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“We don’t have a lot of options,” I said, gripping Roman’s shoulder. “We land, and we fight.”

He held my gaze for a few seconds before nodding. “I told you we should’ve armed the damn plane,” he grumbled, flipping switches on the control panel. “Brace for landing in twenty minutes.”

Grigori and I quickly returned to the cabin, where Selina looked at me with wide green eyes. She was pale and trembling slightly.

“What’s happening, Nikolai?” she asked, standing, but another sudden jolt sent her stumbling.

I caught her before she fell, guiding her back into her seat and securing her seatbelt. “We’ll be fine, just stay put,” I told her. “We’re landing in twenty minutes, but there’s a good chance we’ll have a welcoming committee waiting for us.”

She stiffened. “He’s there, isn’t he? He found me? Oh my God, Rafael and Sienna! Did he get them too?” she cried, trying to get up, but her seatbelt held her in place.

“Hey, look at me,” I said firmly, tilting her chin up so she met my gaze. “I spoke to Sasha a few hours ago while you were sleeping. They arrived safely. They’re okay.”

Her frantic breathing slowed slightly, but she was still tense, still terrified.

“And you will be safe too, Selina,” I vowed, my tone unwavering. “I won’t let him take you. I swear it on my honor.”

Chapter eighteen

Selina

I closed my eyes as the plane shook like a cocktail shaker, gripping Nikolai’s hand tightly as he tried to reassure me with words. If we survived the landing—which already seemed like a miracle—it would be Antonio who would kill us. I didn’t even want to think about everything he would make me endure if he caught me. But at least Rafael was safe, and I knew Sienna would protect him.

“We’re going in nice and easy,” Roman’s voice came through the intercom as I watched the runway drawing closer and closer through the window. I said a silent prayer, burying my face against Nikolai’s shoulder, and he slid his hand around the nape of my neck, squeezing gently.It was going to be okay.

The plane finally touched down—smoothly, to my great surprise—and began to slow little by little until it came to a complete stop in the middle of the runway.

“It’s over,Solnyshko. We’ve landed,” Nikolai murmured, and I lifted my eyes to his. His gaze drifted over my face, darkening at the tension he saw there.

“Our welcoming committee is here,” Roman said as he joined us, loading a gun with quick, practiced movements, as if he had done it a thousand times before.

I glanced outside and froze when I saw several black SUVs pulling up, with a dozen men getting out. There must have been just as many on the other side of the plane, judging by Grigori’s grimace as he peered through the opposite window.

“There are too many of them,” I whispered, watching the men surround the plane, weapons in hand. Panic gripped me tighter and tighter, making it nearly impossible to breathe. I turned to the three brothers, watching them swiftly load multiple weapons and strap on black vests, which I assumed were bulletproof.

Nikolai approached me, holding another vest in his hands.

“Nikolai, there are too many of them. We’ll never make it,” I said as he fastened the protective gear around me with firm, efficient hands. I struggled to breathe, my whole body trembling.

I grabbed his wrists, and finally, he stopped. His gaze locked onto mine.

“Maybe I should… They’ll let you go if I surrender…”

Every part of me froze as his hands glided up to my neck, his thumbs tilting my face upward. His lips brushed mine—just the faintest touch, not even a kiss, but the impact felt like a shockwave. My eyes widened as my grip on his arms tightened.

He pulled back as quickly as he had leaned in, studying me with dark intensity, his thumbs tracing gentle circles on my cheeks.

“Look at me, Selina, and take in every word I say,” he said, his entire body coiled with tension. “As long as I’m alive, you will never fall back into that monster’s hands. I would die a hundred times before letting that happen.”

His words carried an unshakable force and determination.

“Do you understand me,Solnyshko?”

I nodded slowly, unable to form any words, my lips still tingling from his touch. Satisfied, he straightened, pulling me to my feet as he finished adjusting the vest.

“You’re staying with Roman. He’ll protect you.”

I grabbed his shirt, frowning, deeply uneasy about being close to any man other than him.