Chapter 339: Chapter 123 Deadly Partnership
Marcus’s POV
I stared through the grimy window of Nancy’s cramped apartment while she rambled about her chance encounter with Dominic at some upscale nightclub. The thought of those two reuniting was music to my ears. Nancy was nothing more than a calculating gold-digger with expensive tastes, and Dominic remained the same naive fool he’d always been. Let her keep him distracted while I focused on claiming what I truly wanted - that exquisite woman, Gemma.
The irony wasn’t lost on me. Years ago, when Dominic first brought Nancy around the family compound, the boy was completely smitten while she was spreading her legs for half the crew behind his back. Watching him parade around like a lovesick puppy while being cuckolded was one of the few entertaining moments during my final days with the Thorne organization.
"Marcus, are you even paying attention to what I’m saying?" Nancy’s shrill voice cut through my reminiscing.
"You should definitely make another play for Dominic," I replied without turning from the window, still lost in my scheming.
"That’s exactly what I’ve been telling you this whole time!" She sounded pleased with herself. "Besides, it won’t exactly be a hardship. The man looks even better than he did when we were together."
"His bank accounts have grown substantially as well," I observed, watching her eyes light up with greed like a true mercenary.
"This is absolutely perfect!" The mention of money always got her motor running. "Though I have to admit, he seems sharper than before."
"That should worry you."
"Please. I’m not concerned in the least." Her arrogance was both grating and potentially dangerous to our plans.
"You should be. And don’t underestimate his current piece - that woman is absolutely breathtaking."
Nancy waved her hand dismissively. "I can handle any competition. First loves die hard, and I know exactly which buttons to push."
"Sweetheart, you couldn’t hold a candle to Gemma if your life depended on it. That woman is pure perfection."
"Gemma, you said?" Something in her tone shifted, becoming sharper and more focused.
"Yes, that’s her name."
"How very interesting. Do you happen to have a picture of this goddess?" There was a calculating gleam in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before.
"Check Dominic’s social media. He’s not exactly secretive about flaunting his prize."
I watched with growing curiosity as Nancy immediately pulled out her phone and began scrolling. Within moments, a slow, predatory smile spread across her face like poison seeping through water.
"Well, well, well. What an incredibly small world we live in. Lady luck is definitely smiling on us tonight!"
"Care to elaborate?" Now she had my complete attention.
"You remember that man I’ve been visiting upstate? The one doing hard time for assault? Turns out your precious Gemma is his ex-girlfriend. And baby, he wants that bitch dead in the worst possible way!"
"Is that so? How wonderfully convenient." My mind immediately began calculating the possibilities. "Though killing a woman of her caliber seems like such a waste. Better to thoroughly enjoy her first, then dispose of her when the novelty wears off." A delicious thought crossed my mind - perhaps this prison connection could eliminate Dominic as well. Two birds with one stone, leaving me to inherit everything as the grieving father figure.
"Oh, that’s exactly what he has planned. Trust me, either way, that little princess isn’t getting her happily ever after."
"And what exactly is your cut in this arrangement?"
"Listen here, my king, I think we need to form a partnership with Nick. Everyone walks away with exactly what they want." Now she was speaking my language. "Plus, I want to have some quality time with Miss Perfect myself."
"I’m sure you two psychopaths can work out the details."
"When exactly does your boyfriend get released?"
"Soon enough. But I’m going to start laying the groundwork immediately. I’ll reel Dominic back in and pay sweet little Gemma a friendly social call."
"Nancy, don’t let overconfidence be your downfall. Dominic won’t be the same pushover he used to be."
"I know exactly what I’m doing, Marcus. Trust me."
"If you say so." Something told me this particular snake would find Dominic much harder to charm this time around. "Do you happen to have Gemma’s phone number?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
"Hand it over. Nick can start his psychological warfare from behind bars. The clever bastard managed to get his hands on a cell phone inside."
"Your prison pen pal isn’t completely stupid," I remarked as she rolled her eyes and scribbled down Gemma’s number on a napkin.
"Now make yourself useful and fix me a sandwich. All this plotting has made me hungry," I commanded, settling back into her worn couch like I owned the place.
"Hungry? Handle it your damn self. You’ve got two working hands, and I’m certainly not your personal servant. You’re already pushing your luck by crashing in my apartment rent-free," Nancy snapped back with venom.
"That’s precisely why you should be a gracious hostess and take care of your guest."
"Gracious hostess, my ass! Don’t think for one second that you can turn me into your personal maid. If you want food, get up and make it yourself."
"You do realize you’re absolutely insufferable, don’t you?" I said, reluctantly hauling myself up from the couch.
"Absolutely. But without this insufferable woman, you’d be sleeping in some cardboard box after getting permanently ’invited to leave’ that five-star hotel when your credit cards got declined."
I trudged toward her pathetic excuse for a kitchen, already wondering if this prison connection might be useful for eliminating Nancy as well once she outlived her usefulness. The woman was becoming far too mouthy for her own good, and frankly, she wasn’t nearly as indispensable as she believed herself to be.
