Chapter 350: Chapter 134 Midnight Terror Call

Gemma’s POV

I watched Dominic bolt upright in bed, his muscled frame tense as he lunged for the phone that had clattered to the hardwood floor of his penthouse. The secured line that connected directly to Thorne family communications had been ringing, but by the time he managed to grab it, whoever had been on the other end had already disconnected. My body trembled uncontrollably as he turned back to me, his powerful arms immediately encircling my shoulders in a protective embrace.

"Gemma, what exactly did you hear?" Dominic’s voice carried that familiar edge of controlled violence, though his touch remained gentle. His emerald eyes searched mine with the intensity of a man who had spent years reading threats in the shadows.

"He was laughing," I managed between ragged breaths, my chest heaving as panic coursed through my veins. "I heard that sick laugh of his."

"Who was it, baby? Do you recognize the voice?" Dominic’s grip tightened imperceptibly, and I could feel the dangerous energy radiating from him like heat from a furnace.

"It was Nick." Speaking his name aloud sent waves of nausea through my stomach. Even here, in the fortified sanctuary of Dominic’s private residence, that bottom-feeder could still reach me.

Dominic’s expression hardened into the cold mask I’d seen him wear during family business. "What did that piece of street trash say to you?"

"Nothing concrete this time. Just like the other calls—heavy breathing at first—but then came that laugh." I shuddered at the memory, knowing that sound would haunt my dreams. "I’d know that psychotic laugh anywhere, Dominic. It’s definitely Nick."

"Breathe slowly," he commanded, reaching for my personal cell phone on the nightstand. "I’m shutting this down immediately. First thing tomorrow morning, I’m briefing Daniel on this escalation. And Gemma, we’re getting you a completely new number through family channels."

I nodded frantically, relief already beginning to seep through my terror. "Yes, that sounds perfect. The sooner the better."

"Consider it handled." Dominic’s voice carried the absolute certainty of a man who commanded respect through fear and violence. He guided me back against the silk pillows with surprising tenderness. "Now I want you to get comfortable while I make you something to help you relax."

After tucking the Egyptian cotton sheets around me and pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead, Dominic disappeared from the master bedroom. When he returned, he carried an elegant silver tray bearing a steaming cup of tea and expensive imported cookies from the Italian bakery that exclusively served Thorne family establishments. Amber, Dominic’s massive German Shepherd trained for both companionship and protection, padded into the room behind him and approached the bed, nudging my arm with his cold nose. Despite everything, the dog’s gentle presence managed to coax a small smile from me.

"There’s that beautiful smile I fell in love with," Dominic said, settling the tray beside me and placing the warm porcelain cup in my hands.

The tea was perfectly prepared—lightly sweetened with just enough chamomile to calm my frayed nerves without making me drowsy. After finishing the drink and nibbling on several of the delicate cookies, I curled onto my side. Dominic slipped into bed behind me, his large frame molding against mine as he pulled me close against his chest. Surrounded by his protective warmth and the knowledge that armed guards patrolled the building’s perimeter, I finally managed to fall into a dreamless sleep. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The following afternoon, a courier from Zenith Systems delivered a brand-new encrypted smartphone to my desk at the Thorne family’s legitimate investment firm. The device had already been programmed with security protocols that would make it impossible for anyone outside the organization to trace or intercept my communications. I felt an enormous wave of relief knowing that Nick’s harassment had been effectively blocked, though one troubling question continued to gnaw at me: how had a lowlife street thug managed to obtain my private number in the first place?

Around mid-afternoon, my office door opened to reveal Lila carrying a familiar container of homemade cookies. This weekly ritual had become one of the few normal aspects of my increasingly complicated life. Every few days, she would arrive with fresh baked goods for our coffee break, giving us time to catch up away from the dangerous world I’d been drawn into.

"Gemma, I still cannot believe that worthless scumbag Nick has become such a massive threat to your safety," Lila said, her voice rising with genuine outrage as she settled into the leather chair across from my mahogany desk.

I sighed deeply, selecting a chocolate chip cookie from the container. "I know, Lila. I just don’t comprehend men who think they own women and can dictate every aspect of our lives."

"That’s classic behavior for weak, cowardly men," she replied, dunking her cookie into her espresso. "Pathetic individuals who care about nothing except having their unreasonable demands satisfied."

"It runs much deeper than simple selfishness, my friend. These toxic, controlling attitudes get passed down through generations like some kind of poisonous inheritance that society refuses to address properly."

"You’re absolutely correct about that." Lila nodded grimly, her expression darkening. "Thank God Dominic and Daniel are handling the situation with the resources they have access to. But you know what really infuriates me? Some mothers actually raise their sons to behave this way. My own mother, for example—she’s exactly the type who believes men should dominate everything and can treat women however they see fit."

I could hear the deep disappointment in Lila’s voice. Her relationship with her mother had always been troubled, but I sensed that wasn’t her only current source of stress.

"Lila, how are things progressing with Daniel?" I asked carefully, noting the tension in her shoulders.

"Still incredibly strange, honestly." She sighed heavily, her posture sagging with exhaustion. "He’s been acting more distant than usual lately, and that’s saying something."

"Have you considered having a direct conversation with him about what you’re observing?"

"I keep trying to work up the courage to confront him." Her expression crumpled slightly, and she looked at me with uncertainty clouding her eyes. "Gemma, do you think Zander would consider renting me a room in his apartment?"

The unexpected question caught me completely off guard. "Why are you asking about that possibility, Lila?"

"Because I’m starting to think Daniel wants to end our relationship, but he feels awkward about it since I’m currently living in his place. He probably assumes I have nowhere else to go—which is technically accurate at the moment, but I’ll figure out alternative arrangements."

"Don’t be ridiculous, Lila!" I reached across the desk to squeeze her hand reassuringly. "You absolutely have somewhere to go. My home is always available to you, and Zander would welcome you without hesitation. But honestly, I don’t believe Daniel wants to break up with you. The way that man looks at you doesn’t suggest someone who’s planning to end things."

"I wish I could be certain of that, Gemma." Lila’s eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. "He’s been acting so strangely. Disappearing at odd hours for mysterious meetings. I just don’t know what to think anymore."

"Lila, remember that he’s a detective working very sensitive cases. His job involves tremendous stress and dangerous situations. Maybe he’s dealing with a particularly challenging investigation that’s requiring longer hours than usual."

"Maybe you’re right," she whispered, though the doubt in her voice remained unmistakable.

I watched as tears threatened to spill from Lila’s eyes. She had invested her entire heart in her relationship with Daniel, had fallen completely in love with him despite the dangerous world he operated in, and would be devastated if things fell apart. But something deep inside me refused to believe that was happening. Daniel adored her, didn’t he? He certainly made it appear that way whenever I observed them together. Nevertheless, I remained prepared to support my friend through whatever challenges might lie ahead.