Dominic’s POV

This weekend with Gemma was everything I never knew I needed. Pure bliss consumed me as we explored every inch of that private yacht anchored in international waters, our bodies finding each other in ways that left me breathless. The crystal-clear waters surrounding us became our playground, and every surface of that boat held memories I would treasure forever. That yacht had already impressed me, but now it held a sacred place in my heart as our sanctuary away from the blood-soaked streets.

Sunday evening, she stayed at my heavily fortified penthouse. I presented her with the designer makeup collection and silk lingerie I had selected from the family’s high-end smuggling connections. Her eyes lit up with genuine appreciation, though she playfully scolded me about the extravagant gifts. I confessed the lingerie was purely selfish - I wanted the pleasure of removing it from her perfect body myself.

When I dropped Gemma at Thorne’s legitimate front office Monday morning, she radiated this incredible energy that made my chest tighten with pride. Her skin glowed, her smile was infectious, and she moved with the confidence of a woman thoroughly satisfied and completely protected. I felt invincible. Nothing had felt this right in years. Every moment with Gemma became the highlight of my existence in this violent underworld.

The armored elevator ride to my operations floor filled me with unstoppable energy. Zoe stepped in on the fifteenth floor, and I could barely contain my enthusiasm despite the bulletproof glass and surveillance cameras surrounding us.

"Good morning, gorgeous!" I planted a kiss on her cheek, grinning like a teenager who had just survived his first hit.

"Well, well, Frost! That ridiculous smile plastered across your face tells me everything I need to know about your weekend activities." She raised an eyebrow knowingly. "Gemma really took care of you, didn’t she?"

My laughter echoed through the reinforced space. "Zoe, you’re absolutely priceless! But yes, Gemma is incredible in every possible way!"

"I can see that written all over your face." Her mocking smile made me laugh harder. "But come back to reality because today is going to be brutal, and I have important intelligence."

"Bring on the warfare! I’m ready for anything today!"

"I love when powerful capos submit to me!" She winked, sending me into another fit of laughter.

"Tell me your prince is just as obedient, Zoe."

"My prince, just like you, little Dominic, knows exactly who runs the show in our relationship." Her mischievous grin was infectious. "Now focus! You completely ignored me when I mentioned intelligence."

"Please tell me it’s something good, Zoe!"

"It’s absolutely perfect. Guess who escaped from hell?"

"No way! Did Ivy forgive Thorne?"

"Exactly! So boss, yours wasn’t the only incredible weekend happening."

"That’s absolutely fantastic! I’m thrilled for them, Zo. Caleb and Ivy deserve happiness after everything they’ve survived in this blood-soaked business. Though I suppose I’m losing my best intelligence asset, aren’t I?"

"Possibly. She hasn’t made her final decision about staying with the family operations yet."

"I don’t care. Their happiness is worth more than any territorial arrangement."

Mia was frantically pacing outside the elevator when we arrived, her hand hovering near her concealed weapon. Her nervous energy immediately dampened my mood.

"Oh damn, Mia! Every time you pace like that with your gun hand twitching, disaster follows. Don’t destroy my perfect Monday morning - this weekend was too good to ruin," I said, already dreading whatever news she carried.

"Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but I’m not the one destroying your day. I’m just the messenger," Mia warned with that familiar expression she wore when discussing family betrayals.

"What has my exiled father done this time, Mia?" I recognized that look - the one she wore whenever discussing my worthless, banished father.

"He’s been waiting in your operations center for a short while, Dominic. Arrived with that arrogant attitude and superiority complex you know so well. You know I can’t legally stop a blood relative from entering, even a disgraced one." Mia’s disgust was palpable.

"I understand, Mia." I sighed and turned to Zoe. "He’s going to be inappropriate and disgusting toward you, so feel free to inflict serious damage if necessary. Family exile doesn’t protect him from consequences."

"Don’t worry, Frost. I’ve got this handled!" Zoe’s confidence was reassuring.

I entered my operations center to find Marcus sitting behind my command desk like he still held rank in the family. The same desk he hadn’t earned the right to occupy since his disgraceful exile. If his reckless betrayals had continued, we would have lost everything to rival families.

"Look what finally showed up - the little boy decided to grace us with his presence," he spoke with that condescending tone that made my blood boil.

"I stopped being a boy the day you were exiled. Get away from my desk immediately!" My voice was ice-cold.

"Watch your tone with me, boy! Everything you have exists because of my bloodline."

"Actually, father, if the family had kept you in power, my mother, sister, and I would be dead in some rival family’s warehouse!"

When my parents divorced, I assumed control of his territory. After my grandfather’s assassination, the family council voted to exile Marcus completely from operations. His reckless spending and massive resource drains were destroying everything we had built through blood and violence.

"Show some respect!" He slammed his fist against the desk, standing aggressively.

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

"I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks, and you ignore every attempt."

"I’m running a criminal empire. State your purpose."

"I need more money. What you’re sending isn’t sufficient for my lifestyle anymore. And I want exclusive access to the family aircraft next month - I’m taking my girlfriend on a European tour. I’ll provide your assistant with a list of five-star hotels for reservations." He delivered these demands like a don addressing subordinates.

"The money I provide allows you to live luxuriously in exile. Forget about the aircraft - it’s for legitimate family operations, not your entertainment. And never give orders to my soldiers again."

"Listen carefully, Dominic. I’m your father, and I’m not asking - I’m telling you!" His voice rose dangerously.

"And I’m telling you not one additional cent! I don’t obey you, and I certainly don’t respect you!" I shouted directly in his face.

"Dominic, should I call the soldiers?" Zoe and Mia appeared at the doorway, hands near their weapons.

"Well! Is this your new intelligence officer? Are you sleeping with this one too?" Marcus’s disgusting gaze traveled over Zoe like she was merchandise.

"Don’t you dare! If you have no respect for women, at least respect your allies," I warned, but he was already moving toward Zoe.

"You’re quite attractive," Marcus said, reaching toward Zoe’s face with his filthy hands.

Before he could touch her, she grabbed his wrist and drove her knee into his groin with devastating force. He collapsed to the floor, clutching himself and screaming in agony.

"Don’t you dare touch me with your disgusting hands, you pathetic exile!" Zoe leaned down and screamed in his face. She stood up, flipped her hair back, and delivered the final blow: "Oh, and by the way, I’m Zoe Miller! I’ll be sure to tell my father, Don Robert, exactly what kind of scumbag violates family alliances."

"You idiot, you hired Miller’s daughter?" Marcus gasped through gritted teeth.

"Get up and get out of my territory," I said with complete disgust. "And do me one favor - pretend I don’t exist. Your monthly exile allowance will continue, but don’t ever come looking for me again."

Pure hatred blazed in Marcus’s eyes. We had never gotten along, but after his exile, our relationship deteriorated beyond repair. I couldn’t tolerate him anymore. The fact that he was my biological father meant absolutely nothing to me - I didn’t romanticize blood relations in this business. I only continued supporting him because of my sister. Nadia had been devastated by the family scandal, having adored her father, and despite knowing his true nature now, she still harbored affection for him.

He struggled to his feet and took two threatening steps toward me. I lost what little composure remained.

"GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW!" I roared at him. "Or I’m calling armed soldiers to remove you forcibly."

"This isn’t finished, Dominic," Marcus glared at me one final time before limping out.

I immediately called family security and banned him permanently from all family territories. Zoe left briefly, and Mia sat across from me.

"Boy, it was past time you removed that toxic man from your operations. He’s poison for the family," Mia said, and I squeezed her hand, agreeing completely.

"Frost, it’s not Gemma’s special tea, but it’ll help calm your nerves after family drama," Zoe returned with a steaming cup, making me smile despite everything.

"You’re absolutely impossible, you crazy woman!" I thanked her and drank the soothing tea. "Are you going to tell your father what happened here?"

"Absolutely. I won’t have that exile anywhere near my mother or our family operations," Zoe said firmly.

"Good. Your father knows his character, but he’s getting worse every day. He doesn’t deserve a noble ally like Don Robert." I supported her decision completely, though I would speak to Miller personally. What my worthless exiled father did was completely unacceptable and disrespectful to family alliances.