Page 21 of Savage Little War

I smirk as I hear Andrei’s voice behind us. I turn toward him as he stares down Luca, who rolls his eyes. “I was just telling him that he needs to get a girlfriend. You should probably take the same advice.”

Now, Andrei rolls his eyes. “I just haven’t met the right woman yet. How am I supposed to when I’m being ordered to flirt with taken women?”

“That was one mission,” Luca tells him. “So dramatic for the so-called Sin City Savage.”

Andrei scoffs. “Who’s more dramatic than Italians?”

“Seriously? You’re going to go there?” Luca questions him as they both face each other down, looking like two birds fluffing up their feathers to appear bigger than the other. “How about you Russians?”

“What about us Russians?” Andrei replies as his eyes narrow.

Since Dmitri isn’t around to break these two, it seems like I’m going to have to be the one to do it.

“No fighting at Dmitri’s truce party,” I warn them as I point my finger between them.

Dmitri worked hard to throw together a last-minute party tonight, and no one is going to mess that up.

The two men raise their palms innocently, making me laugh before turning around to take a look at the rest of the party. People are drinking and hanging around the dining room and living room, multiple conversations overlapping to form a constant drone of noise.

When my eyes land on my father, he waves me over.

“I’ll talk to you two later. Behave,” I tell Luca and Andrei before crossing the living room.

Sean smiles at me. “You look beautiful.”

My face warms a little as I look down at the white cocktail dress that Dmitri bought for me. Of course, it’s beautiful. He has great taste. “Thank you. I didn’t have much time to prepare for this party.”

My father chuckles a little. “Yeah, none of us did. Dmitri insisted that we come, though.”

“After all we’ve gone through lately, we should celebrate. We’ve made it this far.”

I’d like to hope that we’re toward the end of this war, but the truth isn’t as pretty and flowery. We have a long way to go, and it won’t be easy to take down Ferro and his men. They’re well-connected, skilled, and ruthless.

They could be anywhere right now.

“I’m glad you’re back with us and safe,” Sean tells me, his face softening. “I really was worried when I found out that you were taken.”

I search his eyes before taking a deep breath before nodding. “I believe you.”

His eyes brighten a little. We still have a long way to go together, but I’m willing to venture down that path with him. Maybe we can make things work between us if he’s willing to truly change.

I already lost my mother. I don’t want to lose my father forever too, even if he can be an asshole most of the time.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asks me as he gestures toward the kitchen island that has been transformed into a bar with an assortment of liquor bottles and mixers.

“I can’t,” I reply, my stomach flipping in nervousness when a look of realization crosses his face. I move closer to him and grab his arm. “You cannot tell anyone. Not even Dmitri. Not until I’m ready.”

“You haven’t told him yet?”

I sigh and shake my head. “It hasn’t been the right time yet. Buildings keep getting blown up!”

Sean nods in understanding. “I won’t say anything.”

My shoulders lower as I relax. “Thank you.”

He gazes at me in silence for a few seconds before speaking. “You really do look beautiful tonight, Cara.”

I’m not used to this much kindness from him. I don’t even know what to say. All I can do is smile at him, and judging by the way he smiles back, he understands how I feel.