Page 155 of The Last Hope

“Did Lorenzo betray us ?” I asked, my rage simmering just beneath the surface.

“No. Impossible,” he said firmly, wiping the blood away from his eye. “Lorenzo would never betray us. But that woman… Who was she ?” He turned to Roman, and I, too, waited for his answer.

Who was this woman he had trusted without hesitation ?

Roman exhaled deeply, running a hand through his soaked hair, avoiding my eyes.

“I… I’m not sure,” he admitted.

I narrowed my gaze.

“You followed the orders of some woman, abandoned the mission, and you don’t know why ?” I asked, stunned by his uncharacteristic behavior.

Roman never acted without reason. He never made rash decisions.

“Her voice,” he murmured, finally meeting my eyes. “I recognized it. It was her.”

And instantly, I understood.

The woman who had saved him years ago, during that mission in the Middle East. The owner of the pendant he never took off.

“For fuck’s sake, Roman !” I growled, clenching my eyes shut. “What if she was lying? What if my kids were on that goddamn yacht?!”

“She saved our lives,moy brat!” he snapped. “Without her, we’d be fish food right now!”

I clenched my jaw, forcing down my frustration. I needed to focus. I needed to find my sons. I needed to bring them back to Selina. Back to my wife.

“Fine. I get it. But whoever she is—if she knew about the trap, then she might know where the boys are. We need to find her,” I said, just as the sound of approaching helicopters roared above us.

Hold on, boys. We’re coming. I’m coming.

Selina

I shook my head and pushed away the bottle my sister offered me. She sighed but didn’t insist.

I watched the travelers rushing in all directions through the bustling hall of Singapore’s airport, and I felt nothing but anger. I was angry that life continued as if nothing had happened, while my children were no longer by my side. Angry that I hadn’t woken up sooner. Angry that I had failed to save them.

I was angry that Nikolai hadn’t reached them in time either. Angry that he had nearly lost his life today—along with his brothers. They had almost died. Antonio had nearly killed them.

I pressed a hand over my mouth, trying to suppress the sudden wave of nausea washing over me. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, but the image of my sons on that boat resurfaced instantly.

Tears welled up, and I leaned forward, burying my face in my hands. I wanted to hold my boys. I wanted to see their smiles. I wanted my husband to wrap his arms around me. I wanted to feel his warmth, breathe in his scent.

“Selina ?”

Elif’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as her hand gently settled on my shoulder. I sat up straight, quickly wiping away the tears as she took the seat beside me.

“How are you feeling, sweetheart ?”

“I feel a little nauseous, but I’ll be fine. Everything will be fine as soon as my boys are home,” I said, meeting her dark, searching eyes. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “When… when was the last time you had your period, Selina ?”

I frowned at the question, confused, while my sister leaned in, listening intently.

“I… what ? I don’t know. My cycle’s never been regular,” I replied, still not understanding where this was going.

“Oh my God. Do you think… do you think she’s pregnant ?” my sister whispered, and I froze.

Pregnant ? Me ?

---