Page 125 of Beautiful Agony

But my attention keeps drifting back to Lacey. The angry purple bruises blooming across her jaw and down her arms make my stomach clench.

She catches me staring and gives me a reassuring smile, but I can't look away from the marks marring her skin. My eyes drift to the gentle swell of her belly where our daughter grows. The thought of how close I came to losing them both squeezes at my chest.

She must read the guilt in my expression because she takes my hand and places it over her belly. Through the thin hospital gown, I feel Larina's tiny kicks against my palm. The sensation grounds me, reminds me what I'm fighting for.

Lacey's fingers thread through mine. "Do you want to see the interview?"

"Did Megan embarrass me like I expected her to?" My voice comes out hoarse.

Megan straightens. "We should give you two some privacy." She herds everyone toward the door, though my mother lingers for a moment, worry etched in her features. Martin gently guides her out with a reassuring nod in my direction.

Once we're alone, Lacey pulls out her phone and brings up a video. Her hands tremble slightly as she hits play. I watch myself on screen, telling the world about my mother, about Pyotr, about the mission that's consumed my life. When I start talking about Lacey, my chest tightens at the raw emotion in my recorded voice.

The video ends, and Lacey turns to me with a ghost of her usual sass. "So... you think Moon River is a corny old song?"

I try to laugh at her mention of Moon River, but pain lances through my chest. "Careful,zvyozdochka. It hurts to laugh."

Lacey leans in, pressing her lips softly against mine. The gentle kiss speaks volumes—relief, love, forgiveness. When she pulls back, those amber-flecked eyes shine with emotion.

I drink in every detail of her face, memorizing how the light catches the golden flecks in her irises, how her lips curve into that soft smile that's become as essential to me as breathing. My heart thunders against my ribs, a fierce reminder of just how deeply this woman has worked her way into my soul.

"I love you," she whispers.

"I love you too." The words come easier now, as natural as breathing.

"There's something else you should know." She fidgets with the edge of my hospital blanket. "Captain Rutledge has been calling. He wants to speak with both of us."

My jaw tightens. Even now, the thought of that man near Lacey sets my protective instincts on edge. "I don't like it."

"Hey." She takes my hand, squeezing gently. "I'll be right there beside you when we go. We'll face whatever comes next together."

"I'm supposed to protect you," I protest weakly.

She shakes her head, a familiar stubborn set to her jaw. "No. We protect each other. That's what partners do."

Looking at her now—bruised but unbroken, fierce and loyal despite everything we've been through—I'm overwhelmed by how much I love her. "How did someone like me get so lucky and end up with someone like you?"

Her lips curve into that playful smile I adore as she leans in to kiss me again.

40

VADIM

I holdLacey's hand as we enter Rutledge's office. Her touch steadies me, though my wounds still ache. The captain's eyes track our every move, sharp and calculating as ever.

"Mr. and Mrs. Stravinsky." His voice holds none of its usual edge. "Please, sit."

Lacey squeezes my hand before we settle into the chairs. Her presence beside me feels like armor.

"I'll be direct," Rutledge says, folding his hands on his desk. "The interviews your sister-in-law published have... complicated things."

"How so?" I keep my voice neutral, though I already suspect where this is heading.

He exhales heavily. "Public opinion has shifted dramatically in your husband’s favor. The story of a son working to undo his father's legacy of evil... it's compelling. Add in the rescued women singing his praises, and suddenly he’s being hailed as some kind of hero."

"That wasn't our intention," Lacey interjects softly.

"Wasn't it?" Rutledge's gaze fixes on her. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like a masterful PR move. If I move against Svoboda or your husband now, the public backlash would be significant."

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