A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

I let out a breath. “She would contact her family.”

I still haven’t decided if Kato can be trusted. There’s a certain obligation he has to Rebecca since her family are associated with the Triads. But there’s a chance he may not believe that my father wants him gone.

He and my father have been in business together for a long time. Kato sends illegal weapons to countries at war, and Adrien’s influence with government officials and private ports makes sure they don’t run into any trouble with transport. My father needs Kato’s money. And Kato’s reliance on Harper-Black Industries puts him firmly in my father’s pocket like the rest of us, even more so now if what Dante is telling me is true about him and my mother.

My only hope is that he helps me find Rebecca. Then I can finally kill my bastard father without a second thought. But hope is fragile, and this game of cat and mouse is extreme. Why can’t I just kill the bad guys and bathe in their blood? That’s all I want to do. Why is that so fucking hard?

Kato’s private quarters are as you’d expect—opulent, overbearing, and full of black and gold. Kato himself is lazing on a love seat in the middle of the room when I enter, dressed in a silver shirt that burns my retinas just to look at it.

Tall, with black hair styled to a side parting, almond shaped eyes—the man is a mix of Asian and English heritage like me. He looks younger than he is. He’s my mother’s age. They grew up together. But he doesn’t have any wrinkles. The only mar on his smooth Asian skin is the scar that runs over one eye and down to his chin. I haven’t seen Kato since I was a kid, but I know it’s him. Just like he knows who I am now that I’m back in my father’s world.

I’ve heard the stories. I know how he got his scars.

They’re the horror stories your parents tell you, so you don’t fall out of line.

Themaître d takes his leave. Kato smirks and gestures to a matching sofa opposite. I take a seat and stare at him in a way that would unnerve most men.

His grin doesn’t falter. “Miss Harper-Black. I heard you were back. I also heard a lot of bad things about you. Tell me…” He takes a swig of his drink, a dark amber-colored liquid. “Are they true?”

I tilt my head. “What do you think?”

He sneers. “I think that you’re a spoiled, stuck-up princess like you’ve always been, and the rumors are just lies spread by your daddy to keep his enemies away from you.”

“If you think that then you don’t know my father at all,” I say, a smile curling onto my glossy lips. “Or me, for that matter.”

“Oh, but I do,” he says cryptically, a cruel smile on his lips. “Only too well.” He leans forward and pours himself another drink. As he shifts, I notice he has a gun under his shirt. One within easy reach. He offers me a glass of the same amber liquid, but I don’t take it.

“Did you and my mother fuck?” I ask bluntly.

He chuckles and takes a long swig. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

I shake my head. “Life’s too short.”

“Life’s too short, indeed.” He nods. “Your mother is an exceptional woman.”

I note his use of the present tense in that sentence. Adrien told everyone my mother died when we escaped. There was even a funeral.

Fuck. He knows.Dante was right.

Someone steps from the shadows. It’s themaître d. I don’t fail to notice his hands covered in blood as he wipes them clean with a cloth.

“What are you…” I start.

“We had a little problem. You were being tailed.”

Lorcan. Or Dante?

“Whose blood is that?” I ask, getting to my feet, a spike in adrenaline flooding my veins.

“Some low-down fucker working for your father,” says Kato. “Don’t worry. He won’t be running back to Daddy to tell tales.” He indicates for me to sit. “Now, where were we? You were about to offer me a deal in return for not killing me? Have I got that right?”