Page 29 of Beautiful Agony

And it's the truth.

"I never thought this day would come so soon." Mom's voice breaks. "I never imagined I would have this moment. To see my son happy, to know I'll be a grandmother."

Martin wraps his arm around her shoulders as she wipes her eyes. Serena beams at us from her perch on the armrest. They look so peaceful, so content. A proper family.

That's when a fresh cold realization hits me. This peace is fragile. Olga knows about this house, about Martin and Serena. And now that she's allied herself with Kirsan and Sayanaa, this sanctuary my mother built for herself isn't safe anymore.

I study Mother's face, seeing the light that Martin and Serena brought back to her eyes after years of darkness. The warmth of their modest home wraps around us like a protective blanket, but I know better than anyone how quickly safety can shatter.

Lacey must sense my tension because her thumb starts tracing soothing circles on my palm. Even now, she's trying to anchor me, to keep me from drowning in dark thoughts.

I clear my throat, hating how I must shatter this peaceful moment. "There's something else we need to discuss."

Mom's smile fades as she catches my tone. Even Serena straightens on her perch.

"Olga has allied herself with Sayanaa," I explain, directing this mainly to Martin. "They know about this place. About all of you."

"Sayanaa?" Martin's arm tightens protectively around Mom.

"Kirsan's daughter." I pause, choosing my words carefully.

"Let them come." Martin's voice hardens. "I can protect my family."

I study the man who gave my mother the peace she deserves, noting his powerful frame despite his age. While I don't doubt his sincerity or his ability, I also know that he can't be everywhere at once.

"Kirsan's organization is vast," I explain. "They have resources that one person can't deal with alone?—"

"I'm not going back there." Mom interrupts me.

A familiar terror creeping back into her eyes.

"I know,mamechka." I nod. "And I wouldn't ask it of you. Instead, I want to ask you permission to put some of my men nearby. Far enough that you won't notice them, but close enough to respond if needed."

"Like guardian angels," Lacey adds softly beside me. "Just watching from a distance."

Martin exchanges a look with Mom before nodding slowly. "Some extra eyes couldn't hurt. And Vadim is right. I can't be everywhere at once."

I watch Mom wrestle with my offer, her hands twisting together in her lap. The silence stretches between us, broken only by the gentle ticking of a clock somewhere in the house.

I know what she's thinking about. To be placed under the watchful eyes of the very men that once roamed Pankration's suffocating halls… It's just another reminder of the hell she endured under Pyotr.

I brace myself for her inevitable refusal.

How could she possibly trust armed men watching her home after everything she's been through?

But then she lifts her chin, and those storm-gray eyes meet mine with an unexpected resolve.

"Yes," she says quietly. "You have my permission."

For a moment, I can't breathe.

"Are you sure,mamechka?" I have to ask, even though every fiber of my being screams at me not to question this precious gift.

She nods, reaching for Martin's hand. "I trust you, Vadyusha." She swallows hard. "You're not him."

It'sevening by the time we leave Lacey and I step outside, bidding Mom goodbye.

Before we reach the car, Martin's voice calls out. "Vadim, hold up a moment."

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