Chapter 297: Chapter 81 Burning All Bridges

Gemma’s POV

I couldn’t bring myself to join the girls at Ivy’s safe house tonight. My mood was so dark that I fabricated an excuse about a splitting headache. The last thing I wanted was to cast shadows over their gathering, especially with Ivy carrying the next generation of Thorne blood and needing all the positive energy she could get.

So here I was, barricaded alone in my fortified apartment with takeout and a book I couldn’t concentrate on. The weekend with my mother and Ryder at the secure compound had been perfect, and seeing Zander again felt like breathing fresh air in this suffocating underworld. Just as thoughts of the good doctor drifted through my mind, my encrypted phone rang, bringing the first genuine smile to my face in days.

"You just can’t stay away from me," I answered playfully, recognizing the scrambled number.

"Beautiful auntie! You’re absolutely right, I can’t. I adore you and I’ve been going crazy missing you," Vincenzo replied in that characteristic whining tone that never failed to make me laugh. As Dominic’s nephew and the family’s youngest soldier, he had a gift for lightening even the darkest moods. "Besides, you still owe me that trip to Speedway, remember? The one where we pretend to be normal people eating burgers."

"The vintage car diner? Don’t tell me the great Vincenzo hasn’t been there yet," I said, vaguely recalling our plans to visit the retro establishment that served as neutral territory for the city’s various factions.

"I was supposed to go with this gorgeous woman named Gemma, but she’s been avoiding all my calls," he said with exaggerated wounded pride that made me actually laugh out loud.

"Well, she’s an idiot to miss out on a date with the most charming soldier in Port Serenity," I teased back, and Vincenzo’s delighted laughter filled the secure line.

"How about midweek evening?" he suggested, and I could hear the hope in his voice.

"That sounds perfect," I agreed, realizing how desperately I missed his uncomplicated company in this world of blood and betrayal.

"Bring Zander along. He seems like solid people," Vincenzo added, and I detected the curiosity behind his casual suggestion. The family always vetted anyone who got close to their inner circle.

"I’ll definitely ask him. He loves these nostalgic places, assuming he’s not pulling another extended shift at the trauma center," I replied, knowing Zander’s dedication to his emergency room patients often kept him away for days.

"Christ, don’t tell me this guy isn’t just gorgeous and decent, but he actually saves lives too," Vincenzo groaned dramatically.

"Yes, sweetheart, he’s an emergency room physician."

"Madonna mia!" Vincenzo’s amazement was almost comical. "Does this saint have any flaws whatsoever? Please tell me he’s not completely perfect, because that would just be unfair to the rest of us mortals."

"Vincenzo, he’s not perfect, but he comes pretty damn close," I admitted with a small smile.

"I can’t repeat what I’m thinking right now because my mom would wash my mouth out with lye soap," Vincenzo said, making me laugh again. The kid had an incredible talent for pulling me back from the edge.

"I’ll extend the invitation. I’m certain you two will hit it off beautifully."

"Then I’ll collect you at seven sharp," he confirmed before we exchanged goodbyes.

After ending the call, I felt marginally human again. Vincenzo always managed that small miracle. I made a mental note to contact Zander tomorrow, knowing he was currently covering the night shift at Port General’s trauma unit.

I was still smiling softly when my burner phone chimed with a message from an untraceable number. The moment I opened it, my improved spirits crashed and burned. It was a photograph of Beatrix draped all over Dominic at what appeared to be a restaurant. Finn was visible beside them, his arm still casted from the vicious beating he’d received for crossing Thorne territory.

The brutal reality slammed into me like a physical blow: Dominic had returned from his business trip to Chicago, had time to wine and dine that venomous snake, but couldn’t be bothered to send me so much as a single message. The arrogance was staggering.

Tears blurred my vision as rage and heartbreak warred in my chest. Through the haze of betrayal, my phone rang again, and I answered without checking the encrypted display.

"Gorgeous Gemma," purred a familiar voice that made my blood freeze in my veins.

"Who is this?" I demanded, though I already knew and was wiping away angry tears.

"Darling girl, have you forgotten your old friend so quickly? It’s Marcus Frost. I want to take you to dinner, and I absolutely will not accept any refusal."

My blood transformed to liquid fire. This bastard was the poisonous root of every nightmare in my life.

"Listen carefully, you piece of trash. Forget I exist," I snarled, terminating the call and hurling the phone across the room. My evening was completely destroyed.

After another sleepless night spent watching shadows and jumping at every sound, I dragged myself to the Thorne family’s legitimate front offices, relying heavily on concealer to mask the dark circles shadowing my eyes. The moment I stepped off the elevator, the receptionist informed me that Don Caleb was waiting in the executive conference room. Dread settled like ice in my stomach.

When I reached the top floor, I discovered the entire inner circle assembled in the reception area, including Daniel. Their expressions were grave, almost accusatory, and the atmosphere crackled with barely contained tension.

"What’s happened?" I asked, my voice barely steady.

"That’s precisely what I should be asking you, Gemma," Caleb replied with steel in his tone. His dark eyes held the cold fury that made grown men confess their sins. "When exactly were you planning to inform us that your ex-boyfriend is issuing death threats against you?"

My knees nearly buckled. My streak of catastrophic luck was apparently nowhere near finished.

"Everyone, I discussed this with the girls. I honestly didn’t think it was necessary to brief the entire command structure," I attempted to explain, but even to my own ears it sounded pathetically weak.

"Yeah, well it seems your little sorority decided to withhold crucial intelligence, Gemma," Daniel said loudly, his cop instincts and protective fury making his voice carry. "Including the fact that this psychotic street trash is threatening Lila as well as you."

I looked around the room at these dangerous, powerful people who’d become my unlikely family. Every face reflected tension and barely leashed violence. The hostile atmosphere was unmistakable, and I felt cornered like prey.

"Ah, so that’s what this is really about," I said, finally understanding the true source of their anger. Daniel was terrified for Lila’s safety, and the others feared for their women. "Listen, Daniel, I sincerely apologize. I warned Lila about Nick when you two first got involved. I assumed she would brief you herself. I swear I won’t let her or any of the other women be endangered by my baggage."

"Oh really, Gemma? And exactly how do you propose to accomplish that miracle?" Daniel’s tone could have cut glass.

"Enough, Daniel!" Lila interjected sharply, stepping between us like a shield. "Actually, all of you need to back off right now! Gemma, come on, let’s get some air."

I was exhausted, emotionally shattered, and this morning’s inquisition felt like the final nail in my coffin. I closed my eyes and drew a shuddering breath.

"You know what, you’re all absolutely right," I said, feeling the crushing weight of their judgment pressing down on me. "Lila, thank you for defending me, but we won’t be getting that air. Caleb, I’m eternally grateful for the sanctuary you provided me, but I’m going straight to HR to submit my immediate resignation. I’ll clear out today. It’s better for everyone if I remove myself from the equation entirely. Don’t worry—I’ll make certain Nick understands I no longer have any connection to any of you."

I stood and walked toward the elevator with as much dignity as I could muster, before the tears could start falling and humiliate me further.

"Gemma, get your ass back here right now!" Daniel bellowed after me, but I didn’t stop. I stepped into the elevator and jabbed the button with a trembling finger.

"What the hell just happened?" I heard Caleb’s bewildered voice just as the doors sealed shut, cutting me off from the only family I’d ever truly known.

I went directly to Human Resources and submitted my immediate resignation from Thorne Enterprises. The process was brutally efficient—they scheduled my final paycheck for pickup in a couple days. As I walked out of the gleaming lobby for the last time, tears began streaming down my face unchecked. I was completely alone now, but at least Nick couldn’t use me to hurt anyone I loved.

I took a cab back to my apartment and instructed the doorman to tell any visitors I was unavailable. Once safely inside my sanctuary, I engaged every lock, powered down my phones, took a scalding shower, and collapsed into bed fully clothed. I had absolutely no idea what my next move would be, but for today, all I could manage was to lie there and let the tears fall until I had nothing left inside.