Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask

Chapter 394: Chapter 178 Family Beyond Blood

Dominic’s POV

The pregnancy had turned Gemma into a powder keg these past few days. Between Beatrix’s assassination attempt and that ridiculous misunderstanding where she thought I harbored feelings for that venomous snake—absolutely laughable considering Beatrix was nothing but a weapon wielded by my enemies—Gemma had been riding an emotional rollercoaster. After a night of bloodshed and some time cleaning up loose ends, she’d finally found some semblance of peace.

I figured a walk along the private beach would settle her nerves. The gentle crash of waves and salt air had always been her sanctuary, away from the violence that defined our world. It worked like a charm—until we returned to find three unwanted parasites contaminating our living room like they belonged there. Her biological father, his pathetic wife, and that spoiled stepsister sat there with the audacity of honored guests when they were nothing more than bottom-feeders looking for scraps from our table. I felt Gemma’s body turn to steel beneath my protective arm, every muscle coiled with pure hatred.

She’d told me enough stories about this worthless excuse for a man—a spineless coward who’d never acknowledged his blood and had actually pushed for termination when her mother carried her. The tales of his calculated cruelty, how he’d only surface to torture Willow for his own twisted satisfaction, had filled me with murderous rage long before I’d met him face to face.

As he spoke, revealing his transparent hunger for whatever financial benefits our union in the Thorne organization might provide, my contempt crystallized into something far more dangerous. I despised him for shattering Gemma’s hard-won tranquility, for his pathetic opportunism, and for having the balls to show up with these two clueless bitches trailing behind him like accessories.

Gemma, fierce as the day I’d claimed her, refused to let these leeches sink their teeth in. With Zoe’s razor-sharp tongue and Ryder’s unwavering loyalty backing her up, she drew lines in blood-red ink, making it brutally clear that these parasites had no claim on her life and never would.

The moment that touched something primal in me came when she acknowledged Ryder as her true father. I’d always believed that real fatherhood was about loyalty and protection, not some accident of biology—it was about standing in the line of fire when the bullets started flying. Ryder had provided that shield while her biological father had offered nothing but abandonment.

To spare Gemma additional stress, my sister Nadia and Zoe had been working like demons all day to move our wedding ceremony to tomorrow. They’d contacted every family lieutenant, allied crew leader, and business associate personally, citing ”urgent security concerns” to explain the date change. Despite this massive undertaking, they’d still managed to arrange a peaceful evening for us—a private beach gathering complete with a roaring bonfire, tropical flowers, soothing music, and light refreshments away from prying eyes and potential threats.

As darkness claimed the beach around us, Ryder approached with that serious expression that usually meant family business.

”Dominic, I need your help with something important,” he said, his voice carrying an unusual note of vulnerability.

”Name it, Ryder,” I replied, clasping his shoulder with genuine warmth.

His request blindsided me—not because it was strange, but because it was so perfectly right yet completely unexpected. He’d need my connections within the organization to make it happen.

”What do you think?” he asked, anxiety bleeding through his usual composure.

”I think it’s fucking brilliant, but we’ll need backup,” I grinned. ”Nadia! Get over here for a family meeting.”

”What’s going on, little brother?” Nadia embraced me as she joined us. ”Ryder! What you and Gemma did today with those vultures—that was beautiful to watch.”

”Gemma’s got more heart than anyone in this cursed world,” Ryder replied, his voice thick with paternal pride. ”It’s beyond my comprehension how that bastard could treat her like garbage.”

”From everything I’ve witnessed, he’s always seen her as beneath him,” Nadia said with disgust. ”But she has you—a man of honor in a world full of snakes—and that’s what counts.”

Ryder’s weathered face lit up with fierce satisfaction at her words.

”That’s exactly why I called you over,” I explained. ”We need to orchestrate something special for sunrise tomorrow.”

”That fucking early?” Nadia questioned, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

”That early. It’s crucial,” I insisted. ”We’re going to frame tomorrow with moments she’ll never forget.”

I laid out our strategy, and Nadia could barely contain her excitement, practically vibrating with anticipation.

”Keep it quiet,” I warned, noticing Gemma blowing a kiss in my direction from across the beach. ”We don’t want to blow the surprise.”

”I won’t sleep a wink!” Nadia exclaimed. ”Ryder, this is going to be absolutely perfect!”

”You really think she’ll approve?” Ryder asked, suddenly resembling a nervous kid rather than the steel-spined man who’d helped raise a mafia princess.

”Approve? Ryder, she’s going to lose her mind with happiness,” I assured him, knowing with absolute certainty that Gemma would treasure his surprise. ”I’m making a call to set everything in motion. Cover for me with the others.”

As I walked toward the house, my phone already in hand, satisfaction warmed my chest. Tomorrow would be flawless—beginning with Ryder’s dawn surprise and culminating with our blood oath ceremony at sunset. After everything Gemma had survived in our violent world, she deserved nothing less than a day overflowing with love and family loyalty from first light to final darkness.