In the Assassin's Arms
by Katherine Hastings
Series: Dagger of Desire
Historical Romance
Fiery Seas Everlasting
July 10, 2018
About the Book:
John Douglas may be a well-trained political assassin, but he has met his match in the woman he once called a friend. When his childhood playmate reenters his life, she's not looking to rekindle their friendship... she's out for blood.
With a vendetta to settle, Charlotte Cornewalle isn't stopping until she finds the man who killed her father. All signs point to Robert Douglas, the leader of the opposing faction of assassins... and John's father. To get her revenge, no one will stand in her way... not even the boy she once adored.
Fate forces them together as they fight to prove their innocence and right the wrongs they have suffered. Sparks fly from more than just their swords, but will they be able to put the past behind them? Will they be able to find the truth before it destroys them both?
In the Assassin’s Arms by Katherine Hastings
Excerpt from Chapter Nine
“Now. Go.” John grabbed her hand and they hurried off the dancefloor. Charlie glanced back to where the assassin had been standing but saw nothing but an empty space. She looked toward the exit and took another step, colliding with a man who had stepped out from behind the pillar. The assassin.
He grabbed her arm. She could feel the dagger he discreetly held to her ribs, pressing through the thin fabric of her dress. John lurched forward but Charlie stayed him with a pleading look. The three of them stood in the parlor, looking like three old friends catching up.
“You will do as I say. Understood?”
She nodded.
“We will walk out of here together. I don’t want to make a scene and alert the authorities, but I will if I have to. Understood?”
Charlie glanced up at John and they took a step toward the door. A quick glance around and she could tell that alcohol and lust had everyone blind to the danger staring her straight in the face. With one swift move, she freed the dagger she’d concealed beneath her sleeve. It dropped into her hand, and she plunged it into the heart of the assassin at her side. John hopped to his other side in two strides as the life passed out of the man, causing his knees to buckle. They slung his arms around their shoulders and walked on, his feet dragging behind them.
Charlie laughed loudly while John stumbled around as they caught the doorman’s attention.
“I thought you said I was going to get two of you tonight,” Charlie cackled as they continued to make their escape. “If this one doesn’t wake up soon, it looks like I’ll be stuck with just one lover.”
“I’ll be enough to make you feel like there are three men in that bed!” John declared as they kept on moving.
“Now that’s something I can look forward to!” Charlie giggled, and looked up at the doorman as they passed by, dragging the dead body along with them. “Goodnight, sir! I’ll see you again tomorrow night!”
He looked at them and nodded when they continued down the steps and around the corner. The moment they were out of sight, they tossed the body in the nearby bushes without a word and took off down the dark street at a sprint.
“Where is Duchess?” John asked between strides.
“Stable on the west side.”
“Duke is by the inn. I need to grab my things from the room. I’ll meet you at the top of the hill where we parted this morning.”
Charlie nodded and veered left, down an alley toward the stables. She found her bag and tack and was saddled up and racing out of town before she even had a moment to think about what had just happened. She galloped to the top of the hill where she saw the silhouette of John and Duke waiting for her.
Purchase Link:
Excerpt from Chapter Nine
“Now. Go.” John grabbed her hand and they hurried off the dancefloor. Charlie glanced back to where the assassin had been standing but saw nothing but an empty space. She looked toward the exit and took another step, colliding with a man who had stepped out from behind the pillar. The assassin.
He grabbed her arm. She could feel the dagger he discreetly held to her ribs, pressing through the thin fabric of her dress. John lurched forward but Charlie stayed him with a pleading look. The three of them stood in the parlor, looking like three old friends catching up.
“You will do as I say. Understood?”
She nodded.
“We will walk out of here together. I don’t want to make a scene and alert the authorities, but I will if I have to. Understood?”
Charlie glanced up at John and they took a step toward the door. A quick glance around and she could tell that alcohol and lust had everyone blind to the danger staring her straight in the face. With one swift move, she freed the dagger she’d concealed beneath her sleeve. It dropped into her hand, and she plunged it into the heart of the assassin at her side. John hopped to his other side in two strides as the life passed out of the man, causing his knees to buckle. They slung his arms around their shoulders and walked on, his feet dragging behind them.
Charlie laughed loudly while John stumbled around as they caught the doorman’s attention.
“I thought you said I was going to get two of you tonight,” Charlie cackled as they continued to make their escape. “If this one doesn’t wake up soon, it looks like I’ll be stuck with just one lover.”
“I’ll be enough to make you feel like there are three men in that bed!” John declared as they kept on moving.
“Now that’s something I can look forward to!” Charlie giggled, and looked up at the doorman as they passed by, dragging the dead body along with them. “Goodnight, sir! I’ll see you again tomorrow night!”
He looked at them and nodded when they continued down the steps and around the corner. The moment they were out of sight, they tossed the body in the nearby bushes without a word and took off down the dark street at a sprint.
“Where is Duchess?” John asked between strides.
“Stable on the west side.”
“Duke is by the inn. I need to grab my things from the room. I’ll meet you at the top of the hill where we parted this morning.”
Charlie nodded and veered left, down an alley toward the stables. She found her bag and tack and was saddled up and racing out of town before she even had a moment to think about what had just happened. She galloped to the top of the hill where she saw the silhouette of John and Duke waiting for her.
Purchase Link:
Amazon https://amzn.to/2lOOatW
Giveaway Link:
https://www.katherinehastings.com/news-and-events
(Giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card)
About the Author:
Katherine Hastings loves love. It’s why she writes romance novels. Getting lost writing a romantic adventure is one of her favorite pastimes. When she’s not on an adventure in her mind with her characters, she can be found at her home in Wisconsin snuggling her husband, two Boston Terriers, and the world’s naughtiest cat. Two things make Katherine want to leave her happy home these days... going for rides on her dressage pony or floating at the beach in her big inflatable raft. Writing her novels while floating in the lake is one of her ultimate pleasures... that and Fried Wisconsin Cheese Curds, of course.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.katherinehastings.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katherinehastingsauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/khastingsauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherinehastingsauthor/
