Page 115 of The Lieutenant

“Kara!”

Suddenly, all was quiet. Then a man’s voice.

“Havros Nomikos. You will pay for your sins just like your brothers. I will enjoy every moment of getting to know every inch of the woman who means so very much to you. Sadly, there won’t be anything left of her to return.”

His laugh was evil and deep.

“Bernardi. If you hurt her, I will kill you.”

“You’ve tried and failed. Now you can live with the pain of losing the one thing you loved. Say goodbye, Havros. Say something to your lover, Kara.”

“Havros!”

As the call ended, I slowly fell to my knees. “No!”

CHAPTER 33

Havros

I felt death all around me. In my mind. In my heart.

In my soul.

Rage remained eating at me, the guilt not far behind. I’d failed her several times. Only this time could cost Kara her life.

“We’ll find her, son.”

Apollo Nomikos was a man of action and always had been. He remained solemn as did the others, acting very much the patriarch with his support. I was thankful, but wasn’t going to waste any time in engaging in conversation.

“We don’t have much time,” I told the group. “You didn’t hear Bernardi’s voice.”

“How is the fucker still alive?” Christos barked out.

I shook my head. “Maybe someone tipped him off as to the attack. Does it really matter at this point?” No, it did not. Thefucker was going to die by my hands. A flash of rage brought images of snapping his neck after I’d gutted him, but that death was too damn good for a monster. The sound of my strangled laugh was bitter.

Dimitrios and Christos glanced at each other. They knew just how close I was to an edge I’d never been near before. Kara was meant to be mine. The thought of losing her was something I would never get over.

I’d ordered Jonas to gather all our soldiers, ensuring the bastards didn’t leave the country. I’d called in favors, every informant attempting to discover where the fucker was hiding. Hell, I’d even used Dimitrios’ contact at the police department to try to run him down. Hours had gone by with zero information. It was as if the man had disappeared.

Enlisting our full army had stretched our numbers significantly, pushing us to the breaking point. But I would find her.

I grabbed my keys and weapon, ready to head out the door.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Christos grabbed my arm.

I jerked it away. “Wherever I goddamn well please. I will find her. Nothing is going to stop this.”

“We need to think logically,” my father said, his tone gruff. “All you’re going to do is end up in an accident. Or a war. We make a plan.”

“What kind of plan? How the fuck are we supposed to find Kara if we’re not searching?” No, I wasn’t thinking clearly at all. How could I at this point? My mind was consumed with thoughts ofmurder, the pain of losing her overwhelming. “We have nothing. Nothing!”

Dear God, the sound of my phone almost made me go ballistic. I yanked it from my jacket, staring at the unknown number. “Fuck.” A bad feeling rolled into my system. “Havros Nomikos.”

“Havros, this is Lorenzo Coppola.”

Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, trying to keep a rational tongue. “Now is not a good time.”

“I’m aware the lovely woman who was in my home with you has been kidnapped. It would seem my men didn’t do a good job in eliminating an enemy we share in our worlds. For that, I apologize.”

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