Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask novel Chapter 340

340 Chapter 124 Seeds of Doubt

340 Chapter 124 Seeds of Doubt

Gemma’s POV 1

Our time with Vincenzo and Carmen had been nothing short of magical. The children were thrilled about having a little cousin on the way, and they showered me with the same protective attention Dominic did. I had to admit, being under the wing of the Thorne family felt like living in a fortress of devotion.

Dominic wasted no time securing an appointment with Dr. Taylor, a task made considerably easier due to his relationship with Bee. After the children were safely escorted to their private school by armed security, Dominic drove me to the medical center in his armored sedan, practically vibrating with anticipation.

In the doctor’s office, Dominic transformed into an overeager soldier receiving battle instructions. He absorbed every word Dr. Taylor said with military precision, asked countless tactical questions about my health, requested written protocols, and paid attention to every recommendation as if my life depended on it. Which, in his mind, it probably did. We left the appointment armed with plans and contingencies. After a secured stop at the family’s private pharmacy to fill my prescriptions, Dominic dropped me off at work with a kiss that lingered possessively on my lips.

When I reached my desk, I spotted a flower arrangement waiting for me. They were wildflowers, pretty in their rustic way, but something about them sent ice through my veins. My hand trembled as I plucked the card from among the blooms. In an instant, all my joy evaporated into cold terror.

Nick, or someone operating under his orders from prison, had sent them. The message was brief but carried the weight of a death threat: a reminder that I belonged to him, and prison bars wouldn’t change that. My blood turned to winter. How dare he penetrate the Thorne family’s protected territory?

I immediately photographed both the flowers and card, sending the images to Inspector Daniel through our secure channel before requesting the flowers be incinerated. Following Daniel’s protocols, I preserved the card as evidence for the family’s intelligence network. I decided against telling Dominic immediately. I’d handled the breach properly, and there was no need to trigger his lethal protective instincts during what should be a celebration of our future.

Focusing on my work proved to be a necessary distraction. Having been away for a

340 Chapter 124 Seeds of Doubt

while, I expected a mountain of business awaiting my attention, but my prior organizational systems had held steady. There wasn’t much ground to recover.

At noon, Jude and Lila materialized on my secured floor, determined to extract me for lunch.

“Gemma, you’re carrying the next generation of this family,” Jude lectured as we entered the restaurant under discreet security surveillance. “You can’t skip meals like some street soldier. You need to eat like the protected asset you are.”

I had planned to grab something quick at my fortified desk. “You’re absolutely right, Jude. I was so focused on work I didn’t even consider it.”

Lila grinned. “Lucky you have us as your personal security detail.”

We were deep in animated conversation when someone deliberately bumped into me from behind. Turning around, I found a woman resting her manicured claws on my shoulder with predatory familiarity.

“Oh, darling, I’m so terribly sorry!” she exclaimed with theatrical precision. “I’m such a disaster waiting to happen.” Her hand seemed surgically attached to my shoulder.

“It’s fine,” I responded with ice-cold politeness, removing her hand with controlled force. “Accidents occur.”

“Well, this is exactly what we didn’t need,” Jude muttered under his breath, his voice carrying dangerous undertones.

“Jude!” The woman’s eyes widened in calculated surprise. “My heavens, it’s been an eternity!”

“Could have stayed that way until my funeral,” Jude replied, his irritation shifting into something more lethal.

“Oh Jude, don’t be so hostile. It’s been far too long.” She smiled and touched his back

possession.

ostile. I simply despise you. Actually, to be completely transparent, I

ng.” Jude moved away from her touch, but she escalated by inviting ar protected space.

you need to develop some sophistication.” She seated herself without invitation, ove that would have earned a bullet in less civilized circumstances. “Now introduce to your companions. Or are they more than mere friends?”

<

340 Chapter 124 Seeds of Doubt

“Not everyone operates like you do. And I won’t make introductions because they don’t need to know a parasitic opportunist like you.” Jude’s agitation was becoming

something that could draw security attention.

“Well then, I’ll handle the introductions myself.” The woman’s audacity was breathtaking, even by black market socialite standards. “Pleasure to meet you both. I’m Nancy. Jude harbors resentment because I dated his friend and the arrangement ended poorly.” My heart sank into my stomach. This was Dominic’s ex-girlfriend, the one who’d been circling rival families.

“Shut your mouth and disappear, you snake in designer clothing” Jude hissed with barely contained violence.

“Oh Jude, even D underground manufactur

such a pr

anvon

s moved past our history. I encountered him at the

and we shared such a wonderful reunion.” Her

e my stomach revolt. “Do you know Dominic, ladies? He’s had quite the relationship before, and he never committed to was the greatest passion of his life. He never recovered from erstand?”

tain my composure, refusing to give this predator the satisfaction of the water. I needed to speak with Dominic before drawing any but her words felt like poison in my veins.

acate this area immediately or I’m summoning security,” Jude warned, his pproaching critical mass.

dness, Jude, maintain some control. You’ll give yourself a cardiac event.” Nancy’s eatrical concern deserved an award for manipulation. “But you still haven’t shared your friends’ names with me.”

“You’re worthless debris, Nancy. You know exactly who’s sitting here,” Jude snapped counter wasn’t coincidental.” with lethal clarit

“Jude!” S

that

er heart in wounded performance. “I’m devastated

om me. When I tell Dominic about this

u.”

ortlessly without choking on your own tongue?” Jude countered.

d in their verbal warfare that I hadn’t noticed Lila had slipped away until a security guard materialized beside Nancy, flanked by the

340 Chapter 124 Seeds of Doubt

restaurant manager.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” the manager said with professional calm. “Miss, I must politely insist you accompany me without creating additional disturbance. You’re disrupting our valued customers’ experience.”

“But I’m also a paying customer,” Nancy protested with rising volume.

“It would be preferable to avoid complications, miss.” The manager remained immovable. Nancy glanced at the security guard, her confident smile finally cracking under pressure.

“You’ve always been such an insufferable burden, Wright.” She snatched her purse stood with wounded dignity, and was professionally escorted toward the exit.

“That encounter was calculated warfare, Gemma. That woman knows exactly who you are and what you represent,” Jude said, taking my hand with protective intensity. “Please don’t believe a single word that came out of her poisonous mouth.”

Still reeling from the confrontation, I assured Jude that I wouldn’t accept Nancy’s claims at face value and would discuss everything with Dominic later. But her words had planted seeds of doubt that would require careful extraction.

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341 Chapter 125 Silent Threat Calls

341 Chapter 125 Silent Threat Calls

Gemma’s POV 1

As the day at the office concluded, Dominic informed me through our encrypted line

that he’d

arranging

incide

dang

F

riving home late due to accumulated family business paperwork,

ne of his trusted soldiers to escort me home instead. After the lunch

is volatile ex-girlfriend, my mind was already primed to wander down hs of speculation about his whereabouts in our blood-soaked world.

hile, I tortured myself with uncertainty, eventually texting Zoe through channel to confirm Dominic was actually at headquarters. I felt compelled my concerns to her, hating the paranoia creeping into our relationship – a e effect of loving a man whose enemies would kill to hurt him through me.

arriving at our heavily fortified safe house, I was struck by the unusual silence. kids had returned to the main family compound, and I already found myself sing their energy and laughter that briefly made our dangerous world feel normal. solitude didn’t last long, as Amber bounded into view, welcoming me with his ustomary exuberance. Since joining our household, the German Shepherd puppy had established his domain in the kitchen, where our housekeeper Maia lavished him with endless attention and treats. His bed now resided there permanently, though he never failed to race through the reinforced corridors whenever someone breached our security perimeter.

“Hey there, Amber! How was your day guarding the fortress, little soldier?” I knelt to scratch behind his ears, his tail wagging furiously in response. “Mine was pretty uneventful, thankfully.”

After showering and eating dinner alone in our dining room overlooking the harbor- Dominic’s late return hanging over me like a storm cloud – my mind began its

danger

abo

cy’s venomous words echoed in my thoughts, and doubts crept in despite my best efforts to suppress them. In mean anything from legitimate family business to

vening when I finally heard the reinforced front door’s multiple ng. Amber, who had been dozing at the foot of our bed with one ear

vibrating for intruders, immediately perked up, his entire body with At as he prepared to greet his favorite human and protector.

341 Chapter 125 Silent Threat Calls

“Stay down, Amber,” I whispered, pressing a finger to my lips. “We’re giving him the cold shoulder tonight. He abandoned us for family business, remember? Pretend you’re asleep.” The dog settled briefly, earning a quiet “Good boy” from me.

I closed

my swollen, tear-stained eyes just as our bedroom door’s security lock clicked open. My canine conspirator promptly betrayed me, leaping up with a joyful bark to greet Dominic, who was undoubtedly still carrying the scent of gunpowder and danger from whatever family matter had kept him away.

“Traitor!” I accused, sitting upright in bed.

Dominic flipped on the dim lighting system, his initial smile evaporating when he saw my face. Even in the low light, his trained eye immediately catalogued my distress.

“Songbird, what’s wrong? Why have you been crying?” Concern etched his battle-hardened features as he approached, Amber trotting loyally behind him, sensing the tension.

“You were gone forever,” I complained, knowing it sounded childish even as I said it, especially considering the deadly responsibilities that came with his position in the family hierarchy.

“I know, longer than I intended. The financial reports from recent territory expansions piled up more than I realized,” he explained apologetically, setting his concealed weapons on the nightstand with practiced efficiency. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone all evening in lockdown. I didn’t think it would upset you this much – I just wanted to clear my desk before tomorrow’s family meeting.”

“I shouldn’t be this upset, but…” I averted my eyes, embarrassment coloring my admission of weakness in a world where showing vulnerability could prove fatal.

“But what? Is something wrong? Are you and the baby okay?” His brow creased with the kind of worry that had sent men to early graves when they threatened his family.

“I ran into Nancy today,” I blurted, deciding directness was best when dealing with a man whose world operated on brutal honesty.

Dominic’s expression hardened immediately, his jaw tightening with barely controlled rage. “That poisonous bitch sought you out deliberately?”

“I was having lunch with Jude and Lila at the restaurant when she appeared,” I explained, still studying my hands rather than meeting those dangerous emerald eyes that could shift from tender to lethal in seconds.

341 Chapter 125 Silent Threat Calls

I recounted the entire encounter – her calculated appearance, her razor-sharp insinuations designed to draw blood, the coldness in her eyes as she delivered her barbs about their recent encounter at the underground establishment where family business was conducted.

Dominic listened intently, his expression increasingly murderous as I spoke. I could practically feel the violence radiating from him as his protective instincts flared.

“Dominic, did you see her recently?” I needed confirmation straight from the man whose word was bond in our dangerous world.

“Gemma, you know I went to meet Xavier at the private club for family business. She showed up unannounced like the parasite she is, but I swear I barely acknowledged her existence,” he stated firmly, his voice carrying the weight of a blood oath. “You have my word as a made man,”

“Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“The kids were visiting, and we were having such a wonderful week of peace that I genuinely forgot to mention such an insignificant encounter. It wasn’t intentional secrecy – it simply slipped my mind. I’m sorry, baby.”

–

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