35. Nick
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?"
"Just curious. He's been acting different too. More distracted." She smiles. "I thought maybe he'd finally found someone worth his time."
I take a drink of vodka and avoid answering. Arina is fishing, and I'm not about to give her anything she can use. It's obvious, at least to me, that she has the hots for Alex. What she doesn't know is that Alex would never give her two seconds' thought.
"Speaking of distractions," she continues, her tone turning gossipy, "have you heard the rumors about Mayor Tom's son? I believe his name is Zach?"
My attention sharpens immediately. "What rumors?"
"Apparently he's obsessed with some redheaded girl around town. He's been asking questions, offering money for information." She laughs lightly. "It's all very dramatic. People are saying he's completely unhinged over her."
My blood runs cold. Arina doesn't know the redheaded girl is Marla, so that's good news. But the fact that she's heard anything is very worrisome. She's talking about it like it's entertaining gossip, completely unaware of how dangerous the situation actually is.
"Where did you hear this?" I ask, keeping my voice neutral.
Arina shrugs carelessly. "Around. You know how people talk." She waves a hand dismissively. "Powerful men get dangerous when they're rejected. It's always the same story."
The fact that this gossip is spreading outside Bratva circles means Marla's life is in even more danger than I'd first thought. If Arina knows, then half the city probably knows. That means Marla's situation is leaking far beyond our control.
My patience snaps.
"Stay away from the mayor's family," I say coldly. "Entirely."
Arina's smile fades. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Don't talk to them. Don't meet with them. Don't even acknowledge them if you see them in public."
Her eyes narrow dangerously. "Why would you care who I talk to?"
"Because I'm telling you to stay away," I say flatly. "That's reason enough." I level my gaze on her. "I'm telling this as your pakhan, not your brother. Do not disobey me."
She leans back in her chair, her expression calculating. "You're protecting someone. Who is she, Nikita?"
I stand abruptly, throwing cash on the table. "Lunch is over."
"You just made this much more interesting," Arina calls after me as I walk away.
Fuck. I just made things worse. Now Arina is suspicious, and she won't let this go. She'll dig until she finds out exactly who Marla is and why I'm protecting her.
I drive straight to the Ivory Wolf, intending to review security footage to see Zach for myself.
I want to know exactly who he is talking to and see the little prick in action.
The club is quieter in the afternoon, with only a few staff members preparing for the evening crowd.
I head toward the back office, but a loud voice near the bar stops me.
"I'm telling you, that mayor's kid is losing his shit over some girl," a bartender says, laughing. "He's offering serious cash to anyone who knows where she is, and he keeps telling us all how powerful his father is."
I recognize the bartender. Young, cocky, and drinks too much on his breaks. He's talking to two customers who look equally drunk.
"What girl?" one of them asks.
"Some redhead. Apparently she dumped him and disappeared. Now he's obsessed."
My vision goes red. I cross the room in three strides, grab the bartender by the collar, and drag him toward the back office. He yelps in surprise, stumbling as I shove him through the door and slam it behind us.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I demand.
His face goes pale. "Boss, I didn't—"
"Since when has it been okay to spread rumors here?" I demand through clenched teeth.
“I—I..."
"You're fired," I say coldly. "Get out. If I see you in here again, you won't walk out on your own two feet. Do I make myself clear?"
He stammers something, but I don't listen. I open the door and point toward the exit. He scrambles past me, nearly tripping over his own feet in his rush to leave.
I stand in the empty office, my hands shaking with barely controlled rage. The situation is spiraling. Marla's name is being thrown around like gossip. Zach is actively hunting for her. Arina is suspicious. And the leak in my organization is still unidentified.
Everything is fucking falling apart.
I leave the Ivory Wolf and drive back to the cottage, my mood darker than it's been in weeks. The sun is setting by the time I pull into the driveway, casting long shadows through the trees.
Alex is waiting outside before I even reach the porch. His expression tells me something else has happened while I was gone.
"What the fuck is it now?" I ask, my voice rough.
Alex's jaw tightens. "Marla is getting antsy and wants out of the cabin."