Page 74 of Savage Little War

“Go,” Cara whispers, her lips brushing mine. “Be careful.”

“I will,” I promise her before flagging Isaak over. “You should be resting. I nearly had to bury you.”

“I’m fine,” Isaak assures me, moving slower than usual.

“You’ll take Cara to the antique shop. Have everything prepared for two prisoners,” I tell him as I coax Cara closer to him with a hand on her back. “I know you want back into the action, Isaak, but looking after her is the most important task that I can give you.”

Isaak nods in understanding. “Yes, sir. I’ll get her there and keep her safe.”

Cara gives me one more look before following Isaak back to one of the cars parked in front of Owen’s house.

“The rest of you, let’s go. We’ll meet the others closer to the building we’re hitting,” I tell the men before getting into my car and firing up the engine. My car lightly rumbles as I hit the gas, my eyes flickering to the rearview mirror to watch Isaak drive Cara away.

Every time that we’re separated, uneasiness seeps through me. I can’t help but fear that she’ll be taken away from me, and I won’t be able to find her the next time.

But if I can capture Artur and Annika, I can wipe out a huge threat. That would be doing the whole world a kindness.

I’ll eradicate anyone who tries to touch the woman I love.

Owen wasn’t wrong when he said that this area was rundown and neglected. A few people roam up and down the sidewalks, but everyone else is either in their houses or somewhere else. The street is quiet.

So quiet that there aren’t even any cars parked near the building. That doesn’t fool me, though. If Artur and Annika are staying here, they most likely have a driver transporting them wherever they dare to go.

Once my men and I park a street over, we split into groups, one taking the front of the building and the other taking the back. Our best bet is one big, concentrated effort to storm the building on both sides and surprise them.

So, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

“Now!”

Denis slams his foot against one of the glass front doors, shattering it on impact. He rushes inside, glass crunching under his boots as he enters the bare lobby. Dust lingers in the stale air, and I can quickly tell that this first floor hasn’t been used in weeks.

It’s just a front. A fake office space that looks legit at first glance.

“Stairs,” I say as I slip past Denis and hurry to the door that leads to the staircase.

Five men follow me as the second team crashes through the back. I take the stairs two at a time before reaching the door that leads out to the second floor.

One of my men passes me and throws open the door to take the lead. His body jerks backward as a bullet punches through his chest.

I grunt as his weight slams into me, knocking us backward into the wall.

“Shit! Shut the door!” Leo shouts from farther down the staircase.

Denis shoves his shoulder against the door, shutting it just as another shot rings out. The bullet thuds against the other side of the metal door.

“Check on him,” I tell Leo and Ivan as I carefully lower Avrey to the ground, his blood coating the front of my shirt and my hands.

Leo leans down near Avrey’s face, listening for any signs of breathing. He then lifts his eyes to mine and shakes his head with a somber look.

“Fuck,” I grit out, feeling a jab to my chest. We’re down a man already.

“What now?” Ivan asks me as he straightens up. “Whoever shot him is just waiting for someone else to come through the door.”

I narrow my eyes, racking my brain for an idea that’ll keep the rest of us from getting gunned down one by one because the layout of the building is killing us. This is the only way to the second floor.

“Have the second team go back outside and make sure no one leaves through one of the windows. In fact, see if any of them can find a way through a second-floor window,” I tell Ivan. “For us, we need some cover.”

Denis pulls out something from a pouch attached to his belt. “How about this?”