Free Web NovelChapter 377: Chapter 161 Snake in the Circle
Dominic’s POV
I arrived at the Social Union with Gerard and my nephew Vincenzo, members of the Thorne family organization. The guys had outdone themselves for my bachelor party, securing our private back room that doubled as a strategy meeting place when needed. Pool table for casual talks, poker setup for serious negotiations, vintage bar stocked with the finest Italian spirits, and leather sofas where we’d planned countless operations. Tonight, it was all about celebrating my last night before claiming Gemma as my mafia queen.
"Ready for your final night as a free man?" Xavier greeted me with his trademark grin, pressing a glass of our family’s imported whiskey into my hand.
Caleb approached, shaking his head with amusement. "Honestly thought you’d never settle down, Dominic. Especially after all the chaos with your old man."
That’s when I noticed their matching black t-shirts featuring a cartoon version of me in chains, with Gemma holding the key. "GAME OVER" blazed across the bottom in blood-red letters.
"Real mature for a bunch of made men," I muttered, though their loyalty warmed something in my chest that had been cold for too long.
The evening progressed with drinking games that would make civilian bartenders weep. Based on the amount of premium liquor we were downing, I’d be lucky to remember the combination to our family safe tomorrow morning.
Several drinks later, I noticed Daniel slip out to take a call from one of his police contacts. When he returned, his expression had shifted to the stone-cold mask he wore during family business. He immediately pulled Xavier aside for a hushed conversation. Something was wrong. Daniel never stepped out during celebrations unless someone was bleeding or dead.
It reminded me that Gemma had asked me to mention something to Daniel about increased security around her shop, but I’d completely forgotten in the wedding preparations. I made a mental note to discuss it before we left tonight.
Before I could act on that thought, both Daniel and Xavier approached with the kind of serious expressions that usually preceded someone getting their legs broken.
"Dominic, I need to tell you something," Daniel began carefully. "But don’t panic. Everything’s been handled by my crew." freewёbnoνel.com
My entire body went rigid. In our world, ’handled’ could mean anything from a warning to a shallow grave. "Are the girls safe?"
"They are. But Gemma received an unwelcome gift at her bachelorette party. My security team neutralized the threat immediately. The ladies don’t want their celebration interrupted because of this incident."
His careful phrasing was making my blood pressure spike. In the mafia, we didn’t speak in riddles unless the news was catastrophic. "Cut the diplomatic bullshit, Daniel. What happened?"
"Someone sent Gemma a gift box containing a venomous snake. Nobody was injured, no bites, no casualties. The women were shaken, naturally, but it’s been resolved."
I shot to my feet, the whiskey glass hitting the floor and shattering. "I’m going to her. I need to see Gemma with my own eyes."
"No, you’re not." Xavier stepped directly into my path, and I could see his hand resting casually near his concealed weapon. "Daniel’s soldiers have secured the perimeter. The women specifically requested to continue their night, and you’re not going to be the one who ruins that by charging in like some amateur street thug."
"But Xavier, someone tried to—"
"No arguments. She’s at your sister’s compound, surrounded by enough firepower to stop a small army. It was an assassination attempt that failed spectacularly."
I knew he was right. Barging into their celebration would only confirm that our enemies had successfully disrupted our lives. "Fine. You’re right."
I waited for them to become distracted by a heated poker game before slipping toward the bathroom to call Gemma privately. I needed to hear her voice, needed the confirmation that she was truly unharmed.
As I headed down the hallway, Beatrix intercepted me like a spider waiting in her web. This woman simply refused to accept that her place in my life had been permanently terminated.
"Hello, darling," she purred, her voice carrying the fake sweetness she used when plotting someone’s downfall.
"Beatrix, I’ve told you repeatedly to disappear from my sight." I tried to step around her, but she shifted to block my path like she owned the place. "Move, or I’ll have you moved."
"Dominic, you’re going to deeply regret treating me with such disrespect," she said with the kind of confidence that suggested she knew something I didn’t. "I give it mere days before you come crawling back to me for comfort."
"Crawling back for what?"
"When that pathetic little shop girl abandons you, sweetheart, you’ll remember who truly belongs in your world." The certainty in her voice was as chilling as it was delusional. frёewebnoѵēl.com
"Abandon me?" I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. "You’re completely detached from reality, Beatrix. Gemma and I are bound by blood and loyalty. We’re getting married next week, and nothing in hell or earth will stop that."
"That’s what you believe, but fate has other arrangements."
"Are you having some kind of mental breakdown? Move on with your miserable existence, Beatrix. Find some other mark who can tolerate your poison, and forget I ever existed."
"I can’t do that," she insisted, eyes gleaming with dangerous obsession. "Because I belong to you, and you belong to me. Your wedding will never happen."
The malicious certainty in her expression made everything click into place with terrifying clarity. The implications of her words, combined with the snake attack, painted a picture that made my blood run cold.
I stared at Beatrix in complete shock. Her cold smile and predatory gaze told me everything I needed to know. It wasn’t just Nick and the street-level threats I had to worry about anymore. This woman was potentially just as lethal, and she had access to our world.
I turned away from her and strode back to my brothers.
"Daniel," I called as soon as I reentered the room, my voice cutting through their conversation.
He glanced up, immediately reading the urgency in my tone. "What is it?"
"Do you have any leads on who orchestrated the snake attack?" I demanded.
"Dominic, stay calm. My investigators are pursuing several angles. The women are protected, that’s our priority."
"Daniel, it was Beatrix," I stated with absolute conviction.
His expression transformed instantly into the cold calculation of a seasoned soldier. "Explain."
"I just confronted her in the hallway. She guaranteed that my wedding won’t happen. She was completely certain about it. The snake was her opening move."
Gerard immediately guided me to a chair while the others formed a protective circle. "Breathe, plan your words, and tell us everything."
Within moments, every eye in the room was focused on me as I recounted my disturbing encounter with Beatrix and her barely concealed threats.
When I finished, Daniel nodded grimly. "It fits the profile perfectly. I’ll assign a surveillance team to monitor her movements immediately." He pulled out his encrypted phone and stepped away to coordinate with his network.
I felt ice-cold panic spreading through my chest. While we’d been focused on external threats like Nick and random street criminals, we’d completely overlooked the enemy within our own social circle. The poisoned chocolates incident months ago should have been our warning, but we’d dismissed her as merely unstable rather than truly dangerous.
Now I was certain that Beatrix wasn’t just trying to break up my relationship. She was actively trying to kill Gemma.
