He took the glass and tipped back the warm brew, heating the nausea away.
The table was a burnished teak, as were the walls and floor. The boat pitched, and he sucked down some air. Maps covered one wall, antique and valuable, while windows showed the churning sea outside. Even the smell of Scotch failed to banish the salty scent of the sea. Man, he wanted to go home to warmth and solid ground.
Where the hell was Vegar with the woman?
He shoved the stack of papers to the side, having already signed contracts for the recent acquisitions. As the leader of an elite and powerful group of Russian demons, he had to continue buying and selling to keep the money flowing well. Good thing he had a knack for the stock market and an IQ beyond high, even for a demon. Plus, he truly enjoyed the strategy of figuring out what would happen next. His money was on biofuels and vaccines right now.
A discrete knock announced his first in command, Vadim Deeks, who stepped inside and closed the door. “The storm is too intense to leave the cove and explore along the coastline.”
“Satellite?” Ivan asked.
“No. The cloud cover is too thick.” The six-and-a-half-foot blond took a wide stance as the boat tipped. Dressed in all black with knives and various guns tucked into his uniform, the soldier narrowed his dark eyes. “If you wish, I could walk the shoreline around to the southern side and look for Vegar.”
“No.” Ivan gestured to the chair on the other side of the desk and poured another glass of Scotch, appreciating the loyalty if not the wisdom in such an offer. “The storm will ground everyone, and I assume Vegar took her to shelter to wait it out.” They were both strong and well trained—surviving one arctic storm would be simple. Plus, Ivan had paid the witch twenty million dollars and promised to match it the second he delivered the woman. “Let’s wait for the storm to abate, and then you and I can go looking.” He had two other soldiers and a captain on the yacht, but he didn’t require their help at this point.
Vadim nodded and prowled across the rocking boat to settle his bulk into the seat. “I’ve investigated the money trail further, and so far, I don’t believe her people have any idea she’s looking for you here. In fact, my source in her organization thinks she’s on a luxury cruise right now in the Bahamas. She gave her name as Cee Cee Jones when she hired Vegar to show her your mines.” Vadim swirled the glass around in his massive hand, gaze intense on the spinning liquid.
Ivan smiled. “Her mother called her Cee Cee when she was a young child.”
“’Tis a sweet name for a demon.” Vadim took a healthy drink of the brew, humming in appreciation.
“Female demons are notoriously sweet as well as deadly.” Ivan refilled both glasses. “That one more than most. On both counts.”
Vadim stretched his long legs out and crossed his boots, appearing relaxed yet always on the ready to protect and defend. “And intelligent, considering she’s eluded you for three decades.” Pure fact and no derision echoed in his hoarse tone.
“Three decades? That woman has eluded me for over a century.” Ivan inhaled the scent of the expensive liquor, his blood thrumming at being this close to her. Finally.
“Yet you’re willing to take her back. To make her a partner in your life.”
Of course he was. “She’s stunning, brilliant, and dangerous. Most important, she’s a purebred demon.” Ivan drew out his wallet to remove a photograph. It had been taken at the turn of the current century, in black and white, and had faded almost to white. Yet her outline, the beautiful blond hair and sparkling black eyes, remained in place. But maybe the paper had faded to the point that only he could see her. He frowned and returned the picture to its rightful place before sliding a manila folder across the desk.