Page 5 of Savage Little War

“Family,” Luca says with a hopeful look on his face.

I brush Elena’s hair away from her teary face, hearing her sniffle. It’s bad enough being kidnapped and hurt, but it’s even worse that it was done to her by someone who she should’ve been able to trust. All of them are supposed to be family.

I share a look with Dmitri. I’m sure this brings back bad memories for him too.

After twenty minutes of driving, we finally arrive in a small park on the outskirts of the city. Out in the field, there’s a large gazebo for events, and I can already see a few people standing inside of it.

“I’m not leaving her,” I tell Dmitri before he can tell me to stay behind.

Dmitri nods, and we all get out together and cross the field to reach the gazebo. Ivan stays in the other SUV with whoever they kidnapped.

“Elena!” her mom cries out with her arms out.

Elena gives me a grateful look before pulling away to run into her mother’s arms. She starts sobbing again, both of them sinking down to their knees. “It was awful, Mamma. I can’t believe he did this to me!”

“We didn’t think you would ever show your face in New York City again,” one of the two unfamiliar men says to Luca.

Luca nods to another young woman, who I can only assume is the other cousin who has been helping him, before turning to the men. “Elena was in trouble. She’s family.”

“Paolo ordered everyone to grab you and deliver you to him if you ever came back.”

“Did he also threaten to kill you if you didn’t?” Luca asks.

The two men glance at each other, wariness etched into their expressions.

“Did you really kill Enrico?” someone asks.

“No,” Dmitri says, voice flat. “I did. He kidnapped my girl. Tortured her for weeks.”

“I helped him,” Luca admits. “Enrico was evil. Just like Paolo. I can’t imagine the lies that they fed to you about me, but I’m not like them.”

One of the men sighs. “Yeah, we know. You would never hurt a woman like Enrico said you did.”

“We could get killed for even being here,” the other man says. “But we’re starting to grow tired of Paolo and his ways. He’s asking things of his men and his family that are…monstrous.”

“He might not be a problem for that much longer,” Dmitri replies.

“Good,” the other cousin says as her eyes narrow. “Someone needs to deal with him.”

Luca’s mom reaches up and grabs Luca’s hand, pulling him down to kneel next to her and Elena. She places her hand on his cheek as tears roll down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, figlio mio. I was so scared.”

“It’s okay. I know you were,” Luca tells her. “But you don’t have to be afraid much longer. I promise. We’ll take you someplace safe until then.”

A tender ache fills my chest as I watch him embrace his mother and sister. I wish that taking down Paolo and his men would be an easy, quick task, but I know that the road ahead is long, bloody, and lined with bodies.

That won’t deter us in the slightest, though. We all have our own reasons for revenge.

All we need is one clear shot. One golden opportunity.

My hand drifts to my stomach again.

I still haven’t told Dmitri.

And if war is coming, I need him to know what he’s fighting for.

2

Cara