Page 68 of Beneath Scarred Vows
"Bullshit. No debts between friends," he says and pats me on the back. "Plus, you helped me with Raven," he smirks and turns. "I'll leave you to it. Theo and Dimitri are inside."
I walk through the warehouse, past stacked crates and machinery, to a sectioned-off area at the back. The heavy metaldoor opens to reveal a makeshift interrogation room—concrete floors with drains, plastic sheeting on the walls.
And four men, bound to chairs in the center of the room, bags over their faces.
Theo and Dimitri are standing near them, circling like predators. They look up as I enter.
"Brother," Dimitri acknowledges me, stepping toward me. "They've been quite forthcoming."
"Have they?" I ask.
Theo approaches. "Yes. They claim they were paid five million for the hit, from something called Athenian Warriors. We're not sure who they are, but after some digging, they work in Zervas territory."
I nod. "I've heard of them. A small group of thugs, Dad said. Not so small to be spending five million on hits."
"Zervas," Dimitri says.
"Maybe. We don't know that."
The Athenian Warriors were wannabes. People who think the mafia works like the movies. They don't have much of an infrastructure, so someone gave them this money. These idiots might not know who, though.
"Remove their hoods. I want to see them," I command, and my men move quickly, ripping off the hoods of the four men. They all squint under the bright lights and squirm in their seats, trying to break free from the rope.
Each has varying amounts of dried blood around their mouths and noses, their eyes are swollen, and faces puffy and red.
"Looks like you've already had some fun," I say, looking at Dimitri, who's the most brutal of us.
He shrugs. "Three days they hid from us. Not to mention shooting at my sister," he says and backhands the guy closest to him, "and your wife."
"Take his gag out," I motion to the man on the far left. "I'll start with him and work my way down."
One of my men pulls the gag out and I approach the piece of shit.
"Who ordered the hit?" I ask in a low tone, wanting to hear it for myself.
"Sebastian Makris," the man says, wincing. "He said it's a message."
"And who's he?"
The man looks shocked I don't know. "He runs the Athenian Warriors."
I nod and remove my jacket, exposing my holstered gun. The man's eyes widen.
"And did Sebastian tell you who you were shooting at?"
The man swallows hard. "Your sister and... and your wife."
"Warriors? More like fucking cowards. Who shoots or orders a hit on women anyhow?" Dimitri spits out at them.
I ignore my brother, though he has a point, and circle the tied-up man slowly. "My sister," I repeat his words. "And my wife."
I stop behind him, leaning down to speak directly into his ear. "Do you know what I did on the day of my wedding?"
He trembles, shaking his head.
"I burned a man alive for hurting someone I vowed to honor and protect," I say in a low tone. "And that was before I even knew I cared for her. So, what do you think I'll do for the woman now? And not just for her, but for my sister as well?"
"Please," he whimpers. "I was just following orders. I didn't even fire a shot, I swear. I was the driver."
