Page 123 of The Last Hope

“Go,” I told her. “I’ll stay with the boys. Roman—get changed. Don’t leave her side.”

We still didn’t know what the hell was going on. Better to have two Ivanovs watching. And Sasha wouldn’t look away from Sienna—not even for a second.

Roman nodded and left. Selina returned to the children, kneeling before Mikhail. “Thank you for saving my sister,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

And Mikhail—my brave son—finally let the tears fall, wrapping his arms around her. “I was scared. I was so scared, Mama,” he sobbed, his body shaking.

I stood, my thoughts already turning to vengeance.

But I needed clarity. I needed focus.

“Everything will be okay,” Selina whispered, hugging each boy in turn. Rafael and Andrei clung to her, refusing to let go.

“Come, boys,” Elif said, gathering them into her arms—solid and unshakable in the storm.

Selina gave them one last reassuring smile before hurrying to change as Grigori stepped into the room, his face grim.

“The house is secure. The cleaners are on their way. The offices are clear—we’ll move the children there.”

As they led the boys out, Andrei and Rafael wrapped themselves around my legs, sobbing.

“I don’t want Aunt Sienna to die !”

“She won’t,” I told them, kneeling. “Your mother is with her. She’ll heal her.”

She’ll heal all of us.

And I will destroy whoever did this.

Selina

I stepped down first and opened the car door for my sister, ready to help her out—but before her foot even touched the ground, Sasha scooped her into his arms and carried her toward the house, just as he had done a few hours earlier.

To my great surprise, Sienna didn’t protest. Instead, she rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.

I closed mine too, drawing in a slow breath of crisp morning air. The sun had begun to rise, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of blue and pink.

A strong arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me from my thoughts, “you’ll catch a cold,” Roman murmured, drawing me close as we walked toward the entrance.

“It was him, wasn’t it ? Antonio sent those men ?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Roman stopped, his gaze fixed on the horizon, but I saw the way his jaw clenched. “We’re not entirely sure yet,” he said, rubbing my shoulder. But under my persistent stare, he finally sighed. “Yes. I think it’s very likely. Maybe he was trying to take Rafael again. To pressure you.”

I nodded slowly, pressing my lips together as we continued toward the house—the house that could have become our tomb last night.

If Sienna hadn’t screamed.

If I hadn’t woken up.

If Mikhail hadn’t been so brave.

I shook my head as we stepped into the hall.

Nikolai appeared from the kitchen, now fully dressed in a sharp suit, as composed as ever. My eyes immediately dropped to his legs, where I’d seen several cuts earlier.

“Don’t worry,Solnychko. The doctor stopped by. We’re fine,” he reassured, pulling me into his arms.

I clung to his jacket, breathing in his scent to steady myself. I heard Roman’s footsteps fade as Velma and Sena called him from the kitchen.

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