Page 12 of The Last Hope

I lifted my head, and my blood turned to ice as I saw Antonio standing at the end of the corridor, watching us with a crazed look in his eyes. He let go of Rafael, who had been squirming in his arms, and the boy rushed toward me.

I yanked my wrist away from Ivanov and stumbled backward, hitting the wall behind me. My breathing became erratic as my son threw himself into my arms.

I picked him up, whimpering at the pain in my back, and he buried his face in my neck, rubbing his nose behind my ear,I love you.

I hugged him tighter, kissing his hair, gently swaying him.

“Mr. Ivanov, is there a problem ?” Antonio asked in a calm voice that made me want to break down in sobs. This was bad.

“I found a mom !” Andrei shouted again, making me grimace. The fear gripping me was so visceral that my limbs started to go numb.

“What ? No ! She’s mymamma!” Rafael protested, leaning toward Andrei.

I let out a small cry as I felt him slip from my grip, dragging me forward, but a strong arm wrapped around my waist while another caught Rafael, lifting him higher.

I looked up and found myself lost in that summer sky again, warming me, stopping my trembling. I calmed against the heat of the man holding my son and me.

“Selina !”

I jumped, the warmth disappeared, the summer sky vanished. Cold seeped back into my limbs as I stepped away from the Russian’s hold.

“Come here,” Antonio ordered, shoving his fists into his pockets.

I turned to my son, still perched in Ivanov’s arms, unable to look at the man himself. I held out my arms, and Rafael immediately snuggled into them.

I tried to step back, but Ivanov’s arm remained wrapped around my son. I froze, pleading with him through my eyes to let go. After a few seconds of silence, he finally did.

I took a step back, then turned to walk toward Antonio—but Andrei clung to my dress.

“No ! Mom ! Don’t go !” he cried, sobbing.

I closed my eyes, exhaling softly as a tear escaped, falling to the floor along with the little boy’s desperate whimpers.

“Andrei, that’s enough. Come here,” Ivanov said behind me, though he did nothing to pull his son away.

“Selina, hurry up. The guests are waiting,” Antonio said, taking a few steps toward us.

I forced myself not to step back as Rafael clung tighter to me. Finally, Ivanov grabbed his son despite his protests, lifting him into his arms.

I walked toward Antonio, and before I could say anything, his hand wrapped harshly around my forearm.

“Have a good evening, Mr. Ivanov,” he said in that eerily calm tone as he dragged me behind him.

I didn’t dare look back, despite the burning gaze I could still feel on me. My heels clicked against the marble as I tried to keep up with Antonio’s fast pace.

My stomach knotted when I saw that he was heading toward the elevators instead of the reception hall. A sob escaped me when he shoved me inside, and my back slammed against the elevator wall.

Rafael started crying loudly against me and I stroked his neck, straightening up with a whimper,it will be okay.

It had to be okay. For my son. To protect him.

The elevator climbed to the top floor. Antonio paced the small space like a caged lion as I trembled like a leaf, trying to soothe my son.

The ding signaling our arrival rang in my ears like a gunshot, making me jump and this time, Antonio grabbed me by the back of the neck, dragging me down the gold-and-silver-decorated hallway. He unlocked a door and shoved me inside, slamming it behind us.

We found ourselves in a large suite with multiple rooms. My heart raced, nausea gripped me as I sniffed quietly, trying not to scare Rafael.

“Rafael, leave us. Go to a room and lock the door,” Antonio ordered, prying him from my arms and setting him down.

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