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“Russia can mass produce fast,” Calder said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it's already pouring off the production lines.”

Vincent had cursed.

“It’s my race who should be going into fucking war mode.”

“Because every single human being on the planet is going to want one—hell, a ten pack—of this product.” Calder growled. “Every fucking month. That puts trillions of dollars into their pockets. They have just becomethesuperpower on the planet.”

Holy fuck.

“And they are already making threats and demands. We can’t let that happen.”

Silence.

Vincent rubbed his forehead. “So, you are...?”

He couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Moretti, we can’t let this happen. The entire planet would be under the control of a dictator. Humans enslaved.”

And vampires.

President Volkov would single-handedly rule the earth.

Fuck.

Calder was right.

Letting the Russians have such control over the world was untenable for the West, so they were preparing for war.

Vincent couldn’t argue. Knowing he had the information to create and distribute the serum meant extinction or enslavement of the vampire race. Sage was close to an antidote, but not close enough.

He’d failed his family and the race.

The moment he’d ended the call with Calder, he’d fled to Brayden’s office and demanded Ari join them.

“Is Italy the right place to go?” Brayden asked after they’d agreed they all needed to evacuate. “Fucking hell. We should’ve built a property in goddamn New Zealand!”

Ari nodded slowly.

“Okay. Fuck. So, what’s Plan B?” Brayden asked. “Because nowhere in all our strategy talks have we ever considered this eventuality.”

“Plan fucking B is that if the nukes start flying, you go to your mate and daughter. Immediately,” Ari said. “That goes for you too, Vincent.”

Once, he would have been concerned that his uncle used such a dictative tone with him. He’d never admit it, but having the ancient around while they were going through this was comforting.

Occasionally, he wondered if Ari was more powerful than them all, being one of the originals. He knew Brayden had the same thoughts.

He just might be.

It didn’t matter now.

They wouldn’t survive a nuclear missile.

“I’ve failed our people,” Vincent said to Brayden as he dropped into an armchair opposite him and stared at the painting of their parents.

“Fuck off.” Brayden growled. “You can’t control these goddamn humans. They have fought wars forever. It was inevitable.”

Vincent slowly shook his head.