Page 99 of The Last Hope

“Selina, look at me. Look at me,Solnychko,” I repeated, lowering my face toward hers, feeling an unfamiliar panic creeping into my chest.

Something was wrong.

Selina was scared.

She was stressed and trying to hide it from me.

She finally shook her head, stepping back and releasing my hands.

“We… we’ll talk when you get back,” she said, straightening, clasping her hands behind her back, forcing a small smile.

But I shook my head, stepping toward her. Then the sudden sound of honking echoed loudly. It was Rafael, waving at me to hurry up.

“Be careful,” Selina whispered before heading toward the kitchen to join the rest of the family, leaving me standing in the hall—lost.

“We’re going to get you that console you wanted. You were very brave, Rafael,” I told him as I helped him buckle his seatbelt.

He didn’t say anything, just nodded, staring into space, his brows furrowed.

“Hey, buddy, everything okay ?” I asked, ruffling his hair. He lifted his eyes—eyes identical to his mother’s—to meet mine.

“Everything’s fine. It just itches a little,” he said, touching the back of his arm where he’d gotten his vaccine.

“In a few days, you won’t feel a thing. Don’t worry, big guy,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile before gently closing the door. I moved to the driver’s side, about to slide behind the wheel, when my phone rang.

Grigori.

Hopefully good news about Roman.

“Meet me at Dock 36 North. Now,” he said.

“I’ll drop off Raf—”

“Now,” he repeated before hanging up, making me curse.

I sighed and started the engine, heading toward the docks. It couldn’t have been anything dangerous if he was fine with me bringing Rafael along.

“We’re making a quick stop before heading home, son,” I told him. Rafael watched me for a moment, then nodded. Too silent.

Whatever problem was unfolding right in front of me, Rafael already knew about it.

“Is something wrong, Rafael ? Is everything okay with your mom ?” I hated questioning him like that, trying to pull information from a kid.

“No, everything’s fine,” he said with a smile through the rearview mirror.

And that was when the hairs on the back of my neck stood up—like I was looking into the eyes of one of the most dangerous men in the world.

I was completely on edge. My instincts were all over the place. Forty minutes later, I pulled up in front of one of our warehouses where we stored shipments.

“I’ll be right back, buddy,” I said, glancing over my shoulder at Rafael.

He nodded, showing me the book he was reading. I stepped out and quickly joined Grigori and Sasha at the base of a shipping container.

They were tense, shoulders stiff, eyes dark. I clenched my fists, shoving them deep into my pockets.

Something was wrong.

Something had been wrong since that morning.

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