Page 107 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

“You look scared,” his dad observed.

“I never look scared.”

“I know that look, son. I don’t like it.”

“This isn’t about what you like, dad. Let’s go outside and talk.”

“You’ve fallen in love, haven’t you?”

How did he always do that? One look and he seemed to be able to read their minds. It was an ability his father had possessed since they were kids. It had gotten stronger as they’d gotten older. As teens and young adults, their dad could take one look at them and tell they were up to no good.

“You didn’t come here to talk abouther,” Raz reminded his father.

“But since there is aher, we should talk about it.”

“We will. Just not tonight. What brings you here at this hour? The sun isn’t even up yet.”

“I...” his dad started.

“Let’s step outside to discuss it,” Raz interrupted, not wanting to wake Monique and not wanting her to hear their conversation.

A surprise visit from his dad at this hour meant something was wrong.

“I’m here at this hour because of you. And no matter what the hour is, I shouldn’t have to stand in the hall to talk to my son.”

“Let’s go to another room, dad.”

His dad stared at him for a long time. Finally, his father sighed and said, “Lead the way.”

“You first.”

His dad smiled. “You don’t trust me?”

“I know you.”

His father chuckled before casting another glance toward Orazio’s bedroom.

“I’ll leave it alone for now, son. But I must meet her if she’s really important to you. The men in our family don’t have a lot of luck when it comes to women. I can help you decide if she’s right for you or not.”

“It’s already been decided.”

“You don’t want my input?”

“No. Just your blessing.”

“Hmmm. We’ll see after I meet her, which I hope is soon.”

With that said, his dad turned and left the room. Orazio followed behind him, carefully closing the door.

“You’ll meet her when she’s ready. Not a day before that,” Raz told him, still facing the door, hating that he had to leave Rosa’s side.

“Look at you,” his dad said from behind him. “Man up. She’s still there. She’ll be there when you return.”

That’s true. Knowing that didn’t make leaving her side any easier. She’d confessed that she was falling for him. That meant she belonged to him now. She wasn’t going anywhere. A sense of contentment washed over him.

Facing his dad, Orazio nodded to the left. “After you.”

Shaking his head, his dad headed down the hall with Orazio following behind him. They took the elevator to the floor beneath Orazio’s.

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