Chapter 33 Ares
ARES
The door slams behind me. I walk aggressively down the hallway.
I need space.
I need clarity.
What I don't fucking need is the way her voice still rings in my ears.
I head into my library and lock the door behind me. I pour myself a drink and sink into the chair near the fireplace.
It's not lit, but I stare at it like it is—jaw clenched, mind unraveling.
After everything. She defended him.
"She defended George fucking Zervas."
I'm so mad I see red. My brothers have put together airtight findings and accounts. Dimitri has been back and forth between here and Greece doing the work he does best. I never expected this. Never thought she'd shit all over everything we've worked toward and discovered.
I pull out my phone and call Theo. He answers on the second ring.
"Everything alright?"
"Katerina defended Zervas."
"What?"
"Family friend, apparently. She said he never wanted to take over. Bought an island and was planning to disappear before his father's early death."
Theo is quiet for a beat. "Do you believe her?"
"No," I say and toss back the drink, hating the way it burns. "But I want to know if there's any truth in the story."
"Ares, what we got is—"
"Look into it," I say, interrupting him. "I want confirmation. If he bought the island. If he tried to run. Any contact between him and her father before the fire."
Theo takes a deep breath. "I… uh, okay, I'll handle it. Give me a few hours."
I end the call and drop the phone on the table next to me. I stare at it for a long time. Wondering.
George has to be involved. I mean, the day my father was killed, they moved in on our ports. They invaded our territory.
I stand.
No, she's wrong. She clings to the past. She's—dammit—I shouldn't have gotten her involved in anything. She doesn't understand like I thought.
I lean back in the chair, wondering if being with her, agreeing to the marriage, was one of the worst things I've ever done.
A few hours later, there's a knock at the library door.
"Not now," I yell.
"It's me," Theo's voice comes through the door.
I take a quick breath, composing myself before I open the door. Theo stands there, papers in hand, expression grim.
"You're drinking," he says, eyeing the half-empty bottle next to my chair.
I step aside. "Just tell me what you found."
Theo walks past me and grabs a glass. We sit down, and I pour him some. "She wasn't lying. George did buy the island," he says, handing over some papers.
I straighten in my chair. That cold feeling in my gut intensifies. "But?" I press, looking them over, because there's always a fucking but.
Theo nods his head. "He sold it. Five years later. And the Zervas family grew stronger right after."
I run my hand over my jaw, feeling the stubble there. My chest tightens as I process this. I'd been ready to hear she was completely wrong. That every word was bullshit, some fantasy she'd built to protect her childhood memories.
But this—this is worse.
"There's more," Theo says, pulling out a photo. It's old, yellowed at the corners. A younger George Zervas stands next to a man I assume is Katerina's father. Behind them, in the shadows of the frame, is a face I recognize all too well.
Our father.
"When was this taken?" I demand, grabbing the photo.
"About a year before the fire that killed Katerina's family. They were all connected, Ares. Not just business associates."
"Friends," I mutter. "Even I didn't know Dad knew Katerina's father."
"Look, maybe she was right about who he used to be," Theo continues, his voice neutral.
"But the current version of him? He chose to stay.
To fight. He's made the Zervas family stronger than ever while taking over our territory in Greece.
" He pauses, making sure I'm listening. "Whoever she knew died when he decided to embrace the don role.
And with the intel we have, it's got to be him. The asshole needs to die."
I nod once.
"Thanks, Theo. I've got what I need."
Theo lingers, clearly wanting to say more. "Ares, about Katerina—"
"We're done here." My tone is final.
Theo gets up and leaves. He knows I need space.
Once he's gone, I stare at the photo for a long time. Three men who probably thought they were untouchable. Now two are dead, and one is responsible.
I set the image down and call Dimitri.
"Brother, isn't it late there?" he asks.
"How sure are you?"
He's quiet for a moment.
"I know what going after him means. Total war. But from what I've gathered here, and what Theo's got—there's no other person. All signs point to him."
"So you choose war?"
"One hundred percent. I would have already put a bullet in his fucking head, but that's why you're the leader here. I'm the impulsive one."
"Okay. I have an idea. Theo and I will meet you in Kalamata within 48 hours. Stay put until then."
I don't wait for him to respond. I hang up and stand.
I finally know exactly what I'm going to do.