Page 3 of Savage Little War

“We’re ready,” I say as I give Luca a small nod. My eyes meet Dmitri’s. “We might have the beginnings of a plan.”

After an almost five-hour flight, we finally land in New York City just past noon.

Dmitri, Luca, Isaak, Ivan, Mark, and I file out of the private plane and split up into two rented SUVs before heading into the city.

“My cousin passed a message to my mamma telling her to make up an excuse to go to the store. She’ll be at one of the small corner stores that my family owns,” Luca reports from the passenger’s seat.

“Is that smart? Won’t there be other family members there?” Dmitri asks.

“Maybe just another cousin or two,” Luca says. “But if she sides with us, they will too. Hopefully.”

Dmitri’s face stiffens with uncertainty, but we’re already here. We have to keep going.

The two SUVs make their way through the city and park down the street from the small store.

“Let me come. I can keep her talking. I can… be useful,” I tell Dmitri.

Dmitri narrows his eyes, looking like he wants to argue.

“Bring her. Cara is around Elena’s age. She might soften my mamma’s heart,” Luca tells him.

Dmitri looks like he wants to shoot Luca, but he finally nods. “At the first sign of trouble, you will run. Understand?”

I nod quickly, not wanting him to change his mind. If I can, I want to help. Luca risked his life to save me. Dmitri said he gave him the list that had Enrico’s name on it, the first real lead they had which helped them find me.

Together, the six of us leave the SUVs and enter the store through the private back entrance, stepping into a small hallway at the back of the store.

“Stay here. I’ll get her,” Luca says, gesturing for us to stay put before sneaking out of the hallway. A gasp tears through the air a minute later, followed by the sound of struggling and rapid footsteps.

Luca stumbles into the hallway with his hand secured over the mouth of an older Italian woman with short, slightly graying hair and a thin figure. “Stop, Mamma! Just listen to me!”

She finally quits thrashing around, but her eyes are narrowed. “Luca!”

Luca motions for her to be quieter. “I’m here to rescue Elena. I know that you heard what Paolo did!”

His mom’s eyes immediately start watering, but her body remains stiff and guarded, especially as she spots us.

“They’re friends,” Luca assures her. “They’re here to help me find her. Don’t you want Elena back safe?”

“Of course I do!” his mom snaps, voice full of emotion. “I can’t believe this. You can’t be here!”

“Paolo wants me to turn myself in, but he’ll kill me and her both. I need your help if I’m going to save Elena,” Luca urges her. “You must’ve heard something about her.”

His mom swallows hard as she warily looks behind her. “No, I haven’t.”

I frown and begin to lose hope.

“But I clean. I hear things. I know where he keeps his prisoners,” she says, sounding pained.

Luca steps closer to her and takes her hands, making her tense up even more. “Tell me. Please, Mamma.”

A tear breaks from her eyes as she gazes at her son. I can see the love in her eyes that she has for him, but I can see the fear too. Paolo and Enrico have done a number on her.

“The abandoned liquor store. The one he owns. There’s a basement,” she says in a hushed voice. “He keeps prisoners down there, but I don’t know how many guards are there.”

Luca kisses her on the cheek. “I’ll save her. I’ll bring her back to you.”

“Let’s go,” Dmitri murmurs to me, escorting me out of the store with a hand on my back.