Page 97 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

“No one told me,” Raz said.

“No one knew except for dad. And I asked him not to tell anyone, not even family. Even after I was cleared, the police still treated her as if she was the victim. And they still treated me as if I was the abuser. One even made a remark that I was only cleared because of my last name. So, to them, I’m guilty. I’ll never be innocent.”

This bitch.

“I’m sorry,” the woman apologized.

“Sorry didn’t do it,” Toya spoke up. “You did. Do you know how many women try to report men for that but get treated like they’re liars? Do you know how many women don’t come forward because they’re afraid they won’t be believed? Yet, youcame forward with a lie. And now, if something like that really happens to your dumb ass, no one will believe you.”

The woman took a step back. “I didn’t come here to be attacked.”

“You shouldn’t have come here, period,” Meka said. “Can’t you see how your presence is affecting him?”

Monique looked at Cas. He’d grown pale. He was no longer smiling and being flirtatious. He looked... scared. There was more to this story that he wasn’t sharing. There had to be.

“Come on, Cas,” Meka said, stretching her hand out to him.

He stared up at Meka, looking lost. Tears came to Monique’s eyes as Cas took Meka’s hand and stood up. He approached Meka’s side, gaze never leaving her. He looked at Meka like she was his lifeline, leaving Monique feeling like the two of them had known each other before tonight.

“Stay away from him,” Meka told the brunette. “I don’t care who calls you and tells you to come to him. Don’t. Because if I see you near him again, I’ll give you a reason to call the police.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” the woman started, only to have Toya interrupt her.

“Lady, leave while you still have the chance. Because I’m in a really bad mood, and I’m itching to whip somebody’s ass.”

The woman took another step back. “I see the atmosphere in this place has changed. They let anyone in now. I won’t be coming here again.”

“Good,” Monique told her. “You shouldn’t have been here in the first place. Now, shut the hell up and leave before we make you leave.”

Clutching her little purse tightly, the woman glared at them for a few seconds before turning and storming out of the room.

“We’re leaving too,” Meka announced. “As for you, Orazio. That was a shitty move you pulled on your brother. As for you two, Monique and Toya, I’m good. Really. I’ll get a ride homelater, or Cas will take me. You can go home now. I promise to talk to you soon and explain things. Just know I’m okay.”

With that said, Meka led Cas from the room. During the entire walk, Cas’s eyes never left Meka. Monique was convinced that Cas and Meka had something going on long before tonight. What? She didn’t know. But she planned to find out.

Chapter Twenty

MONIQUE

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Confused as hell, Monique watched Cas and Meka walk away.

“Shit,” Toya said after they were gone. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“Neither did I,” Raz admitted. “I fucked up. But I really didn’t know.”

“There’s a lot we don’t know,” Monique added. “But I think we need to listen to Meka for now and leave her and Cas alone.”

“I need to talk to him about this,” Raz said.

“And we need to find out what’s going on with Meka,” Toya added.

Monique shook her head. “Let’s leave them alone for now. Raz, you can talk to him about this when he’s ready to talk. Did you not see his face? He’s haunted by those claims. And there’s no telling how he was treated when he was locked up. I can’t imagine what he’s feeling. You should wait until he’s ready. For now, I guess he has Meka. And there’s no way we can separate them right now, not while he’s going through this. Did you see the way he held her hand? And the way he looked at her?”

“I did,” Toya admitted. “Those two had to have known each other before tonight. There’s no way he told her about that woman and that case in the short time they were in his room.”

“That’s true,” Leo added, pulling a snicker from his pocket and opening it.

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