Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Chapter 169 Branded by Chains

Ivy’s POV

After endless embraces from the family soldiers and capos who expressed their relief that Max and I had survived the kidnapping, Xavier escorted me toward his private office in the Thorne compound.

I carefully placed Max, who was sleeping deeply from exhaustion, onto one of the reinforced beds that Xavier kept in his office for emergency situations. As I pulled the heavy blanket up to cover him, my eyes caught something that made my blood run cold. A dark, rope-burned mark encircled his tiny right ankle like a brand of the nightmare we had endured.

"Xavier, what is this mark on Max’s ankle?" My voice shook as I traced the air above the horrible evidence, afraid to touch what looked like proof of unspeakable cruelty inflicted on my baby.

Xavier’s expression turned murderous as he approached our sleeping son. His scarred hands hovered over the mark with infinite gentleness, as if his touch could somehow erase the memory of what those animals had done. He drew in a ragged breath, tucked the blanket more securely around Max, and pressed a tender kiss to his forehead before guiding me to the leather sofa where he conducted his most sensitive family business.

He pulled me onto his lap, his powerful arms wrapping around me like an unbreachable fortress.

"My tesoro, the conditions we found Max in were beyond barbaric." His voice carried the weight of barely restrained violence that promised retribution. "Detective Martinez briefed me during the extraction operation. Thank God there are no other marks on his little body, no signs of physical abuse, which means they didn’t torture him in other ways. But Ivy, those sick bastards had him chained to a table leg like he was some kind of captive animal."

A single tear rolled down Xavier’s scarred cheek as the words left his lips.

The rage that exploded inside me was unlike anything I had ever experienced in my years surviving the streets. "You’re telling me those monsters chained up my baby?" The words came out as a broken sob that echoed off the bulletproof windows. "He’s barely more than a toddler! How could anyone do such a thing to an innocent child?"

"Human evil knows no limits, tesoro. Some people are capable of cruelty that defies all logic and humanity. The scum who took you both clearly value their own twisted schemes above basic decency." Xavier’s hand moved in soothing circles along my spine while his deadly gaze remained fixed on our peacefully sleeping son. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I cannot comprehend this level of depravity. How do you harm an innocent child, a baby who knows nothing but love and trust?" My tears soaked into the fabric of his expensive suit as I buried my face against his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of gunpowder and expensive cologne that always clung to him.

"I don’t understand it either. When Martinez’s tactical team breached the safe house, Max was filthy, starving, and severely dehydrated. Those deranged bitches didn’t even bother to change his diaper or feed him properly. Nothing. Martinez said he was crying hysterically when they kicked down the door." Xavier’s jaw clenched as he relived the detective’s brutal report.

"Wait, you said multiple women. Besides Rossi, who else was involved in this operation?"

"Monica. And they had assistance from Brodie as well."

The name hit me like a physical blow from a rival family’s enforcer. "Brodie? My former boyfriend Brodie? Are you seriously telling me that my ex is part of this nightmare conspiracy?"

Xavier nodded grimly, his dark eyes hardening like winter steel. "I wish I were making this up, but the evidence is undeniable."

"Dear God, why would he do this? What could he possibly gain from targeting our family? I’ve known Brodie since we were kids running the same neighborhood streets. His family was practically part of mine back then. The idea that he would orchestrate something this vicious against us is beyond comprehension."

"Honestly, nothing about that piece of shit surprises me anymore. He betrayed you with your own cousin for power and position in the organization. Someone with that kind of moral bankruptcy is capable of anything." Xavier’s assessment was harsh but accurate given our world’s brutal realities.

"There’s a massive difference between sleeping around for advancement and kidnapping the family children, Xavier."

"True. But the foundation is the same - complete lack of honor and loyalty. My conversation with Martinez was brief and focused entirely on Max’s condition and your safety. The interrogations haven’t begun yet, so I don’t have details about their motivations or who else might be involved."

"Well, now that our son is secure, I want every single detail about this conspiracy." The fury coursing through me felt powerful enough to bring down rival families. "But first, we need to have Max examined by our family doctor to ensure there are no hidden injuries."

"Already arranged. The emergency clinic in Greenleaf did an initial assessment and confirmed that aside from dehydration and that terrible mark around his ankle, he appears physically unharmed. But I’ve scheduled Dr. Taylor to conduct a thorough examination tomorrow morning. He’ll come here to the compound for security reasons."

"Perfect choice," I agreed wholeheartedly. "Though why are we meeting here instead of going home to the estate?"