Page 92 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

"I don't want to be a burden," she says quietly.

"You're not a fucking burden," I snap, then force myself to take a breath and soften my tone. "You're our responsibility, ours to protect."

"I'm not your responsibility," she argues, but there's less heat in her voice now.

"Yeah, you are," Nick says from across the room. "Whether you like it or not."

Alex pushes off the counter and moves closer to Marla, his expression gentler than usual. "This is a temporary situation, Marla. Once we take care of the threat, we can decide what happens next."

"And if the threat is never neutralized?" Marla asks.

The question hangs in the air, heavy and uncomfortable. None of us have an answer for that because we all know the truth. In our world, threats don't just disappear. They escalate until someone ends up dead.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it," I say finally. "Right now, we need to get you somewhere safe. Tonight."

Marla looks down at the muddy cap still sitting on the table. Her shoulders sag slightly, and I can see the moment she accepts the reality of the situation. She hates it. I can see that clearly in the tension of her jaw and the way her hands are still clenched into fists. But she's smart enough to recognize when she's out of options.

"Fine," she says quietly, her mouth turned down in an irritated frown.

Relief floods through me, though I'm careful not to show it. "Good. Pack whatever you need for a few days. We'll come back for the rest later with proper security."

She nods and starts to move toward the bedroom, then pauses and turns back to look at me. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why your property specifically?" she asks. "Why not Nick's penthouse or Alex's? Why do you want me at your place?"

I meet her gaze steadily, aware that Nick and Alex are both watching this exchange with interest. "Because if Zach comes looking for you again," I say quietly, my voice dropping to something cold and dangerous, "I want him walking straight into Bratva territory when he does."

38

ALEX

The words hang in the air between us, and I watch Marla's face carefully. She understands what Russ just said. Not the surface meaning about security and territory, but the deeper implication underneath. He wants Zach to come. He wants the confrontation.

So do I.

Nick moves to the window again, pulling the curtain aside to scan the darkness outside. His posture is rigid. He's running through scenarios in his head, calculating threats and responses.

"We should sweep the area again," Nick says without turning around.

"Already planning on it," Russ replies, grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair. "You coming?"

Nick nods and follows him toward the door. Before stepping outside, Russ glances back at me. "Stay with her."

It's not a question or a request. It's an acknowledgment that none of us want Marla alone right now, not even for five minutes. I nod once, and they disappear into the night.

The cottage feels too quiet after they leave. Marla stands near the fireplace, her arms wrapped around herself again. She's trying to appear composed, but I notice the way her eyes dart toward the windows every few seconds. The way she flinches slightly when the old wood creaks outside.

"You should sit down," I say, moving closer to her.

"I'm fine."

"You're wound tighter than a fucking spring." I reach out and gently pull her arms away from her body, forcing her to drop the defensive posture. "Sit."

She hesitates, then sinks onto the couch. I settle beside her, close enough that our thighs touch. The contact is deliberate and hopefully grounding to her.

"How long do you think they'll be out there?" she asks quietly.