Page 116 of Beautiful Agony

My hand drifts to my belly instinctively as Larina gives another little fluttering kick. The thought of Vadim watching me, ready to keep us safe, sends an unexpected thrill through me.

"Will you walk for me, Lacey?" he asks suddenly. "Right now?"

I look up at him in surprise. "Here?"

He nods, his storm-gray eyes intense. "I want to see my wife own this runway before anyone else does."

The possessiveness in his voice makes heat pool low in my belly. I bite my lip, considering. It would be good practice, and something about the idea of walking just for him feels... right.

"Okay," I whisper.

His smile is both proud and predatory as he backs away toward the seats. "Show me what they'll all see,zvyozdochka."

I take a deep breath and step onto the empty runway. The spotlights aren't on, but I can feel their ghostly presence above me. My hand brushes my belly for courage before I begin.

The first step feels like entering another world. My heels click against the gleaming surface as muscle memory from years of practicing in my room takes over.

Back straight, shoulders down, chin lifted just so.

But this isn't like any other walk I've done before. My eyes find Vadim's in the darkness and lock there, drawing strength from his intense gaze. The rest of the empty venue falls away until there's only him watching me move.

Each step feels more confident than the last. My hips sway naturally, and I let a hint of a smile play at my lips as I reach the end of the runway. The pause there feels electric as I hold Vadim's gaze for three heartbeats before making my turn.

The walk back is even better. I can feel his eyes burning into me, following every movement. When I reach the end, I step down and straight into his waiting arms.

"Zvyozdochka," he breathes against my hair. "You were incredible up there. Like you were born for this."

I press closer, breathing in his familiar scent. "It felt... different than I expected. Better." My fingers curl into his jacket. "When we drove up, I couldn't shake this feeling that we were heading toward an ending. But now..."

"Now?" His hand strokes down my back.

"Now it feels like we're at the beginning of something amazing." I pull back just enough to see his face. "Like everything that came before was just preparing us for this moment."

His answering smile makes my heart skip. "Because they were.”

36

VADIM

SIX DAYS LATER

I check my watch again,forcing myself to remain still in my seat despite every instinct screaming at me to prowl the venue to search for Kirsan.

The bastard hasn't shown his face all week while my men dismantled his operation piece by piece. Three hundred and twenty-seven women and girls rescued so far, each with a story more horrific than the last.

My phone buzzes with notification of yet another interview released from Megan.

I scroll through the comments, feeling satisfaction at the way the comment sections are filled with calls for action.

The fashion industry's darkest secret exposed at last. Soon she'll release the final article revealing Svoboda's true purpose.

But none of that matters right now.

My eyes scan the crowd, cataloging faces. I recognize several politicians busy chatting with each other and laughing. Thelights dim and my hand instinctively moves to the gun concealed beneath my jacket.

The first few models walk. I barely notice them, too focused on watching for any sign of movement in the shadows.

Lacey is scheduled to close the show. But Kirsan is still nothing to be seen.

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