Page 68 of Savage Little War

Mark hits the gas and tears down the road toward the closest hospital, weaving through traffic effortlessly. “If people ask what happened, give the vaguest answer you can. Not too many details.”

I nod in understanding, knowing we don’t want to get the local cops involved. I just want Sean to be okay.

How many times in my life have I wished my father were dead because he was being an asshole? Now that the possibility is here, I hate that I ever wanted it.

Mark pulls in front of the emergency room entrance and parks before rushing through the double doors to flag down whoever he can find while I get the passenger doors open. Two nurses and a doctor follow him out a minute later with a gurney rolling behind them.

My throat grows tight as I watch them haul my father onto the gurney and rush him back inside, my legs feeling numb.

“Come on, Cara,” Leo says as he motions for me to follow him inside. “Mark will go talk to Dmitri, but I’ll stay with you and your dad’s guys.”

I swallow hard and nod before joining him, my heart sinking as we’re directed to the waiting area where they’ll give us updates. I force myself to sit down despite feeling like I want to either pace or run away, my knee bouncing anxiously.

“He’ll be okay,” Leo says quietly.

I want to believe him. But Dad isn’t twenty anymore, and that bullet was too close.

If he dies because he threw himself in front of me, the guilt will never let me breathe again.

My feelings toward my father are complicated and probably always will be, but I know that the guilt will eat me alive.

I don’t want anyone to die for me or because of me.

After what feels like an hour, a doctor strides into the waiting room. “O’Malley?”

One look at his face and my stomach drops, but I still manage to get myself out of the chair and walk over to him on wobbling legs.

I brace myself for what happens next.

Whether I’m ready for it or not.

21

Dmitri

I get to the hospital as fast as I can after I hear the news.

Panic and fury slam through me as I stride into the waiting area with Denis and Mark right behind me, my eyes landing on Cara as she speaks to one of the doctors.

Relief hits so hard my knees almost give out.

She’s okay.

I lose my breath. It’s like my chest forgets how to work.

I already felt wary about letting her go off into the city without me. Now, I really don’t want her to leave my side.

We were apart for a few hours, and someone tried to kill her.

“Cara?” I say as I stride over to her.

She turns from the doctor and lets me pull her into my arms. “I’m okay.”

“And her father?” I ask.

“He’s stable,” the doctor says. “Awake and responsive. I can take you to see him.”

I nod to him before glancing over my shoulder at Leo, Mark, Denis, and a handful of pissed off Irish men awaiting instructions. “Lock this place down. No one gets near that room.”