Page 15 of His Violent Vow

“That’s a nice color. What’s it called?” asked the brunette.

Kat thought she had familiarized herself with most of the faces at the gala. Most of the guests ran in the same social cycles after all, but she had no idea who this woman was. An unexpected guest perhaps?

Brief alarm nagged at her but Kat chose to ignore it. After the failed assassination attempt during their honeymoon, Tomas Barbaro hadn’t sent any new assassins after them. She was just being paranoid as usual. Kat remembered the woman asked her a question.

“Rogue Rose,” she replied.

“What a strange name,” the woman murmured.

Hearing a shout from outside, Kat whipped her head. Did Theo just let out a cry? She dropped her lipstick and makeup kit back in her purse, about to find out what just happened but the woman suddenly gripped her left shoulder with surprising brutality. The next thing Kat knew, the woman shoved her to the nearest cubicle door.

Stumbling, Kat dropped her purse but she managed to grip the cubicle frame for balance. Dizziness swamped her for a moment. Before she could ask the woman what the hell she was doing, the brunette pulled out two wicked-looking curved blades from her puffy sleeves.

Kat scrambled away but the woman quickly blocked the exit. The assassin watched her with merciless, cold, grey eyes the color of chipped ice. Her heart raced. Fear rendered her unable to move for a few seconds.Do something, Kat thought in panic. Otherwise, she would most likely end up dead.

“How did you even get through security with those things?” had been the first question that popped out of Kat’s mouth. Seriously?

The assassin frowned, not expecting that question either.

“The blades are made of special alloy that the machines can’t detect,” the woman replied. She snorted.“I can’t believe you wasted your last words on that stupid question.”

Kat managed to snatch her purse back, then suddenly felt foolish. What was she going to do with her purse? Brandish it like some kind of sword?

The woman only laughed when Kat placed more distance between them. Running for the door seemed like a foolish idea. The assassin would probably intercept her easily and stab her in the process.

Think, Kat!she silently yelled at herself. What did she have in her purse? Nothing she could use as a weapon. Just makeup, her wallet, and phone. Her phone. Could she speed-dial Angelo? Where was Theo? Then she remembered the commotion outside.

“You’re not working alone,” Kat whispered.

“My partner probably dispatched your bodyguard already.” The woman shrugged.“Enough chat. Let’s end this quickly. You don’t need to suffer. I’ll make it quick.”

Was that offer supposed to make her feel better?

“Did Tomas Barbaro hire you as well?” Kat asked.

She had to keep this woman talking while she thought of a solution. The toiletries on the sink—maybe she could use those? Kat noticed the baskets earlier. Each sink had one.

“So many questions,” the assassin said with a shake of her head.

Yet you seem to have fun indulging me, Kat thought. The brunette must be confident of her skills. Maybe she was certain Kat wouldn’t get out of this situation, so she didn’t see the harm in chatting.

“I want to know who ordered my death before I leave this earth,” Kat pointed out.“Please.”

The last word made the killer smile. This coldhearted bitch probably enjoyed it when her victims begged.

“Sure, not that it would do you any good now,” the assassin replied.“Mr. Barbaro paid me and my partner a handsome sum. He’s really pissed off at your husband. It’s him you should thank for your untimely death.”

The brunette lunged at her, the sharp edges of her knives pointed at Kat. Kat tossed her purse at the woman. Her aim had been off but it hit the assassin right in the shoulder. The assassin cursed.

Her ass bumped the sink. Kat reached for the toiletries basket and threw the metal tissue container. The woman let out a pissed-off hiss as the tissue holder hit her in the face. Kat then threw the face-soap pump, towels, and the basket itself.

“You are annoying,” the woman said. All the items landed on the ground.“I changed my mind, you’re going to die slow and painful.”

Kat lunged for the next metal tissue holder. White-hot pain hit her in the right shoulder. Blood pooled as the woman pulled out her blade. Kat cried out, but her left hand found the mouth of the metal box. Right at that moment, Kat realized she badly wanted to live. When she learned her father had arranged her marriage to a hated enemy of the Marino Familia, she thought her world had ended. It turned out the exact opposite.

Kat smashed the metal monstrosity at the assassin’s head. The woman howled. Kat had only made her angry. She ducked, unable to avoid the whirlwind of blades completely. A line of fire appeared across her left arm.

Kat yelped as the woman tackled her on the carpeted floor. Even if this crazy killer sliced her to ribbons, Kat refused to go down without a fight. She was Katharine Marino, the daughter of a Don and wife to a terrifying monster.

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