Page 35 of Sexting the Silverfox Daddy

Gennady

Three in the morning. The door hinges screamed through the dead silence.

Dimitri burst in, wrapped in cold air, his face darker than the night outside.

He went straight to the Chicago map pinned on the wall, jabbing his finger hard at the dense red dots, voice like sandpaper scraping rough wood.

"Boss, we've turned over everything. Abandoned factories, blind spots at the docks, alleys even rats won't touch. All empty."

I sank deep into my chair, the weight of my head nearly crushing my propped elbows. Twelve hours. Every minute since Cassie vanished was like a dull knife scraping at my heart. My throat was dry as dust, words coming out torn. "The scene, tell me again."

"Signs of struggle and blood near the apartment, plus Vincent's car. Empty." Dimitri's voice dropped lower, heavy with regret. "Four men, including Marco—like Chicago swallowed them whole. Everyone we can mobilize, plus police contacts, nothing."

His gaze swept over those glaring red dots, finally landing on me. "Boss, every mark is a place our people searched, but—"

"Nothing." I finished for him. Those words stabbed into my lungs like ice picks, every breath tasting of blood and pain. My knuckles went white from clenching, nails nearly breaking skin.

"What about Ginnie? She crack yet?"

Dimitri's voice dropped even lower. "Passed out once, but still won't say shit."

Ice-cold killing intent shot straight to my head.

Twelve hours ago, the second the news came, that fake face was burned into my brain.

Basement. Chair. Ropes. Used methods, but she just wailed, swearing she had nothing to do with Marco.

That painted face twisted up, tears mixing with sweat and blood running down, nothing but "I don't know" and "I'm innocent" coming out. Stubborn as hell.

My phone shrieked suddenly. Unknown number. My heart clenched like an invisible fist grabbed it. I answered.

"Gennady Sokolov, my dear enemy." Marco's voice slithered into my ear, dripping with sick, slimy pleasure. "Missing your little 'розочка' already?"

Blood rushed to my temples, ears ringing. "Where is she?"

"What's the rush? Don't you care about your missing dogs?

" He let out an owl-like cackle. "Vincent—Ginnie told me he was the weak link.

Poor bastard, his kid's getting dragged to death by leukemia.

Just took a little cash to trade for your woman's location.

Look at your loyal man! How fucking hilarious!

Then," He paused deliberately, savoring my silence.

"Bang! Problem solved. That's what traitors get. No need to thank me."

My knuckles cracked under the strain. So that's how. Cassie hid so carefully, but the fortress was eaten through from inside.

"Fuck you." Every word scraped out like ice shards between clenched teeth.

"The other three had harder bones, shame it didn't help. Now? The fish in Lake Chicago are having a feast." His casual tone, like discussing thrown-out garbage.

Molten rage surged through my veins, nearly bursting through my skin. I bit down hard on my back teeth, tasting rust, forcing my voice steady. "What do you want?"

"Simple." His voice shot up suddenly, greedy and excited. "Chicago! Every territory, every business, all the power in your hands—hand it all over!"

"Let her go, we can negotiate terms." I tried grasping at any chance to bargain.

Sharp laughter nearly pierced my eardrums. "What gives you the right to negotiate with me, Gennady! You haven't heard the best part yet! Guess what surprise your little lover brought you?"

My heart plummeted. "Speak clearly!"

"She's pregnant." That voice exploded with vicious glee, every word a poisoned needle. "That's right. You're gonna be a daddy. Sokolov blood, right in my hands."

Like a bomb detonating in my skull. The world went silent except for a sharp ringing.

Pregnant? Cassie is carrying my child?

Countless fragments exploded in my chaotic mind—her recent pallor, the way she frowned at food, that exhaustion she couldn't hide, her hand unconsciously touching her stomach, and when she left, in those eyes full of brokenness and determination, that deep-buried pain.

Fuck! Fucking hell! Why didn't I see it? Why didn't I catch those clues? She carried this massive secret, suffering alone, and I, I was fucking blind!

"Seems you really didn't know." Marco's voice dripped with sadistic pleasure. "Your woman suffered so much to keep this secret. Rather run away than tell you! Such great motherly love, huh?"

My heart took a sledgehammer hit, pain nearly suffocating me.

She knew all along! While learning the truth about her father's death, drowning in that pain, she still wanted to protect our child.

And me? When she needed support most, needed to share the burden, I didn't even notice anything wrong!

Guilt crashed over me like an ice-cold tide, drowning me, too heavy to breathe.

A weak, trembling sob came through the phone. "Gennady, don't come, please..."

"Shut up, bitch!" Marco's roar exploded, followed by a crisp, vicious sound of flesh hitting flesh—SLAP! So clear it might as well have exploded in my ear!

I heard her painful, muffled groan.

"Cassie!" My scream tore from my throat, blood instantly freezing then boiling over. "Marco! You touch her again—I swear! I'll break every fucking bone in your body! Let you live to feel what real hell means!"

That sound burned into my heart like a red-hot brand. She was so weak, scared to death, but still worried about me! Still trying to push me away! And right now, she just got hit for me!

Just then, a colder, darker memory lightning-struck through my mind—

Isabella.

Same desperate late night, same cold threatening phone call, same woman I loved, in enemy hands. Back then, I was young, arrogant, and thought fists and bullets could solve everything.

The result? I lost everything. All of it.

No! Can't repeat that mistake! Can't let history replay with her! I bit down hard on my back teeth, the heavy taste of blood filling my mouth, forcing that burn-everything killing intent deep into my bones. Now, had to stay calm.

"You have six hours." Marco's voice carried excitement and violence triggered by my threat, barely suppressed. "Answer by dawn. Otherwise, get ready to collect your woman's corpse. Oh, don't forget the one in her belly?" He added viciously. Cassie's suppressed, painful gasps came through the phone.

Dial tone. I stood frozen, feeling the floor spinning wildly beneath me.

Cassie was pregnant. Our child was in that lunatic's hands!

And I almost... almost lost the chance to ever know.

That slap's crisp sound still echoed in my ears, mixed with Cassie's painful sobs, like countless needles stabbing my nerves.

Dimitri stood beside me, face grave, obviously having heard everything. The air hung heavy with silence and lingering killing intent.

"Marco showed himself." My voice was unnaturally calm, calm like frozen wasteland before a blizzard, only the depths of my eyes churning with man-eating storms. "Ginnie's useless now."

I turned, every step landing on heavy echoes, heading for the basement. Dimitri silently followed.

The iron door opened, thick smell of blood and despair hitting us. Ginnie was tied to the chair, her once-pretty face swollen beyond recognition, blood and tears smeared together. Seeing me, the last light in her eyes died, leaving only bottomless fear.

"Gennady." Her voice was barely there, choked with tears. "I really don't know anything."

"Doesn't matter anymore." I calmly drew the gun from my waist, the cold metal touch strangely focusing my chaotic thoughts. "Marco told me himself."

Her face instantly drained of all color, lips trembling. "Wh-what?"

"Meaning," I raised my arm, gun barrel steady on her heart, "your show's over."

"No—!" She burst into a dying scream, body thrashing wildly. "Don't! Please! Let me explain! He forced me! Marco threatened me! He—"

"Too late." My voice held no ripples, finger on the trigger steady as stone. "You chose this road yourself."

"Please! I was wrong! Give me another chance! I swear! I'll never touch a hair on Cassie's head again!" Her cries were heart-rending.

"You're out of chances." My finger squeezed.

The gunshot exploded in the tight space, deafening. Her body jerked once, then slumped softly, the terror in her eyes frozen forever.

"Boss." Dimitri's voice came from behind, tight with urgency. "I've got people tracking Marco's phone satellite location. Next—"

"Next," I holstered the gun, gunpowder smell choking, turning to leave, voice cold as iron, "gather everyone. We're getting Cassie back."

The war room air was taut as a bowstring. Core members stood at attention, eyes focused on me. The huge Chicago map was the only backdrop.

"Marco made his move." I stood before the map, voice not loud but crushing. "He took Cassie, killed four of our men. Now it's our turn." My finger slammed the map hard. "Find him! Dig three feet underground if you have to!"

"Boss, your orders?" Alex asked in a low voice.

"Alex, East End, all entry and exit points—seal them. Not even a rat gets out. Dimitri, the port, watch every ship movement. Nikolai, tell those cops on our payroll—tonight, Chicago is my hunting ground. Nobody gets in the way." Orders came crisp and cold.

"Boss, Marco's demands-" Dimitri frowned deeply.

I looked at the spiderweb of streets on the map, mind racing through scenarios. "He never wanted Chicago from the start." I looked up, gaze like a tempered blade. "He wants my life, dragging Cassie and the baby to hell with him."

"The guys are all ready, we can surround him anytime! He's got no men left; we can take care of this bastard." Fire burned in Dimitri's eyes.