ILL-FATED JOURNEY™

Chapter 47

He knew he should keep his excitement to himself, but Vlad couldn't help the small smile that 

crept upon his lips.

"Don't get too cocky boy! This doesn't mean you should trust me or that I trust you any more

than I did when you stormed in here. It just means...I won't wage all-out war, but I won't help

you any further than that. You have to deal with the others on your own, but I won't help them, 

and I won't stand in your way. Understood?"

Vlad's grin widened to a deadly smirk.

"I just knew you'd like those terms." Charles muttered dryly. "Just don't point the bodies in my

direction! And keep it under the radar. What am I saying? You're Russian, you practically live your

life hiding bodies under the radar."

Vlad stood with a wide grin and said. "That is what I needed but I need one more thing."

"Christ on a crutch!" Charles cursed. "You give a man a little inch; he wants the whole damn pie! 

What is it?"

"It's about my family."

"I know, I know." Charles grumbled angrily. "The old bird's getting soft in the head in her old age,

she's accepting all sorts now."

"You did start it with your little...rebellion." Vlad reminded him.

"Yes, and I'm still being punished for it." Charles griped as he tiredly ran his hand over his face

and exhaled. "Let me guess, in case something happens you want me to acknowledge the child 

as heir and the mother as the Grand Duchess."

"Yes."

"Why can't you get one of the Russian nobles to do it?"

"The only one I would've remotely trusted with the task is no longer suitable and may soon have 

problems of his own."

"Yes...the other reason for your hasty visit."

"Is it already done?"

"You're not the first person she's threatened."

"She did do that with the Persian and now he's made moves to take care of it as we speak."

"You really need to stop bugging my house, cousin."

"Don't even think of leaving one here either." Charles countered.

Vlad smiled, knowing he had several he was going to place in the nursery and other places

including the ones he had already placed in here and in the car they came in. "Thank you for