Page 162 of Mafia King’s Dangerous Vow

Igor comes on first. “Kalinin called me.”

Someone reported back already.

“He wants you to manage me,” I say.

“He said your judgment has become compromised by domestic attachment.”

Mikhail makes a sound of deep appreciation. “Insulting, but elegant.”

“What did you tell him?” I ask.

“Nothing useful,” Igor says. “I let him explain why the failed school pickup was a private correction, not an attempted abduction. I let him remind me that the Colombians are waiting for weakness. He implied the alliance becomes fragile if you keep letting your wife influence business judgment.”

“He said that directly?”

“No. He is not stupid.”

Yakov’s voice enters, low and rough. “Unfortunately.”

“He is arrogant, though,” Igor says. “He believes I’m still deciding whether to manage you.”

“He wants me angry,” I say.

“Yes,” Igor says. “Preferably reckless.”

I watch the city through the glass. Kalinin doesn’t need me weak. He needs me predictable.

“What did he press?” I ask.

“Bellweather,” Yuri says. “Access to the Antwerp pieces paused twenty minutes ago. The manager cited compliance review.”

Igor understands immediately. “Pulse check.”

“Yes,” Yakov says. “He is not blocking the artery. He is pressing it to see who feels pain.”

“Can we move without Bellweather?” I ask.

“Yes,” Yakov says. “Slower and more expensive, but clean enough.”

“Do it.”

“Nikolai is already on documentation,” Yuri says. “Two vendors. One can be bought tonight. The other needs protection before he stops taking Kalinin’s calls.”

“Give him both,” Igor says.

Nikolai’s voice comes through flat. “Already done.”

“Will Kalinin notice?” I ask.

“By morning,” Yakov says.

No one argues.

“He already escalated,” I say. “He tried to move the boy from school. We are past subtle. I want every familiar route closed by ten tomorrow. What do we have on customs?”

Yuri answers, “Two men. Neither loyal. One trapped, one greedy.”

“Move them both.”