Page 114 of Beneath Scarred Vows
"Ah, there she is, in the flesh," the big one says, his voice deep and rumbling. He gestures toward me like I'm a prize on display.
I straighten my back against the barrel, not sure who they are or what's happening.
"Mrs. Kastaris," the thin one says, his voice surprisingly high and nasal. "You're even prettier than the pictures showed."
The heavyset man steps forward and crouches down in front of me, his face close enough that I can smell the whiskey on his breath and see the yellow stains on his teeth when he smiles.
"Do you know who I am?" he asks, his accent thick but his English clear.
I stare directly into his eyes. They're pale blue, almost colorless, set in a face flushed red with alcohol and excitement.
"Should I?" My voice comes out rough, my throat dry from the chemicals they used to knock me out.
He laughs. "Oh, maybe your husband has mentioned me. Sebastian Makris. We're friends, since he seems to be a fan of sending me gifts."
In truth, I overheard Ares and his brothers talking about a Sebastian, which I'm assuming is him, but I can't remember anything more.
I shake my head. "No, and I know all his friends," I say.
He looks at me for a moment, and I fully believe he's going to slap me, but he doesn't.
"What do you want with me?" I ask, forcing my face to stay neutral while trying to keep my heart from exploding in my chest.
Sebastian smiles. "Straight to business." He shifts his weight, his knees cracking as he adjusts his position. "What I want is for your husband to understand the consequences of his actions."
"What actions?" I ask.
"He's been very busy, your new husband. Killing my men. Taking my territory." Sebastian gestures vaguely. "Making quite a mess here in Greece."
The thin man laughs from where he stands at the bottom of the stairs. "He's going to be real mad when he finds out we've got his pretty little wife."
Sebastian shoots him a look that silences him immediately. "That's the whole fucking point."
He turns back to me, reaching out to touch my face. I jerk away, but there's nowhere to go with the barrel at my back.
"You don't look scared," he observes. "You should be."
I meet his gaze steadily, making sure to continue hiding all my fear. "If you wanted me dead, I'd be dead already."
Sebastian laughs again, patting my cheek with a touch that's almost affectionate. I wish I could bite him.
"Smart girl. No, we don't want you dead." His smile fades, his expression hardening. "But we're going to make you wish you were by the end of all this."
He stands and straightens his jacket. "Your husband took something from me. Now I've taken something from him. An eye for an eye, as they say."
"And what happens now?" I ask, forcing myself to maintain eye contact despite the growing knot of fear in my stomach.
"Now?" Sebastian spreads his hands. "Now we wait. Ares Kastaris is going to come running to save his bride, and when he does…" He makes a gun with his fingers, points it at me, and mimes pulling the trigger. "Bang."
The thin man giggles at this, a high, eerie sound that makes my skin crawl.
"You know, when they told me Ares Kastaris had taken a wife, and so soon after his father's death, I didn't believe it." He studies me, his head tilted. "He's so cold and seems so boring," he says.
I say nothing, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.
"But looking at you now," Sebastian continues, "I can see why he might make an exception."
He reaches down suddenly and grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "I bet your pussy tastes like honey," he says, laughing. "Maybe I'll need to sample it before we're done with you."
