, Edith."

Edith welcomed us with the warmth only a grandmother could provide, her smile genuine as she ushered us to the dining table. Her eyes lingered on me with curiosity - probably wondering how a man like me had captured her granddaughter’s heart. She greeted Willow and Ryder with familiar affection, Gemma’s cousins having accompanied us on previous visits.

"Clair, my dear, where did you find this young man? He’s quite a catch!" Edith winked, making me smile despite the weight of the Glock beneath my jacket. "And these children! They look like they stepped out of a magazine!"

"Grandma, what if I told you I met Dominic thanks to you?" Gemma said, settling into her chair while I remained alert to every sound from outside.

"Thanks to me?" Edith raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"I met him at the store where I bought your birthday present," Gemma explained, causing her grandmother to beam with delight. She had no idea that store was in the heart of our family’s territory, where I’d been collecting protection money that fateful day.

"Well, a man of faith!" Edith nodded approvingly in my direction.

"A little bit," I admitted, thinking of the rosary my mother had given me before I took my first life for the family. "I was at the store buying a present for my mother; she has more faith than I do."

"Mothers always do," Edith replied wisely. "We ask God to protect you when we can’t, and we have faith that He listens to us." Her words hit deeper than she knew, reminding me of my own mother’s desperate prayers for my soul in this blood-soaked life.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify