Page 130 of Beautiful Cruelty

How do I even begin explaining that Nathan was involved in human trafficking? Where do I even start explaining that he was instrumental in helping monsters destroy so many lives?

The weight of knowledge crashes down on me.

All of it is entangled together in a web I can barely comprehend.

And I'm caught in the middle, with no good options no matter what I choose..

I look up at Megan's worried face and make my decision. I can't lie to her. Not about this.

"Meg," I whisper, leaning forward. "What I'm about to tell you... you can never repeat it to anyone. Do you understand?"

Concern deepens the lines around her eyes. "Wh?—"

"I mean it, Meg." I grab hold of her hand, squeezing them harder than I'd like. "Knowing what I'm about to tell you is fucking dangerous. And if the wrong people find out that you know..." I swallow hard, remembering Irina's blood on my hands. "I can't bear the thought of something happening to you."

"Lacey, you're scaring me."

"Good. You should be scared." My knuckles turn white. "Because what I'm about to tell you is the scariest fucking thing you've ever heard of."

"Wait." Megan pulls her hand from mine and stands up. "If this is as dangerous as you say, then we should talk somewhere else. Somewhere where nobody can hear us"

"Good idea." I nod and follow suit. "Where?"

"My car."

I slide into Megan's car and wait for her to start the engine and pull out of the parking lot. My hands tremble in my lap as I gather my thoughts.

"Nathan wasn't just cheating on me with Caroline," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper. "He was working for a man named Kirsan Kuular who trafficks women through the fashion industry. Those modeling contracts you see advertised everywhere? Most of them are fake. Kirsan uses them to lure girls in, promising them a chance to enter into the industry, and then sells them to the highest bidders."

"Holy shit." Megan's eyes widen. "How do you know all this?"

I touch Mom's necklace to steady myself before continuing. "Vadim told me."

"When?"

I twist my hands in my lap, staring at the diamond ring that now feels impossibly heavy. "I went back to Nathan's apartment morning after the Vorobyov event I was working at to get my things."

Megan shifts in her seat to face me, silent but attentive.

"Vadim was already there. He was looking through Nathan's files, trying to find more evidence linking Nathan to Kirsan's operation." My heart pounds as I remember that moment. "I didn't know it was him at first when I walked in and saw someone inside. I panicked and tried to scream for help."

"So the scream your neighbor heard." Megan's eyes widen. "That was you?"

I nod. "

"Remember Vadim's suit that I accidentally took from Mrs. Klossner's?" I ask and she nods. "There was a piece of paper in the pocket. At first, I thought they were just inventory numbers—SKUs and prices. Well, they were." My voice cracks. “Not for clothes. But for people."

"Are you sure? That's one hell of an accusation."

"I recognized one of the names on the list—Chrysalis Designs. Nathan had talked about doing a deal with them months ago."

"But how do you know Vadim isn't part of this?" Megan's eyes bore into mine. "I mean, he had a list of people and prices inhissuit jacket. That sounds pretty damning to me."

"Because his company, Svoboda, frees those victims." I twist my ring, remembering Irina's fierce pride when she told me about the company's mission. "One half of Svoboda is the brand that gains him access to fashion shows, and the second half helps trafficking victims escape and build new lives."

"And you believe him?" Megan's voice carries an edge of skepticism that makes my chest tighten.

"I've met some of the women he's saved."

---