Page 55 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

Losing his shit? He’d already lost his shit. He was trying to figure out how to get his shit back.

“I’ve never seen you like this, brother,” Cas observed.

Raz had never felt like this, whateverthiswas. He looked to Cas. The worried look in his brother’s eyes helped him snap out of whatever destructive haze he was in. Raz pushed himself to his feet and straightened his clothes on his frame. He touched his fingers to his nose again to ensure it wasn’t bleeding.

It wasn’t. But it hurt like hell, and he was pretty sure he’d end up with a dark circle around his eye because of it. If he did, maybe Monique would feel sorry for him. Maybe if he was hurt, she’d want to stay and take care of him.

“Shit!” Raz yelled, fist connecting with the wall. “What the fuck is wrong with me?”

The thoughts in his head couldn’t be his own. He didn’t think shit like that. He wasn’t that type of man. He wasn’t like...Trevor. No. He wasn’t acting like Trevor.

He was behaving the way his father had, right before Raz’s mother left him. That truth helped him clear his head a little. He refused to be anything like his dad. No woman would ever rule him to the point that he almost ruined himself. Raz looked to his brother.

“Have a drink with me,” Raz ordered.

“What the fuck is this?” Cas asked, confused. “This is some Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde shit, Raz. You just punched me. Now, you want to drink with me.”

“You act like we haven’t fought in the past.”

“Not over some bit...”

“Cas! I won’t warn you again.”

“See.” Cas pointed at him. “That’s what I’m talking about. When have you ever defended a woman like this?”

“This woman is different.”Special. Mine.

“Different?” Cas laughed. “We don’t have time for different.”

“I’m making time,” Raz replied.

“Raz, this woman was supposed to be an expensive fuck. A stress reliever. But your ass is here acting like you’ve fallen in love with her or some shit.”

Love?Raz ran his hand through his hair again.

“Fuck no!” Cas yelled, eyes widening in shock. “Brother, don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with this bitc... woman, after one fuck!”

“I’m not in love,” Raz defended himself. “I’m just a bit...obsessedat the moment.”

“According to Bryce, that’s how love starts.”

“Bryce? When did you talk to Bryce?”

“Our cousin is at the same bar you’re headed to. Like you, he’s having woman troubles. You two should sit down and drink while writing in your fucking diaries together, lame asses.”

“Shut the fuck up, Cas.”

Raz turned and resumed heading to the bar. He still needed that drink. And now he had a drinking buddy.Misery loved company. Cas couldn’t understand Raz’s frustration. Maybe his cousin, Bryceson Cattaneo, could.

“I’m coming with you,” Cas insisted. “I may have to babysit you two teenage girls.”

“Do you ever shut up?” Raz snarled.

“I don’t.”

At least he was honest. When they shoved the double doors to the bar open, they found Bryce with a bottle to his lips. He looked up when he heard them.

“Cousins! Let me tell you something,” Bryce slurred. “Women are the fucking devil. Beautiful devils sent here to destroy us.”

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