Page 124 of The Pakhan’s Accidental Bride

"Good." I turn to leave, then pause. "And doctor? If there's anything wrong with her, anything at all, I want to know about it before she does."

He hesitates, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. Doctor-patient confidentiality versus the Pakhan’s orders. But we both know which one wins. "Yes, Pakhan."

I leave him to his preparations and make my way to the dining room. The smells of coffee and bacon reach me before I get there, and my stomach reminds me that I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon. The stress of last night, the shootings, Kiera's collapse, all of it has left me running on fumes.

When I enter the dining room, I find it already occupied. Kiera's four brothers are seated around the long mahogany table, along with Luca, who's positioned himself at the far end like he's ready to intervene if things get out of hand. The brothers look tired, their clothes rumpled, like they didn't sleep well in the guest rooms. Kevin is wearing the same clothes from yesterday, his shirt wrinkled and untucked. Jack has dark circles under his eyes, his jaw tight with tension. Devin looks like he wants to hit something—or lift some weights, his muscular frame coiled with barely contained energy. Kaleb is the only one who looks relatively calm, though there's worry etched into the lines around his eyes.

They all look up when I enter, and the temperature in the room drops several degrees.

"About time," Kevin says, his voice sharp. "We've been waiting for you."

I move to the head of the table and pour myself a cup of coffee from the carafe that's been set out. The staff has laid out a full breakfast spread. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, fresh fruit, and pastries. Enough to feed an army. I take my time adding cream to my coffee, letting the silence stretch.

"We need to talk," Jack says when I don't respond. His cop voice is out in full force, authoritative and demanding.

I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the bitter heat, then set the cup down and look at each of them in turn. "About?" I ask, although I already know the answer.

"For starters," Devin says, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, "why the hell are we being held here like prisoners? We have lives, jobs, and responsibilities. You can't just keep us locked up in your mansion because someone made a phone call."

"I can," I say simply. "And I will. Until the threat is neutralized."

"That's bullshit," Kevin snaps. "We can take care of ourselves. We don't need your protection."

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow. "Because from where I'm standing, someone threatened to kill one of you last night. They knew exactly how to get to Kiera through you. So forgive me if I don't trust your ability to protect yourselves."

Kevin's face flushes with anger, but before he can respond, Kaleb speaks up. His voice is quieter than his brothers', but there's an edge to it that makes everyone listen. "This isn't just about us, Emil. Mark and I are in the middle of an adoption process. We have home visits scheduled, background checks, and interviews. If we don't show up, if we can't be reached, it's going to raise red flags. We could lose our chance at this baby."

The pain in his voice is real, and I feel a flicker of sympathy. Family is everything. I understand that better than most. But I also understand that a dead brother won't be able to adopt anyone.

"I'll have my people contact the adoption agency," I say. "We'll explain that you're dealing with a family emergency. They'll understand."

"Will they?" Kaleb's eyes are hard. "Will they understand that my sister's fiancé is a Mafia boss who's keeping us under armed guard?"

"They'll understand what I tell them to understand," I say, my voice flat. "I have connections everywhere, Kaleb. Including in social services. Your adoption won't be affected."

"You can't just fix everything with money and threats," Jack says, his hands clenched into fists on the table. "That's not how the real world works."

"It's how my world works," I counter. "And like it or not, you're in my world now. All of you. The moment Kiera agreed to marry me, you became part of this family. And I protect my family."

"By locking us up?" Devin demands. "By treating us like we're helpless?"

"By keeping you alive," I say, my voice dropping to a dangerous level. "Someone is trying to kill Kiera. They've shot at her twice now. They've threatened you to get to her. This isn't a game. This isn't something you can handle with a few self-defense classes and a security system. This is serious, and it requires serious measures."

The brothers exchange glances, and I can see the frustration and fear warring in their expressions. They want to argue and assert their independence, but they also know I'm right. They're out of their depth here, and they know it.

"So, what's your plan?" Kevin asks. "How long are you going to keep us here? Days? Weeks? Months?"

"As long as it takes," I say. "My men are working around the clock to find whoever is behind this. Once they're dealt with, you can go back to your lives."

"And what about work?" Jack asks. "I have cases. I can't just disappear."

"You're on leave," I say. "I've already arranged it with your captain. Family emergency. You'll be paid, and your position will be waiting for you when you return."

His eyes widen. "You did what?"

"I made a phone call," I say with a shrug. "Your captain was very understanding once I explained the situation."

"You had no right," Jack says, his voice shaking with anger. "You can't just interfere with my job, my life."