Chapter 239: Chapter 23 Knife at Her Throat
Gemma’s POV
"What is it, Gemma?" Dominic’s voice cut through my frozen silence as I stared at my phone screen, the blood draining from my face.
"Nick..." The name barely escaped my lips as tremors ran through my entire body. In the Thorne family’s world, even the lowest street thugs could become deadly when cornered.
Dominic’s jaw tightened immediately, his green eyes turning ice cold. "That piece of street trash from the mall? What about him?"
"He’s inside my mother’s house with her." The tears came without warning, hot and desperate. "Dominic, I need to get in there now."
Recognition flashed across Dominic’s face, his expression shifting to the dangerous calm I’d seen him use before eliminating threats to the family. "The psychotic stalker who’s been sending death threats? Your mother actually let that bastard into her house?"
"No, absolutely not. My mother would never let him inside willingly, but somehow he managed to get in anyway." My voice cracked with helplessness. In this world of territorial wars and family vendettas, the unknown terrified me more than anything else.
Dominic’s hands found my shoulders, his touch both comforting and lethal. "Gemma, tell me exactly what your mother said on that call."
"She just said Nick was here waiting for me. That was it. Dominic, I have no idea how he broke in or what he’s doing to her right now. She’s completely alone with him." Panic was building in my chest like a rising tide. Even with Dominic’s protection, Nick had found ways to reach me through street contacts.
"Take a deep breath." Dominic pulled me closer while I remained perched on his lap in the backseat of his armored Mercedes, his arms becoming my anchor. "We’re calling the police immediately. Since you have that court order and the Thorne family has influence with law enforcement, they’ll respond fast."
I slid off his lap as Dominic speed-dialed the precinct, contacting one of the family’s assets in the police department. When we approached the front gate of my mother’s modest house, I turned to face him, fear coursing through every nerve ending.
"Dominic, you don’t have to do this. I have no clue what Nick has planned with his street connections, but you shouldn’t have to get dragged into my nightmare."
"Like hell I’m staying out here!" Dominic’s voice carried the authority of a man who controlled millions in laundered money and commanded respect from killers. "Listen to me, Gemma. You’re under Thorne family protection now. That means you’re not facing this shit alone anymore. Period."
Part of me felt overwhelming relief at having someone with Dominic’s resources and ruthlessness stand beside me, while another part dreaded pulling him deeper into this dangerous chaos. But I pushed open the gate and we stepped forward together, Dominic’s hand instinctively checking the Glock concealed beneath his jacket. As we entered the living room, my worst fears materialized before us. Nick sat casually beside my mother, a gleaming switchblade held loosely in his grip—the kind of weapon common among street thugs in rival territories.
"Well, well, future mother-in-law. Look who finally decided to come home," Nick drawled with that familiar twisted smile. But when his gaze landed on Dominic behind me, his expression turned murderous. Even bottom-feeders like him recognized the dangerous aura of a Thorne family Capo.
"How exactly did you get inside this house, Nick? Because I know damn well my mother didn’t invite you in," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady while setting my purse down on the nearest armchair.
"You’re absolutely right. She wouldn’t dare open the door for me." His voice dripped with venom as he glared at my mother. "See how she constantly interferes with us? I had to scale that pathetic little fence and climb through the back window. Lucky for me, your security is shit compared to those fancy mafia safe houses."
"This insanity ends right now!" Dominic stepped forward, his eyes locked on Nick with the cold calculation of someone who’d eliminated threats before. "Release Gemma’s mother and crawl back to whatever gutter you came from."
Nick’s attention snapped back to me with laser focus, his street instincts recognizing the power dynamic but refusing to back down. "What the fuck is this rich boy doing here?"
"Nick, he just gave me a ride home, nothing more. Please, just let my mother go," I begged, fighting to maintain composure while my heart hammered against my ribs.
"You know what, darling Gemma? After I got that ridiculous court document and heard the Thorne family was sniffing around my business, I figured I’d give you some space to cool down. I’m sure your meddling mother was behind that whole charade." Nick’s voice took on a conversational tone that made my skin crawl. "So I decided to wait patiently until you came to your senses. But then Vanessa kept calling me, telling me you were whoring around with some mafia pretty boy. And that, my dear, is completely unacceptable. I WILL NOT BE MADE A FUCKING FOOL!" His last words exploded from him.
"Nick, we ended things because you were screwing Vanessa behind my back," I shot back, knowing it was pointless but needing to buy time.
"WE NEVER BROKE UP!" he roared, spittle flying from his lips. "I simply gave you time to think clearly and realize you belong with me, not with some fucking gangster!" That sick smile returned. "But today I had Vanessa scope out that fancy mall and she found this pathetic excuse for a capo waiting for you, claiming to be your boyfriend. HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR GODDAMN MIND, GEMMA? YOU ALREADY HAVE A BOYFRIEND AND THAT’S ME!"
I summoned every ounce of strength I possessed to keep my voice level. "What exactly do you want from me, Nick?"
"Isn’t it obvious, sweet Gemma? I want you back where you belong—with me, not with these mafia scumbags." He spoke as if explaining something to a child. "Now tell this worthless piece of shit to leave us alone."
"I’m not going anywhere!" Dominic’s response was immediate and carried the weight of family authority.
"I wonder if Gemma actually wants her fancy boyfriend here." Nick pressed the knife blade against my mother’s throat, drawing a thin line of blood that made my stomach turn.
"Nick, please let my mother go. If you want to talk, fine, I’ll listen to every word. But release her first." My mother’s safety was the only thing that mattered now.
"Mother-in-law and I are getting along just fine here. Send your little mafia prince away, Gemma. My patience with you people is wearing thin," he said with deadly emphasis.
My pulse was racing out of control. "Dominic, please. You need to go."
"Absolutely not!" Dominic’s voice was defiant, but I grabbed his hand firmly.
"Dominic, look at my mother..." I directed his attention to the knife at her throat.
Dominic’s eyes met mine, and I could see him calculating angles and response times like the trained killer he was. He looked directly into my gaze and I whispered urgently, "Trust me. I know how to handle street trash."
Dominic cursed under his breath in Italian but finally left the house, though I knew he wasn’t going far. Once he was gone, I moved slowly toward the sofa where Nick waited with his twisted smile.
"There we go, Nick. He’s gone and I’m here with you. Now move that knife away from my mother’s neck." I kept my tone as calm as possible.
"I’m not so sure about that, little Gemma. Mother-in-law has never been a fan of mine, and now she’s got mafia connections. I think she’s the reason you’ve been playing these stupid games with me." Nick dragged the knife tip along my mother’s neck, leaving a shallow scratch that made her wince.
"Nick, I understand now. I’ll do anything you want. Let her leave so we can have privacy." The words tasted like poison, but I forced myself to sound seductive.
"You want to be alone with me, little Gemma? Finally missing your real man instead of those mafia killers?" My stomach churned violently. The last thing I wanted was to be alone with this monster or feel his hands on me, but I had to get my mother to safety.
"Yes, Nick. Come on, let’s go to my bedroom." I extended my hand toward him. His face lit up with that sickening grin as he lowered the knife and yanked me onto his lap.
His hands gripped my waist possessively, reeking of stale cigarettes and desperation. I looked at my mother through tears, silently mouthing for her to run while Nick pressed his disgusting lips against my neck.
My mother seized the moment of distraction. In one swift motion, she grabbed the knife from his loosened grip and pulled me away from him. Nick whirled toward her with pure hatred blazing in his eyes. At that exact moment, the police tactical unit burst through the front door, weapons drawn, and tackled him to the ground with professional efficiency.
Dominic rushed in behind them, immediately pulling me into his arms and checking me for injuries with the desperate intensity of a man who’d almost lost everything. Nick was handcuffed and dragged away while the lead officer informed us that we needed to come to the precinct to file official statements—a formality that would ensure this street-level threat never surfaced again.
