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Another loud bang rang through the walls of the Estate. “Alessio, listen to me carefully. I want you to hide under the bed. Okay?”
I could hear the tremble in my voice, the panic. My stomach dropped, and my lungs squeezed together. “No matter what happens or what you see or hear, you don’t come out. Do you understand?” I whispered, grabbing his shoulders and giving him a little shake when he didn’t respond. I hated the look of terror in his blue eyes, the same eyes as mine—the eyes Lyov loved so much.
At the thought of Lyov, I choked back a sob. I couldn’t die today. No, I just couldn’t. What would Lyov do? I was his Angel. He needed me. We needed each other.
Alessio finally nodded, and I breathed out a shaking sigh of relief. He would be safe. I would make sure of it even if that was the last thing I did. Tears stung my eyes. I tried not to cry, not wanting to scare and worry Alessio any further, but the tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them. They were the hardest tears I had ever cried.
Pulling Alessio in to my chest, I held him closely. So tight. I wish I could burrow him into my embrace and protect him from this bloody, tainted world. I peppered his face with kisses. His chubby cheeks. His eyes. His nose. His forehead. I couldn’t stop loving on my sweet boy. Deep inside of me, I feared it would be the last time I could hold my baby in my arms.
When I pulled away, Alessio gripped my wrists tightly into his little hands. His hold tightened. He was so strong for his young age. There was no mistake that he was an Ivanshov.
“Mommy, what about you? Why am I hiding under the bed?” he questioned slowly.
I wished I had the answers for you, my sweet boy. But I didn’t.
Another loud bang came through, and this time, my whole body jostled. My mind went back to that night again. No. No. No. Stop, Maria. Think of Alessio. Think of your baby girl. Your little Princess. I needed to be strong for my babies. I couldn’t lose my mind right now; I couldn’t go back into being that broken girl.
No. I was Lyov’s Queen. And a Queen never cowered in fear.
“Alessio. Don’t ask me questions, okay? Please, baby, just listen to Mommy. Hide under the bed and don’t come out. Not until Papa, Lena, or Isaak come looking for you,” I said. I could hear the desperation in my voice. Alessio opened his mouth to argue; I could see it in his eyes. I shook my head, and he went silent.
“Please, my baby. Promise Mommy that you won’t come out,” I begged this time.
Alessio finally nodded, and this time, I cried. Pulling him into my chest again, I gave him a final kiss on his forehead before whispering, “I love you. I love you so much, my sweet boy. Never forget that.”
As we pulled apart, I could hear the noises closer to the door. They were right outside. I heard Boris. He bellowed something loud. I could hear fighting from the other side. My heart accelerated, and it beat heavily, almost painfully against my ribcage.
Quickly, I pushed Alessio toward the bed. “Go, my baby. Don’t come out. Don’t make any noise—no matter what. Do you hear me?” He crawled underneath the high bed, and I pulled the corners of the bedsheets down so he was perfectly hidden from view.
I separated my sweet boy from me. I suddenly felt sick, and my throat started to close up. Just when I stood up, the door banged open. My heart thumped, and I closed my eyes for the briefest second. My breathing stuttered.
You will never have to do anything without me. We will always be together, Angel.
Bringing my hand up, I choked back an agonized cry. Where are you, Lyov? Please come back.
The intruder tsked from behind me. Taking a deep breath, I faced him. The villain of my happily ever after.
My gaze found his face, and the world came to a screeching halt. Everything went chillingly silent. A dark cloud settled around my once happy bubble. My blood ran cold, and my eyes widened at the familiar face. My hands grew clammy, and my heart twisted.
“Maria. How lovely to see you again.”
That voice. It once haunted me. Many years ago, he belonged in my nightmares. He was the face I saw behind the bars of my cage as he reveled in my suffering and threw pieces of bread at me.
“Alfredo,” I replied, my voice surprisingly cold and hard. This man was part of my misery. He had sat there in a pretty suit and watched me break while laughing.
I saw Boris behind Alfredo. His face was harsh and badly bruised, bleeding. He seemed out of breath, his wide chest heaving and his face twisted in pain with each laboured breath. I could tell he had fought through hell to be here. But before I could rejoice in slight relief that Boris was here, everything crumbled around me. My heart thundered and then shattered at the sound of a gunshot going off and then Boris falling limply to the floor.
