Page 33 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

A grin breaks across Demid’s face, and someone near the back knocks a fist against the wall in approval as applause breaks out.

Men cheer and whistle, celebrating the news, but Akim doesn’t waver a bit.

He stands next to me with his arms crossed and that same stern expression on his face, watching the men too.

He’s got eagle eyes, probably hoping, as I am, to find which one of these men is bitter about this.

I let them have their moment before I lift a hand to silence them. It takes a few minutes—the boss having a child is big business.

They’ll be talking about this for a while and each of them will probably want their moment to personally congratulate me.

“It changes what we’re doing,” I tell them when the hush finally descends. “Whoever came for me last month is coming for my child now, or they will be the instant they hear the news. I won’t raise a baby in a house I haven’t cleaned out first, so I need the man behind that threat found before the child is born.”

We’re at a critical juncture.

For the next twenty years, until my son is old enough to be trained and taught how to lead this family, I’ll be looking over my shoulder.

These men are faithful and dedicated, but even they won’t be able to protect us both at all times. And they seem to understand me.

Every face sobers.

Men stand taller, shoulders squared harder. One by one I see it reflect in their expressions how serious this day is and the task at hand.

I finish my speech, urging them to snuff out any possible attempt on my life, then I send them out with a tip of my chin.

When they’re all gone, I stand next to Akim with his sullen scowl and pursed lips, and I know something’s wrong.

He’s known for a week now that Raina is carrying, and he has yet to congratulate me.

He’s so busy with his head stuck in this death threat business he hasn’t even registered it yet.

More than anything I want him to carry this mantle on into my son’s generation, so my child will have the same protection and covering that I have.

But that starts by ensuring this man whom I trust so much is steady and not being moved by the storms that constantly ignite in our world.

“Say it,” I tell Akim. I can see his protest building behind his face and I know he’s bothered by something. “You’ve been chewing on something since I walked in here. Spit it out already before you choke.” I pull the desk chair out and spin it around, sitting down to let some pressure off my feet, which I’ve been on all day so far.

He pushes off the wall and comes to the edge of my desk. “That girl is going to be the death of you, Bastian, and I don’t mean that as a figure of speech.” He seems so earnest as he pours out his concerns, but he really has no need to be bothered by Raina or the added measures of effort and security we’re having to put into her protection now.

I’ve done the work, vetted her fully.

There’s nothing there but ghosts he’s chasing.

“You’ve made your feelings about Raina clear a dozen times.”

Akim squirms, shaking his head at me. “Bash, you know I never fight you, but honestly I wonder where your head is lately.” He stands over me huffing.

While his directness is frustrating to me when I put this to bed a dozen times already, he feels so powerfully about this he’s willing to piss me off to say it.

Maybe I need to hear it. “Did you even check what sort of cancer that grandmother had? Because if it’s in her blood then it could be in your child’s blood. You want a healthy child, right?”

It’s a cruel thing to say and he says it because he loves me.

“You think I didn’t weigh all of that?” I ask him, turning my chair and relaxing back into it as I look up at him. I’ve never had a brother, and Akim is a bit young to be one for me, but I trust him like one and I appreciate that he watches out for me as if I’m family.

“Bash, I think she’s gotten under your skin so you’re not thinking right.” He lets his fingers dangle so they dust the corner of the desk and push my pen holder a smidge closer. “The last woman who did this left you wide open for a world of hurt. I thought you were being careful.”

He’s more right than he understands. I suck in a breath and heave out a sigh, taking this gentle smack as the warning I need.