Page 81 of Savage Little War

I never thought I’d find myself keeping Sean’s safety and wellbeing in mind, but as time has gone on, it’s become clear to me that my allies may not always be who I expected.

I could also say the same thing for my enemies.

Cara looks curious, but she just nods. “Don’t do anything too dangerous. The wedding is soon, and I want someone waiting for me at the end of the aisle.”

“I’d never let anyone else be there but me,” I promise her, sealing my words with a claiming kiss.

The Council fucked up.

They’re supposed to be the Bratva’s source of justice and authority, but they’ve been nothing but corrupt for a while now.

And their time as Bratva leaders is over.

25

Cara

For the next two weeks, we keep our heads down. With the wedding only two days away, we don’t want any last-minute disasters. Not if we can help it.

“I’m meeting with some of my men for a few hours,” Dmitri tells me as we ride in the back of a black car, the interior concealed by heavily tinted windows. “But I’ll pick you up after you’re done with your father.”

I nod as he takes my hand and rests both of them on my thigh. “What’s the meeting about?”

“I have someone watching the Council members,” Dmitri explains. “They’re all in town so I’m trying to stay ahead of them in case they make a move. That way, we’ll be ready.”

“Hopefully they wait until after the wedding,” I say with a wry smile.

Dmitri chuckles. “I’m talking to my spy today. We’ll see what they’re planning. I doubt they’re just going to sit back and do nothing as we get married.”

The Bratva Council is stuck in the past. Loyalty isn’t as simple as bloodlines and family names, no matter how badly they want it to be. Even those who share similar allies and family names aren’t guaranteed to be trustworthy. It all comes down to their character and their actions.

It’s hard to trust anyone unless you know who they really are underneath it all.

“Whatever you find out, tell me. I don’t want to be kept in the dark,” I warn him.

Dmitri kisses the top of my hand. “Always, milaya. You’re by my side in all of this. Keeping things from you would only put you in more danger.”

I give him a grateful look. I’m glad he thinks so because it’s true. How can I prepare myself for the bad things if I don’t even know that they exist?

We’re a team now. A family.

If we don’t work together, it’ll all fall apart.

“What do you think your father wants to discuss? He was pretty adamant about seeing you before the wedding,” Dmitri asks, concern flashing in his eyes.

I can’t help but laugh a little. “What? Do you think he’s trying to pull his support for our marriage?”

Dmitri shrugs. “I doubt it, but I can’t help but be curious.”

“You can tell me your news later, and I’ll tell you mine,” I promise, playfully hooking my pinky around his.

Dmitri flashes me an amused grin and nods. “Alright then. Hopefully, your father knows better than to go back on a deal.”

“I’ll make sure he knows that when it comes to you, he needs to stick to his word,” I assure him.

The Bratva and the Irish are stronger together than apart. The Council has failed to see that, but maybe other Bratva families will realize that unconventional allies could protect them against dangerous enemies. A lot of us want the same things.

Why does everything always have to come down to family names and old grudges?