Page 82 of Beautiful Agony

"Look at you," Sayanaa sneers. "You can't even do this one simple thing. You're so weak. A real pakhan's wife wouldn't hesitate."

Lacey's shoulders shake with silent sobs.

"You don't belong in this world," Sayanaa continues, her voice dripping with contempt. "You can't even kill to protect your own family. Not Irina. Not your brother. Not your baby. Not your dead mother's honor."

More tears fall as Lacey's grip tightens on the gun. I can see the war raging behind her eyes—the desperate need to prove herself against the fundamental goodness of her soul. If she pulls that trigger, something precious will die along with Sayanaa. Something that can never be recovered.

"Poor little orphan," Sayanaa taunts. "Always trying to find somewhere to belong. But you never will. You're too weak. Too soft."

I reach out and gently wrap my fingers around Lacey's trembling hand. "Zvyozdochka. This isn't who you are."

"Aw, how sweet, little thief," Sayanaa mocks.

I ignore her. "Lacey. Look at me."

Slowly, those amber-flecked eyes meet mine. Tears streak down her cheeks, but beneath them burns a fury I recognize all too well.

"From the moment I met you at Mrs. Klossner's," I tell her softly, "I saw how fiercely you protect those you love. You stood up to me—a complete stranger—to defend her business. You dropped out of school to care for your mother. You gave Freddyone chance after another despite everything he's done to your family."

"But there's a difference between defending and destroying," I continue, keeping my voice gentle. "Once you pull that trigger, there's no coming back. That first kill... it changes you forever. Haunts you. Lives in your nightmares. Becomes a part of who you are. It'll break you in ways you can't ever imagine. If you pull that trigger, then the Lacey I fell in love with will die too."

"Fuck you, Vadyusha," Sayanaa sneers. "How many people haveyoukilled?"

I keep my focus only on Lacey. "You don't have to become like me. Like her. Like any of us. You don't have to prove to anyone else that you're a pakhan's wife, because the only person who needs to accept you in that position is me."

Softly, Lacey sniffles.

I wrap my fingers around hers, and feel how cold they've gone. "And I have."

Sayanaa's lips curve into a triumphant smile as she watches Lacey's shoulders slump. Her eyes gleam with savage victory, blood still dripping from the gash on her cheek.

"You're not the monster who is willing to kill." I whisper as I take the gun from Lacey's grip and press the barrel against Sayanaa's temple. "I am."

The smug satisfaction drains from her face, and her eyes widen with genuine fear for the first time since I've known her.

"Vadyusha, wait—" She starts stammering. "Please, I?—"

"Zvyozdochka," I say softly, not taking my eyes off Sayanaa. "Walk away from this."

Lacey gives a small nod. Her footsteps echo on the stone as she climbs the stairs. Each step feels like an eternity until finally, the heavy door closes behind her with a dull thud.

"Please," Sayanaa begs, her voice rising to a desperate pitch. "Please don't do this! Please! I was wrong! I admit it! I shouldn't have done these things! But I did them because I love you! Because I wanted to show you that I was the perfect woman for you! I love you, Vadyusha! I?—"

I pull the trigger.

The gunshot echoes through the dungeon. A fine red mist sprays across the concrete floor.

And Sayanaa's body slumps forward in the chair.

26

LACEY

Megan and Dadare waiting outside the makeshift operating room Dr. Chen set up. My hands are still trembling from what happened downstairs. The metallic weight of Vadim's gun lingers in my grip even though I'm no longer holding it.

Dad reaches for my bandaged hand as I sit beside him. His familiar warmth steadies me somewhat, though he hasn't spoken a word since we brought him to Pankration. I squeeze back, grateful that despite his condition, he can still sense when his daughters need comfort.

"Any news?" Megan asks, her voice tight with worry.

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