Page 74 of Beautiful Agony

"This thing you want me to do. It's connected to all that trafficking stuff, isn't it?" Freddy asks.

"It is," I confirm, watching him carefully.

He straightens up, and for the first time since I've known him, I see a flash of the man his parents must have hoped he'd become. "Then I'll do it."

"Freddy, I—" Lacey opens her mouth to speak, but Freddy cuts her off.

"I just got finished telling your husband about Mom and Dad. How they always wanted me to do something they could be proud of." His eyes shine with unshed tears. "This is it, right? This is my chance to do exactly that."

I watch the siblings carefully, seeing decades of hurt and resentment starting to crack.

"I wasn't the son I was supposed to be when Mom was alive, and when Dad could still speak to me. But if I can help stop these bastards from hurting more people..." Freddy's voice cracks. "Then it'll be worth it. And if something happens to me?" He lets out a shaky breath. "At least when I see Mom again, I can tell her that I did somethinggood."

"Freddy..." Lacey's voice trembles. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah, sis. I am."

The word hangs in the air between them.Sis.

Lacey moves first, wrapping her arms around him. For a moment, Freddy stands frozen, as if he's forgotten how to receive affection. Then slowly, his arms come up to return her embrace.

I watch them hold each other, seeing the last walls between them finally crumble.

Whatever happens next, this moment feels like a different victory—not one against Kirsan, but one against something so much more.

24

LACEY

THE NEXT MORNING

I wrapmy arms around Freddy, pulling him into a tight hug. "Stay safe," I whisper. "Okay?"

His body stiffens for a moment before relaxing. It reminds me of all the times I tried to hug him when we were younger, how he'd always pull away with a sneer. But now, his arms slowly come around to return the embrace.

"I will," he says gruffly. "In and out."

My throat tightens as memories of Irina flood back—how quickly things went wrong in Paris, how her blood stained my wedding dress. I can't lose anyone else to this war with Kirsan. Not when Freddy and I have finally found some measure of peace between us.

Before either of us can say more, footsteps echo across the marble floor. I turn to see Aleksey striding toward us, briefcase in hand.

"Vadim Petrovich," he greets with a slight bow of his head before turning to me with that practiced lawyer's smile. "Mrs.Stravinsky, are you ready to proceed with our half of this dog and pony show?"

I straighten my shoulders and give Freddy's arm one final squeeze. "Yes," I say firmly. "I'm ready."

My heart poundsagainst my ribs as I walk with Aleksey into Captain Rutledge's office. The familiar sight of his weathered desk brings back memories of my first visit here.

But this time, I'm not here as a suspect.

This time, I'm ready to tell him the truth.

"Thank you for coming back, Ms. McKinney," Rutledge says, settling into his chair. His razor-sharp eyes study me with the same intensity as before. "I appreciate your willingness to share your side of things."

His face hardens.

"However, I am disappointed to see you're still using Mr. Sterling-Wright's services."

Aleksey lets out a smooth chuckle.

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