Page 133 of Assassin's Obsession

I splash my face with cold water before drinking several gulps straight from the tap. I have to breathe through my nose for almost a full minute before I'm sure it's going to stay down.

After I pee and wash my hands in water that has turned more and more frigid the longer it runs, I splash my face again.

Finally, I can stand without swaying. I start searching the bathroom for something to use as a weapon. There's a comb, but no hairbrush in the vanity. No razor, though how I'd use one as a weapon is unclear to me. There's a manicure kit, but the nailfile inside is a blunt emery board.

I might be able to give her a good gouge with the toenail scissors, but I'm not going to incapacitate her.

The lid on the toilet tank has some heft but would make a very awkward weapon, no matter how they show it on T.V. Still, if that's all there is, I'll take it.

Do I know Angelo is coming? Without doubt, but Queen Bitch kidnapped me for a reason, and I have an ugly suspicion it's to use me as leverage against her son. Little does she know how well that could work.

No matter what she thinks, Angelo loves me and he's not going to risk me being hurt. Which means I need to get away from the bad guys before they can use me as bait to kidnaphim.

My eyes land on the shower cubicle again. Instead of a door, there's a fabric curtain with a plastic liner trying a little toohard to be casually rustic. The curtain is useless, but the rod it's hanging from looks like a peeled and smoothed branch.

I turn the water on full blast and flush the toilet just before I knock it from its brackets. It comes down pretty easily, which makes sense since the curtain has to be easily removable for washing and liner replacement.

Dropping the curtain into the bottom of the shower cubicle I heft the wooden stick. It's solid but not too heavy and only about three feet long.

A peremptory knock sounds on the door. "Come out, Kathleen. I do not have all night."

I turn off the water and place the rod to the right of the door, out of sight of the opening but easy to reach if I leave the door open and stay close to the bathroom.

Perla is pacing the room impatiently when I come out.

Pretending I'm still woozy, I lean against the wall beside the bathroom doorway. "What do you want?"

"You're going to call Angelo and tell him to do as he's told if he wants to see you alive again."

Yeah, no. I pretend compliance with a grimace and a nod though. I'm not pissing away a chance to talk to Angelo on the phone.

"Good." Perla lifts a burner phone and taps on the screen twice.

At least I assume the cheap phone isn't her personal device.

There's a single ring at the other end and then Angelo's voice. "Speak."

There's loud music in the background and something else. Is he still at the club?

Somehow, I doubt that very much.

"Angelo. It's me," Perla says like he should recognize her voice.

"I'm here too and I'm okay," I say quickly.

The older woman glares at me. "Shut up, Kathleen. You will not speak until you are told to."

"Talk to her like that again and I'll cut your tongue out." His tone sends a shiver down my spine.

Perla blanches before glaring at me threateningly. "Talk, Kathleen. You know what to say."

"Your mom is the real psycho in your family," I inform my guardian angel.

Perla raises her hand to strike me.

I shake my head at her. "The last person who touched me without my permission lost a hand to your son's knife. I don't know, but I feel like you're not someone who would handle that very well."

"If you don't want your mouthy whore's tongue cut out, you will hear me out," Perla threatens. "The only reason she's unharmed is her value to you, but I'm losing patience with her."

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