Page 91 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

"Was he alone?" Nick asks, his tone flat and professional despite the fury I know is simmering beneath the surface. "Did you notice anyone else? I didn't see any evidence of more than the fucking bastard's footprints."

"Couldn't tell," I admit, running a hand through my hair. "Lost him in the trees about half a mile out."

Alex moves to the window, pulling the curtain aside to scan the darkness outside. Marla stands near the kitchen counter, her arms wrapped around herself. She's wearing one of my shirts over leggings, and her red hair is pulled back in a messy knot. Her face is pale, her blue eyes wide with fear. The sight of her looking so vulnerable makes my chest tighten painfully. My fists clench. When I get my hands on that bastard...

"How long has he been watching?" she asks quietly.

"No way to know for sure," I snap.

Nick pulls out his phone and starts typing rapidly. "I'm calling in additional security. We need eyes on every approach to this property until we figure out our next move."

"Next move?" Marla's voice rises slightly. "What next move?"

Alex finally turns from the window, his brown eyes meeting mine briefly before shifting to Marla. "You can't stay here."

"Excuse me?"

"You're not safe here," Alex says calmly, like he's discussing a business transaction instead of uprooting her entire life. "Not anymore."

"I'm not going to be run out of my own home!" she snaps. The irony isn't lost on me. Just an hour ago, she was demanding to leave the cabin and now she's refusing to leave it. I snort and she shoots me an irritated look.

"So what, you're just going to relocate me like I'm furniture?" she growls, looking at each of us in turn. "Pack me up and move me somewhere else without asking?"

"Yes," all three of us say simultaneously.

Her eyes flash dangerously. "Absolutely not."

"It's not a negotiation," Nick says, finally looking up from his phone. "This cottage was never designed to withstand a serious attack. You're isolated out here. One road in, one road out. Woods on all sides providing perfect cover for assholes looking for you. You don't have any escape routes."

"It was fine before," Marla argues.

"It was fine when nobody knew you were here," I correct her, my voice harder than I intend. "Now it's a fucking liability."

The room goes quiet except for the sound of Nick's phone buzzing repeatedly with incoming messages. Alex moves away from the window and leans against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. He's watching Marla carefully, reading her body language the way he always does.

"Where would I even go?" Marla asks after a long moment, her voice quieter now. "A hotel? Another rental? Somewhere even more isolated?"

"My property," I say before I can second-guess myself.

Everyone turns to look at me. Nick's eyebrows raise slightly. Alex's expression shifts to surprise. Marla just stares at me like I've lost my mind.

"Your property," she repeats slowly.

"I have a mother-in-law building on my land," I explain, pushing away from the table and moving closer to her. "It's fully furnished. Three bedrooms, with a full kitchen and private entrance. My mother refuses to live there because she's stubborn as hell and won't leave her own house, so it's been sitting empty for two years."

"And you think I should just move into your empty building," Marla says flatly.

"It's not just about the building," I say, frustration bleeding into my voice. "It's about location. My property is inside Bratva-controlled territory with a gated entrance and armed security. The cameras will catch anyone coming or going on the property."

Nick nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. "It's a good move."

"Plus it's close to all three of our organizations," Alex adds, his tone pragmatic. "If there's an emergency, any of us can be there in under fifteen minutes instead of forty-five."

Marla looks between the three of us, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and resignation. "You're all serious about this."

"Dead serious," I say. "This cottage is a death trap now.”

She flinches slightly at my words, and I immediately regret being so blunt. But she needs to understand the reality of the situation. This isn't about control or keeping her locked up. This is about keeping her alive.