Page 34 of The Last Hope

I grab her uninjured arm and turn her around, her body colliding softly against mine, a small gasp escaping her lips.

Her tear-streaked cheeks, trembling lips, those watery green eyes—fuck.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I know our presence puts your family in danger. I shouldn’t have asked that. I—”

She stops when my thumb presses against her lips.

“What have you done to me, woman ?” I murmur, frowning, strangely breathless. “You can’t even begin to imagine the things I’m willing to do for you and your son.”

She shakes her head, gripping my arm tightly. I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply, then finally release her and take a step back, shoving my clenched fists into my pockets.

“Go to bed,Solnyshko. To your son.”

And I turn away.

There’s a brief silence before I hear her hurried footsteps retreating down the hall.

I plant my hands on the kitchen island, bending over slightly, trying to steady myself, trying to clear my thoughts—thoughts that have never been this fucking chaotic in thirty-two years.

But nothing can erase the image of that green-eyed woman looking at me like I was her last hope.

Chapter nine

Selina

Laughter—no, giggles—suddenly erupted around me, tugging me out of sleep little by little. I tried to regain my senses, but a weight pressed against me, keeping me down. More giggles followed. I frowned, slowly opening my eyes, only to be met with a pair of wide, bright blue ones staring back at me.

“Good morning, Mom !” Andrei beamed, perched on my lap.

“Good morning,Mamma!” Rafael echoed, his head resting on my outstretched arm.

I stared at them both, speechless, as Sasha’s words echoed in my mind:This is a bad idea. He’ll be even more miserable when you leave.And he was right. The pure joy in Andrei’s eyes was a cruel reminder of how much worse the heartbreak would be when the time came.

I sighed, offering them a soft smile. “Buongiorno,angelimiei,” I said, adjusting against the headboard. “So, what’s so funny ?” I asked, giving them a suspicious look.

The two exchanged glances before proudly holding up markers.

“What…” My voice trailed off as I turned toward the mirrored wardrobe doors—only to be met with my own reflection, my face covered in what appeared to be tiny hearts… or at least their attempt at drawing them.

My mouth fell open in shock—then amusement—as I slowly turned back to them.

“You little rascals… Just wait until I catch you ! I’m going to draw such ridiculous mustaches on your faces that you’ll be begging me to stop !” I warned, throwing off the covers.

They burst into laughter and bolted off the bed. I chased after them, but just as they reached the door, it swung open, revealing my sister and Elif.

“You should’ve warned us there was an art session happening in here,” Elif teased, barely holding back her laughter—unlike my sister.

“Selina ! Oh my God, your face !” Sienna burst out laughing, throwing her head back.

“What’s so funny ?” a deep voice suddenly interjected.

Sasha appeared behind my sister, his eyes immediately locking onto hers. Nikolai followed right behind, dressed in a crisp white shirt, his hands buried in the pockets of his dark pants.

His presence filled the room like a protective shadow—not ominous, but rather shielding, watchful. His gaze met mine, his brows furrowing slightly as he took in my appearance. And then… his lips stretched into a smirk.

The same lips that had brushed against my face last night.

His words echoed in my mind:You’re not alone anymore, Selina. You don’t have to fight alone.