Dominic’s POV

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read those three simple words on Gemma’s card: "Make me believe." Standing in that elevator as the doors closed, I felt a surge of hope flood through me like adrenaline before a family hit. After days of coldness and rejection from the one woman who mattered more than any territory or business deal, this small gesture was everything. Those three words held more meaning than a thousand-page contract could have conveyed. They were my lifeline, my chance to reclaim what I’d lost through my own stupidity.

As soon as my unavoidable meeting with the family accountants concluded, I raced to the upscale shopping district under Thorne protection. I needed something special, something that would speak volumes about my intentions to win back the woman I’d die for. At the luxury boutique where we sourced gifts for important allies, the manager personally helped me arrange a perfect offering. Twelve delicate red rose buds were carefully positioned around a bottle of Amarula liqueur—Gemma’s favorite, which I’d memorized like intel on a rival family—with imported Belgian chocolates nestled between them. The manager secured the elegant arrangement with a silk ribbon, and I attached a card reading, "I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I can be the man worthy of your trust."

When I returned to Caleb’s legitimate front office, I placed the gift on Gemma’s desk like laying down weapons in surrender. The small smile that curved her lips and the sparkle in those dark eyes told me she remembered our night together in my safe house. I felt hope warming my chest like the satisfaction after successfully eliminating a threat.

But my fleeting moment of triumph quickly spiraled into disaster worse than a botched operation. After Ivy and Max were found safe from the kidnapping attempt, the discussion with our security team turned to Roman’s recent acquisition of a remote ranch property—land that could serve as either a safe house or a burial ground, depending on circumstances. Without thinking, I mentioned I’d been there recently with Beatrix, conducting what I’d told myself was just business. I looked up to find Gemma standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with fresh disappointment that cut deeper than any blade.

I wanted to explain that Beatrix had called me in hysteria after Gemma caught us together, begging me to escort her to the ranch where she claimed to have hidden assets from her deceased father’s estate. I wanted to tell Gemma that nothing happened between us beyond the business of recovering those items, but I had to finish briefing our security detail first about potential threats to the family. By the time I was free, I rushed to find her like a man chasing his own execution.

"Gemma, can we talk?" I pleaded, my voice carrying the desperation of a man whose empire meant nothing without her.

"No, Dominic, we can’t. I’m done!" Her voice was flat, final, like a judge pronouncing a death sentence.

"Gemma, I can explain what happened at the ranch..." I tried desperately.

"Don’t you think it would be better if you didn’t constantly need to explain yourself?" The coldness in her eyes pierced me worse than any rival’s bullet.

"Gemma, please!" I begged, my pride as a Capo crumbling like dust. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Dominic, I’m working. Now is not the time."

"I’m going to sit in that chair, Gemma, and wait until you finish your work, but I will explain myself." I settled into the reception area like a soldier maintaining position under fire, determined not to retreat without clearing the air.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse than a federal investigation, my mother appeared. She’d come to support Caleb during the crisis, but couldn’t resist taking calculated shots at me about my "complicated romantic situation" like she was discussing a failed business venture. I watched Gemma grow increasingly furious with each passing moment, her anger building like pressure before an explosion.

When I finally caught her alone on the fire escape—a location we used for sensitive conversations that couldn’t risk surveillance—I couldn’t help grabbing her arm. Touching her felt like returning to sacred ground, but the disappointment in her eyes was unbearable. For the remainder of our time at Caleb’s company, Gemma didn’t miss a single opportunity to call me a worthless piece of trash and display her anger with the precision of a skilled interrogator.

Exhausted but determined like a soldier planning his next campaign, I left with a strategy forming in my mind. Thanks to Zoe clearing my schedule for the rest of the week—rescheduling meetings with money launderers and arms dealers alike—I had time to execute the most important operation of my life: winning back Gemma. I would start at Caleb’s engagement dinner the next day and wouldn’t leave her side until she forgave me or put a bullet in my head.

True to my word, I arrived at Gemma’s apartment the following evening with a bouquet of red roses that cost more than most people’s monthly salary. The building security still had me on the approved list despite everything, so I went straight up and rang her doorbell like I was announcing my surrender.

"What are you doing here?" she frowned when she opened the door, looking like an avenging angel in her form-fitting dress.

"I came to escort you to dinner!" I flashed my most disarming smile, the one that usually worked on business associates and enemies alike.

"You wasted your time. Jude is picking me up," she said, turning her back and walking into the apartment with the confidence of someone who knew they held all the power. I followed, closing the door behind me like I was sealing my fate.

"No, he’s not, my goddess. You’re coming with me tonight." I held out the roses, which she accepted with a sigh that suggested I might not be completely beyond redemption.

"I’m only accepting these because the flowers aren’t responsible for your stupidity," she muttered, heading to the kitchen to find a vase. I trailed behind her like a loyal soldier, admiring how stunning she looked in her aqua dress that hugged every dangerous curve.

When she finished arranging the flowers in the living room with the precision of someone accustomed to creating order from chaos, I pulled her against my chest. "You’re absolutely beautiful," I whispered before capturing her lips with mine, putting everything I had into that kiss like my life depended on it.

I kissed her with all the passion and desperation of a man who’d realized too late what truly mattered, pouring all my longing and devotion into that connection. To my amazement, Gemma responded, her hands finding their way to my neck as she kissed me back with equal intensity. When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, she handed me a tissue along with her lipstick and a small mirror. After touching up her own lipstick with practiced efficiency, she looked at my confused expression.

"Clean the smeared lipstick off your mouth," she instructed with the authority of someone used to giving orders that mattered.

"Hell no! I want everyone at that dinner to know you’ve been kissing me!" I grinned foolishly, feeling like I’d just won a war.

"Clean that lipstick off if you don’t want to show up at Caleb’s engagement party looking like you lost a fight! And if you actually want me to accompany you."

My triumphant smile faded as I complied, wiping away the evidence of our kiss with the reluctance of someone destroying precious evidence. When I opened the car door for her, she reached up and cleaned a spot I’d missed, her thumb brushing the corner of my mouth with a touch that sent electricity through my entire body like a shock from a live wire.

"Now you look presentable. Come on, let’s go handle this evening," she said with newfound authority that made my blood run hot. I had to admit, I was completely addicted to this commanding side of her.

After the dinner concluded and the engagement was properly celebrated with champagne that cost more than most cars, I caught Gemma by the arm as she tried to make her escape. "No way, beautiful, you came with me, you’re leaving with me. Let’s go!" I whispered in her ear with the finality of a business decision.

I drove deeper into the exclusive complex where Caleb lived, stopping five hundred meters past his mansion in front of another impressive residence that looked like it belonged to someone with serious money and connections. I activated the garage door with a remote and pulled my car inside like we were entering a fortress.

"Oh my god, what now, Dominic?" Gemma rolled her eyes, making me laugh despite the nervousness eating at my gut like acid.

I helped her out of the car, took her hand like I was making the most important deal of my career, and led her to the front door. As I opened it and guided her inside, I hoped this gesture would convey how deeply sorry I was and how committed I was to making things right between us. But Gemma just stood frozen at the entrance, stunned into complete silence by what she saw before her.