But as my fear morphed into something far more dangerous, I noticed the bruise on her cheek and the split at the corner of her lip. The image of her, three months ago—the day I found her in that motel—flashed before my eyes.
“Who, Selina ? Who touched you ?” I demanded, my voice unrecognizable.
She hesitated, opening and closing her mouth before shaking her head, “I just want to find the boys, Nikolai. Please,” she whispered, clutching at my shirt.
I shut my eyes, forcing myself to regain control—for the boys, for her.
“Nikolai !”
I looked up, feeling a hint of relief as my brothers ran toward us. Helping Selina to her feet, I watched as they approached, still dressed in their suits, soaked from the rain.
“Give me your jacket, Roman.”
Without hesitation, he shrugged it off and handed it to me and I draped it over Selina’s shoulders, “go back to the house with Roman. I will bring the boys back to you, Selina. I promise.”
She gazed up at me with her large, expressive eyes before nodding slowly. Turning, she hesitated for only a second before accepting Roman’s offered hand. He helped her step over a fallen tree trunk, but then he froze, his eyes locking onto her face.
“Who hit you ?” he asked, his brows furrowing, Grigori and Sasha, now closer, leaned in to get a better look at her injuries. I watched her stiffen.
“Not now. Roman, get her inside before she catches cold,” I ordered.
Roman nodded, gently guiding her away and before disappearing into the woods, she cast me one last glance over her shoulder.
“What the hell is going on, Nikolai ?” Grigori asked, running a frustrated hand through his wet hair.
“I don’t know,moybrat. But I will find out—once we get the boys back,” I replied, stepping deeper into the darkness of the forest.
Chapter twenty-four
Selina
“Here, drink while it’s still hot, my dear,” said Elif as she joined me by the bay window leading to the garden, where I was sitting. Roman had left to join his brothers after dropping me off, while Elif had been waiting for me at the house, insisting that I change as soon as I arrived.
I thanked her as I took the cup of hot tea, and she sat beside me. The rain hadn’t stopped falling, and night had descended, yet still no news. For the thousandth time, a sob escaped me. “It’ll be okay, Selina. They’ll find them,” Elif reassured me, rubbing my back.
I shook my head, sniffing. Andrei and Rafael were afraid of the dark, Alexei hated being wet, and Mikhail already seemed to be coming down with something—he was going to get sick. I was a terrible mother and a horrible nanny.
“Selina ?” Sienna’s voice suddenly came from behind me as I heard her footsteps approaching quickly. “Selina, what’s going on?” she asked, kneeling beside me. Her eyes darkened when she saw my cheek beginning to bruise.
“I knew it. I knew he was no different,” she muttered through clenched teeth as she stood up. Just as I was about to correct her, Elif rose so abruptly that it startled me. She grabbed Sienna’s arm and pulled her sharply towards her, and I froze at the expression on her face.
“I like you, Sienna,” Elif said, her voice dangerously calm. “You’re brave, fearless, and I could never claim to understand what you’ve been through—because I know it must have been horrific. But never, ever insult my brothers or my husbandlike that again. They would never hurt a woman. They would never harm you. But me ? You have no idea what I’m capable of. Believe me, Sienna, I could easily be one of your worst nightmares. Don’t make me become one.”
For the first time, Sienna, who had stood her ground against the Ivanov brothers without flinching, looked away and simply nodded.
Elif sighed, shaking her head before pulling Sienna into a side hug. “Don’t worry. I threw out the one responsible for that,” she said, glancing at my bruised face. “And Nikolai won’t let this slide either.”
I sniffled and turned my gaze back to the forest, setting my untouched tea beside me, waiting—waiting for my boys to appear.
I woke up with a start when I felt a weight on my shoulders. “Selina, come wait inside the living room,” Sienna said as she placed another blanket over me.
“No,” I replied weakly, my voice barely audible through my tight throat. Seeing my determined expression, she sighed and went back inside. I closed my eyes, burying my face in my arms, crossed over my knees. And just when I thought I had no tears left, new ones streamed down my cheeks.
It was nighttime now. The rain had stopped, but it was cold, and the darkness stretched endlessly.
“Please, my God, please…” I repeated over and over, rocking slightly. And when I opened my eyes again, I saw three pairs of muddy sneakers standing in front of me.
I froze and slowly lifted my head.
