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"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 bydawn. 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.