Gemma’s POV

Finn’s situation had become the final crushing blow to my already shattered emotional state. Over the past few days, I’d received elaborate flower arrangements from Dominic’s father, each accompanied by ominous invitation cards that made my skin crawl. I had desperately hoped the exiled family patriarch would eventually abandon his twisted pursuit, but he persisted with his menacing attention. With Finn now caught in the crossfire of family business, I was determined to keep absolutely silent about his advances.

Dominic and I had spent hours in the same safe house without exchanging a single word. My countless encrypted messages remained unanswered. We were all supposed to remain under Xavier’s protection at his fortified compound - how would that tense arrangement possibly work with the current hostilities?

To my shock, Dominic never appeared at Xavier’s stronghold. I waited endlessly, but there was no sign of him. Weren’t we all meant to be together for security? Where had he vanished to in these dangerous times?

"Gemma?" Jude’s gentle touch on my shoulder pulled me from my anxious thoughts. I realized I’d been staring out the bulletproof windows for hours, planted in the armored living room chair. "Oh, hi, Jude. Just lost in thought."

"I noticed. Waiting for Dominic?" The simple question made my eyes instantly well up with tears. "Want to talk about it? I’ve been told I’m pretty good at listening, even to family drama."

"Did I cross the line, Jude?" I asked, knowing he understood exactly what I meant about the pharmaceutical incident.

"Can I be honest?" I nodded, bracing myself for his judgment. "You didn’t just cross the line. What you did was brutal, Gemma. You offered hope and then ripped it away in the next breath."

"So what do I do now? He can’t even stand being in the same room as me," I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of our fractured bond.

"Now you reflect, decide what you truly want from this life, and wait."

"Wait, Jude? For how long?"

"A while. Dominic left yesterday for family business - he’ll be gone for some time handling territory disputes. When he returns, he should be calmer, and you two can finally hash this out. That’s why he’s not here - he’s managing operations in the eastern districts."

I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I retreated to my secured room and wept uncontrollably like a child. In the days that followed, I was merely a hollow shell going through the motions. I counted each agonizing day until his return from the dangerous family missions.

The days crawled by with torturous slowness. Weeks had passed since Dominic’s departure for family operations, and I couldn’t help wondering if he’d encountered someone intriguing during his time in the field.

Throughout this time, my life consisted solely of traveling between the safe house and my new position at a legitimate front company. I even avoided meeting up with the other women in our circle. I convinced Xavier it was secure for me to return to my mother’s house for a brief visit since I had access to family security protocols, which gave me some peace of mind in this violent world.

That weekend, I decided to visit my mother and stepfather for several days, dismissing my assigned bodyguard. There was no need for armed protection at my mother’s residence, and I didn’t want to alarm her with unnecessary security measures.

"Sweetie, you finally came to spend time with us!" My mother embraced me warmly. "Where’s Dominic?"

"Oh, Mom, it’s complicated."

"Had a disagreement?" A mother’s intuition truly is remarkable, even when it comes to mafia relationships.

"It’s more complicated than that."

"Then sit down and tell me everything."

"Where’s Ryder?"

"He went out with Zander. I’m not sure what those two are planning, but they’ll be back soon."

"Wow, I haven’t seen Zander in ages."

"Such a dedicated young man. But come on, tell me about Dominic."

"Mom..." I smiled through tears as she pulled me into her protective embrace.

I unloaded everything, sparing no detail about the pharmaceutical disaster. By the end of my confession, my mother’s jaw had dropped in horror.

"Gemma, I work in pharmaceuticals. You should never have given him sexual stimulants, especially without his knowledge! He could have had a cardiac episode! That’s incredibly dangerous!" she scolded me with professional authority.

"Oh, Mom, I acted on pure impulse," I admitted shamefully.

"Yes, and your impulsiveness essentially offered him a cup of poison." My mother rarely reprimanded me so harshly, which made this rebuke all the more significant.

"Come on, Mom, that’s an exaggeration!"

"No, Gemma. I completely understand Dominic’s fury. Your actions were both cruel and reckless! This isn’t how I raised you." My mother’s disappointment was exactly what I didn’t need right now.

"Okay, Mom, but I’ve tried apologizing, and he won’t even acknowledge me."

"Follow your friend’s advice - wait for him to return with a clearer perspective on everything."

I agreed, not having any other viable options anyway. Shortly after, Ryder and Zander arrived, laughing heartily about some shared joke. They made quite a commotion upon seeing me after so long.

"So, beautiful, I hear you’re involved with some powerful family operator." I laughed at Zander’s careful phrasing as he settled beside me on the secured porch.

"We’re sort of in crisis mode, Zander." He offered a sympathetic smile.

"My ex claimed she left me because we never had any real conflicts." His eyes reflected deep sadness from old wounds.

"What bizarre logic," I teased, making him laugh despite his pain.

Zander and I had always connected well through our shared experiences. We became friends and often joked about being siblings who met as adults, born to different families. We spent time sharing our respective heartaches and complicated relationships.

Zander was still nursing wounds from his devastating breakup. He believed he’d found his lifelong partner, but shortly before their planned future together, his fiancée decided she no longer wanted him in her life.

Meanwhile, I was torn between being right and being happy. While I stubbornly believed I was justified regarding the Dominic situation, I was far from happy - quite the opposite, actually.

"Think carefully, beautiful," Zander said, his arm draped protectively around my shoulders.

"The worst part is that you’re absolutely right," I conceded.

"I know. Life teaches us, Gemma, that it’s better to be happy than to be right," Zander spoke with gravity earned from experience. "And life, my sister, is fleeting. I witness that daily."

"I don’t know how you manage working in emergency medicine." Zander worked as an ER doctor, and it was remarkable that despite everything he encountered, he maintained his faith in humanity.

"It’s because I believe I can make a difference in people’s lives," he smiled with genuine warmth. "How about catching a movie later?" Zander suggested, and I liked the idea - I love films but hadn’t been to many lately. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Sounds perfect. Let’s pick something." I grabbed my phone and we started browsing options for entertainment.

We decided on a comedy and arrived at the mall shortly before showtime. We were purchasing popcorn when I heard that familiar voice calling my name.

"Aunt Gemma! We seem destined to meet at the movies," Vincenzo laughed with his characteristic cheerfulness, though I noticed his eyes scanning the area - family habit.

"Well, you practically live in this mall, Vincenzo!" I teased him, grateful for his presence.

"That’s true. What are we watching today?"

"A comedy." Zander turned around, and I took the opportunity to introduce them properly. "Oh, Vincenzo, this is Zander. Zander, this is Vincenzo."

"I’ve heard so much about you!" Zander greeted him warmly, and Vincenzo was as polite and charming as always, though I caught the subtle way he assessed Zander.

"Yeah, I have quite the reputation," Vincenzo joked with family pride. "Nice to meet you, Zander."

"Where’s Brenda, Vincenzo?" I asked, noticing he was alone without his usual companion.

"She’s at home. I came to meet some associates, but I’m heading back to my girl now. Aunt, are you okay? I wanted to call you, but mom told Carmen and me to give you and uncle some space. You know he’s handling business, right?"

"Yes, I do. Hasn’t he returned yet?" I asked the question burning inside me.

"I think he’s coming back soon," Vincenzo scratched his neck thoughtfully. "Look, aunt, sorry, but I think you two really need to hash this out. The family’s concerned."

I just stared at him, understanding the weight behind his words. "Well, I should get going. Can I call you soon?"

"Of course, sweetheart, whenever you want." Vincenzo gave me quick kisses, said goodbye to Zander with a respectful nod, and left.

"I like that kid!" Zander commented. "And I think he’s right about you needing to talk."

"Yeah, he is. But right now, let’s enjoy some laughter." I pulled Zander toward the movie theater, hoping to escape my worries for a few hours.