Page 139 of Beautiful Cruelty

I reach for the card with trembling fingers, but Aleksey smoothly intercepts it.

"I'm sure if my client has any pertinent information about whatever wild goose chase you're on, she'll contact you through the proper channels." His smile remains perfectly pleasant. "Now, I believe there's something you're supposed to say at this point?"

Rutledge sits back down, sighing. "You're free to go, Ms. McKinney."

Aleksey helps me to my feet, his hand firm but gentle on my elbow as he guides me toward the door.

The fluorescent-lit hallwayseems longer than before. Each step echoes against the linoleum floor as we make our way back to the lobby. My mind races with questions about Aleksey's sudden appearance.

We walk out into the waiting room, and I know something is wrong the moment we do.

Where's Megan?

My heart pounds against my ribs as I scan the room for her face. But she's nowhere to be seen. Aleksey's hand remains tight on my elbow as he guides me outside.

In the parking lot, Megan's car is nowhere in sight.

The spot where she parked sits empty, mocking me. Overhead, thunder rumbles as the rain starts coming down harder.

My chest tightens and Olga's warning echoes in my head:Pyotr's bastard will put blood on your hands.

I think of Irina bleeding out in my arms. Of her final gasping breaths. Of her blood soaking my dress and my palms.

No. Not Megan. Please, not Megan.

"Where's my sister?" I turn towards Aleksey. "She was supposed to wait for me."

"Ms. McKinney." All joviality leaves his voice, and it takes on an edge of urgency. "It's time to leave."

"But I have to find my sister?—"

"No, you do not, Ms. McKinney." His voice drops lower, urgent. "You're lucky to not still be in there right now. Don't push your luck any further. We need to go. Now."

Panic claws at my throat as I scan the empty parking lot again. "I can't just?—"

"You can and you will." Aleksey's pleasant demeanor fades entirely. "I have my orders from your husband. And right now, his order is to bring you home."

41

LACEY

Thunder crashesoverhead as I step through Pankration's heavy doors. The darkness inside swallows me whole, broken only by occasional flashes of lightning through the windows. My wet clothes cling to my skin, but the chill I feel has nothing to do with being soaked.

Vadim stands in the foyer. His broad frame rises like a darker shadow against the gloom. His hands are clasped behind his back, and even without seeing his face clearly, I can feel the fury radiating from him.

"You went behind my back." His voice cuts through the silence like a knife. "To thepolice."

"I can explain?—"

"Shut the fuck up." Each word drops like a hammer blow. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The damage you may have caused?"

"Megan's missing," I whisper. "She was supposed to wait for me and?—"

"I saidshut the fuck up!" He advances on me, roaring, and I stumble backward until my spine hits the wall. "What the fuck were you thinking? Everything we've worked for. Everything we sacrificed! And you risk it all by walking into a police station?"

Lightning illuminates his face for a split second. His features are twisted with rage. His eyes burn with an intensity that makes my breath catch. The mansion feels impossibly empty around us, as if the very walls are holding their breath.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, my voice small and trembling. But Vadim just keeps coming closer, boxing me in with his body until I can feel the heat of his anger against my rain-chilled skin.

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