Page 57 of Sexting the Silverfox

“You barely remember her,” Vitaly sighs. “You were so little when she passed. Audrey even more so.”

“I still see her in my mind’s eye,” I tell them. “It’s a vague picture without an actual photograph for reference.”

“Time tends to do that to people. It makes us forget,” Anton says. “Eventually, you’ll forget all of this, too. Someday, you’ll need a photograph for reference when you try to remember what Jason Winchester looks like.”

“Wow, you went straight for the heart with that one, huh?” I mutter, crossing my arms.

Anton smiles wryly. “Just telling it like it is, little sister. In my defense, I really did try to help you out.”

“I know.”

It’s past midnight, and most of the restaurant staff has gone home, except for one waiter.

I should try to get some sleep, too, but my current situation has me constantly frustrated and restless. My gilded cage is closing in around me, and there are moments when I feel like I simply can’t even breathe.

Glancing past the glass doors, I see our family’s private security detail. Six men, each of them tall, dark, and menacing. There’s a subtle yet nagging feeling pecking at the back of my neck. Something doesn’t feel right. The men stir, and a long shadow stretches into the hallway.

Vitaly’s phone buzzes. He briefly checks the screen before he answers. “Yes, let him in,” he says and hangs up, giving me a troubled look. “Arkady Abramovic is here.”

“Wait, what?” Anton mutters. “Isn’t he supposed to be in a meeting with Papa right now?”

“I thought so, too, but the guys at the door checked him for weapons. He’s clean. Says he’s just here to talk,” Vitaly replies.

As soon as the restaurant doors open, my heart stops. I freeze in my seat while my brothers get up to cautiously greet the man. I’ve seen him before. The scar on his temple. He was the one watching my apartment. He’s the one who tried to kidnap me. He had his arm around my waist. My blood runs cold as ice, and sweat blooms along my temples as I watch him casually approach our table.

“My apologies for interrupting your dinner,” Arkady says, then gives me a warm smile that makes my skin crawl. “Forgive me, Miss Fedorova.”

“For what? For stalking and trying to kidnap me? For trying to kill me the other night?” I spit out, my tone harsh as anger takes over.

“What are you doing here, Arkady?” Vitaly asks with a furrowed brow. “Where is our father?”

“Oh, he’s fine. Probably still at the Stadium, waiting for me to show up,” Arkady chuckles dryly. “It’s not him I wish to speak to. It’s you, Vitaly.”

My eldest brother seems confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Grigori is old. One foot is already in the grave. But you and I, we can do some great business together,” Arkady says. “I just want that bastard out of the way first. He’s got his boot so far up your asses; you don’t even realize what a privileged position you find yourselves in.”

“This isn’t right,” Vitaly says. “Our father should be here.”

“Hello, did anybody hear me?” I snap. “This prick tried to kidnap me!”

Anton nods once. “We’re well aware, and I’m hoping it’s one of the reasons why he is here tonight. Perhaps to apologize?”

“Are you seriously trying to be nice to him?” I croak. “Our father would never—”

“Your father isn’t here, though, is he?” Arkady hisses, giving me a hard, ill-tempered look. “For what it’s worth, I do apologize. It was never my intention to hurt you, Miss Fedorova. Only to make good use of your presence in Chicago.”

Vitaly shakes his head and proceeds to call our father. “No. Papa needs to be here.”

“Ah, I now see why the old hound still runs the family business. You two are positively spineless,” Arkady declares.

My skin tingles all over. Something wicked this way comes, and I can’t pinpoint it. I’m paralyzed, staring at Arkady as he carelessly debases my brothers while he callously smiles at me.

“If this is your way of addressing peace talks between our families, you’re off to a really bad start,” Vitaly says. “I’ve reached out with an olive branch before, and you ignored my messages. Yet when our father came into town, you went all-in, guns blazing, and now you want peace talks? What gives?”

Arkady tips his head. “I may have overplayed my hand. I’ve rarely had to deal with Grigori but my father did warn me about him before I took over, and based on the recent events, I can certainly see why I should’ve stayed in my lane.”

“That you should have,” Anton scoffs. “What did you think was going to happen once you had Audrey?”

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