Page 58 of Breaking the Annulment

“We’ll find her,” Dimitris said, his tone steady. “We always do.”

The humof the SUV’s engine was a low growl beneath the tense silence inside. Michalis sat in the passenger seat, his jaw tight and his eyes fixed on the laptop in the console. A live feed from the traffic cameras played on the screen, the grainy footage tracking the black sedan that carried Aurelia.

“We’ve got them,” Dimitris said, his voice clipped as he pointed to a location on the map overlay. “They took a detour, heading toward an industrial park off the main highway.”

Michalis’s eyes narrowed. “That’s where they’re holding her?”

“It’s where they’ll hand her off,” Dimitris replied. “We need to move fast.”

Michalis grabbed his phone and barked into it. “I want the team in position around the target. No one gets in or out without my say.”

“Yes, sir,” came the crisp reply.

The SUV screeched to a halt as they reached the perimeter of the industrial park. The air was heavy with the scent of oil and rust, the faint glow of security lights casting long shadows over the empty loading docks and abandoned buildings.

Michalis stepped out, the cool night air biting against his skin. His men were already in position, their dark uniforms blending into the shadows as they awaited his orders. Dimitris approached, a sleek assault rifle slung over his shoulder.

“We go in hard and fast,” Michalis said, his voice low but commanding. “Victor’s men will expect resistance, so we hit them before they’re ready.”

He turned to Dimitris, his gaze sharp. “You take the south entrance with Ajax. I’ll go in through the main floor. Clear every room.”

Dimitris nodded. “Understood.”

The first shots rang out as Michalis’s men breached the building. The sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the cavernous space, mingling with the shouts of Victor’s men as chaos erupted.

Michalis moved with deadly precision, his handgun steady as he cleared the hallway. The air was thick with smoke and the metallic tang of blood. One of Victor’s guards lunged at him from a side room, but Michalis dispatched him with a swift shot to the chest, his expression grim and unyielding.

“Room clear!” Dimitris’s voice crackled through the comms.

Michalis pressed forward, his heart pounding as he neared the center of the building. Each step brought him closer to Aurelia, and the thought of her trapped, terrified, and vulnerable fueled his resolve.

Victor’s voice carried through the hallway, cold and commanding. “Hold them off! Don’t let them through!”

Michalis burst into the central office, his gun trained on Victor, who stood behind a metal desk. Two of his men raised their weapons, but Michalis’s shots were faster. They crumpled to the floor, leaving Victor alone.

Victor sneered, blood trickling from a gash on his temple. “Giannopoulos. Always interfering.”

“Where is she?” Michalis demanded, his voice a low growl.

Victor chuckled, the sound dark and hollow. “You think you can take her from me? She’s my daughter. She belongs to me.”

“Not anymore,” Michalis snarled. “Where is she?”

Victor leaned back, his smirk widening. “She’s already mine, Michalis. You can’t protect her forever. I’ll always find her.”

Michalis moved faster than Victor anticipated, slamming him against the wall with enough force to rattle the desk. “Not this time,” he hissed, his voice venomous. “Last time. Where is she?”

Victor’s cold laughter faltered, but before he could respond, Dimitris’s voice came over the comms. “We’ve got her. Northwest wing.”

Michalis didn’t hesitate. He pulled the trigger, ending the threat to his wife once and for all, then turned and sprinted toward the northwest wing, his heart hammering in his chest.

The lock on the steel door clicked, and the heavy door swung open. Aurelia sat huddled in the corner, her arms wrapped protectively around her belly. Her eyes widened as Michalis stepped inside, his gun still in hand, his body taut with tension.

“Michalis?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He crossed the room in two strides, dropping to his knees in front of her. “I’m here,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “You’re safe now.”

Aurelia’s hands reached out, clutching his shirt as sobs wracked her body. “I’m so sorry,” she choked out. “I thought I was protecting us. I didn’t know…”

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