Page 87 of Savage Little War

“I’ll treat you all to whatever you want,” I promise them as we make our way around the corner.

“It’s your bachelor party. We’ve got it covered,” Andrei says as he pats my shoulder. “How are you going to kill this one?”

“In a way that terrifies him,” I state as Victor’s house comes into view.

It’s larger than the others, and it’s better guarded. I can already see two guards stationed on the porch through the steel gate surrounding the large property. There could be more guards inside.

“We’ll take care of the guards,” Leo says as he gestures to himself, Mark, and Denis.

“I brought a rifle for some long-distance damage,” Mark says as he rests his rifle against his shoulder.

“We’ll go through a window,” I tell Andrei and Luca before we split up into two groups.

Andrei, Luca, and I crouch down and hurry along the side of the property, using the darkness and some shrubs for cover. I motion for them to stop and wait before straining my ears to hear.

After a few minutes, the sound of Mark’s rifle going off rings through the air, followed by shouts.

“Let’s go!” I tell Andrei and Luca before climbing up the tall fence and hauling myself over it. I jump down onto the ground on the other side, losing my breath for a second from the force of the drop.

Andrei and Luca follow before we rush across the lawn toward the nearest window that we can see on the side of the house. Andrei slams his covered elbow against the glass, shattering it on impact.

I slip through the opening and land in what looks like a study, at least from what I can make out in the moonlight. “Come on. Hurry!”

Andrei and Luca jump through the window, landing unceremoniously beside each other on the floor.

I barely get Andrei and Luca moving again before the double doors to the study fly open.

Two guards rush inside with their guns drawn, and all I can do is shove Andrei and Luca back down to the floor as I dive toward it myself.

Shots ring out, bullets flying over our heads.

I crawl behind a nearby armchair and pull my gun out, waiting a second until I hear them reloading. I pop out from my hiding spot and fire, hitting one guard in the chest and knocking him backward.

Andrei tackles the other guard to the ground.

The guard struggles beneath him and fires beside Andrei’s head.

“Fuck!” Andrei shouts as he grabs at his ringing ear. He grunts as the guard lands a punch to his face, throwing him off balance enough for the guard to roll them over.

Luca rushes over and slams into the guard, throwing him off Andrei. He glances at me over his shoulder. “Go! Find Victor before he escapes!”

I nod and hurry out of the room, keeping my gun ready as I navigate through the dark house. My free hand feels along nearby walls, guiding me down a hallway.

A faint thud sounds up ahead.

I pause for a second, hearing another light noise in one of the rooms ahead of me. After taking a deep breath, I advance and step into the first room on the right, my eyes sweeping across what looks like a bedroom.

It’s empty.

Or so I thought.

Pain explodes through my head as someone hits me from behind, sending me down to the ground with a shout. My gun tumbles across the floor away from me. I quickly flip over, black dots teasing the edges of my vision, but I can still make out Victor’s face full of rage as he approaches me with what looks like the base of a lamp.

“What are you doing, Dmitri? Are you this desperate to get married to that Irish whore?” Victor questions as he approaches.

I glare at him as fury races through my veins. He’ll never respect her or our marriage, making me even more determined to end him.

“Did you really think that I wouldn’t find out about your little assassination plan?” I ask him as I push myself to my feet. “I’ve already paid off your shooter.”