Page 107 of The Last Hope

“Lorenzo will be waiting for us outside ?” I asked, trying to adjust the gun in my waistband. How did they carry these things all day ?

“Yeah, he’ll sneak us in through the back. Velma and I will wait in the hallway while you two get Rafael,” Sasha said, stealing what he thought were discreet glances at my sister, who was staring out the window in silence.

I sighed, rubbing my trembling hands against my thighs. My baby was alone. Was he scared ?

I jumped when my sister suddenly turned in her seat and placed a hand on my knee. “Everything will be fine, Selina. Just breathe,” she murmured, locking eyes with me.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Sasha shift slightly forward—almost imperceptibly—before taking a deep breath. A breath of Sienna’s scent.

Oh my God, he was completely gone for her.

An hour later, we arrived in front of a five-star hotel in the city center, and my heart pounded violently in my chest. My baby was here. Just a few meters away.

Sasha parked in an alley behind the hotel. As soon as we stepped out, the back door of the building opened, revealing Lorenzo Abbiati.

He signaled for us to enter quickly, leading us into the hotel’s boiler room. I glanced at my sister, and I knew we were thinking the same thing—the day we escaped Rome. The day she saved me.

“In three minutes, all the cameras will be down for exactly six minutes and twenty-eight seconds—that’s all the time you have to grab the kid and get out,” Lorenzo said, his eyes fixed on his phone.

“He’s on the sixth floor, room 627. He’s with Antonio’s cousin…”

“A… Alia?” I whispered, my hands clenching into fists.

“Alia, as in the bitch who did nothing while that bastard beat you ?” Sienna asked, her voice dark, and I didn’t answer.

“You’ll need to take care of her. Quietly. Rasili’s in the room next door.”

“Don’t worry, pretty boy,” Sienna interjected, pulling a knife from her boot. “She won’t even have time to say hello.”

“What the fuck are you doing with that ?!” Sasha growled at her.

“Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if Rasili prefers bananas or apples. You know, since I’m preparing him a fruit plate,” she smirked exaggeratedly.

“She’s going to drive me insane. Insane, I swear,” Sasha muttered, rubbing his face.

“You already are. You don’t need me for that,” my sister shrugged.

I jabbed her in the ribs with my elbow to shut her up.

“We go in thirty seconds,” Lorenzo cut in, tucking his phone away and glancing at his watch.

“Who’s handling the cameras ?” Sasha asked, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Lorenzo’s profile. But Lorenzo didn’t answer—just watched the seconds tick down.

Just like last time, when he helped us escape the ambush at the airstrip, he wouldn’t reveal his source. Someone was helping him. No, helping us.

But who ? And why ?

“Let’s go,” Lorenzo finally said, pushing the door open.

He stepped into the long corridor first, and we followed him to the elevator. Before we could even press the button, the doors slid open—as if someone was already expecting us.

Lorenzo held the doors while we stepped inside.

“Use the fire escape on your way out. You have six minutes left,” he said before stepping back. The doors closed on his somber expression.

I rubbed my sweaty hands against my pants. I’m coming, my baby. I’m here.

A few seconds later, the doors opened, and Sasha stepped out first, signaling for us to wait.

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