Page 154 of Beautiful Cruelty

The wound throbs, a constant reminder. I flex my fingers, feeling the sting where Lacey's teeth broke skin. "Your sister bit me."

"What did you do to her?" Megan launches forward in her chair, voice sharp with fury.

Her protectiveness reminds me of how Lacey defended Mrs. Klossner's dry cleaner from me. God, was that really only three weeks ago? The same fire burns in both sisters. But where Lacey's flames dance with grace, Megan's blaze with raw aggression.

"Nothing you need to know about." I keep my tone neutral, measured.

"Like hell I don't!" She slams her palm on the armrest. "If you hurt her?—"

"Ms. Huang." I cut her off. "There's much we need to discuss."

"Why did she bite you?" Megan's eyes narrow with suspicion.

I study the bandage, and the answer comes surprisingly easy. "Because she wanted to hurt me."

That draws a smirk to her lips. "You probably deserved it."

"Probably." I nod. "But again, we have much to discuss. Specifically about you, Ms. Huang. I know you're the social media manager for the Seattle Voice. I know you have a degree in journalism. I know that you were quite the prolific writer during your college years. And I think I speak for both of us when I say that you want to do more than manage a podcast's TikTok accounts."

Her aggression tamps down just slightly and her eyes widen as I rattle off details about her life. Good. She understands I've done my research.

"Is that why you brought me here?" she asks. "Are you going to threaten me into silence? Make me disappear if I don't?"

I think about how keeping secrets from Lacey is what led us to the awful events yesterday. The taste of her tears is still fresh on my tongue. I won't repeat that mistake this time.

"No, Ms. Huang," I say. "I intend to work with you."

"Work with me?" She barks out a laugh.

"Lacey must've told you everything about me."

"She told me enough, yes. About Nathan being in human trafficking. About some guy named Kirsan who uses fashion to lure in his victims." I can see the questions burning in her eyes. "Is any of it true?"

"Yes." I nod. "Every word."

Megan's face remains impassive at my revelation, showing nothing to betray her thoughts. Most people flinch when confronted with the reality of human trafficking. But she maintains her composure, letting the silence stretch between us. I'm impressed.

After a few seconds of silence, she breaks the quiet.

"How do you intend to work with me?"

"The Seattle Voice could help expose Kirsan's activities," I explain. "Force him into the light where he's most vulnerable."

"That's exactly what I told Lacey!" Megan leans forward, eyes bright with vindication. "But she insisted I stay out of it. Said it was too dangerous."

"Your sister is right." I flex my injured hand, feeling the sting. "Kirsan won't hesitate to hurt you or your family if you expose him."

"I can keep my identity hidden," Megan argues. "Use anonymous sources, protect?—"

"It won't matter." I cut her off. "Your brother Freddy owes substantial gambling debts to Kirsan's illegal casinos. Over half a million dollars."

The color drains from her face. "What?"

"The moment you get involved, Kirsan will knowexactlywho to squeeze. He will come for your family through those debts." I let my words sink in before continuing. "Right now, the only reason your family remains safe is because Lacey never took the last name of Huang."

A bitter laugh escapes Megan's lips. "Well isn't that fucking ironic?" She shakes her head. "The one thing Freddy always used to hurt Lacey ends up being the very thing keeping him—and the rest of us—safe."

I don't say anything, and she keeps talking.

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