Page 98 of The Pakhans’ Curvy Prize

"She wouldn't go with him willingly," I say. "Sharon knows he's dangerous."

Russ's voice comes from behind Nick. "We've got teams checking her apartment, her usual routes, and anywhere she might have gone."

Ekaterina sets down her teacup with a soft click. "Who is Zach?"

The question hangs in the air. All three men look at me, clearly leaving the explanation to me. I take a shaky breath.

"My ex-boyfriend. He's been looking for me. Sharon was helping me stay hidden, and now she's missing."

"I see." Ekaterina's expression doesn't change, but something in her eyes sharpens.

The evening descends into more chaos. Russ leaves the property twice, returning each time with his expression colder and his movements more controlled. The second time, he slams his fist into the kitchen counter hard enough to crack the tile, then walks out without a word.

I hear Alex and Nick arguing in low voices outside, to low for me to catch the words—that is, if I understood Russian, which I don't. Ekaterina makes dinner with the same calmness she's shown all day. She moves around the kitchen like she's been here for years, pulling ingredients from cabinets and cooking something that smells amazing despite the tension saturating the air.

"Eat," she says, setting a plate in front of me. "You look like you haven't eaten all day."

She's right. I haven't. But my stomach is twisted in knots, and the thought of food makes me nauseous. "I'm not hungry."

Or the fact that I'm pregnant. Can't forget about that little tidbit of knowledge. I still haven't told the guys and I haven't a clue what I'm going to say.

"Eat anyway." Her tone brooks no argument. "Starving yourself won't help your friend."

I force down a few bites while Ekaterina watches with the kind of maternal concern that makes my chest ache. I never had this. Foster care didn't include mothers who made sure you ate and noticed when you were falling apart.

Nick and Alex return as the sun sets, both looking grim. They eat standing up, barely tasting the food. Russ doesn't come back at all. By midnight, the property has finally quieted. Guards still patrol, but the constant movement has slowed. Ekaterina has retired to her bedroom. Nick and Alex are in the main house coordinating with teams still searching the city.

I sit alone in the living room, staring out the window at nothing. Guilt eats at me from the inside. Sharon is missing because of me. Because I dragged her into my mess. Because Zach is a psychopath who won't let go.

The front door is right there. Unlocked. Unguarded for the first time all day.

I stand up and walk outside into the night.

40

MARLA

The cold air hits my face the moment I step outside, sharp enough to make my eyes water. I don't have a coat, and the temperature has dropped significantly since sunset. My breath comes out in visible puffs as I move quickly down the front steps.

I don't have a plan. I just know I can't sit inside anymore doing nothing while Sharon is missing because of me. The guilt is suffocating, pressing down on my chest until I can barely breathe. I need to do something, anything, even if it's stupid.

The driveway stretches ahead of me, illuminated by security lights positioned at intervals along the fence line. The main gate is maybe two hundred yards away. I can see the guard station from here, a small structure with lights on inside. If I can just get past the gate, I can figure out the rest.

"Going somewhere?"

I freeze, my heart lurching into my throat. The voice comes from behind me, calm and accented. I turn slowly to find Ekaterina standing on the porch in a thick robe, her arms crossed over her chest. Her long blonde and gray hair is loose around her shoulders, and her dark eyes watch me with a mixture of amusement, curiosity, and understanding.

"I just needed some air," I say, the lie sounding weak even to my own ears.

"Air is one thing. Walking toward the gate in the middle of the night without a coat is another." She descends the steps slowly, her slippers making soft sounds against the wood. "Come back inside before you freeze."

"I can't just sit there doing nothing," I say, my voice cracking. "Sharon is missing because of me. I need to help find her."

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Ekaterina asks, her tone gentle but firm. "You don't know where she is or if someone took her. Walking out into the night alone will only give my son and his friends another person to worry about."

The truth of her words hits me hard. She's right. I have no idea where Sharon is or how to find her. All I'd accomplish by leaving is making things worse.

"I feel so useless," I whisper.