Page 85 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

Several days have passed since Alex dropped that bomb about my foster care records being breached, and the cottage has settled into a strange, crowded rhythm. The men rotate between handling business and staying here with me. Someone is always present. Always watching. And always armed.

I should feel suffocated, but instead I feel oddly grounded by their constant presence. Why would anyone be looking at my foster records? Is it Zach? And if so, what possible purpose could he have for getting them? There's nothing to see, really. Except the sad fact that I was passed from home to home, never staying long enough to make any attachments.

My thoughts switch to another worrisome development. My period is late. I've been trying not to think about it. Stress can delay things, right? Being trapped in a cottage with three dangerous men while your psychotic ex-boyfriend hunts you down through his corrupt politician father is definitely stressful. That has to be the explanation.

It has to be. The alternative is... I shake my head. I won't even think about it right now.

I'm sitting at the kitchen table pretending to work on an article when I hear the crunch of tires on gravel. My stomach immediately tightens, but Russ glances out the window and relaxes.

"It's Sharon," he says.

Relief floods through me so fast I nearly sag in my chair. Sharon texted earlier saying she'd bring groceries since I can't exactly leave the cottage to shop for myself. I also secretly asked her to pick up a pregnancy test. Just the thought sends a wave of nausea rolling through me.

Sharon climbs out of her car carrying two paper bags. Nick opens the door before she can knock, his expression unreadable as always. She smiles nervously at him and steps inside.

"Hey," she says, setting the bags on the counter. "I got everything on your list."

"Thank you," I say, standing quickly. Too quickly. Russ notices and frowns slightly.

"You okay?" he asks.

"Fine. Just need to stretch my legs."

Sharon catches my eye and gives the smallest nod. The pharmacy bag is hidden inside one of the grocery bags. My heart starts pounding harder.

"I'm going to check the fence line," Russ announces, grabbing his jacket from the back of a chair. "There's some weak points I want to fix."

"Good," Nick says. "Alex and I need to go over the security reports anyway."

Russ heads outside, and I watch through the window as he walks toward the treeline, his broad shoulders tense even from this distance. I wonder if there are any issues with the fence or if he’s getting cabin fever like the rest of us and is just looking for a way to burn off some excess energy.

Nick and Alex settle at the kitchen table with Sharon standing awkwardly between them. She shifts her weight from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable being interrogated by two pakhans in a secluded cottage.

"Any updates from the Ivory Wolf?" Nick asks, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

Sharon nods. "Zach's been back. Three times this week." She shoots me a sympathetic look.

Alex's expression darkens. "Go on?"

Sharon glances at me again, worry clear on her face. "He's been talking to different staff members, trying to figure out where Marla lives. He offered one of the bartenders five hundred dollars for information."

"Did anyone take it?" Nick's voice is dangerously quiet.

"No. Except for the times she met..." Sharon pauses and then shrugs. "... you guys, she hasn't been to the club, so most of the employees don't even know who she is." Sharon wraps her arms around herself. "But Zach seems really confident. Like he expects someone will eventually give him what he wants."

"Arrogant little shit," Alex mutters.

Russ would've exploded by now if he were in here. I can practically hear the cursing and threats that would've followed Sharon's report. But Nick and Alex are colder, more controlled. Somehow that's more frightening.

"He say anything else?" Alex asks.

"Just that he's looking for an old friend who moved out here. He acts like it's innocent." Sharon's voice drops. "He scares me."

"He should," Nick says flatly. "Stay away from him. If he approaches you directly, you walk away and call me immediately."

Sharon nods quickly. "I will."

Alex leans back in his chair, his jaw tight. "Anything else we should know?"