Chapter 240: Chapter 24 Cold Familiar Eyes

Gemma’s POV

After spending hours at the Thorne family compound, we were finally released into the night. Dominic drove us home through the empty streets, his hands gripping the steering wheel with visible tension. Nick was still being held in the family’s underground detention facility, but one of the guards had pulled me aside with news that made my stomach drop.

"Street punk, no real connections, and his crew’s too weak to retaliate," he’d said with a shrug. "Boss will probably just break his legs and dump him outside city limits with a warning."

The thought of Nick back on the streets made my skin crawl. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Willow, I wish we could have met under better circumstances," Dominic said as we reached our front gate, his voice carrying genuine regret.

"So do I, but thank you for being there for Gemma tonight," my mother replied, her voice still shaky from everything that had happened. "Would you like to come inside for some coffee?"

"That’s kind of you, but you both need rest. How about we plan that dinner when you get back from your business trip? I’d like to properly introduce myself when we’re not dealing with family enforcement and interrogations." Dominic’s smile was warm despite the exhaustion etched around his eyes.

"I’d like that very much," my mother said, shaking his hand before heading toward the house.

"How are you holding up?" Dominic asked, his fingers gently tracing the line of my jaw as he studied my face in the porch light.

"I’m trying to stay strong. At least I can breathe a little easier knowing he’s locked up in the compound, even if it won’t be for long." The words came out more bitter than I intended.

"Get some sleep. I’ll pick you up tomorrow after I handle some family business." His thumb brushed across my cheekbone before he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to my lips.

After Dominic left, I hugged my mother tightly and took the longest, hottest shower of my life, trying to wash away the memory of Nick’s hands on me. But when I finally collapsed into bed, sleep brought no peace. My dreams were filled with flashing knives and cold eyes, and I woke up several times in a cold sweat.

The smell of fresh coffee drew me to the kitchen the next morning, where my mother was already dressed and ready for her day.

"You look terrible, sweetheart," she said, pouring coffee into my favorite mug. "Bad night?"

"The worst. I kept seeing his face every time I closed my eyes." I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, seeking comfort in its heat.

"I didn’t sleep much either. Listen, I’m leaving for Portland this afternoon and won’t be back until Saturday. You’re staying at Dominic’s penthouse, and he seems like a good man, but promise me something."

"What?"

"If you feel uncomfortable there for any reason, call Lila. She’d take you in without question, you know that."

"I promise, Mom. If I need to leave Dominic’s, I’ll go to Lila’s."

"Good. And Dorian will have his people checking on the house while I’m gone, so don’t come here alone. I don’t want you anywhere near this place by yourself."

I nodded, understanding her fear because I felt it too.

"There’s something else I need to tell you," she continued, her voice taking on a serious tone.

"What now?"

"As soon as I get back from this trip, I’m putting the house on the market. We’re going to find a secure apartment building with proper security and surveillance systems."

My heart sank. "Mom, I love this house. It’s been our home for so long. Do you really think an apartment will be better?"

"Gemma, that psychopath climbed over our fence and put a knife to my throat in our own kitchen. We need security systems, locked entrances, people watching who comes and goes. We’re two women living alone in territory where rival crews might try to get to Dominic through us."

The logic was sound, even if it broke my heart. "If that’s what you think is best, then okay."

"Thank you for understanding. Now go pack your things, and let’s have lunch at the mall before I drop you at the boutique."

I gathered my belongings and texted Dominic about my lunch plans. His response was immediate, assuring me he’d send one of his soldiers to watch over me during my break.

When I arrived at the boutique for my evening shift, I barely had time to put my purse away before Vanessa cornered me in the stockroom. Her eyes were red and wild, her usual composure completely shattered.

"What did you do to Nick, you manipulative bitch?" she snarled, blocking my path to the door.

I tried to walk around her, but she stepped in front of me again. "Move, Vanessa. I’m not in the mood for your drama today."

"Tell me what you did to get him taken by the Thorne family! I know you set him up somehow. Nick would never hurt anyone!" Her voice was getting higher, more frantic.

"Listen carefully, you pathetic wannabe," I said, my voice deadly calm. "Your precious Nick is being held in a family compound where he belongs. If you want to visit him, good luck getting past their security. But stay the hell away from me."

"Don’t talk to me like that!" She jabbed her finger toward my face, and something inside me snapped.

"Get that finger out of my face before I break it," I warned. "You want to know what happened? Fine. You filled that psychopath’s head with so much poison about me that he came to my house and held a knife to my mother’s throat. My mother, Vanessa. An innocent woman who never did anything to anyone."

"You’re lying! Nick wouldn’t do that. You must have provoked him somehow." Tears were streaming down her face, but I felt no sympathy.

"I provoked him? Dominic’s family has protection orders that require him to stay away from their territory. Did you know that when you kept calling him, feeding him stories about my love life? He told me everything, Vanessa. How you kept pushing him, telling him he needed to fight for me."

"He deserved to know what kind of whore you really are!" she screamed.

"Don’t you dare!" My control finally snapped. "You want Nick so badly? He’s all yours. Go find him when the family dumps him outside the city limits - assuming he can still walk."

I pushed past her and walked into the main store, my hands shaking with rage. The afternoon shipment had arrived, and beautiful new dresses and shoes were waiting to be displayed. I called my regular clients, the college girls who always brightened my day, and told them to come see the new pieces.

They arrived just as the store was getting busy, and I watched with satisfaction as they immediately put Vanessa in her place when she tried to steal my customers. I was pulling out shoes to match the dresses they were trying on when I bent down behind the counter.

When I stood up, my blood turned to ice.

Standing in the store entrance, staring directly at me with those cold, familiar eyes, was Nick.