Page 118 of Beneath Scarred Vows

Theo nods. "How many men do you want?"

"All of them," I say without hesitation. "Every single one we have in Kalamata."

"Consider it done," Theo confirms. "We'll fucking annihilate them."

"Good." I check the second gun at my ankle, making sure it's secure. "I want a full perimeter. No one gets in or out once we'rethere. If Makris is inside, I want him alive." I look up, meeting Stavros's eyes. "At first."

He knows what I'll do to the man who took Katerina. What I'll do to anyone who dared touch her.

"My men will meet yours there," Stavros says, pulling out his own phone. "I can have twenty ready in fifteen minutes."

"Thank you," I say, though the words feels inadequate. This man gave me his niece in marriage, and I failed to protect her. That sits heavy in my chest, mingling with the rage and fear.

I turn back to Theo. "I want the heat on this place. We go in hard and fast."

Theo nods, already relaying the orders to someone on the other end of his call.

"And Theo," I add, my voice dropping, "if she's hurt, if there's a single fucking bruise on her that wasn't there in that video…" I don't finish the sentence. I don't need to.

"I know," he says quietly. "We'll level the place if we have to."

Stavros is watching me, something unreadable in his face. Is it doubt? Concern? Evaluation?

"Car's ready," Theo announces, hanging up his call. "Team's assembling now. ETA to the restaurant is thirty minutes if we push it."

"I want to be there in twenty," I say, moving toward the door.

No one argues. They all fall in behind me as I walk down the hallway, my mind already at the restaurant, already tearing through walls and bodies to find her.

"Ares," Stavros calls after me. I pause, turning to face him. He catches up, his expression grave.

"There's something else you should know."

I wait, impatience gnawing at me.

"Makris isn't just some thug. He's smart, and he's got connections in places you wouldn't expect."

"I don't care if he's connected to the fucking Pope," I say, my patience wearing thin. "He took my wife."

"I'm not saying don't kill him," Stavros clarifies. "I'm saying be careful. He'll be up to something."

"So will I," I promise darkly.

Stavros nods, seemingly satisfied. "Then go get your wife back."

I slide into the back of the waiting SUV, Theo beside me.

"Let's go," I command.

I'm coming for you, Katerina. Just hold on, baby. And if anyone lays one more fucking finger on you, I'll gut them and make them choke on their entrails.

41

ARES

When we get close, we pull off the main road and hop out. We look at Sebastian Makris's so-called restaurant. The place is locked down tighter than a fucking maximum-security prison. I count at least twelve guards from where we're parked—two at the front entrance, pairs patrolling the perimeter, more on what looks like a rear loading dock.

"Just a restaurant, my ass," Theo says beside me.