Page 132 of Beautiful Cruelty

Megan stares at me, a panoply of emotions flickering in her eyes. But the one that overpowers all of them is an intense fear while she stares at me.

Like I'm someone she doesn't recognize.

Like I'm someone dangerous.

I release her arm immediately, horrified at myself. At how much I'm starting to sound like Vadim. Starting to act like him.

"I'm sorry." My voice shakes, but the edge refuses to leave. "But I need you to promise me that you'll stay away from this story."

"Okay! Okay!" Megan's stammers. "I promise."

"Thank you." Relief floods through me and I release her.

"Fuck." She rubs her arm where I grabbed her. "You landed yourself in one hell of a mess, didn't you?"

"Yeah." I let out a mirthless laugh. "I have."

"Lacey." She turns to face me fully. "You still need to go to the police. Caroline's accusations aren't going to go away on their own. The longer you stay silent, the more suspicious it looks."

"I can't?—"

"Yes, you can." Her voice softens. "You don't have to tell them everything. Just explain that you found Nathan with Caroline, and that her story is bullshit. Give your side of what happened that night. Just to get it on record."

I twist the ring again, considering her words.

"And if you're telling me the truth about Vadim's work. Having the police sniffing around him is the last thing either of you need."

She's right. If the police start investigating me as a suspect, they could uncover everything. It'll compromise Vadim's mission.

And by extension, everything that Irina died for.

I can't let that happen.

"Okay." I nod slowly. "Let's go to the station."

"Now?"

"We're already in your car, aren't we? Unless you have something else more important to do?"

"Fair enough." She starts her car, and pulls out of the lot. As we wait at a red light, movement in the side mirror catches my eye. A black sedan three cars behind us.

How long has that been there?

I look over at Megan, but she seems oblivious to it. I debate telling her about it. But if I do, then that might freak her out. And if she freaks out, she might do something unpredictable.

And if that sedan belongs to Kirsan, then we'll both be in trouble.

So, I stay silent for now, watching it from the side mirror.

The light changes. We turn left.

And the sedan follows.

39

VADIM

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