Page 86 of Cursed

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LANDON

Idrum my fingers against the polished conference table, watching Xavier pace at the head of the room. The tension radiates from him in waves, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack teeth.

“This is the second time Orlov has hit our distribution network,” Xavier says. “First the warehouse in Eastside, now this.”

Vane leans forward. “Let me pay him a visit. I’ll bring back his fingers one by one until he understands whose territory he’s fucking with.”

“Always straight to broken bones with you,” Knox quips from across the table, spinning a pen between his fingers. “No foreplay whatsoever.”

I analyze the situation while they talk shit. Orlov’s Russian connections make him dangerous, but also valuable. This isn’t about vengeance; it’s about leverage.

“We need his supply chain intact,” I interject. “Killing him eliminates future opportunities.”

Xavier’s eyes meet mine, a flash of approval there before he masks it. “Landon’s right. We need Orlov alive.”

“Shocking. Landon and X agree again,” Vane mutters, drumming his fingers against the armrest of his chair.

“Jealous that no one agrees with your caveman tactics?” I counter.

Knox barks out a laugh. “He’s got you there, Vane. Your solution to everything issmash, kill, destroy.’”

Vane flips Knox off. “And your solution is what? Fuck the problem away?”

“Works more often than you’d think,” Knox grins.

I force a small smile, playing my part in this familiar dance of barbed words between brothers. The banter never comes naturally to me, but I’ve learned to mimic it convincingly enough. My brothers communicate through this verbal sparring; I simply adapt.

“Focus,” Xavier snaps. “Orlov’s crew hit the distribution center in Ravenwood Heights last night. Three of our men in the hospital, product stolen.”

“The question is whether this is a one-off or the beginning of a calculated territorial play,” I say, pulling up the security footage on my tablet. “Orlov isn’t stupid enough to think he can take us on directly.”

I swipe through the images, analyzing the precision of the attack. Four men, all masked, all carrying Heckler & Koch MP5s—not street weapons. This wasn’t an impulsive move.

“His men knew exactly where to go, which security protocols to bypass.” I turn the tablet to show my brothers. “Someone gave him inside information.”

Xavier’s eyes narrow. “The same breach Sadie found.”

The mention of her name sends a surge of electricity through my veins. Sadie. My Sadie. The way she dismantled our security systems so effortlessly still makes my pulse quicken. So much talent contained in the most beautiful fucking package.

“Yes,” I confirm. “And if Orlov has access to our digital infrastructure, we need to assume he knows about our other operations as well.”

Knox whistles low. “Do you reckon they know the handoff locations with the carnival?”

“Potentially everything,” I say.

Vane slams his fist on the table. “So we cut off his access. Find the mole and make an example of them.”

“We need to understand what he’s after,” Xavier says. “This isn’t just about product sales. Orlov wants something specific.”

I tap my finger against the table, my mind working through possibilities. “We need to set a trap. Feed him false information, see what he bites on.”

“And who’s going to design this trap?” Vane asks with a sneer.

I meet his gaze coolly. “Sadie and I will. Her skills combined with mine.”

Xavier studies me. “You trust her with this level of access to our operations?”