The Don Tore Up Our Divorce (Gemma and Cassian) novel Chapter 39

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**Before Rain Touches Earth Memories Return With Gentle Warmth by Eli Dane Crest 39**

**Chapter 39**

**Gemma**

It wasn’t long after my arrival at home that Zina burst through the door, her presence bright and infectious. I was sprawled on the couch, lost in my thoughts, when she spotted me.

“Why do you look like that?” she inquired, her voice a mixture of concern and curiosity.

Her cheeks were flushed, a delightful shade of rosy pink, and her giggles danced through the air like music. One of her straps had slipped down her shoulder, and she radiated an energy that suggested she had just returned from an exhilarating adventure. It was evident that her night had unfolded in stark contrast to mine.

“Just Cassian being Cassian again,” I replied, my tone laced with exasperation.

As I recounted the evening’s events to Zina, her eyes rolled dramatically. “I guess at least he made sure you got a ride home,” she remarked, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words.

“I suppose that’s something,” I replied, unable to muster much enthusiasm.

***

Zina’s phone buzzed insistently, pulling her attention away from me. She glanced down, her expression shifting to one of annoyance. “Shit,” she muttered under her breath.

“What is it?” I asked, curiosity piqued.

“11:24,” she read aloud, her brow furrowing. “Mr. Giancarlo wants to reschedule our next meeting. He insists it has to be tomorrow. He was planning to take Jace and me to lunch to discuss the finer details, but we can’t do tomorrow.”

“Oh… well, I can go,” I offered, a hint of eagerness creeping into my voice. “It’s not like I have another job.”

“Could you?” Zina asked, her relief palpable. “I generally like to save your talent for the actual hacking. This meeting is just to handle details, like when and how he’s going to pay us.”

“Yeah, I can totally handle that,” I assured her, feeling a flicker of confidence.

*****

The next day, I found myself standing outside the restaurant where Mr. Giancarlo had requested our meeting. The establishment was a quaint little place known for its English pub food, aptly named The Pub. It was a bustling spot, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses.

What most of the city didn’t know, however, was that behind its unassuming facade lay a secret door, leading down a set of stairs into one of the most exclusive gambling dens along the East Coast. Naturally, Cassian and the Blackwells owned it, and it served as a favored gathering place for their associates.