Page 71 of Beautiful Agony

A low chuckle escapes him. "Point taken."

My hand drifts unconsciously to my belly. "I want our child born into a world where Kirsan can't hurt anyone else. Where no more girls like Taliya have their lives destroyed by monsters exploiting their dreams."

Just then, the shrill ring of Megan's phone cuts through our planning session. She answers, and her face drains of color as the person on the other end starts talking immediately.

"What?" Megan's voice shakes. "Was anyone—" She falls silent, listening. "I understand. Yes. No, I... I get it."

My stomach drops at her expression.

Something is wrong.

Demyon reaches for her. "What is it?"

"The Seattle Voice..." Megan's words come out barely above a whisper. "Someone burned it down. The whole place is gone. My boss said the exposés I've been writing made us a target. And he just fired me."

23

VADIM

The color drainsfrom Megan's face as she puts her phone down. My mind races through the implications. This isn't a coincidence. Kirsan is moving to silence any opposition before we can expose more of his operation.

"He's tying up loose ends," I say. "Before they become liabilities."

"The bastard's getting desperate," Demyon adds, his hand unconsciously moving closer to Megan.

"Do you still have access to the Seattle Voice's social media accounts?" I ask Megan.

She nods, pulling out her phone. "Yeah, they haven't locked me out yet."

"Good. Start redirecting all their followers to follow Svoboda." I lean forward, resting my elbows on the desk. "It's time we show the world what we really do."

"You want to go public?" Lacey asks, her hand finding mine under the table.

"We have to. Kirsan thinks he can silence us by taking away our platform?" I squeeze her hand. "Let him try. We'll give these stories an even bigger stage."

"I'll keep Megan safe," Demyon says before I can give the order. There's something in his voice that makes me look at him sharply.

The way he's positioned himself between Megan and the door, the slight tension in his shoulders—he's more invested in her safety than he's letting on.

I nod, and then say to Lacey. "We'll need to talk to your brother."

I accompanyLacey to Freddy's room, my hand resting protectively on her lower back. Even through her clothes, I can feel the slight warmth radiating from her body. The sensation grounds me, keeps me from doing what Iwantto do to this pathetic excuse of a man who dares call himself her brother.

Lacey knocks on the door. No answer. She tries the handle and finds it unlocked.

Inside, Freddy jumps back from the dresser drawer he was rifling through. My jaw clenches at the sight. Some things never change.

"I-I wasn't..." Freddy stammers, pressing himself against the wall. "I swear I wasn't looking for anything to steal."

"Today is your lucky day, Freddy," I say. The fear in his eyes intensifies. Good. "You get to clear your debt with Kirsan."

His eyes narrow with suspicion, darting between me and Lacey. "What's the catch?"

"The catch," Lacey explains, her voice carrying an authority I've never heard before. "Is that you need to identify any police officer there who is either working security or gambling."

"Are you insane?" Freddy's voice cracks.

"No, I'm giving you a chance to do the right thing for once." Lacey's eyes flash with determination. "To actually help instead of just taking."

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