Gemma’s POV

Running into Vincenzo at the upscale shopping center in Thorne territory felt like the strangest coincidence. We were heading to the same movie screening, and if Dominic had orchestrated this meeting, I would have sensed his manipulation immediately. But Vincenzo was accompanied by his girlfriend Nadia and her sister Phoebe, which seemed legitimate enough. The truly puzzling part was Hunter’s reaction when he spotted Phoebe among our group. The normally composed enforcer nearly lost his cool, and I could sense dangerous history simmering between them. Another complication in my already tangled existence within the family’s inner circle.

Despite the unexpected encounter, I genuinely enjoyed our impromptu group outing. The girls were surprisingly engaging, especially Phoebe with her bold personality and sharp wit that reminded me of the fearless women who survived in our world. It made spending time with my former lover’s nephew and a man I was potentially interested in surprisingly comfortable. Still, something felt calculated about the entire situation, like pieces moving on a chessboard I couldn’t see.

After the movie, Vincenzo insisted on collecting those financial planning materials I’d offered him during our coffee meeting at one of the family’s legitimate businesses. Hunter departed with obvious tension in his shoulders, and the teenagers followed me upstairs to my secure apartment in the family’s residential compound.

"Here are those documents, Vincenzo," I said, handing him the encrypted ledgers and money laundering guides I’d retrieved from my bedroom safe. "Now tell me what that coincidence today was really about."

"It was perfect, wasn’t it?" Vincenzo replied with an excessively enthusiastic smile that reminded me of his uncle’s dangerous charm. "Just running into each other like that in our own territory—totally random!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

I narrowed my eyes, studying his expression for tells. "Are you concealing something from me?"

"Never! But you know I conduct business at that shopping center regularly," he answered, maintaining his wide smile. His expression seemed genuine enough, though growing up as Dominic’s nephew meant he’d learned deception early.

Phoebe jumped into our conversation. "These two are something else, Gemma. I was desperate to see this movie but had nobody trustworthy to accompany me. My father finally granted permission for an outing, and since it was my invitation, Nadia agreed to come along. I’m obsessed with that actor’s previous work in those crime thrillers!"

"Girl, me too! And wasn’t the cinematography incredible?" I responded, and within a while, Phoebe and I were conversing and laughing like we’d been allies for years. Her street-smart confidence reminded me of the women who thrived in our dangerous circles.

After plenty of casual conversation about movies and fashion, I finally asked Phoebe how she knew Hunter. She explained that his cousin worked enforcement for her family’s business interests, and they’d met at the cousin’s birthday celebration in neutral territory. They went out several times, but her expression revealed lingering attachment and unresolved feelings.

"You still care for him, don’t you?" I asked, already certain of the answer from reading her body language.

"I got attached to the wrong soldier. He didn’t get attached to me," Phoebe said with a melancholic smile that carried the weight of our world’s brutal realities. "It’ll pass eventually. But whatever’s developing between you two, Gemma, it’s genuinely acceptable. Hunter is one of those men worth pursuing in our line of work, so go for it."

"Oh, Phoebe, you’re incredibly kind. But Hunter and I are simply allies," I replied, watching my potential romance with Hunter dissolve before it had even begun. Phoebe genuinely cared for him with the intensity our world demanded, while I was merely trying to move past Dominic’s devastating betrayal. It wasn’t worth causing her heartache over my own healing process.

We continued chatting until the teenagers decided to leave, but before departing, Vincenzo turned to me with that calculated Thorne family charm. "Gemma, are we still meeting Wednesday?"

"Of course, Vincenzo. We’ll visit that steakhouse in the business district. Girls, you’re obviously welcome to join us," I offered with sincere warmth.

"Oh, the gentleman didn’t extend a proper invitation to us," Phoebe teased with mock offense.

"Well, I’m inviting you now. What do you think?" I replied, and they all responded with genuine enthusiasm that felt refreshing in our world of constant suspicion.

After they left through the compound’s secure exit, I messaged our inner circle’s encrypted group chat. Ruby revealed that Vincenzo had visited the organization’s headquarters and shared lunch with Dominic earlier today, but she hadn’t mentioned anything about my outing with Hunter—just that I was attending a movie screening. So perhaps it really was a bizarre coincidence in our tightly controlled territory.

Parker shared intelligence about Hunter’s history with Phoebe through his extensive information network. Apparently, they hadn’t pursued a serious relationship because Phoebe was still completing her education, and Hunter felt they were at vastly different stages of life within the family hierarchy. He thought it better to end things before they truly began, despite his initial strong interest in her potential.

I had absolutely no desire to enter another dead-end situation involving complicated family politics and unresolved attachments. But I wanted to hear Hunter’s perspective directly. I decided to invite him to lunch the following day, sending him an encrypted message that he quickly accepted with professional courtesy.

We met at a restaurant outside Thorne territory, deliberately chosen to avoid any interference from Dominic’s extensive surveillance network that still monitored my movements.

"Gemma!" Hunter stood to greet me when I arrived, his posture reflecting the discipline of a seasoned enforcer.

"Hello, Hunter. Everything secure?"

"Yes, though our movie plans yesterday didn’t quite unfold as expected," he laughed with slight tension.

"Yes, what an extraordinary coincidence in our territory," I commented carefully. "Especially since you have history with Phoebe, correct?"

Hunter sighed heavily. "You already discovered that?"

"Yes, Parker informed me through proper channels. Phoebe’s a remarkable woman, and she only mentioned you two had something in the past. Though she still harbors feelings for you."

"Is that problematic?" he asked, looking genuinely disheartened.

"I don’t know, you tell me. I’m not interested in becoming entangled in unresolved relationships within our circle."

"I think I’m the one dealing with unresolved complications, Gemma. You have feelings for Dominic. I don’t want to become another Parker in your recovery. So perhaps we should remain professional allies." His tone carried defensive undertones that triggered my survival instincts.

I studied his expression carefully. Certainly, my separation from Dominic was recent, and the wounds were still dangerously fresh. But Hunter was being evasive, clearly not completely honest with me about his true feelings.

"You still have strong feelings for her, don’t you?" I challenged directly, and he exhaled sharply.

"Phoebe’s just completing her education, constantly socializing. I’ve moved past that stage of life in this business."

"That wasn’t my question. But you don’t need to answer."

"No, I don’t." He was obviously concealing something significant.

My secure phone screen lit up with an urgent message from Caleb summoning me back to headquarters immediately.

"We should end this conversation here, Hunter. I don’t need another man in my life who isn’t completely transparent with me," I said, standing up with finality. "But if you want my advice, don’t lose Phoebe over something trivial."

"Wait, what about lunch?" he asked as I turned to leave.

"My boss needs me back at headquarters immediately for family business. I apologize. But you’re a decent man, Hunter—call Phoebe!"

I left the restaurant convinced that Carmen was absolutely right—men really are impossibly complicated, even in our world.