Page 67 of Beneath Scarred Vows

Instead, I find myself smiling.

23

ARES

Islam my fist against the desk, hoping it'll help release my anger and frustration. Three days. Three fucking days waiting. For my men to find those pieces of shit who shot Calli and Katerina.

I'm about to call Theo or Alex for updates when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out and see Dimitri's name flash across the screen.

We found them. Four men. At Gio's warehouse. Come when you're ready.

When I'm ready?

I've been waiting for this since I saw Katerina's bloodied shirt, since I bandaged the wound on her arm. Since I heard Calli's choked voice describing how Katerina pulled her down and protected her.

I called in everyone I knew for help with this. Dimitri got a copy of all surrounding security tapes. The restaurant cooperated; the other businesses didn't. We had to get a little forceful, but we got them nonetheless.

My close friend Gio Bonventi has been helping too, showing his men the tapes and finally, after three long, excruciating days of searching, Dimitri's text message is all I've hoped for.

They found the fuckers responsible. They're being held at a Bonventi warehouse, as their men and ours must have found them together.

I slide my gun into its holster and grab my jacket. The rage that's been building inside me these past few days settles into something deadlier now.

Derek's already waiting outside my office door.

"The car's ready, sir. Theo's meeting you there."

I nod. My mind is already at the warehouse, already picturing what I'll do to the men who thought they could hurt my family.

As I walk through the house, I catch a glimpse of Katerina and Calli in the living room, their heads bent close together, laughing over something on a phone.

For a moment, I consider going to tell them we found the men. To have Katerina understand the men who did this to her will pay with their lives.

But I stop myself. There's darkness in what I'm about to do. I won't taint what's growing between us by letting her see the monster beneath my skin, even if she already knows it's there.

Not yet.

I slip out the front door without a word and slide into the waiting car.

"Drive," I command.

I stare out the window, watching the city blur past. Chicago is mine—my territory, my responsibility. And someone dared to violate it, dared to target my family.

My hands clench into fists on my thighs. The image of Katerina's blood seeping through her dress haunts me, a stain I can't wash away. The way her body had trembled under my hands as I'd cleaned her wound, as I'd tried to be gentle when all I wanted was to tear the world apart.

She'd been brave for me, pretending it didn't hurt. And later, when we'd made love, she'd given herself to me completely, trusting me with her body, with her vulnerability.

I don't deserve her trust. But I'll earn it by getting rid of anything that threatens her.

The car pulls up outside the warehouse. Theo's Mercedes is already there, along with Dimitri's black Audi.

I step out of the car, and immediately Gio's men straighten, nodding respectfully as I pass.

Gio himself meets me at the entrance.

"Ares," he says, extending his hand. "We've got them all waiting for you inside," he says with a smile.

"Thank you for your help, Gio. I owe you," I say, shaking his hand.