Page 11 of His Violent Vow

Angelo reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. Kat did not let go. This was progress, Angelo thought. They might be far from friends, but sooner or later, they would reach an understanding.

“I will deal with that matter soon,” he promised her.

They didn’t have to wait long. Their food arrived fifteen minutes later. The hotel set up the table and chairs, before carting in their food. Kat and he chatted while they ate, discussing mundane matters. Kat told him a little about her life, about her old banking job, and her complicated relationship with her father.

Angelo had her information on file but it was a different matter hearing her thoughts and experiences from her own lips. They decimated breakfast and Angelo found he was enjoying himself. He hadn’t felt this relaxed in … well, forever.

“Breakfast with you was lovely,” Kat finally said.

“I feel the same way,” Angelo said. He put his suit jacket back on. Kat gave him a farewell kiss as she walked him to the door.

Angelo was loathe to leave but he eventually exited the hotel. His second-in-command, Theo, waited for him outside the hotel room.

“Make sure no harm comes to my wife,” he told Theo.“What happened last night can’t occur again.”

“Leave her safety to me,” Theo said with a nod.

Angelo gripped Theo’s arm tightly.“She’s important to me,” he said.

Theo looked momentarily surprised, but he only said,“Understood, Angelo. I’ll guard her with my life.”

****

Angelo had just gotten out of a lengthy meeting with his investors and was looking forward to lunch. Maybe he could give Kat a call, just to ask how the move was going. Well, technically, most of her belongings had been moved to his house but she said she had a few boxes left to transport.

Angelo returned to his office, about to text his wife, when his PA Marcus knocked on his office door and entered.

“Sir, Mr. Aldo Marino is here to see you,” Marcus said.

Angelo suppressed a groan. He’d forgotten that Kat’s father had been badgering him since yesterday about a meeting. Sooner or later, he would have to deal with the insistent Don.

“Fine, send him in and after that, order me lunch from my favorite steak place,” Angelo said.

Moments later, Aldo arrived. The old man looked miffed he had to wait.“You have some nerve, making your father-in-law wait,” Aldo grumbled. Angelo didn’t like his attitude.

“You’re forgetting you’re the one who came up with this arrangement, Aldo. Remember, you owe me, not the other way around,” Angelo reminded him.

Aldo curled his lower lip but said nothing. He didn’t intend to bring that up but Aldo needed a reminder every now and then that it was Angelo who held all the cards. Kat didn’t know her father had made plenty of bad decisions and far too many enemies in a short span of time.

If Aldo hadn’t formed an alliance with Angelo, his house would be in ruins right now. What would have happened to Kat then? Angelo didn’t want to entertain that thought.

He decided to be a little less harsh with his new ally. After all, one had to give Aldo credit for bringing a beautiful daughter into this world. Having access to Aldo’s drug producers didn’t hurt.

“Look, Aldo. I’ve just survived an assassination attempt, so you have to understand I’m not in the best of moods,” Angelo said. It was almost as good as an apology and Aldo knew it.

“I’ve heard about that.” Aldo frowned.“Have you found out who’s responsible?”

“Tomas Barbaro,” he answered.

“You’re certain of that?” Aldo asked.“I know Tomas could be excessive at times but resorting to something like this?”

“The assassin assumed he would succeed in his task, since he blurted his employer’s name out loud. A rookie mistake,” Angelo said with a shake of his head.

That reminded him, Angelo needed to come up with a plan to deal with Tomas. A show of force, or should he take a more subtle route? Either way, he needed to decide soon. Secrets were hard to keep and pretty soon, every scumbag in the underworld would know Tomas hired an assassin to take Angelo out. He needed to show his enemies how he dealt with upstart fools.

Aldo and he moved on to other business matters. The old man wanted Angelo to loan him some of his men for extra security. Angelo agreed, since he could spare some.

After the meeting, he realized Aldo didn’t even ask how Kat was doing or if she was fine. Maybe he simply assumed he had fulfilled his duties as a father now that Kat was married. Well, it didn’t matter to Angelo. It was his job to ensure his wife had everything she needed.

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