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“Is something wrong ?” I asked, stepping closer.

“Roman hasn’t come back yet,” my sister-in-law said, still pacing.

“You know Roman, Elif. He probably crashed at a friend’s place, drinking and playing video games,” I said, taking her hands, but she shook her head.

“I don’t know, Niko. I feel like I can’t breathe, I can’t sit still. I have a bad feeling.” The distress in her eyes was clear.

“Have you tried calling him ?” I asked, glancing at Grigori.

“That’s what I’ve been doing for the past hour, but nothing,” he replied.

Roman could be forgetful, but he always answered his phone—especially after the time he’d made Elif cry with worry five years ago.

“I’ll call Anton. He’ll know where he is,” I said, referring to my brother’s best friend.

As I pulled out my phone, I heard a car pulling into the driveway. “That must be him,” I said, and Elif rushed outside, with Grigori and me close behind.

But as soon as I saw Sasha’s car pulling up instead, my stomach dropped. And when I saw the look on his face, I knew.

He stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked at Elif.

“What happened to him, Sasha ? Tell me !” she demanded, her fists clenching as she paled. Sasha climbed the steps toward her, glancing between Grigori and me.

“There was an attack last night during the race,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “It was the Italians. They took Roman.”

The words hit us like a punch. We tried to process it—or at least, we tried. Elif swayed, and the three of us moved to steady her, but she lifted a hand, stopping us.

“What do they want ?” she asked, her voice flat.

This time, Sasha looked directly at me, and I knew immediately. “It’s Antonio. He wants Selina and Rafael in exchange for Roman.”

A sudden crashing noise shattered the silence behind us.

I turned, my stomach twisting, and froze at the sight of Selina standing near the doorway, the tray of soup bowls she’d been carrying now shattered on the floor.

Blayt.

Chapter twenty-six

Selina

I pulled the blanket up over the boys, who had all fallen asleep except for Mikhail, who had gone to take a shower. I stepped out of the room, carefully closing the door behind me and making sure to leave the nightlight on—Rafael and Andrei were afraid of the dark. As I headed toward the stairs, I paused when I saw Mikhail returning, freshly washed and changed.

“Do you feel better, sweetheart ?” I asked, placing my hand against his forehead to check his temperature. “You still have a little fever, but it’s much lower than last night.” I smiled slightly, and just as I was about to remove my hand, he stopped me, gripping it gently. He stayed silent, eyes cast down.

“Is everything okay, Mikhail ?” I asked.

He remained quiet for a few seconds before finally lifting his gaze to meet mine. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t think we would get lost. We just wanted to make you happy, not make you sad,” he said softly.

I couldn’t help but pull him into my arms, kissing the top of his head. “That bouquet made me so happy, Mikhail. Thank you.” My thoughts drifted to the large bouquet resting on the dresser in my room. “But next time, don’t go so far without telling me first, okay ?” I cupped his face gently in my hands.

He nodded and kissed my cheek before heading off to join his brothers in their room. That small moment of warmth almost made me forget the chaos unfolding in the house.

I made my way downstairs in search of Nikolai, but I didn’t find anyone. Just as I turned to head back upstairs to check the office,I stopped in my tracks when I saw Elif sitting on the swing on the terrace, night already having fallen.

I hesitated before stepping toward her, stopping a few feet away. She was staring at something in her hands—a wolf figurine. I remembered seeing it in the office that Nikolai and Roman shared, sitting on one of the shelves.

“Come, sit, Selina,” she suddenly said without looking at me, making me jump slightly.