Page 91 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

Leo took a deep breath and released it slowly. “My mother always told me that all money wasn’t good money. I should’ve listened to her.”

“Go!” Orazio ordered.

Leo strode forward, stopping once he was standing next to Cas. The guard leaned forward a bit to get Toya’s attention. Then Leo smiled at the angry woman, but he didn’t say anything. Raz groaned for the third damn time. No wonder Leo was single.

“Who the fuck is this, and what the fuck is wrong with him?” Toya asked as she stared Leo up and down.

Leo stuck his hand out and introduced himself. “Hi, I’m Leo...”

“Put your hand down,” Toya told him before glaring at her friend, Temeka. “Meka, what the hell is wrong with you? Tell me before I get crazy.”

“Getcrazy?” Leo whispered a little too loudly. “You already seem crazy to me.”

What the hell, Leo? I said to lighten the mood, not make it worse.Raz held in his groan as Toya returned her angry gaze to his security guard.

“I fight men,” Toya told him. “And I win because I fight dirty.”

“I don’t hit women,” Leo told her.

“Which means I’ll definitely win,” she replied. “Step back, top flight. I’m trying to have a conversation with my friend. Wait a second. Since you’re security, why didn’t you stop this man when he kidnapped my friend?”

Leo opened his mouth, then closed it. The guard looked back at Raz, seeking help. Raz stared down at his phone. He could’ve sworn he’d heard it ring.

“Hey,” Toya said. “I’m talking to you.” Once she had Leo’s attention again, she continued. “And where were you when my friend Monique was kidnapped?”

Leo rubbed the back of his neck. “I...”

“You weren’t doing your job. You let two women get kidnapped on your watch. Is this a casino or the black market?”

Leo, the guard who always had a smart retort, was speechless. Under any other circumstance, Orazio would find this funny. Since Monique was present, he didn’t. This was supposed to be their date night.

But, it had been derailed by his brother’s actions. If he didn’t do something, they’d never get back on track. Praying for patience and understanding, not for himself, but for Toya and Monique, Orazio stepped forward.

This time, when Monique looked at him, her expression wasn’t one of gratitude. It was one of disdain. Unable to hold her gaze, he looked at Toya. He was pretty sure that was hatred he was seeing in her eyes.

Toya’s hatred was better than Monique’s disdain. Orazio continued forward until he was standing in front of Monique and next to Temeka.

“How about we continue this discussion over dinner?” Orazio suggested.

“Do we look hungry?” Toya asked.

“You don’t have to eat. You can drink and chat. Everything is on the house.”

“I’m not in the mood to drink,” Toya told him. “I’m not even in the mood to curse you out for what you did to Monique. I just want to leave this casino with my two friends.”

Before Orazio could reply, Cas did. But his question was addressed to Temeka.

“Babe, would you like to eat in our restaurant? I’ve already texted the manager and told him to clear the dining room for us. It’ll only be the six of us there. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

Meka nodded.

“Meka,” Monique began. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go home?”

Meka slowly raised her head and forced a smile across her face. Orazio could tell it was forced because it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m kind of hungry,” Meka said. “Let’s eat.”

“Did he do something to you?” Toya asked, now that they had Meka’s full attention.

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