Page 45 of Savage Little War

Luca gives me a firm look. “We’re fighting for our lives,” he snaps. “Don’t fail her.”

I nod before tightening my grip on Cara’s hand and pulling her away from Luca as he turns to deal with the guards getting closer.

Cara stumbles after me, breathing heavily as she pitches looks over her shoulder.

I shouldn’t have brought her. What the hell was I thinking?

I see a set of double doors on my left. They must lead to another balcony. I rush over to them and throw them open, revealing a balcony that overlooks a small terrace. “Come here.”

“What are we doing?” Cara questions me as I look over the railing.

There aren’t any statues to climb, but there are plenty of bushes just underneath the balcony. The drop isn’t too far, and they would cushion her fall.

“You need to jump into those bushes and hide somewhere,” I tell her as I point down below.

Cara’s eyes grow wide. “No! I’m not leaving you!”

I pull her closer to the side of the balcony where the railing is, adrenaline pumping through my veins. “You have to. I can’t protect you in there.”

Fear shines in her eyes. “Who’s going to protect you?”

“I’ll be fine,” I assure her as I place her hands on the railing, standing behind her. “It’ll hurt. Land on your feet if you can, then roll.”

Cara’s hands shake as they grip the top of the railing. She peers over the edge into the bushes, breathing out shakily.

“It looks farther down than it actually is,” I promise her, knowing that she’s scared. “You and our baby will be okay.”

We don’t have much time, though.

Cara nods and lifts her leg to rest her knee on top of the railing with her hands. She starts to lean forward, the breeze rustling her hair.

I place my hand on her back to steady her, dread seeping deep in my stomach. I don’t want us to be separated, but she may be safer that way.

Cara breathes in deeply before leaning forward.

I lift my hand from her back, and someone grips my collar and rips me backward.

“Dmitri!” she screams as she tries to grab me.

I hit the ground on my back, my head striking the wooden floor.

Then nothing.

14

Cara

Fear pierces my heart as Dmitri gets dragged back into the darkness, inside the villa, away from the balcony.

I climb back over the railing and bolt through the open doors, my shoes skidding on polished wood.

A lean man with messy dark hair is standing over Dmitri.

Dmitri barely moves, looking stunned as he slowly blinks his eyes. He tries to lift his head to sit up, but the guard deals a hefty punch to his face to knock him back down.

Rage boils up hot and instant. My hand finds the knife at my back. The sheath hits the floor as I charge him, jumping onto his back and knocking him off balance.

He snarls and whips around, slamming me into the wall before I can plunge the knife into his chest.