Page 17 of Savage Enemy

My mind spun in a frenzied loop, working to come up with something to get my son out of the situation alive.

Enzo took advantage of the moment, leaping to his feet and jamming his fist into Aris’s groin.

Oh god, no. No, no, no.

My brother grunted and doubled over in pain.

Enzo raced to me, throwing himself in front of me.

My pulse accelerated. Nausea rolled through me, bile rising and burning my throat.

I shoved my son behind my body to shield him.

With a guttural snarl coming from between Aris’s teeth, he straightened and pointed his gun at me.

“You should’ve taught your son some fucking manners.”

I gripped Enzo’s arm behind my back.

“I taught my son how to fight and how to survive.”

“What the fuck would a dumb cunt like you know about survival?”

Realizing that if I antagonized Aris and forced him to focus on me instead of my son, it was a step in the right direction.

“How many times have you died, Aris? Have you ever survived on your own? Oh wait, you still live with daddy, and Marco’s still bailing you out all the time, because you’re too stupid not to start fights you can’t win.”

I pushed out my bottom lip in a childish, mocking pout.

Aris stepped closer. Shit. Had he actually just growled?

“You really wanna play, you little cunt? I’ll teach you some fucking manners first, then remind you where yourplace is—right before I do the same to your kid.”

It worried me that I couldn’t tell what my father was doing in my periphery, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off Aris, not when he stood so close to my son with his weapon.

I forced one of his disgusting grins onto my own face.

“But can you? I mean, you were just punched in the dick by a nine-year-old.”

He thumbed back the hammer on his gun as he closed in on me. Then he settled the cold steel barrel against my temple.

My heart slammed against my ribs, but I couldn’t allow Aris to see my fear. He would exploit any form of weakness.

Our father casually cleared his throat as he put his hand on top of Aris’s gun and pushed it down.

“Enough, son. Don’t shoot her in the face. We need her to stay pretty for the Russians.”

Then the old man met my gaze.

“As for you, Princess, you’re coming with us, and I don’t mean to say it again. Come willingly, and the boy lives. Anything more out of your mouth, and I’ll kill him myself.”

Enzo ripped his arm out of my grip and rushed between Aris and me to shove him back.

Aris pointed his gun at Enzo.

My heart stopped.

“If you kill him,” I blurted, “you’ll have to kill me too. And then not only will you have nothing for the Russians, you’ll never be able to hide your actions from the Commission. They’ll kill you if Stefano doesn’t kill you first.”

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