Page 79 of Before Broken Vows
"Yes, and I have in front of me all the restricted accounts that were funding the Athenian Warriors. And all of them, Theo. Not just one or two, all of them are under Greek Spartan Holdings management. They're all tied to Cosmo Kouris, and since he's in government, they're restricted. But we fucking got him."
"And you've triple-checked? It's the exact same account numbers?"
Dimitri laughs. "Yes. And if you need any more convincing, Chris Xanos, the lawyer who offed himself in front of us, he's listed as their legal representative."
"What the fuck."
"I know. They'll need a new lawyer," Dimitri says, laughing again.
I glance back toward the villa where Stassi sleeps. Where my son is safely tucked away. My priorities have shifted overnight, but I have to keep going.
"I need to get back," I say, the decision forming as I speak it.
"What about your little thing with Stassi?"
Little does he know it's become huge, and I'm not even talking about finding out who's threatening her or my son yet.
"I can't bring them back. I can protect them better there anyway."
"Them?"
"Sorry. Her," I lie. I think it's time everyone knows, but I don't want to deliver the news over the phone.
"Dimitri." My voice sharpens, trying to change the subject. "Don't approach anyone. Just observe. Wait for me to get back."
"Okay. And one last thing, Zervas's men helped, so Zervas knows. He wants you to call him as soon as you can. It's urgent."
We end the call, and I immediately dial George Zervas.
I take a final drink of coffee, the liquid now cold. The Italian sunrise continues its slow crawl across the landscape, but my mind is already back in Greece, plotting our next moves.
He answers on the first ring.
"It's Theo."
"I assume you've spoken to your brother then?" he asks.
"Yes. I've learned all about Cosmo Kouris," I reply.
Zervas exhales sharply. When he speaks again, his voice has dropped even lower.
"If Cosmo Kouris is really linked to this, it's bigger than we thought. And that presents a very dangerous opportunity."
I don't speak, unsure what he's getting at.
"If you go after him, Theo, if you expose Kouris, the dominoes won't stop. Parliament, the government... they won't be able to ignore it. Or us. Anymore. They'll be forced to act. Crackdowns. Sanctions. Surveillance. We could lose the quiet tolerance that's kept Kastaris and my operations untouched for decades."
"I don't give a fuck about tolerance," I snap. "If he had anything to do with my father's death, he dies."
"Theo," Zervas warns. "I understand your grief. Your rage. But you must think strategically. Exposing this could bring everything down, not just for you. For all of us."
A long silence stretches between us.
Zervas continues. "Your father was many things. But above all, he was precise. He calculated every risk. Every alliance. You can't let emotion cost us the empire he built." He sighs. "They'll come for all of us."
"Let them come," I say.
"You don't understand what you're saying." Zervas's voice hardens. "This isn't some street thug or rival family. This is government. Military. Police. Every official who's ever taken a bribe or looked the other way—they'll turn on us in a heartbeat to save themselves."
