Page 50 of Savage Little War

Paolo’s mouth curls. “When I’m done with you, I’ll finish what I started with your girl.”

My pulse goes cold. “What did you say?”

Shit. I need names from him. Every last one of them who hurt Cara.

But my hands want his throat more than they want answers right now.

He chuckles, low, pleased. “I was at the farmhouse. I heard her scream.” He tilts his head. “And I remember how she looked when I cut her.”

I clench my teeth so tightly that my jaw aches. He’s one of her torturers. He laid his hands on her. He hurt her.

“This time,” he adds, voice soft, “I won’t stop at her pretty face.”

My blood boils, my hand threatening to shake as I tighten my grip on my gun. Every single word that comes out of his mouth makes me even more furious. But before he dies, I have to find out the names of everyone else who hurt Cara so I can end them all.

“I wanted information, but I almost liked that she resisted. Made it that much more fun to bring her to tears. Over and over again,” Paolo says. “Maybe this time, I’ll try something different. Maybe I’ll see how pretty she looks underneath those clothes.”

“You’re not leaving here alive tonight, you sick bastard,” I grit out, so furious it makes me nauseous.

Paolo’s shoulders shake with a quiet laugh. “Maybe I’ll break your spine and paralyze you. Make you watch.”

I lift my gun and fire, but rage makes my hand shake while my concussion screams behind my eyes. The shot sails over his head.

At lightning speed, he runs at me, tackling me to the ground and knocking my gun from my grip. It tumbles across the cobblestone clearing away from us. He deals a punch to my face, making me see stars as pain radiates through my recently concussed head.

I put my hands up, blocking what hits that I can as he pins me down with the weight of his body. Adrenaline pulses through me, giving me enough strength and blocking out the pain enough for me to strike upward and catch his chin with my fist.

Paolo grunts as his head snaps back.

I slam my fist against his cheek, knocking him sideways and throwing off his aim enough to shove him off me. I quickly roll onto my stomach and push myself up, fighting through the waves of pain that keep crashing down on me.

Paolo gets up to his hands and knees, a frustrated growl sounding in his throat.

I drive my foot against him in a harsh kick, flipping him onto his back then kneeling next to him. I grab the front of his white shirt before punching him in the nose, bone hitting bone. My knuckles ache from the impact, but I don’t stop.

I don’t care if I break every bone in my hand. He isn’t making it out of this fight alive.

Paolo manages to grab my wrist and yank me forward, causing me to crash against him. He grapples with me, trying to get the upper hand.

I dig my feet into the ground to get leverage, but he knees me in the stomach so hard that I lose my breath. I try to suck in air, but my lungs burn in protest.

Paolo shoves me off and stumbles to his feet, one eye swollen shut as blood drips from his slightly crooked nose. He spits blood on the ground next to me. “You’re weak. You can’t protect her! You might as well just hand her over to me now.”

I stand up, grasping at my stomach as I struggle to take a deep breath. “You’re not laying…a hand on her. Never again.”

Paolo smirks as we face each other. “Soon, you’re not going to have much of a choice in the matter.”

I grit my teeth before running at him, crashing into him, but he doesn’t fall. He grabs my arms instead, blocking my tackle and my punch.

Paolo spins us around and shoves my back against the side of the fountain. Pain detonates through my back making me shout out in agony.

Paolo takes advantage of that and whirls me around and slams my head into the fountain.

Water fills my nose, my mouth. It’s cold, brutal. He keeps me down with all his weight, and I can’t find the rim, only slick stone.

My lungs burn. My strength drains. The world narrows to black around the edges.

Not like this. Not before my baby even gets a chance⁠—