Page 121 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

"Because that's how marriage works!" I say, my voice coming out higher than I intended, almost hysterical. "You can't just... I can't marry three men!"

The absurdity of the situation crashes over me. I'm standing in a kitchen in a mansion owned by Russian mafia bosses, six months pregnant with a baby that could belong to any one of them, and they're casually discussing a polygamous marriage like it's a reasonable solution to a scheduling conflict.

"Why not?" Russ asks from beside me. I turn to look at him and find him leaning back slightly, his expression more amused than unsettled. There's a lightness to him that contrasts sharply with the weight of what's being discussed.

His casual acceptance of the impossible makes my stomach flip. He's not treating this like a crazy idea. He's treating it like the natural next step. Like of course they would all marry me. Like there was never any other option.

"Because it's illegal!" I sputter, grasping for any logical argument that might make sense of this insanity.

"So is half the shit we do," Russ points out with a grin. "Hasn't stopped us yet."

The grin. God, that grin. It's the same one that made me relax around him in the first place, the same one that's been slowly dismantling my defenses for months.

I stare at him, then at Nick, then at Alex. They're all looking at me with varying degrees of seriousness and possession. This isn't a joke to them. They're not humoring some fantasy or testing my reaction. They're actually considering this while Russ's mom looks on with a satisfied smile.

If I didn't like the woman so much, consider her like a mother to me, I'd probably strangle her right now. My vision blurs slightly. The kitchen tilts and I grip the counter harder, needing something solid to anchor me to reality because reality has just become completely unmoored.

Ekaterina makes a small sound of approval from across the kitchen. "Good. That's settled then."

"Nothing is settled!" I say, my voice cracking slightly. "You can't just decide something like this over breakfast!"

"Why not?" Ekaterina asks, raising an eyebrow. "It makes sense. You love all three of them, don't you?"

The question sends a fresh wave of heat across my cheeks. My throat tightens, and I can't find words to respond. Because she's right. I do love all three of them. I've been trying not to think about it, trying not to acknowledge it, but it's true. I'm in love with Russ. I'm in love with Nick. And I'm in love with Alex. Completely and hopelessly.

"I..." I start, but my voice fails me.

"You do," Ekaterina says gently, like she's stating a fact rather than asking a question. "And they love you. So what's the problem?"

"The problem is that this is insane," I say weakly. "People don't do this."

"We're not most people," Alex says. His voice is calm and steady, grounding me even as my world spins out of control. "We've never been conventional, Marla. Why start now?"

I look at him, then at Nick, then at Russ. All three of them are watching me with expressions that make my heart ache.

"This is crazy," I whisper.

"Yeah," Russ agrees, his arm tightening around my waist. "But so is everything else about us. Hasn't stopped us yet."

Nick steps closer, his green eyes locked on mine. "We're not asking you to decide right now. But we're serious about this, Marla. All of us."

"Dead serious," Alex adds.

I feel like I'm drowning. Like the air in the kitchen has become too thick to breathe. What started as an absurd breakfast conversation has become startlingly, terrifyingly serious. For the first time since this whole insane situation began, the four of us are openly discussing an actual future together. Not just surviving the next threat. Not just making it through the next crisis. An actual future. Marriage. Family. Forever.

I look at Russ, with his easy smile and protective touch. I look at Nick, with his quiet intensity and unwavering loyalty. I look at Alex, with his controlled strength and unexpected gentleness. These three dangerous, complicated, impossible men have somehow become my entire world.

And I love them. God help me, I love all three of them.

Ekaterina watches me with knowing eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She knew. She knew exactly what she was doing when she asked that question. She wasn't trying to embarrass me or create chaos. She was forcing us to confront what we've all been dancing around for weeks.

"I need to sit down," I say faintly.

Russ immediately guides me to one of the stools at the island, his hand steady on my back. I sink onto it gratefully, my legs shaking. Nick moves closer, standing beside me with one hand resting on the counter near my arm. Alex stays where he is, but his eyes never leave my face.

I look down at my hands, trying to process everything that just happened. My life has become completely insane. But as I sit there, surrounded by these three men who have somehow become everything to me, I realize something that makes my chest tighten and my eyes burn with unshed tears.

I'm actually going to agree.