Page 28 of Savage Little War

“What now?” Sean asks Dmitri. “We should get moving.”

Dmitri nods in agreement. “Get the jets ready. Call the pilots. Gather what men you want to bring. We’ll fly out tonight so that we can arrive in the morning.”

“Once we get confirmation from the pilots, we can decide on a time to meet at the airfield,” Andrei replies.

“We’ll need a driver to take us from Naples to Amalfi. Think your cousin can arrange that?” Dmitri asks Luca.

Luca nods and pulls his phone out. “Without a doubt. She’ll be able to find us a place to stay as well. My family has stayed in Amalfi for generations.”

“Then, I’ll see you all tonight,” Dmitri says as everyone gets to their feet.

My father walks over to me and gently places his hand on my upper arm. “Are you doing okay?”

I know that his question is layered. He’s not just asking about me. He’s asking about the baby too.

“I’m fine. I’m good,” I assure him with a nod.

Sean glances in Dmitri’s direction, making sure that he’s busy talking to Luca before looking back at me. “You shouldn’t navigate this alone.”

“We can’t talk about this right now,” I whisper through gritted teeth, my heart pounding as I watch Dmitri closely.

“I know. I’m just worried about you.”

My eyes lift to his, silence ringing between us. It’s still so odd hearing those words come out of his mouth. Even stranger, it seems like he actually means them.

I can see the stressed crease in his forehead. The tight line of his frown. The urgency in his whisper.

Was all this care buried deep, and it took me almost dying to uncover it? Part of me wants to tell him it’s too late and to leave me alone, but…there’s another part of me that yearns to fix what’s broken. To have a family.

Especially now that I have a baby on the way.

“I’ll be okay. We just need to get this done first,” I tell him quietly.

My father nods in understanding before drawing away to walk over to Dmitri. “See you tonight.”

“We’re not leaving Italy until Ferro and his men are dead,” Dmitri says. “Keep that in mind while packing.”

Sean smirks. “Then, I’ll pack for a short trip.”

I wave goodbye to Luca and Andrei before they step out of the penthouse, closely followed by my father. Then, it’s just me and Dmitri.

“Everything okay with you and your father?” Dmitri asks as he walks toward me, his eyes landing on mine.

I breathe through the tension trying to wind its way around my body, forcing myself to stand casually and not like a deer in headlights. He’s too observant.

“I guess you could say that,” I reply with a faint smile. “Better than it’s ever been.”

Dmitri runs his hands up and down my arms. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. You and my father becoming allies,” I tell him as my brow furrows. “I thought you two would end up killing each other, eventually.”

Dmitri cracks a grin as he gently takes my chin in his hand, tilting my head back a little. “You matter more than any rivalry ever did.”

His words hit me like a punch. The thought of their care for me bridging that gap makes my chest ache.

“I love you,” I say as I place my hand on his cheek.

Dmitri turns his head to briefly kiss my palm. “I love you. Stay close to me in Italy, okay?”