47. Nick
NICK
Three months have passed since Marla told us she was pregnant, and everything has changed.
The merger is official and complete now. The three families operate as one unified organization with combined ports, territory, and political influence that makes us significantly more powerful than we were separately.
The captains support the consolidation. Even the old guard who initially resisted have come around after seeing the financial benefits and increased security.
More importantly, the new estate outside town is finally complete.
I pull my SUV through the gated entrance, glancing in the rearview mirror at Marla sitting in the back seat.
She's six months pregnant now, her belly round and obvious beneath the soft gray sweater she's wearing. Sharon sits beside her, looking nervous and excited at the same time.
"This is really happening," Sharon says quietly.
"Yeah," Marla replies, her voice tight. "It's really happening."
The driveway winds through carefully landscaped grounds before opening into a clearing that reveals the full scope of what we've built. Three separate mansions stand positioned around the property, each one designed to reflect the personality of its owner.
My house sits to the east, modern and sleek with floor-to-ceiling windows. Alex's mansion is to the west, traditional and elegant with stone columns. Russ's place is to the north, sprawling and comfortable with wide porches.
But the centerpiece is the gathering house. It sits in the middle of the property, larger than any of the individual mansions. This is where we'll hold meetings, celebrations, and shared family life. This is where Marla will live.
I park near the front entrance and kill the engine. Marla stares up at the building through the windshield, her blue eyes wide.
"Nick," she says slowly. "This is..."
"Home," I finish for her.
She doesn't respond, just continues staring at the massive structure with its stone facade, arched windows, and heavy wooden doors. I get out and open her door, offering my hand to help her out of the vehicle. She takes it automatically, her fingers cold despite the mild weather.
Sharon climbs out on her own, not wanting to wait for assistance, and looks around with obvious awe. "Holy shit," she breathes.
Russ and Alex are already waiting inside.
They've been here all morning making sure everything is ready. I guide Marla and Sharon through the front entrance into a massive foyer with marble floors and a sparkling new chandelier.
"This way," I say, leading them up the curved staircase to the second floor.
The private suite we designed for the four of us takes up the entire east wing. I open the double doors and step aside, letting Marla enter first. She stops just inside the doorway, her hand flying to her mouth.
The bedroom is sprawling, easily three times the size of her old cottage. A massive bed sits against the far wall, custom-made to accommodate all four of us comfortably.
Two fireplaces flank either side of the room, already lit and crackling softly. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the back wall, offering views of the woods beyond the property.
Heavy curtains frame the glass in deep burgundy fabric that matches the bedding.
But what makes Marla's breath catch is the attached nursery.
The door stands open, revealing a room painted in soft cream with hand-carved furniture and a rocking chair positioned near the window.
Shelves line one wall, already stocked with books and toys. A mobile hangs above the crib, delicate stars and moons rotating slowly.
"There's a private terrace too," I say, gesturing toward the glass doors on the opposite side of the bedroom. "Overlooks the gardens."
Marla turns to look at me, tears shining in her eyes. "Nick, this is too much."
"It's not enough," I correct her.
Sharon wanders through the space, opening doors and peeking into the attached bathroom, which features a soaking tub large enough for multiple people and a shower with multiple heads. "There's a whole sitting room over here," she calls out. "And a walk-in closet the size of my old apartment."
Marla walks slowly to the windows, her hand resting on her rounded belly. She stares out at the woods, her expression unreadable.
"Where will you stay?" she asks quietly without turning around.
I move to stand behind her, close enough that she can feel my presence but not touching. "Here," I say simply. "Whenever we're not in our own houses handling business."
She turns to face me, confusion clear on her face. "All of you?"
"All of us," I confirm. "This suite belongs to the four of us. We designed it that way on purpose."
Her eyes search mine, looking for something I'm not sure she'll find. "And when you need privacy?"
"Then we go to our own houses," I say. "But this is home base. This is where we come together."
The moment stretches between us, heavy with implications and unspoken promises. I watch emotions flicker across her face too quickly to identify individually.
The sound of heels clicking sharply against marble shatters the peace.
I turn toward the doorway just as Arina appears, her face twisted with fury.
She's wearing a black dress that probably cost a fortune and heels sharp enough to be weapons.
Her dark hair is pulled back severely, emphasizing the anger in her eyes.
"So it's true," she says, her voice cold and cutting.
Fuck. "Arina," I say evenly. "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" She laughs, the sound bitter and harsh. "I just learned the merger is complete. Officially signed and sealed. Do you have any idea what that means for me, Nikita?"
I cross my arms over my chest, positioning myself between her and Marla. "It means nothing to you."
Her voice rises. "You destroyed my plans. I was supposed to take over your organization eventually. Everyone knew it. But now there's no organization to take over because you've merged everything into one unified mess."
"It's not a mess," I say coldly. "It's strategic consolidation that makes us all stronger." I don't add that it would be a cold day in hell before anyone in the family turned the reins over to her, even if something happened to me.
Her gaze shifts past me to Marla, who's standing frozen near the windows. Arina's eyes drop to Marla's pregnant belly, and something ugly crosses her face.
"The rumors are true then," she says slowly. "You're actually sharing a woman. All three of you."
"That's none of your concern," I say.
"None of my concern?" Arina's laugh is sharp enough to cut. She looks at Alex, who's appeared in the doorway behind her. "Why would you share a woman instead of choosing me? We would have been perfect together. Powerful. Unstoppable."
"You were never mine to begin with," Alex says, his voice flat and emotionless.
Arina jerks at Alex's words. Her face goes pale, then flushes with rage.
"She's weakening all three of you," Arina spits, gesturing toward Marla. "Can't you see that? You're making decisions based on emotion instead of logic. You're putting a pregnant woman at the center of everything when she should be hidden away somewhere safe."
"Enough," I say, my voice dropping to a dangerous level.
Arina ignores me, her attention fixed on Marla. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You've made yourself a target. You've made that baby a target. Every enemy we have will see you as the perfect weakness to exploit."
"I said enough." I step forward, forcing Arina to look at me instead of Marla. "Sister or not, I will never allow you to interfere in my personal family business again. That includes Russ, Alex, and Marla. Do you understand me?"
Arina's eyes narrow. "Family business? She's not family. She's a liability."
"She's mine," I say coldly. "Ours. And if you can't accept that, then you need to leave this property right now and not come back until you can."
The silence that follows is thick and dangerous. Arina stares at me like she's seeing a stranger, her chest rising and falling rapidly with barely controlled fury.
"You're making a mistake," she says finally, her voice low and venomous. "Power always comes with enemies, Nikita. Especially once children become involved. You've painted a target on that baby's back before it's even born."
She turns on her heel and stalks out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. I don't move until I hear the front door slam shut below. Only then do I turn back to Marla, who's gone pale and shaky.
"She's wrong," I say firmly.
"Is she?" Marla's voice is barely a whisper. "Maybe I am making you all weaker."
"No." I cross the room and cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. "You make us stronger. You give us something worth protecting beyond money and territory. Don't let her poison that."
Marla's eyes search mine, looking for reassurance. Behind us, Sharon quietly slips out of the room, giving us privacy.
"I'm scared," Marla admits.
"I know," I say. "But you're not alone. You'll never be alone again."
She leans into me, her forehead resting against my chest. I wrap my arms around her carefully, mindful of her belly between us.
We stand like that for several minutes, the only sound the crackling of the fireplaces and the distant noise of construction crews finishing final touches on the property. It's just the two of us. Alex left to make sure Arina didn't cause any problems on her way out.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I consider ignoring it, but it could be urgent. I pull it out and glance at the screen.
The message is from one of my contacts in city hall. Mayor resigned. Effective immediately. No explanation given.
I go completely still.
"What's wrong?" Marla asks, pulling back to look at my face.
I stare at the message, my mind racing through implications and possibilities.
The mayor resigned. Just hours ago. After months of investigation and pressure, he suddenly walked away from everything.
"Nick?" Marla's voice is worried now.
I look up at her, then at the phone in my hand.
"The mayor just resigned from office."