Page 158 of The Last Hope

Nikolai

The lights of the manor in Sochi finally came into view as the helicopter I was in with my brothers approached the landing strip.

Roman nudged Sasha, who had dozed off beside him in the co-pilot’s seat, as he gently landed the aircraft on the tarmac.

I saw several silhouettes approaching the helicopter, but I didn’t dare look—afraid I might meet my wife’s gaze. Ever since I had heard her sobbing on the other end of the line when we called to inform them about the trap on the yacht, I hadn’t called again. And now, like a coward, I remained seated inside, avoiding her disappointed eyes. As I scrambled for an excuse, the side door suddenly opened, and my heart stopped.

I leapt from the cockpit, and my breath caught again at the sight of Sienna crying a few feet away as Sasha rushed to her and pulled her into his arms.

“What’s going on?” I asked, turning to my sister, who looked pale. Roman joined us, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“Nikolai, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened,” she said, a tear slipping down her cheek. “Where is Selina?” I demanded, cupping her face and wiping away the tear.

“We were waiting for the jet to be prepped in Singapore. She went to the restroom and… and she never came back, Nikolai. We went to check, but she was gone,” she said, gripping my wrists with her ice-cold hands.

“Grigori stayed behind to search for her. We didn’t want to tell you until we had more information, but he hasn’t foundanything. He’s on his way back,” she added, pressing her lips together.

I stepped back, my hands shaking, my vision narrowing. First my sons, and now my wife. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I grabbed my hair, trying to think, trying to find a solution, but I couldn’t even hear my own thoughts. I turned toward the helicopter and slammed my fist against the hood again and again. I felt nothing. Heard nothing. I just wanted to find my wife and my children, to hear them laugh, to hold them close to me.

Arms wrapped around me, pulling me back, but I fought them off. I was weak—a coward who had failed to protect his family. I shoved Sasha away and pushed Roman when he tried to restrain me. I was a madman—untethered, lost.

I froze when a much frailer body embraced me, trembling with sobs.

“Please, Nikolai, please,” Sienna begged, her tear-streaked face pressed against my chest. “You have to save them,” she whispered, lifting her eyes to mine—eyes so much like my wife’s, her face resembling Selina’s so closely it made my stomach twist.

Where was she ? Had she been kidnapped ? Threatened ? Were they hurting her ? Was she scared ? And my sons ?

My mind finally began to function again, slowly rebooting. My arms tightened around my sister’s trembling frame, and I gently rubbed her back.

“I will bring them home,” I vowed, my voice like stone. “I swear on my life, Sienna—I will bring them back.”

“I don’t have any leads yet. I’m waiting for a call from one of my informants inside Rasili’s circle,” Lorenzo said over speakerphone as we paced around the dining table, Sasha’s phone on speaker between us.

“I’m coming to join you, Lorenzo. Let’s check with the dock workers—maybe they overheard something during deliveries,” Sasha said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“And I’ll go to tonight’s race. Someone there might know something—some of them rub shoulders with the Italians,” Roman added, grabbing his jacket from the back of the couch.

“We’ll find them,moy brat. Don’t doubt it,” he said, clapping me on the back before heading out, followed by Sasha, who gave me a knowing look. I nodded, and they both left.

“I’ll contact Capo Marino. He must know something,” I said, pulling out my phone, but Elif grabbed my arm.

“Niko, we haven’t spoken to him in years. Calling him now to ask for a favor is like handing him a loaded gun,” she warned.

I shook my head and took her hand. “Marino leadsCosaNostra’sarmy. Lorenzo reports to him. If Lorenzo has any information, then Marino must know more. And if he wants my soul in exchange for telling me where my family is, then so be it,” I said, locking eyes with her.

She studied me for a moment, finally realizing how serious I was. With a sigh, she let go of my hand.

I stepped onto the terrace and closed the door behind me before dialing Marino’s number. Dawn was breaking, casting a pink hue across the sky—the same color as the dress my wife had worn the first time I saw her. I closed my eyes as the line rang. I clenched my jaw, ready to hang up, when suddenly Marino’s voice echoed through the receiver.

“Capo Marino speaking,” he said, his deep voice always reminding me of my father. If he were still alive, they’d be the same age now. Dark thoughts stirred, but I pushed them away. Focus, Nikolai. Focus.

“This is Nikolai Ivanov,” I said, shoving my clenched fist into my pocket.

“Ah, a little Ivanov calling me. To what do I owe this honor?” he asked, his tone light as I heard a chair scrape—he was probably standing.

“I need a favor,” I said through gritted teeth, waiting for his answer. The kind of answer that could change everything.

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