Page 120 of Beneath Scarred Vows

We move as one, a synchronized wave of black-clad figures descending on the restaurant from all sides.

I lead the charge straight for the front door, Theo keeping pace on my right, some of my men on the left.

A single guard, away from the others taking a piss on a tree, spots us too late. He frantically reaches for his weapon, but my shot drops him before his hand touches steel. He stumbles forward, hitting the trees and falling into the puddle he's no better than.

Then we hear gunfire erupt. We look around and see Zervas's men firing. Another guard runs in our direction and manages to fire a wild shot before I put two bullets in his chest and drop him.

Suddenly the ground rumbles and a loud explosion is heard to our left.

"What the fuck," Theo says. "Was that a bomb?"

"Son of a bitch has explosives. Be careful," I say to my brother, and loud enough for the men with us to hear.

We watch as a few of the men guarding the front split off around the building, going after Zervas and Petrou's men.

I look back and point to some of my men. "You guys—and all of you—fan out. Don't hesitate to kill. We're," I motion between my brother and me, "walking in that fucking front door."

They nod and separate from us, moving away on either side. Theo and I advance, and two guards start shooting at us. They take down one of my men on the left, but we all return fire and the first guy's head explodes. The other one grabs his neck as blood starts pouring out. I'm not sure who took who out, but they're dead—and that's all that matters.

We continue moving slowly, surrounded by the sounds of gunfire. It seems everyone we came here with is closing in and locked in their own fights. I see a mixture of ours and Sebastian's men falling, but not me. I will not die until I reach my wife and take out everyone who's responsible.

"Those bushes up ahead—go," I say and start running, Theo never leaving my side.

We slide down just as a man comes out the front door shooting into the dark. He takes a few steps forward and as soon as he's even with me, I pop up, place my gun a few inches away from the side of his head—just above his left ear—and pull the trigger. I feel a wet spray come across my face and his blood squirts everywhere.

As he goes to fall, I catch him and push him forward.

I let out a yell as I rush the front entrance, using his body as a shield as I crash through the front door of Sebastian Makris's domain. The man's body shakes as men inside open fire.

I push the man forward and Theo is right beside me, firing in quick succession. I see the eyes of four men turn black and leave this earth.

Another explosion rocks the building and I lose my footing, falling to one knee as a man comes into view. I don't even try to get up. I aim and fire twice—my bullets ripping throughthe thickest part of his thigh and the other piercing his heart, causing him to crumple to the floor instantly.

"Katerina! I am here!" I yell, reloading my gun and getting back up.

"Behind the bar!" Theo shouts, and I turn and feel a burning sensation on my right arm. We both fire, and the man crashes into glasses and falls to the ground.

"Shit," I say and look down at my arm.

"You hurt?" Theo asks.

"No. Grazed."

As I lift my head, I'm knocked down to the floor, and a man is on top of me brandishing a knife. I flip him over and grab his hands.

"I can't get a shot," Theo says as we roll around on the floor.

"Fuck you," the man says to me as he tries to stab me.

Katerina's face flashes before my eyes and I pull strength from deep within and turn the knife on the man. Since I'm on top of him, I lean into him, using everything I have. Slowly the knife slides down.

I hear him screaming as the blade slides into his eye socket as easily as a warm knife cuts into butter.

The man goes limp and I stand, the handle sticking out of his left eye. I pick up my gun and look around the room. A few of our men make it inside.

"Our team in the back has made it in," one of them says.

"Good. Go help them. We're going down."