Page 124 of Wicked Duty
Her smile stirs pure joy in my rusty heart.
I cup her cheek with my free hand, brushing my thumb over that little dimple that’s been driving me wild. “I’m going to make you so fucking happy.”
A silver sheen lines her eyes. “You already do.”
I tug her down for a kiss and sigh against her lips, content for the first time in a long, long time. “Never letting you out of my sight again, Marlow.”
Chapter 48
Lucy
For the ten days Callum spends in the hospital, Runway Revolution hardly crosses my mind. I’m probably the only person in the modeling world who can say that though.
The competition wound up in the news as soon as they reported Marco Benetti’s death. In the wake of his passing, the organizers postponed the final round to carve out space for the global outpourings of grief, love, and support.
Which was just fine by me. Time away from the competition gave me enough flexibility to sit by Callum’s bedside until the doctors discharged him. Being with him, even while he’s recovering, have been some of the best days of my life.
Getting to compete in the very last round of Runway Revolution is simply the icing on a very delicious cake.
No sign of Viktor yet, but I know the Kings are searching, along with probably every bounty hunter and FBI agent within a five-hundred-mile radius. Given all the heat and the fact that he took a bullet, too, the risk of him popping up to abduct me seems low for now.
I shake myself free of the memories and concentrate on the present. The final competition takes place on another rooftop, with a mile-long catwalk lit from below. The who’s who of thefashion industry line four rows of chairs on either side of the runway and the other spectators applaud and snap photos. Through all the commotion, I sense Callum tracking my every movement.
Sitting in the front row of the audience to my left, Maya cheers with the enthusiasm only a big sister can generate. She hopped on a plane the minute she heard I was taken and decided to stay to see me compete for the top spot. Nika’s right beside her, beaming. They both look so proud.
No crying, Lucy.
Having my three favorite people here to cheer me on is the real victory.
I glide down the runway, radiating confidence in a stunning avant-garde creation by renowned designer Fumiko Ishiguro.
The judges whittle us down quickly.
In the final round of this final round, it’s just Adrian Madriaga and me.
Heather, who made a full recovery after our abduction, dropped out of the competition, but she and I have kept in touch since our harrowing brush with death. My trauma recognizes hers, and vice versa.
With a little time, I believe Heather will return to modeling. She’s already had some job offers just from making it so far in this competition.
She’s strong. She’ll survive.
The event builds toward the crescendo, and the time arrives for my final walk. I take the runway once again, having never felt more like a queen.
My eyes meet Callum’s where he’s standing guard by one of the entrances, and it’s like I’m strutting toward my king.
The heat and pride in his gaze spring across the distance. I feel the full force of his support and love all the way from here, and it gives me a little extra pep.
After everything that happened with Marco, I was sure Callum would go back to being overbearing and impossible, demanding that I drop out. But even though he’s keeping closer tabs on me than before, he’s surprisingly supportive, which leads to me mauling him every chance I get.
The end of the night is a whirlwind.
Impossibly, wondrously, unbelievably, I’m crowned the winner of this year’s Runway Revolution. Overnight, I become the toast of the town. Contract offers pour in so quickly, my email app freezes.
I’mthrilled. But the competition isn’t as important as it was a month back.
Now, I’m just happy that I’m safe. That my loved ones are safe. That Callum is safe.
After my win, we return to the Gallagher estate to celebrate.
