CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

N ikolay stared at the screen and clenched his jaw.

"Spoiler. Everyone knows about your fucking vampires." Enzo shook his head and blew out a puff of smoke.

Hope that shit kills you, asshole.

"So the surprise factor is gone," he replied in a growl. "We can still profit from this."

"With 90 percent of production destroyed?" Tommy Adams, the head of the British crime family asked. "There are too many odds against us. Give it up, Nikolay."

They really were fucking dumb.

"Think about it," Nikolay said. "What do companies do when there is a short supply?"

Silence.

"Raise the price," Enzo said, smiling, his gold tooth glistening.

Welcome back, brain cells.

Nikolay nodded and leaned back in his chair.

"Which one of you is going to get your ass into gear and start shipping out products?" he asked. "Because until there is a box ready to go, we have no one to bribe."

It took them three seconds to start talking over one another.

He put his hand up.

"Call me when you have enough to make a deal."

Then he hit end.

Leaning back in his chair, he let out a sigh. Then stood and walked out of his office.

Meeting the vampires face-to-face had been the most terrifying moment in his life.

They were enormous. There was no mistaking that. He had been sure the one who took him downstairs was going to kill him.

But they had believed him about the detonation.

Thank god.

If they found him again, he would be dead.

Which was why he was now back in Russia with Elizabeth, who was asleep in their bed.

He walked to the doorway and watched her.

Her slow, steady breathing as her swollen belly lifted up and down calmed him.

His heir was safe.

Both of them had raised heart rates, but the doctor assured him that after the scary car accident that he'd bullshitted about, they would recover.

This wasn't over, he was just pivoting.

The price just went up.

A fucking lot.

Plus, he still had a few tricks up his sleeve.