Page 21 of Savage Don

My hands tighten slightly against my daughter’s cheeks before I force myself to relax them.

I have seen men shot at close range.

I have seen buildings burn with people still inside them.

I have spent most of my adult life surrounded by violence severe enough that very little surprises me anymore.

None of that prepares me for hearing my daughter calmly explain that another woman put herself between her and a speeding car.

“What happened after she pushed you?”

Anya sniffles and wipes her face with the back of her hand. “She fell really hard, and she didn’t move at first, so I thought she was dead, and then she opened her eyes and started making jokes.”

I look over at Elle again.

Levin is checking her pupils while another member of staff brings him what he asks for.

“Jokes,” I repeat.

Kirill gives a small nod. “She appears to use humor when she is frightened, injured, irritated, or possibly simply awake.”

That makes me look at him. “Those are broad circumstances.”

“I have only known her for approximately forty minutes, but so far they seem accurate.”

Anya gives a tiny laugh through her tears.

I almost do the same, although the urge disappears when I look at the blood dried along Elle’s temple again.

“What exactly did she see before the collision?” I ask.

Kirill’s expression changes.

That catches my attention immediately.

“She said the driver accelerated.”

I straighten. “Not failed to brake.”

“No,” Kirill says. “She was very specific. She said the vehicle had enough distance to slow down, but instead the engine surged when Anya stepped into the drive.”

I look toward my daughter.

She is listening.

I switch to Russian.

“Do you believe the vehicle was deliberately aimed at her?”

Kirill answers in the same language. “Yes. I cannot prove it yet, but after reviewing what I saw and what Bennett described, I don’t believe this was an accident.”

Something cold settles inside me.

Someone tried to kill my daughter.

“Find the car, find the driver, and find whoever gave the order, because I want every person involved identified before they have time to convince themselves they succeeded in disappearing.”

Kirill nods once. “It is already being done.”