Page 87 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

That doesn't make this better. If anything, it makes it worse. Three men who are already possessive and territorial, finding out I'm carrying a child that could belong to any of them? That's not a solution. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

The timer goes off, the sound so loud in the little bathroom that we both jump. Sharon reaches for the test, her hand trembling as she picks it up. She stares at it for what feels like forever.

"Sharon?" My voice cracks with impatience and fear. "What does it say?"

She looks up at me, her eyes wide. "You're pregnant."

35

NICK

The warehouse near the docks smells like rust and saltwater. I stand in the middle of the room on the concrete floor with my arms crossed, watching three of my captains shift uncomfortably under my gaze. Russ is at his mother's house for their weekly breakfast, and Alex stayed at the cottage with Marla. That leaves me handling this fucking mess.

"Explain to me again how someone accessed the security schedules without anyone noticing," I say, my voice dangerously quiet.

The oldest captain clears his throat. "We've reviewed the logs, boss. The access came from inside the system. Someone with high-level clearance."

"High-level clearance means one of you," I say flatly.

"Or someone higher," the captain says carefully. "Someone with authority over multiple operations."

The implication hangs in the air like smoke. He's suggesting the leak isn't just inside my organization. He's suggesting it's someone with access to information across all three families.

My jaw tightens. "You're saying it's someone close to the merger negotiations."

"I'm saying it's possible," he carefully, after a brief hesitation. "The breach wasn't just about your warehouse. Whoever did this knew routes and schedules that cross into Stepanov and Lenkov territory too."

Fuck.

I step closer to the captain, and he has the sense to look nervous. "If you're accusing someone, say it directly."

"I'm not accusing anyone, boss. I'm just saying the leak is probably higher up than we thought."

My fist clenches at my side. The urge to hit something is overwhelming, but I force myself to stay controlled. "Find out who," I say coldly. "I don't care how long it takes or what you have to do. Find them."

He nods quickly. "Yes, pakhan."

I turn and walk out of the warehouse before I do something I'll regret. The paranoia spreading through my organization is getting worse by the day. Men who've worked together for years are starting to look at each other with suspicion. Trust is eroding, and if I don't stop it soon, the entire structure will collapse.

I get into my SUV and check my phone. A text from Arina asking if I'm free for lunch. I consider ignoring it, but that'll just make her more persistent. My sister is nothing if not persistent—and sneaky. Better to deal with her now and get it over with.

I text back confirming and drive to the restaurant she suggested, a high-end place downtown that caters to politicians and businessmen. Arina is already seated when I arrive, looking polished in a black dress and heels. Her dark hair is pulled back, and she smiles when she sees me.

"Nikita," she says warmly, standing to kiss my cheek. "You look tense."

"Busy week," I say, sitting across from her.

She orders wine. I order vodka. The waiter disappears, and Arina leans forward with her chin resting on her hand.

"You've been distracted lately," she observes. "Is it the warehouse situation?"

"Among other things."

"You and Alex seem attached at the hip these days," she says lightly. She waits, taking a sip of her drink while watching me over the rim of her wine glass. When I don't respond, she sighs, then smiles sweetly, as if I can't see through her manipulations. She's been like this ever since the family chose me over her.

"Is Alex seeing anyone seriously?" she asks after a few minutes.

The question catches me off guard. "Why do you care?"