Page 119 of Beneath Scarred Vows

The place sits isolated on a cliff edge, overlooking the ocean. It would be beautiful if I gave a shit about the view. All I care about is that my wife is somewhere inside that building—beneath it, if Stavros is right about the cellars.

I crack my neck, releasing some of the tension. "Have the men start marking targets," I tell Theo. "I want every guard accounted for."

A black Mercedes pulls up behind us, and I spot Dimitri being driven by one of our men. My youngest brother steps out, hisface pale but determined. His arm is completely bandaged and resting in a sling.

Theo curses under his breath. "Fucking guy. Nothing stops him."

I wait as other vehicles arrive—more of our men, Stavros Petrou's crew in two SUVs, and finally a few black cars full of George Zervas's men.

I walk over to Dimitri as he approaches, his good arm clutching a handgun.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I demand, keeping my voice low.

He meets my gaze without flinching. "They took her from right in front of me. I was bleeding on the fucking floor while they dragged her out."

"That's not your fault."

"Doesn't matter if it is or isn't. I'm here."

I grip his good shoulder. "Dimitri, it's too dangerous for you to go in with just one arm. I won't risk your life too."

"Fuck that. I'm not sitting this out," he says in a firm tone.

"I'm not asking you to. I need someone I trust watching our backs while we go in."

Dimitri hesitates, then nods slowly. "Fine. But I'm not just sitting in the damn car."

"Of course you're not. I need you to coordinate the perimeter teams. Make sure nobody gets out, especially not with Katerina," I say.

I turn to our assembled forces. Twenty-five to thirty men, maybe more, all armed and waiting for the order. I signal them to gather closer.

"Listen up," I say, loud enough for them to hear. "My wife is being held inside. Most likely in the basement level. The building has multiple entrances—front, kitchen, loading dock, and probably a service door."

I point to different groups. "Stavros's men, take the east side. Zervas's, the west. Our teams will hit the front and back simultaneously." I look at Dimitri. "Dimitri will coordinate from here. Nobody—and I mean nobody—gets out of that building without going through one of you first."

I turn to Theo. "You and I are going in the front."

Theo raises an eyebrow. "They'll see us coming."

"That's the point."

I check my weapons one final time. In the distance, the restaurant glows against the darkening sky, its lights reflecting off the sea beyond. Somewhere inside those walls, Katerina is waiting. Afraid, possibly hurt, but alive. I have to believe that.

We all move into position.

"Three," I announce.

I draw my gun, preparing to kill every man who stands between me and what's mine.

"Two."

I visualize her face—not frightened as she was in the video, but fierce and defiant as she so often is with me.

"One."

I think of her lips on mine, her body beneath me, her voice saying my name in the darkness.

"Go."