Page 27 of The Last Hope

Rafael giggled under the towel as Sienna dried his hair, and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them. Seeing my son open up to someone other than me brought a sense of relief. Maybe, after all these years, I had somehow managed to shield him from the darkness of our prison.

I winced at the pain in my hand as I finished tying my now-dry hair into a somewhat neat braid. We had all showered, washing away the grime of our journey, and were now in the guest room that Nikolaï Ivanov had assigned to me and my son. Sienna’s room was right next door. The rooms were similar—each with a double bed, two nightstands, a large built-in wardrobe concealed by tall sliding mirrors, and an ensuite bathroom. The color scheme of white, grey, and gold was refreshing.

A soft knock at the door startled me, and when I turned, I saw Elif’s smiling face peeking through the opening.

“May I come in?”

I nodded, returning her smile, ignoring the wary expression on my sister’s face as she pulled Rafael’s sweater over his head, her eyes locked on our host. Elif, however, simply nodded approvingly after scanning us from head to toe.

“I’m glad the clothes fit you,” she said as she picked up a pair of children’s socks from the floor and handed them to Sienna. My sister took them in silence before kneeling to put them on Rafael. To my surprise, Elif looked more amused than offended by Sienna’s coldness.

“Thank you for the clothes. That was very kind of you,” I said, running my hand over the soft white cotton of my wide-leggedpants and matching oversized sweater. I shot a pointed look at my sister, who sighed, glanced at her green tracksuit, and muttered through clenched teeth,

“Thanks.”

“Yeah! Thank you!” my son suddenly exclaimed, bouncing on the bed.

“You’re welcome,kuzum(sweetheart). I think you’re about the same age as my youngest son, Dimitri. These were his clothes. Do you remember him? You met him at the gala. Maybe you two could play together,” Elif suggested with a smile.

Rafael hesitated, his wide eyes immediately searching mine—not for permission, but for reassurance. He wasn’t asking if he could play; he wanted to know if it was safe. The fear in his gaze gripped my heart so tightly I could barely breathe. Without another word, he jumped off the bed and ran to me. I barely managed to lift my injured hand in time before he threw himself onto my lap, curling against me.

I gently rubbed his neck, silently telling him it was okay. He tilted his face up at me, his little lips forming an adorable pout, and I smiled, running my fingers through his hair.

Another knock interrupted us, but this time, the person waited for permission before entering. Elif opened the door to reveal Nikolaï.

My eyes instinctively followed his tall, broad-shouldered frame as he stepped into the room, his presence nearly filling the doorway. Our gazes locked instantly, and I froze. Every time I met his icy blue eyes, I felt trapped—bewitched. No one had ever looked at me the way he did.

When I saw him at our motel door, I nearly had a heart attack. I was convinced Antonio had found us, that he had sent the Russians to drag us back to him. But as Nikolaï approached,slowly, his expression as reassuring as his sharp features allowed, I knew my fears were misplaced. Still, that didn’t mean I trusted him.

I didn’t think I would ever trust a man again.

But in that moment, I had no choice but to follow him when his brother took my sister away without a word.

“The doctor is here, and dinner is ready,” he said, and as always, his deep voice seeped into my bones. I tore my eyes away, unable to bear his gaze any longer. Grabbing the brush, I focused on fixing Rafael’s hair.

“Very well, let’s—” Elif started but suddenly stopped.

A shadow loomed over me, and I looked up slowly, meeting that piercing blue once more.

Nikolaï held out his hand, “come, let’s take care of your fingers.”

I glanced down at his outstretched palm—so large, marked by faint scars.

“Mamma?” Rafael called softly when I stopped brushing his hair. I placed the brush aside and stroked his neck to reassure him. Then, I stood, carefully avoiding Nikolaï’s offered hand, stepping around him as I left the room.

Because no matter what my body or my heart might whisper in moments of weakness, I would never let a man get close to me again.

I would live for my son. And only for him.

Nikolaï

My gaze followed Selina and Rafael as they disappeared into the hallway, Sienna trailing behind with a scowl she made sure to throw in my direction.

Elif patted my back, smiling at me. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, brushing a kiss against her temple.

“Stop giving me that worried look. I’m not that reckless sixteen-year-old anymore.”

She shook her head, grimacing, “some days, it feels like yesterday. Other times, like a lifetime ago. But I will never stop worrying about you, your brothers, your sons… and mine. Those little devils. It’s a miracle I don’t have gray hair yet.”

---