Page 114 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

"You were never mine to begin with," Alex says, his voice flat and emotionless.

Arina jerks at Alex's words. Her face goes pale, then flushes with rage.

"She's weakening all three of you," Arina spits, gesturing toward Marla. "Can't you see that? You're making decisions based on emotion instead of logic. You're putting a pregnant woman at the center of everything when she should be hidden away somewhere safe."

"Enough," I say, my voice dropping to a dangerous level.

Arina ignores me, her attention fixed on Marla. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You've made yourself a target. You've made that baby a target. Every enemy we have will see you as the perfect weakness to exploit."

"I said enough." I step forward, forcing Arina to look at me instead of Marla. "Sister or not, I will never allow you to interfere in my personal family business again. That includes Russ, Alex, and Marla. Do you understand me?"

Arina's eyes narrow. "Family business? She's not family. She's a liability."

"She's mine," I say coldly. "Ours. And if you can't accept that, then you need to leave this property right now and not come back until you can."

The silence that follows is thick and dangerous. Arina stares at me like she's seeing a stranger, her chest rising and falling rapidly with barely controlled fury.

"You're making a mistake," she says finally, her voice low and venomous. "Power always comes with enemies, Nikita. Especially once children become involved. You've painted a target on that baby's back before it's even born."

She turns on her heel and stalks out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. I don't move until I hear the front door slam shut below. Only then do I turn back to Marla, who's gone pale and shaky.

"She's wrong," I say firmly.

"Is she?" Marla's voice is barely a whisper. "Maybe I am making you all weaker."

"No." I cross the room and cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. "You make us stronger. You give us something worth protecting beyond money and territory. Don't let her poison that."

Marla's eyes search mine, looking for reassurance. Behind us, Sharon quietly slips out of the room, giving us privacy.

"I'm scared," Marla admits.

"I know," I say. "But you're not alone. You'll never be alone again."

She leans into me, her forehead resting against my chest. I wrap my arms around her carefully, mindful of her belly between us.

We stand like that for several minutes, the only sound the crackling of the fireplaces and the distant noise of construction crews finishing final touches on the property. It's just the two of us. Alex left to make sure Arina didn't cause any problems on her way out.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I consider ignoring it, but it could be urgent. I pull it out and glance at the screen.

The message is from one of my contacts in city hall. Mayor resigned. Effective immediately. No explanation given.

I go completely still.

"What's wrong?" Marla asks, pulling back to look at my face.

I stare at the message, my mind racing through implications and possibilities.

The mayor resigned. Just hours ago. After months of investigation and pressure, he suddenly walked away from everything.

"Nick?" Marla's voice is worried now.

I look up at her, then at the phone in my hand.

"The mayor just resigned from office."

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MARLA