Page 146 of The Last Hope

“You’re breaking my heart,moylubov’. Look at me. Talk to me,” he pleaded.

When I finally met his gaze, the lump in my throat tightened further.

“I’m sorry, Nikolai. I don’t know what’s happening to me. It’s probably the stress from the past few days—with the trackers,and the bomb, and Sonia…” I sniffled, my thoughts drifting to the woman who had witnessed my suffering for years. But how could I blame her ? How could she have stood against that monster ?

Suddenly, my husband lifted me off the couch with ease and sat down with me on his lap. He cupped my face and began to kiss me—my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, my neck—gently, tenderly.

And just like that, the sobs came.

His tenderness, his unwavering care, shattered what little composure I had left. I clung to his shirt, burying my face in his chest as he stroked my hair, my back, the sides of my thighs.

“Let it all out,Solnychko. Let yourself go. I’m here to catch you. I will always be here.” His voice was a whisper against my ear, and in that moment, I silently thanked God for giving me this man.

The car finally came to a stop at the foot of the stairs, and I rushed out before it had even fully parked. The moment the doors opened, Andrei and Rafael leapt out, running toward me as I hurried down the steps to meet them.

I wrapped them in my arms, inhaling their scent, biting back a curse when I felt fresh tears prickling at my eyes. I tried to pull back to kiss them, but Rafael tightened his hold around my neck, sniffling softly.

“Angelo mio, what’s wrong ?” I asked gently, but he didn’t answer. He only clung to me harder.

I frowned and glanced toward the second car pulling up behind Roman’s. Alexei and Mikhail stepped out with him, but my attention snapped back to the first car door just as, to my disbelief, Agata emerged—accompanied by an older man.

Nikolai had told me she was no longer welcome near our home. So what the hell was she doing here ?

Just then, my husband appeared at my side, his presence grounding me. I straightened, Rafael still wrapped around my leg, while Andrei instinctively moved behind his father.

“Gelb wants to discuss business with us, but I have no idea what the hell that woman is doing here,” Nikolai muttered, his body tense. “She has no right to be here.” He made a move to step forward, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“Let’s not escalate things, Niko. Please,” I whispered, locking eyes with him.

I saw the storm within him falter as he took in the exhaustion on my face. I had spent over an hour earlier crying in his arms, and he had held me through it all, whispering softly, kissing my hair, grounding me.

He exhaled slowly and pulled me against him, his arm wrapped securely around my waist. Roman came to flank my other side, effectively shielding me as the couple approached.

“Nikolai! Good to see you,” the man—Gelb, I assumed—said, extending his hand. Nikolai shook it after a brief instant.

“Congratulations on your marriage. And you must be Selina,” he continued, offering his hand to me.

But before I could respond, Roman smoothly stepped in front of me, while Nikolai pulled me further back.

“Come, Gelb. Grigori is waiting for you in his office,” Roman said over his shoulder. As they headed inside, Nikolai guided me and the boys upstairs.

“Stay with the kids until they’re gone, okay ?” His voice was firm but filled with concern. I nodded silently.

He kissed my forehead gently, promising the boys a football game later. Normally, that would have had Andrei and Rafael buzzing with excitement. But this time, they remained utterly silent.

“I’m going to take a shower, Mom,” Mikhail said, kissing my cheek before disappearing into the hallway.

“I’m going to start a new book in the library, Mama,” Andrei added, waving before following his brother.

That left only Rafael and Andrei. The two who never stopped talking. And yet, now, they sat side by side at the edge of the bed, silent, their gazes fixed on the floor. I knelt in front of them, placing a hand gently on each of their knees.

“So ? How was your weekend ?” I asked softly.

Nothing.

“Hey, my loves. What’s wrong? You know you can tell me anything, right?” I murmured, brushing my fingers gently across their cheeks.

Andrei was the first to lift his gaze. His eyes shimmered with tears before he suddenly burst into sobs, flinging his arms around my neck. “Mama!”

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