Page 50 of Unexpected Bratva Baby

I curse under my breath, tightening my fingers around the crystal tumbler. “Casualties?”

“Four of our men. We managed to take out six of theirs, but it’s escalating quickly.”

I nod, already formulating strategies. “Double security on all remaining shipments. I want our best men on this, and, Sergei? Find me everything you can on Valdés’ weak points. Family, finances, or anything we can exploit.”

“Consider it done, Boss.”

The call ends, and I rest back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. The ticking of the antique clock on my desk seems to mock me, marking each second of time slipping away. Time I should be spending with Phoebe, preparing for our child.

A knock at the door interrupts my brooding. “Come in,” I call out.

Nastya enters, her usual stoic expression revealing a trace of concern. “Mikhail, I’ve got an update on Phoebe.”

I sit up straighter, my heart rate quickening. “Is she all right?”

Nastya nods. “She’s safe, but she’s struggling. She’s been asking a lot of questions about you and thebratva.”

I curse softly. “What kind of questions?”

“She wants to know about your past and how you became involved in this life. I think she’s trying to understand.”

Hope flares but is quickly tempered by caution. “And what have you told her?”

“Only what you’ve authorized, but she’s smart. She’s piecing things together on her own.”

I stand, pacing the length of the office. “Keep a close eye on her but give her space. I don’t want her to feel trapped.”

She hesitates before saying, “She misses you, you know. Even if she won’t admit it.”

Her words hit make me smile for just a second. I turn to the window, staring out at the city I’ve fought so hard to control. “Thank you, Nastya. That’ll be all.”

As the door closes behind her, I allow myself a moment of weakness. I press my forehead against the cool glass, closing my eyes. “I miss you too, Phoebe,” I whisper to the empty room.

The moment passes, and I straighten up, steeling myself for what’s to come. I have a war to win, an empire to protect, and a woman to win back, and I’ll be damned if I fail at any of it.

I spend the next several hours searching for weak spots in The Corporation and keep coming back to their organization, and the way a leader is chosen—often via challenge settled by a death match.

At dawn, I finally allow myself a break. I stand, stretching muscles stiff from hours of inactivity, and make my way to the kitchen. The coffee machine hums to life as my phone rings, the caller ID displaying an unknown number. Warily, I answer. “Sokolov.”

“Ah, Mikhail,” says a familiar voice. “Did I wake you?”

My jaw clenches. “Valdés. To what do I owe the displeasure?”

He chuckles, the sound grating on my nerves. “Just checking in on an old friend. I heard you’ve been having some...difficulties lately.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I say coolly while mentally questioning the situation. Why is he calling? What’s his angle?

“Of course, of course,” he says smoothly. “I just wanted to offer my assistance. After all, we’re both businessmen. Perhaps we could come to an...arrangement.”

I pause, considering my words carefully. “What kind of arrangement did you have in mind?”

“Oh, nothing too complicated. Just a simple division of territory. You stick to your side of Miami, and I’ll stick to mine. No more bloodshed, and no more lost shipments. What do you say?”

It’s a tempting offer that could potentially end this war before it truly begins, but I know the kind of man he is. There’s always a catch. “And what would you want in return for this...generosity?” I ask with sarcasm.

Valdés laughs again, but this time, there’s an edge to it. “Smart man. I want a thirty percent cut of all your profits for the next year. Consider it a peace offering.”

I scoff, nearly choking on anger. “You must be joking. I’d sooner burn my entire operation to the ground than give you a single cent.”

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