Page 179 of Sexting the Boss

And then I hear it.

Another voice. Smooth. Calm. Too calm.

“Hello, Sasha.”

I whirl around.

There’s a man standing at the edge of the clearing, just beyond the line of trees. He’s tall, built like someone who doesn’t need to raise his voice to be obeyed. Dressed in black. Not flashy, not sloppy—meticulous. Like everything about him is intentional.

Dark eyes. Closely cropped hair. A scar cutting through the left side of his jaw, subtle but unmistakable. He smiles like he’s enjoying every second of this.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” he says, taking a few slow steps forward. “And your baby.”

My stomach drops.

“I’m Lev.”

30

DAMIEN

The antiseptic stenchof the hospital clings to the back of my throat, even with the damn mask on.

Oleg’s out cold—again. Tubes in his arms. Bruises darkening across his ribs. His head wrapped like some soldier in a war we forgot we were fighting. He muttered something about soup earlier, then promptly fell asleep mid-word. A nurse said it was normal. I still don’t like it.

I sit there beside him, hands clasped, trying not to think about Sasha.

Failing, obviously.

Every hour I don’t hear from her, I feel that cold itch in my spine. The one that always shows up before something explodes.

If I ever get Lev in a room alone, there won’t be enough left of him to recognize.

My phone buzzes once in my coat pocket. I check the screen. One of my men.

“Talk,” I snap, already stepping out into the hallway.

There’s a pause, too long. Never a good sign.

“Sir,” the voice says. Hesitant. “It’s Sasha.”

I stop walking. “What about her?”

“She’s…off-grid.”

That cold feeling hits the back of my neck.

“What do you mean ‘off-grid’?”

“She was at Zaitsev Industries earlier. Stopped by to collect some paperwork. We had eyes on her until she exited the building through the side. After that—nothing.”

My throat tightens. “Nothing?”

“Her phone’s been off for over an hour. No signal. No last ping. No security cameras on any street she would’ve taken. It’s like she just…disappeared.”

A long, slow silence.

I press my free hand to the wall to keep from putting it through the glass.

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