Chapter 338: Chapter 122 Building Our Dynasty

Gemma’s POV

I was laughing at one of Vincenzo’s ridiculous impressions of his uncle Xavier when Dominic approached our poolside lounge, his expression unreadable in that way that always made my blood run cold. In the mafia world, unreadable meant dangerous.

"Time for more sunscreen, handsome," I said playfully, extending my hand toward him. Instead of the bottle I expected, Dominic placed something rectangular and lightweight in my palm.

My heart stopped when I recognized the pregnancy test package. The same one I had hidden in our bedroom safe yesterday, behind the emergency cash and fake passports. Heat flooded my face as I shot upright, my mouth suddenly dry as desert sand.

"You found them," I whispered, barely able to form the words.

"I did," Dominic replied, his tone carrying that deadly calm that preceded either execution orders or life-changing decisions. "Want to explain this to me?"

"Dominic, I..." My throat constricted as fear coursed through my veins like ice water.

His green eyes locked onto mine with laser precision. "I need to know right now, Gemma. Whose are these?"

"Mine," I admitted, meeting his stare even as tears threatened to spill. In our world, showing weakness could be fatal, but hiding truth from your capo was worse.

"Yours?" Something shifted in his expression, a crack in that stone facade. "Does that mean..."

"I swear I was careful with the pill," I rushed to explain, words tumbling over each other. "Something went wrong, and I—"

"Gemma," he cut me off with the authority he used in family meetings. "Focus. Tell me what this means."

My shoulders sagged as I stared at the concrete beneath my feet. "I’m pregnant. I bought those tests yesterday when we went to the ice cream parlor as cover..."

Before I could finish the confession, Dominic crushed me against his chest so hard I could barely breathe, his arms forming a protective cage around me.

"I’m going to be a father!" he shouted, his voice echoing across our secured compound. "I’m going to be a father!"

His reaction left me stunned. This was not the cold calculation or strategic thinking I had expected. Dominic pulled back to kiss me fiercely, then turned toward the children lounging by the pool, his face transformed by a grin I had never seen before.

"Kids! You’re getting a cousin!" he announced with the same pride he used when announcing successful territory expansions.

Vincenzo and Carmen exploded into celebration, their shouts mixing with the excited barking of our trained guard dogs who sensed the jubilant energy.

Dominic immediately pulled out his encrypted phone, speed-dialing Xavier. "Brother, spread the word through the family channels—I’m going to be a father!" His voice vibrated with pure elation while I sat there overwhelmed, tears streaming down my face. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Uncle Dominic, can I tell everyone in the family?" Vincenzo was practically bouncing, his excitement infectious even to our usually stoic security detail.

Dominic turned to me, those deadly green eyes now dancing with joy. "What do you say, my goddess? Should we make it official through family channels, or let our little messenger here handle the announcements?"

Through my tears, I managed a smile. "Let him be our family herald!"

Vincenzo wasted no time, initiating a secure video call on the family communication network he had helped establish during our last gathering at the compound. He delivered the news with all the dramatic flair of a seasoned consigliere, panning between Dominic and me, zooming in on the test package, and providing live commentary on everyone’s reactions. It was impossible to determine who showed more excitement—Vincenzo or Dominic.

"Stop crying, my goddess," Dominic whispered, holding me against his chest. "You should be celebrating. We’re about to bring the next generation of our family into this world." He pressed his lips to my forehead. "Why didn’t you come to me immediately when you suspected?"

"Because I thought you would see it as a liability," I confessed, my voice muffled against his shoulder. "I didn’t know how to break the news. Everyone in the organization knows you never wanted the responsibility of an heir."

"That was before you changed everything for me, my goddess! With you, I want more heirs than Don Caleb himself!" His grin turned wicked.

"Don’t even joke about that, Dominic. They have multiple children. We are absolutely not having that many children," I protested, which only made him laugh harder.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a whole army," he teased, causing me to choke while everyone around us erupted in laughter.

Soon our secure phones were ringing constantly with congratulations from family associates, and before long, our compound was filled with celebration as word spread through the organization. Only after the last guest departed and we retreated to the safety of our bedroom could Dominic and I finally talk privately.

He settled against the reinforced headboard and pulled me onto his lap, his hand constantly caressing my still-flat stomach, a permanent smile transforming his usually intimidating features.

"You have no idea the depth of my happiness right now," he said, repeating the sentiment he had expressed throughout the evening.

"I was terrified about your reaction," I admitted, resting my head against his shoulder.

"I actually discussed this possibility with Xavier yesterday at the underground club," Dominic said, catching me completely off guard.

"What do you mean?"

"I told him I was feeling ready to establish a true dynasty with you. I watched a made man playing with his son in the pool, and I started envisioning myself in that role."

"Really? And here I was, convinced you would see me and our baby as targets that compromised your position."

"Never, my love. You transformed my entire worldview, Gemma. First you made me want you despite the danger, then you made me want you in my territory permanently, and now you have made me want you as the mother of my legacy."

"Dominic, when you say legacy..." I raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"My goddess, in our world, there are no limits on expanding power! It is about building an empire. We have started the bloodline, now let us build the dynasty."

I could not help but laugh at his audacity. Dominic truly had no boundaries when he set his mind on something. And if I was not careful, he might actually convince me that a whole army of little heirs was a reasonable family planning strategy.