Chapter 331: Chapter 115 Warehouse Showdown

Dominic’s POV

I barely registered the black SUV pulling up to the Thorne family warehouse district or the women stepping out in formation. Zoe, my most ruthless intelligence operative, arrived already savoring the carnage unfolding before us like she was watching her favorite execution.

"That’s it, Gemma! Show that snake she picked the wrong Capo’s woman to mess with!" Zoe called out, her eyes gleaming with the kind of satisfaction she usually reserved for interrogations gone right.

"Zoe, for Christ’s sake, help me separate them," I pleaded desperately, completely out of my element. In all my years running the family’s money laundering operations, I’d never felt this helpless.

She shot me a look that could have frozen blood. "Don’t you dare interfere, Frost! Let Gemma purge this poison from our territory." Then she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted like she was calling hits at a street execution, "Gemma! Grind that treacherous face right into the asphalt!"

"Zoe!" I barked, but the damage was already done.

Gemma had Beatrix pinned face-first against the rough concrete of the warehouse loading dock, one fist twisted in her hair while her knee pressed firmly between Beatrix’s shoulder blades. Beatrix was completely immobilized, her screams for mercy echoing through the industrial complex. The cold determination in Gemma’s dark eyes was the same look I’d seen on veteran soldiers before they pulled triggers.

"Listen carefully, you backstabbing parasite," Gemma hissed directly into Beatrix’s ear, loud enough for everyone in our circle to hear. "Don’t ever show your face in Dominic’s territory again."

"Let me go! You’re breaking my ribs, you psychotic bitch!" Beatrix wailed, tears streaming down her face as she tasted concrete and her own blood.

I spotted Xavier and Caleb rushing toward the scene from the warehouse entrance, but they were quickly intercepted by Ivy and Ruby, who had arrived with Zoe and now formed a human wall with the efficiency of trained bodyguards.

"Finish her, Gemma! Break that lying whore’s nose!" Zoe hollered gleefully, sounding like she was placing bets at an underground fighting ring. She turned to me with a predatory grin. "Actually, I think I’ll lend a hand." Before I could react, she thrust her Hermès bag into my hands and kicked off her designer heels like she was preparing for a hit.

"Melissa..." I watched in horror as my lieutenant joined the street brawl. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Zoe crouched down beside the struggling women and grabbed Beatrix’s arm, twisting it behind her back with the precision of someone who’d learned anatomy for all the wrong reasons.

"LET ME GOOO... I DIDN’T BETRAY ANYONE," Beatrix shrieked, her voice raw with terror and pain.

"Don’t play innocent with us," Gemma growled, applying more pressure. "Everyone in this family knows exactly what you’ve been feeding to our enemies."

Zoe leaned in close to Beatrix’s ear, her voice dropping to the deadly whisper she used during family interrogations. "The last woman who tried to play both sides of a territory war had to flee to South America for reconstructive surgery..." Her tone was eerily calm as she applied calculated pressure to Beatrix’s arm joint.

"For the love of all that’s holy, someone help me separate these three before we all end up in federal custody!" I was already envisioning spending many years in maximum security.

"Don’t worry about legal complications, Dominic," Lila called from her position near the warehouse entrance. "If anything goes sideways, Daniel will handle it. The department owes Gemma protection after that mess with Nick."

"Get these lunatics off me!" Beatrix pleaded through sobs, her voice breaking.

"Lunatic, am I?" Zoe laughed with the dark humor of someone who’d seen too many bodies drop. "Oh yes, I am. You’re lucky I’m feeling merciful today."

"But unfortunately for you, sweetheart," Gemma added, tightening her grip on Beatrix’s hair with surgical precision, "I’m feeling exactly the opposite of merciful!"

That’s when I spotted Daniel arriving with Finn, both men moving with the measured urgency of law enforcement who’d seen worse. I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or terrified. At this rate, Gemma and Zoe were definitely heading for a very uncomfortable conversation with Internal Affairs.

"Holy hell! What kind of war zone did I walk into?" Daniel stared at the chaotic scene, his detective instincts warring with his family loyalty. "I was called in for a security consultation, not to break up a street execution!"

"Daniel, help me out here. I have no idea how to handle this without starting a blood feud," I pleaded, completely overwhelmed by the violence of the women in my life.

"Damn, Dominic! First priority is getting these wildcats off the informant!" Though I detected a hint of professional admiration in Daniel’s tone. "Finn, take the intelligence operative. Jude, you secure the target."

With the practiced coordination of men who’d broken up countless family disputes, Daniel restrained Gemma while Finn tackled Zoe. They lifted both women bodily off Beatrix, though they continued thrashing with lethal intent, limbs striking air where flesh had been moments before.

"Let me go, detective!" Gemma yelled with the fury of a woman defending her territory. "I’m not finished with this treacherous snake! There won’t be a single strand of hair left on that empty skull!"

"You tell her, Gemma!" Zoe shouted encouragement like she was coaching a prizefighter. "We don’t leave loose ends for the competition to exploit!"

"You’re all criminally insane!" Beatrix screamed as Jude secured her by the waist with professional efficiency. "Violent, classless, dangerous women!"

"Oh really?" Gemma’s voice dripped with the kind of sarcasm that preceded permanent solutions. "So if I ask politely, will you disappear from this city forever? I’m warning you—stay away from Dominic’s operations."

"Jude, put the liability in my patrol car," Daniel instructed before walking Gemma over to me with the careful handling of volatile explosives. "Gemma, you’re incredible. I can barely contain you when you’re like this."

"Nobody asked you to contain me, Daniel," Gemma grumbled as I took her from his professional grip.

"I’m taking this woman outside family territory and making sure she doesn’t file any reports that could complicate our operations," Daniel announced before climbing into his unmarked vehicle.

After Daniel drove Beatrix away from our warehouse district, we all retreated to the safe house. Gemma was still radiating lethal energy and perspiring from the fight, but once we reached the secured living room, she and Zoe exchanged glances—and suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter. Within seconds, all the women were doubled over laughing while we men watched in bewildered silence, wondering what the hell we’d signed up for.

"You ladies are absolutely terrifying," Caleb remarked, though his eyes sparkled with the kind of admiration reserved for successful operations.

Soon Daniel and Finn returned to debrief. Daniel assured us that Beatrix wouldn’t be pressing charges or filing any reports that could threaten family operations.

"Just to clarify, Gemma," Jude asked, recalling an incident from some time ago, "that day you had that confrontation with Monica at the front office—you let her strike first on purpose, right?"

"Obviously, Jude," Gemma replied with the strategic pride of a born tactician. "I never let disrespect slide, but that day it was necessary to maintain our legal position."

"You magnificent warrior!" Daniel was laughing with genuine respect. "Watching you demolish that backstabbing princess was the most entertaining thing I’ve witnessed in years of police work!"

"Daniel, stop encouraging her!" Finn scolded with the weariness of a man who’d seen too much violence. "Zoe already seeks out enough trouble through official channels!"

"It’s not trouble, prince," Zoe retorted with the confidence of someone who controlled information networks. "It’s about demanding the respect this family deserves."

"Honestly, I’m exhausted by this pattern," Gemma complained, settling into my arms. "Everywhere we establish operations, this woman appears thinking she can throw herself at you, Dominic!"

"Good thing I have you to protect family interests," I smiled, pulling her closer and realizing I’d never felt safer in my life.

We continued debriefing and decided to order secure catering. Soon Vincenzo and Carmen arrived home from their private academy, and after a late lunch, we moved to the entertainment room. Vincenzo suggested starting a video game tournament—an idea everyone enthusiastically supported. We were in for an extended session of competitive fun, the kind of normal family time that made all the violence worthwhile.