Page 9 of The Last Hope

“Why ? What happened, Alexei ?”

“One of the kids kept asking where our mom was… so I hit him,” he replied, looking everywhere but at me.

“I was busy separating Alexei from the other kid. I didn’t see Andrei leave,” David added.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of rage rising within me. Elif appeared at my side, her hand gently brushing Alexei’s hair.

“Keep an eye on him, please,” I said in a low voice as I stood.

I scanned the hall—no sign of Andrei.

I cursed again and strode toward the lobby.

Chapter four

Selina

His touch made me want to rip off my own skin, despite the dress covering me. I tried once again to pull away from his hand resting at the small of my back, but it was useless.

I exhaled softly, feeling Ivanov’s gaze burning into my back. He had seen the marks. He wasn’t supposed to. And if he told Antonio ? A shiver ran down my spine, and I gripped my son’s hand tighter, holding onto him like a lifeline.

That heavy gaze didn’t leave me, and if Antonio noticed, he would kill me. I wanted to grab my heel and throw it at that damn Russian’s face. What the hell was his problem ?

Antonio’s arm coiled around my waist like a snake, and I lifted my eyes to him. Without taking his gaze off his conversation partner, he leaned down toward me.

“You should take a trip to the bathroom,mia dolce, to touch up your makeup,” he whispered against my ear.

He pulled back, smiling as he gently pushed me toward the exit. My eyes flicked to my son, who was already watching me with worry as I stepped away.

“Don’t worry,Cara mia, I’ll keep an eye on our son,” Antonio said cheerfully.

Tears pricked my eyes, and I clenched my jaw as anger burned inside me. He knew. He knew I would never escape without my son. He used him as a leash, one he had fastened around my neck, keeping me at his feet.

The helplessness suffocated me. I wanted to scream, I wanted to hit him, I wanted someone to see me, to see what I truly was. I wanted help.

But I did nothing—nothing except nod, throwing one last glance at my son, who silently begged me with his eyes. I smiled at him gently and walked toward the hall on trembling legs.

I entered the restroom, smiled at a little girl who was leaving, and waited a few seconds to make sure I was alone. I placed my bag beside the sink and looked at my reflection, grimacing as I saw a mark beginning to show on my neck.

With a shaky hand, I opened my bag, took out my foundation, and began applying it.

I didn’t even feel it coming when it escaped my lips—a sob. My whole body trembled, my cheeks dampened, but I kept covering the marks that would never truly disappear.

I set the brush down, grabbed a tissue, and roughly wiped my tears away, ignoring the physical pain. That kind of pain had long become secondary.

I had learned to block it out, accepting that I abandoned my pride and honor with each hit I took. My only reason for living was my son. My son, who was currently alone with our tormentor.

I grabbed the brush again and started applying makeup to my face, thinking only of returning quickly to my baby.

I finished reapplying my makeup, calming down little by little. I took one last look at my reflection to make sure no marks were visible, grabbed my bag, straightened my shoulders, and stepped out.

I walked stiffly and quickly down the hallway toward the hall when something crashed into me. I let out a cry and found myself on the floor, a small body sprawled across my lap.

I lowered my gaze and found myself face-to-face with a little boy, his eyes brimming with tears, nose red, lips trembling, and shoulders shaking with sobs.

Suddenly, he buried his face against my stomach, wrapping his arms around me. I froze, unsure what to do as he continued crying into me. I looked around, but I didn’t see his mother, in fact, I saw no one at all. We were alone.

I placed my hand on his back, rubbing it gently, then slid my fingers through his hair—it was shorter than my son’s, who had slightly longer, curly locks. My hand drifted to his nape, squeezing gently,it would be okay.