Page 4 of Savage Little War

Luca’s eyes glisten as we get into the SUVs, but his face is full of determination. He’s going to keep his promise to his mother. No matter what.

Our drivers hit the gas, tearing toward the location with Luca’s directions. It’s not too far away, but each second that passes feels like hours. When we finally park around the corner out of sight, Luca exhales heavily.

“Front and back. Fast,” Luca says.

Dmitri nods before opening the door. “Ivan, stay with Cara.”

“But—”

“You have to stay here,” Dmitri tells me. “Please. I can’t be worried about you in there.”

That sort of thing could get him killed.

I sigh then lean forward to press my lips against his for a second. “Be careful.”

Dmitri nods and shuts the door behind him before hurrying off with the others while Ivan stands outside of the SUV to guard me.

Fear pulses through me as I wait and wait and wait. What if they’re outnumbered? What if Paolo is there? What if they get killed?

I breathe in shakily, my hand resting against my stomach.

What if I never get to tell Dmitri that he’s a father?

It feels like forever, but I finally see Luca ushering a dark-haired woman around the corner fifteen minutes later. He holds her close, blood trailing down his chin from a busted lip.

He got her. He saved her. We weren’t too late.

A few seconds later, Dmitri and his men follow. Denis limps, and the others have blood and cuts on their faces and arms, but they’re alive.

My jaw drops at the sight of Isaak carrying an unknown man on his shoulder. He’s limp, out cold, but breathing when they throw him in the back of the other SUV.

Luca throws open the backseat of our SUV and ushers Elena in with me. “She’s okay. You’re okay, Elena.”

I jump into action and wrap my arm around Elena as she trembles, dried blood staining her cheek where they cut her. I pull her close, fighting the surge of emotion hitting me. I was her not too long ago.

Saved from torture. Saved from Paolo Ferro.

Rage breaks through the pain, and all I can think about is Paolo getting what he deserves. I don’t care what I have to do. I don’t care if it puts me at risk.

Paolo is going to lose everything.

Money. Territory. Power.

And then he’ll lose his breath.

They won’t hurt another person like they hurt Elena and me.

“You’re safe,” I tell her as I hold her against me, both my arms around her now. “The pain will fade soon. The fear too,” I lie.

Elena doesn’t even know me, but she grabs hold of me like I’m her only lifeline.

Dmitri gets into the SUV on the other side of her. “Go! We need to get out of here before backup arrives!”

The SUVs tear away from the street and turn the corner, getting as far away from the liquor store as possible before reinforcements arrive.

“My cousin has a place for us to go. Our mamma is there with some others,” Luca reports from the passenger’s seat as he checks his phone.

“Others?” Dmitri questions him.