Page 140 of Beautiful Agony

"Tell that to your niece." I try to laugh but it comes out as more of a gasp. The contractions are getting closer together, each one more intense than the last. "Meg..."

"I'm calling Vadim." She's already got her phone out as she stands up and rips open the door. "Demyon! Get in here!"

Demyon rushes in. Through the haze of pain, I see his concerned expression shift to understanding as he takes in the scene.

Another contraction hits and I cry out, doubling over. The pain is unlike anything I've felt before – sharp and insistent, like my body is being torn apart from the inside.

"I'll get the car," I hear Demyon telling Megan.

Megan's hand finds mine again, steadying me as the contraction peaks. "Just hold on, Lace. We're going to get you to the hospital."

45

VADIM

"FUCK!"Lacey's face is flushed and sweaty as she grips my hand through another contraction.

I can't help marveling at her strength, even now.

I brush damp strands of hair from her forehead.

"You're doing well,zvyozdochka."

"Less praising, more getting this baby out," Lacey pants, her amber-flecked eyes flashing with determination despite her exhaustion.

Dr. Chen's calm voice cuts through the beeping monitors. "You're fully dilated now, Mrs. Stravinsky. On the next contraction, I need you to push."

My stomach knots watching Lacey's face contort in pain. Part of me wants to do something—anything—to somehow make this easier for her.

But this is a battle that Lacey must fight herself.

I trust Dr. Chen; she's proven herself loyal after everything we've been through. But seeing Lacey in such distress makes my protective instincts surge, and knowing that there's nothing I can do leaves me feeling helpless in a way that unsettles me.

"Remember your breathing," Dr. Chen coaches as another contraction builds through Lacey. "That's it, just like we practiced."

She crushes my fingers as she bears down. I don't flinch, even as her white-knuckled grip tightens harder than I've ever felt from her.

"I'm right here," I murmur in Russian, pressing my lips to her temple. "You're the strongest person I know."

"Vadim," she gasps between pushes, "I swear to God if you don't stop with the sweet talk?—"

Her threat cuts off from another contraction.

"The head is crowning," Dr. Chen announces. "You're almost there, just a few more big pushes."

The next contraction hits and Lacey pushes with everything she has. Her face is red from exertion, tears streaming down her cheeks. I've seen her fight through so much, but nothing compares to watching her bring our daughter into this world.

"Almost there," Dr. Chen encourages. "The head is out. One more big push."

"You can do this,zvyozdochka," I whisper, pressing my forehead to her temple. "Just one more."

Lacey grits her teeth and bears down again. Her whole body trembles with the effort. I hold her hand tight, lending her my strength.

And then—a piercing cry fills the room.

My heart stops at that sound. Nothing could have prepared me for this moment. Not all my years running the bratva, not facing down Kirsan, not even watching Lacey on that runway in LA when Kirsan's knife pierced my gut.

This tiny voice crying out into the world for the first time leaves me completely undone.

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