Page 89 of Dangerous Contract: Part 1

“Are you ready, Temeka?” Raz asked.

“She’d rather have me escort her,” Cas answered for her.

“Is that right?” Raz asked Monique’s friend.

Her friend took a deep breath, released it slowly, and then nodded. A huge grin spread across Cas’s face.

“See, brother,” Cas boasted. “She doesn’t want to be separated from me.”

Temeka rolled her eyes but remained silent.

“Okay,” Raz said, still not buying that Monique’s friend was this willing to be escorted by Cas. “Let’s not keep them waiting any longer.”

“Text maintenance and tell them not to come to my room,” Cas reminded him as Raz started toward the elevator. “And I’ll text Leo to meet us in the Ruby room.”

Raz sent a quick text to the head of maintenance to let him know their services were no longer needed. After sending his text, he glanced behind him at Cas and Temeka. He found Cas whispering something in Temeka’s ear. Temeka spun around to face his brother, fist raised.

Cas leaned away from her and said, “Remember our deal.”

Temeka slowly lowered her fist. Cas’s smile returned. He grabbed Temeka’s clenched fist and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.

“Didn’t I tell you violence wasn’t always the answer?” his brother told the furious woman. “Use your words, not your fists. My jaw is still hurting from earlier.”

Cas massaged Temeka’s fist until the woman relaxed her hand. Then he clasped her hand, intertwining their fingers, and led her toward the elevator. Raz had no idea what was going on between Temeka and Cas. But he was sure Monique wasn’t going to like it.

Maybe they should’ve canceled this damn date after all.

Chapter Eighteen

ORAZIO

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He had already prepared himself for the worst when he stepped into the Ruby room behind his brother and Temeka. At least, he thought he had. Nothing could have truly prepared him for what happened next.

His heart sank when he watched Monique’s eyes light up once she saw her friend. Her gaze immediately jerked to him next.

“You kept your promise,” she said. “Thank you, Orazio.”

Guilt damn near consumed him, swallowing him whole. She would soon see that he didn’t deserve her thanks. Her other friend, the one who’d threatened to tear shit up, raced forward to greet Temeka just as Leo stepped into the room behind Orazio.

Leo approached him and whispered, “Why the hell did Cas send me a text saying to join you three on a triple date, or he was going to dock my pay?”

“Because Cas is a fucking lunatic,” Raz muttered.

Leo shook his head. “I’m leaving.” The guard turned to leave.

“Stay,” Orazio ordered. “Or I’ll double dock your pay.”

“You motherfuckers,” Leo started.

“Stay, and I’ll double your pay,” Orazio negotiated.

“It’s a triple date. So, triple it, and I’ll stay.”

Orazio gritted his teeth. All he’d wanted was a nice, quiet date night with his Rosa. That’s it. That wasn’t too much to ask for, was it? How the hell had it turned into this circus? His gaze landed on his brother.Cas. Cas was the ringleader of this damn circus.

“Agreed,” Orazio told his guard.

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