Page 162 of The Last Hope

I felt it.

I knew it.

“Cara mia, there you are,” the demon’s voice rang out between the silent buildings.

I exhaled shakily.

Stay calm, Selina.

Calm.

Nikolai would come.

He always did.

I turned toward the voice, and there he stood in the doorway of a warehouse, arms spread wide, that monstrous smile nearly reaching his ears.

I clenched my fists.

“Where are my sons ?!” I shouted.

And thank God, my voice did not tremble. Inside, I was shaking, but outside—I stood firm.

“Come now,Cara mia. Looks like you’ve grown wings since your little Russian honeymoon,” he said, cocking his head, making my stomach turn.

Everything about him repulsed me.

The way he spoke, the way he smiled, the way he looked at me.

I felt nothing but disgust and hatred for him.

For everything he had done to me these past eight years.

For the trauma he had inflicted on Rafael.

For what he had done to Sienna eight years ago.

For all the horrors he had put me and my family through.

He had kidnapped Roman and tortured him.

He had forced me to be separated from my son.

He had nearly killed Sienna.

And most recently, he had almost taken the lives of my husband and his brothers. Not to mention all the men he had slaughtered when he attacked the shipments.

Rage surged within me—a hatred so overwhelming I could barely contain it, “go to hell,” I spat, hurling the words with venom, spitting at his feet.

He lowered his gaze to the ground, and I sensed it coming before I felt it. The slap whipped my head to the side, but I did not fall.

I did not waver.

I would not let him break me—not anymore.

I turned back to him, met his dark gaze, his face twisted in fury. And then I did something I never thought I would dare.

I slapped him back.

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