Page 75 of Savage Little War

I catch the hand-sized canister as he tosses it to me. A smoke grenade. “That works. We’re going to use this to sneak onto the second floor.”

At my hand motion, Denis and Leo move close to the door with me, staying out of sight as I pull the pin, open the door, and toss the grenade out onto the second floor.

I slam the door shut as I hear another gunshot, along with the quiet hissing of the grenade as thick white smoke floods the hallway. I take a deep breath and wait a few seconds before throwing open the door again, a white haze filling the hallway.

“Stay low,” I tell the others before ducking down into a crouch.

I squint my eyes against the smoke, pressing my face into the crook of my arm to block it from getting into my nose and mouth. My free hand feels along the wall, guiding me forward as I hear thumping and hushed voices nearby.

“I can’t see!”

My burning eyes narrow as I make out Annika’s panicked voice. I can’t even tell if I’m in a room or a large hallway, but I keep moving, feeling Denis’ hand on my shoulder from behind so that we’re linked together.

Glass shatters from what sounds like across the room. My heart rate jolts. They’re trying to escape through the goddamn window.

I surge forward, making Denis lose his grip. I stumble through the smoke as it starts to slowly thin and fade. I slam into someone, both of us hitting the ground.

“What the hell?” Artur’s familiar voice rings out.

I look up and see a broken window up ahead, but no one is trying to leave through it. Some of my men are entering it instead. “Find Annika!”

“Check that room!” Denis shouts from somewhere behind me.

I look back down at Artur as he struggles underneath me, his face reddening with fury. I drive a punch into his jaw, stunning him for a few seconds. “Got you, bastard. You really thought you could fuck with me and Cara without any consequences?”

“Fuck you,” Artur growls through gritted teeth as blood flecks stain his bottom lip.

“You’re going to regret every single thing you’ve done to us,” I bite out before punching him again, knocking him unconscious.

“Let me go! My father will kill you if you don’t get your hands off me!” Annika shrieks from another room before Leo hauls her out of it. Her eyes land on her unconscious father, and she gasps with tears in her eyes. “Daddy!”

Bitterness fills my stomach as I glare at her. She’s been the source of so much of my damn misery. The thought of her trying to kill my child makes me want to toss her out of the fucking window.

But I made a promise to Cara.

“Take them down to the car. Get them to the antique shop,” I tell my men as they gather around.

Annika’s eyes dart to me, her face scrunched in fury. “You’re going to pay for this, Dmitri.”

“No, you are finally going to pay,” I assure her before stepping away from her father. “Both of you will. And Cara might rip your throat out herself.”

23

Cara

When the antique shop door bangs open, my heart rate spikes.

They’re finally here.

I stand from the chair in the hallway, watching Isaak head into the main part of the store as muffled grunts and thuds sound from the entrance. I lean to the side and finally catch sight of Dmitri and his men hauling Artur and Annika toward me.

When Annika’s eyes land on mine, every ounce of oxygen leaves my lungs. The hatred on her face is instant, and I just know that she’s the one who kicked me. No other woman on this planet hates me like she does.

I got what she wanted, and she tried to take it away from me.

Isaak steps in front of me and guides me back from the interrogation-room door.

Dmitri and his men take Artur and Annika inside and strap them to the waiting chairs, rope biting into their wrists. They strip off their gags and step back as the two thrash and struggle in their seats, bitter words spilling from their lips.